'Ethnic cleansing' concerns over West Bank operation - UN

The United Nations has expressed significant concerns regarding an Israeli military operation in Hebron, a city in the occupied West Bank. This operation follows a deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli soldiers, which occurred just days before the Israeli elections. According to the municipality in Hebron, an estimated 3,189 people have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing operation.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had pledged a major operation in response to the attack. Israeli troops swiftly entered the Ein Deir Baha neighborhood, the area where the attackers resided, and ordered residents to leave. Since the operation commenced, Israeli forces have reportedly arrested 40 individuals across the West Bank, with 20 of those arrests made in the Hebron area following searches at over 400 locations.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the aggressive military action, stating that it has led to the demolition of homes and commercial properties, as well as the restriction of residents' freedom of movement. Türk emphasized that those who have been displaced must be allowed to return to their homes, and Israel must provide compensation for unlawful evictions and demolitions.

He also warned that the measures taken could be interpreted as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep alarm over Israel's actions, noting a surge in settler violence and the increasing threat of ethnic cleansing. He stressed that a just peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without addressing the Palestinian people's legitimate rights to self-determination.