The Israeli military is set to demolish 25 residential buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, local authorities told AFP on Monday.
Abdallah Kamil, the governor of Tulkarem, where the Nur Shams camp is located, confirmed that he had been officially informed of the planned demolitions by COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry body responsible for coordinating civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories.
COGAT has not responded to requests for comment from AFP regarding the planned operation.
According to Faisal Salama, head of the popular committee for the Tulkarem refugee camp, the demolition order affects 25 buildings containing up to 100 family apartments, raising serious concerns over further displacement of Palestinian civilians.
The demolitions are part of a large-scale Israeli military operation launched in early 2025, which remains ongoing. Israel claims the operation aims to eliminate armed Palestinian groups in refugee camps across the northern West Bank, including Nur Shams, Tulkarem, and Jenin.
However, the operation has resulted in the complete displacement of camp residents, with more than 30,000 people still unable to return to their homes. During the campaign, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, particularly within the densely populated alleyways of refugee camps, to facilitate military access and troop deployment.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that mass demolitions and forced displacement may constitute violations of international humanitarian law, as civilian infrastructure continues to be systematically targeted.
