Israel’s forced displacement orders in Lebanon mirror Gaza tactics, terrorise civilians, and disrupt humanitarian operations
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) warns that newly issued Israeli forced displacement orders and attacks across Lebanon – including in Beirut’s Dahiya district – are instilling widespread fear among civilians, disrupting humanitarian operations, and threatening already‑vulnerable Palestinian refugee communities.
On Thursday 5 March, Israeli forces issued mass forced displacement orders covering multiple neighbourhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs and including two Palestinian refugee camps home to thousands of people: Burj al Barajneh and Shatila. The affected area includes MAP’s main office in Lebanon, which has now been forced to close.
These orders have been followed by attacks on the Dahiya district and other locations. They come a day after the entire area south of the Litani River received forced displacement orders, including three Palestinian refugee camps: Rashidiyeh, Burj Shemali and Al Buss.
MAP’s local team reports confusion, and mounting panic within the camps. Many residents have not yet evacuated, either because they have nowhere safe to go or because traffic gridlock is preventing movement. People remain trapped in uncertainty as the situation rapidly deteriorates, and there are fears of further attacks and large-scale civilian harm.
Steve Cutts, CEO of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), said:
What we are witnessing in Lebanon is the unmistakable extension of the Israeli military playbook used in Gaza – collective punishment, forced displacement, and the deliberate terrorising of civilian populations, including already traumatised Palestinian communities.
“We are gravely concerned for the safety of our staff, their families, and the Palestinian refugee communities we serve. They, and the broader civilian population in Lebanon, are once again facing Israeli military aggression.
“We urgently call on the UK Government and the wider international community to press Israel to revoke these forced displacement orders, enforce a ceasefire in Lebanon, and to guarantee the protection of healthcare facilities, humanitarian infrastructure, and aid workers. Failure to act now will have devastating human consequences and entrench impunity for those who violate international law.”
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon already endure severe overcrowding, chronic under‑resourcing, and heavy reliance on humanitarian aid. Additional forced displacement now threatens catastrophic consequences for health, safety, livelihoods, and dignity. Many people – particularly the elderly, people with disabilities, and those in extreme poverty – may simply be unable to flee.
MAP’s Lebanon team have activated emergency response plans. This includes supporting UN displacement shelters with mental health provision and preparing to release pre‑positioned stocks of blankets, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies for affected families. The first collective shelter for Palestinian refugees has opened in Nahr el Bared camp to host displaced families who fled the camps in Beirut.
These latest developments come amid alarming comments made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Beirut’s Dahiya district will soon “look like Khan Younis”, a reference to one of the areas of Gaza most devastated during Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
Following the US and Israel’s military attacks on Iran on Saturday, and Iran’s subsequent retaliation, Israeli authorities closed every crossing into Gaza to aid deliveries. Karem Abu Salem crossing has been partially reopened, but the Rafah crossing and others remain closed indefinitely. Large scale aid delivery into Gaza has been blocked and medical evacuations have been suspended. Movement restrictions have also been imposed in the West Bank, severely obstructing the ability of medical teams to operate and putting lives at risk.
MAP continues to monitor the situation and adjust our humanitarian response to support Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
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