Israel's military operation in the city of Hebron, located in the West Bank, has raised serious concerns regarding "ethnic cleansing." This warning was issued by the UN on Monday and followed a deadly attack by two armed Palestinians on Israeli forces.
Details of the Operation and Its Consequences
The municipality of Hebron, the largest Palestinian city, reported that 3,189 people have been forced to leave their homes due to this operation. This operation began after an attack on Friday in which two armed Palestinians killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near the city. The two assailants were killed in a confrontation with Israeli forces.
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Israeli forces entered the neighborhood of Baheya, where these two attackers lived, and asked residents to leave their homes. The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the UN's warning, dismissing it as a "human rights report" and labeling it as "propaganda evidence" aimed at undermining Israel's right to self-defense and discrediting the Jewish state.
International Reactions and Humanitarian Consequences
Volker Turk, the UN Human Rights Chief, stated in a press release that Israel's "aggressive" operations have led to the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians, destruction of homes and businesses, and deprivation of residents' ability to move freely. He added: "The extensive actions taken raise serious concerns about the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force. This must end."
Turk also mentioned that the restrictions have trapped many residents in their homes and nearby neighborhoods. He emphasized: "Statements from senior Israeli government officials indicate that these actions are designed to be punitive and intimidating. This is unacceptable."
In his speech in Cairo, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, expressed deep concern over Israel's actions in the West Bank. He stated: "Evacuations are ongoing, and Palestinians are being driven from their lands. Settler violence is on the rise."
He added: "We are witnessing an increasingly coercive environment that casts a shadow of ethnic cleansing over it. This must come to an end." Guterres emphasized that there will be no lasting peace in the Middle East without the realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
