In the West Bank, the current situation has led to an increase in the number of incidents and a worsening of the security situation. The Palestinians of the West Bank suffered their deadliest year in 2023, with 499 people killed (321% more than in 2022) by settlers and the Israeli military. In July 2023, an attack on the Jenin refugee camp by the Israeli military caused numerous civilian casualties and destroyed some of the camp’s infrastructure. Médecins du Monde was present on the ground to provide mental health and psychosocial support to the local people.
Search operations by Israeli security forces have become more frequent and have generally met with opposition from civilians. The population lives under permanent tension due to its proximity to Israeli settlements. Children and adolescents are especially at risk. Palestinians, surrounded by a large military presence, are subjected to systematic searches, harassment, and checkpoints.
Some Israeli settlers regularly attack Palestinian communities, whose villagers frequently suffer harassment, beatings, stoning, shooting, damage to homes, destruction of crops, and even murder. These settler attacks have increased significantly in recent years and are being carried out with impunity. Indeed, an overall deterioration of the security situation in the West Bank has been observed since the far right came to power and since the attacks of October 7, 2023.
On top of this trauma comes the multiple forced displacements and destruction of Palestinian homes by the Israeli occupying forces (1,010 homes destroyed in 2023 in the West Bank).