Palestinians in Hebron in the West Bank protested against the Israeli military operations that have caused the displacement of thousands of residents in the area. Israeli military forces fired sound grenades to disperse the protesters.
Background of Tensions and Protests
The unrest followed the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint last week. The protests occurred during the Israeli elections, where the country's stance on the West Bank has been a key political issue. Some Palestinian officials accused Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, of launching a crackdown in the West Bank to garner support from his right-wing backers. The Israeli government stated that this operation is a response to the attack on its soldiers.
Humanitarian Situation and International Reactions
A group of Palestinian men, women, and children participated in this protest. One elderly man held a placard reading "No to Collective Punishment, No to Blockades, and No to Displacement." The United Nations has stated that over 3,000 Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes due to Israeli military operations. Volker Turk, the UN Human Rights Chief, stated in a statement that collective punishment is a serious violation of international law, and threats of evacuation and complete cleansing of neighborhoods raise serious concerns about ethnic cleansing.
Since last Friday, Israel has blocked access to more Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank, severely restricting the freedom of movement for Palestinians. Noura Nasser, one of the displaced residents, said that due to the barriers created, she has faced difficulties in receiving medical treatment.
Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, are both opposed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Residents who have been expelled from the Hebron neighborhood believe that today's Israeli elections will not change the realities on the ground in the occupied territories.
Netanyahu's government has been rapidly expanding Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal by UN bodies and most countries, while Israel rejects this claim. Under Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, there has also been an increase in violence by armed settlers against Palestinians.
