Palestinian couple survives in a minibus after displacement from their home

In the West Bank, an elderly Palestinian couple faces severe living conditions after their home was destroyed due to Israeli military operations. In February 2025, the Israeli forces conducted significant operations in Tulkarem, leading to the destruction of two major refugee camps. As a result, many families, including that of Abdul Salam Awda, were displaced. Abdul Salam, aged 71, and his wife have been forced to take refuge in a scrapped minibus, which they have managed to convert into a temporary home amidst the destruction. Their six children are scattered across the city, struggling to find stability since their displacement. The current living setup allows them only basic amenities, such as a water tank and limited electricity from a neighbor, sufficient for a light and a fan. Abdul Salam has expressed the immense hardships that his family and others in similar situations face, noting the lack of work opportunities that has hindered their ability to sustain themselves. He shared that his children have not been able to pay rent for months, highlighting a broader crisis affecting many displaced families in the region. According to the United Nations, this situation represents the largest scale of Palestinian displacement witnessed since 1967, marking a significant moment in the ongoing crisis faced by Palestinian people. The situation in Tulkarem has raised alarms regarding the humanitarian conditions and the urgent need for aid and stability for those affected by the conflict in the West Bank. This hardship reiterates the ongoing struggle for many Palestinians as they deal with displacement and socioeconomic challenges amidst a militarized environment.