A growing number of Palestinians have been forced from their homes across the occupied West Bank over the past year, as settlement expansion and related measures continue to reshape the territory. More than 36,000 people were displaced during a twelve-month period ending in late October 2025, marking one of the most significant waves of internal displacement recorded in recent years and deepening humanitarian concerns amid the wider genocidal war affecting Palestinian communities.

The figures were detailed in a report issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which documented the accelerating pace of settlement construction and the impact on Palestinian residents. According to the report, Israeli authorities approved or advanced plans for tens of thousands of housing units in settlements, including roughly 36,973 units in areas east of Jerusalem and more than 27,000 additional units across other parts of the West Bank. The reporting period also saw the establishment of 84 new settlement outposts, further expanding the network of communities considered illegal under international law.

Officials warned that the scale of displacement suggests a pattern of forced transfer that could permanently alter the demographic landscape of the territory. More than 500,000 settlers now live in the West Bank alongside roughly three million Palestinians, while demolitions, land seizures and growing settler violence have intensified since late 2023. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, cautioned that such practices may constitute serious violations of international law and pointed to indications of systematic discriminatory policies.

Calls have also been made for an immediate halt to settlement expansion and the reversal of land confiscation decisions. António Guterres warned that the continued spread of settlements undermines the possibility of a future political resolution based on two states. The UN human rights office further stressed that accountability for violations is essential, arguing that ending impunity remains a fundamental step toward any just and lasting peace.