Doctors Without Borders, MSF, Conflict in Gaza
Armed conflict

Israel further tightens grip on the West Bank amid Iran escalation

Press Release24 June 2025

As international focus shifts to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, Israeli forces have ramped up their activities in the West Bank. Increased military operations in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarem governorates, along with additional troop deployments, have led to heightened restrictions on Palestinians.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that these actions exacerbate the already dire situation for Palestinians in the West Bank, who face significant barriers to accessing healthcare and essential services, especially since October 2023. MSF urges an immediate halt to measures that contribute to forced displacement and a system of annexation, including prolonged military presence, movement restrictions, demolitions, excessive use of force, and denial of basic services.

Over the past week, West Bank communities have seen their lives further controlled by an occupying power while the world looks away. This cannot continue. Simona Onidi, project coordinator Jenin and Tulkarem.

“On June 13 the Israeli forces raided my village in Tulkarem, they took over two residential buildings and turned them into military barracks, displacing the people who were living there. Since then, they have been patrolling the village regularly, conducting investigations, interrogations, arrests, searches, and detentions.” Karim*, MSF staff member

“Over the past week, West Bank communities have seen their lives further controlled by an occupying power while the world looks away. This cannot continue.” Simona Onidi, project coordinator, Jenin and Tulkarem.

Doctors Without Borders, MSF, conflict in Gaza
On 14 June, people waited at the closed Israeli gate blocking a main road entrance to Hebron. Many eventually crossed on foot, despite the risks. Those needing medical care or unable to walk were left stranded, unable to cross at all.
MSF

On 13 June, the day the escalations started, the Israeli authorities blocked all major Israeli checkpoints and road gates entrances to Hebron for four days. This forced people seeking medical care to cross between areas on foot, forcing critically ill people to walk long distances, taking the risk of being shot at, or being prevented from crossing at all.

“On 14 June, I tried to take my brother from Bethlehem to a medical appointment in Hebron - a trip that should take 25 minutes. But due to the new Israeli restrictions, all main entrances and exits were closed. It took us three hours, and in the end, despite being very ill, he had to walk through a closed checkpoint on foot, like many others, which is not safe.” Oday Al-Shobaki, communications officer.

Doctors Without Borders, MSF, Conflict in Gaza
An MSF Medical Doctor is providing hands-on training in pre-hospital trauma care in Tulkarm city, north of the West Bank, where a group of volunteers is being trained to enhance their emergency response skills.Palestinians who live in the refugee camps in Tulkarem and Jenin are trapped and blocked from accessing healthcare facilities, especially during military incursions. People with life-threatening injuries wait to reach hospitals, and in many cases, they die before getting there. In both locations, MSF teams have been providing emergency care reinforcement, and supporting volunteer paramedics with donations and training
Oday Alshobaki/MSF

MSF has suspended mobile clinics in Hebron and Nablus that provide mental health, sexual and reproductive care, and basic healthcare due to these checkpoint closures and security concerns from the intensified military operations. In Jenin and Tulkarem, mobile clinics had to adapt working hours, running on some days, not others, because of the Israeli forces' presence in nearby villages. This has forced patients to rely on phone consultations.

Military operations and violent raids by the Israeli army have been going on for years in the West Bank. 2022 saw a then-record number of Palestinian deaths due to violence by Israeli forces or settlers. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have increased the number of coercive measures and use of extreme physical violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including severe movement restrictions, military raids, and systemic barriers to essential services.

Simona Onidi, project coordinator, Jenin and Tulkarem. "This latest wave of restrictions and violence over the last week, seems to be an opportunity for Israeli forces to entrench control, deepen the fragmentation of Palestinian communities and further the system that the International Court of Justice has described as amounting to racial segregation and apartheid."
Doctors Without Borders, MSF, Conflict in Gaza

In January 2025, the Israeli forces began the ‘Iron Wall’ military operation inthe northern West Bank, which is still ongoing. Violently emptying well-established camps and preventing any return, more than 42,000 people have been forcibly displaced and left without stable homes and with limited access to food, water, and medical care.

“This latest wave of restrictions and violence over the last week, seems to be an opportunity for Israeli forces to entrench control, deepen the fragmentation of Palestinian communities and further the system that the International Court of Justice has described as amounting to racial segregation and apartheid. We urge third states to move beyond words of condemnation and put real pressure on Israeli authorities to end excessive force and lift movement restrictions blocking access to essential services and humanitarian aid, scaling up support for displaced and isolated communities across the West Bank.” Simona Onidi, project coordinator, Jenin and Tulkarem.