UN sounds the alarm over Israel's West Bank military operation
The United Nations has sharply criticized Israel's military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, calling it potentially ethnic cleansing.
The Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron has drawn strong condemnation from the United Nations. The criticism follows an Israeli military operation launched in response to a shootout on Friday that left two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen dead, with three more Israeli soldiers injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to demolish buildings in Hebron and to close off the West Bank, coming just days before Israel's general election on Tuesday. The operation has resulted in the forcible displacement of thousands of Palestinians, according to UN officials.
UN Response
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concerns, stating that "settlements are expanding, evictions are unrelenting with Palestinians driven from their lands." He warned of an "increasingly coercive environment, with the spectre of ethnic cleaning looming ever larger."
Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing.
Israeli Actions
Israeli troops entered the Deir Baha neighborhood in Hebron, ordering residents to evacuate. The Hebron municipality reported that more than 3,000 people, including 200 babies, were forced to leave their homes. The Israeli military described the operation as "precise, targeted and thorough" searches to locate terrorist infrastructure and weapons.
The Israeli military stated the operation would continue "for several days" and focus on Deir Baha. The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected a UN report accusing Israel of war crimes as "propaganda," claiming it aimed to undermine Israel's right to self-defense.
The large-scale response comes ahead of Tuesday's Israeli elections, which could end Netanyahu's premiership. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert commented that "likely Netanyahu will not be reelected," though Netanyahu has positioned himself as the only person who can keep Israel safe.
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