As the situation escalates in the occupied Gaza Strip, Israel's relentless efforts to dispossess and displace Palestinians continue. Since the beginning of 2008, over 200 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of unlawful home demolitions and evictions.

As Israel continues to expand Jewish-only colonies and related infrastructure and construct the Wall and implement its associated regime, Palestinians are left with nowhere to go.

Since January 1st 2008, the Israeli army demolished the homes of and evicted from their lands 208 persons in the occupied West Bank. Over half of those who have been forcibly displaced are registered refugees with UNRWA. Bedouin communities in the Jordan Valley (Area C), many of whom have already been displaced a number of times since the Nakba (1948), have been especially targetted. The home demolitions and evictions have affected the communities of al Baqaa (55 persons lost their homes on 2 January), Furush Beit Dajan (39 persons on 3 January), Fasayil (83 persons on 3 January), Jiftlik (one person on 3 January) and Jahalin Bedouin (30 persons on 16 January).  Livestock and personal belongings were damaged because some families were not given time to remove them.  While many families were able to seek temporary shelter with family and friends, some slept outside during some of the coldest winter nights in years. More families (Al Baqaa and Jahalin Bedouin) are at risk of imminent displacement as further demolition and eviction orders are pending.

Israel is pursuing its illegal programme of population transfer as it de facto annexes Palestinian lands and works to impose a Jewish majority over parts of the occupied West Bank. Population transfer is defined as the “forced displacement of the persons concerned by expulsion or other coercive acts from the area in which they are lawfully present, without grounds permitted under international law” and “the transfer, directly or indirectly, by the Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies, or the deportation or transfer of all or parts of the population of the occupied territory within or outside this territory” (Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court). Population transfer, when carried out in a systematic or widespread manner and as part of a plan and/or policy, is a crime against humanity and war crime.

The state of Israel and officials responsible for the crime of population transfer should be held accountable. Members of the international community have an obligation to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians and search for durable solutions that will allow displaced persons to return to their homes and lands.