In the West Bank, displaced Palestinians are facing mounting debt and poverty. Hakim Mar’i spends his days lying on a single bed in a dilapidated apartment, unable to work due to a leg injury sustained while working in Israel in 2019. His family lives in near darkness as they cannot afford electricity, relying on old blankets for warmth. The apartment is near the ruins of the Tulkarem refugee camp, which has been emptied, leaving families like Mar’i's without homes.
Mar’i has considered suicide due to the pressures of debt and eviction. He cannot afford medical treatment for his leg, which has developed severe infections. His mother, Salwa, expressed sorrow over their lost family home, which was destroyed by the Israeli military.
Since January 2025, Mar’i’s family has moved four times due to evictions, struggling to pay rent and often relying on neighbors for food. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been forcibly removed from the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem camps, marking the largest episode of forced displacement in the West Bank since 1967, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
UN satellite imagery indicates that 20% of buildings in the camps have been destroyed, with another 28% damaged. Roland Friedrich, director of West Bank affairs for UNRWA, noted that 85% of those displaced have no regular income, and over 80% are renting homes, a new financial burden for many. The military zone preventing their return is renewed every two months, with no clear timeline for when residents may return.
Friedrich highlighted a rise in gender-based violence and mental health issues among displaced families due to economic strain. In Tulkarem, families like that of Khadija Zbeidat are also facing eviction. Khadija, a widow, shares a small room with nine family members, struggling to find adequate housing.
Khadija reminisced about her life in the camp, expressing a longing for the sense of community and belonging that was lost. Many displaced families were unable to bring their belongings during their abrupt displacement, leaving them with little to hold onto.
As the situation continues, families are feeling the strain of their circumstances. Khadija’s family is at risk of eviction, and they rely on credit from local shopkeepers. Hakim’s family received temporary financial assistance from UNRWA, but they fear eviction as their landlord's patience wears thin. Both families express a desire to return to their homes, but uncertainty looms over their future.