The head of the United Nations and the UN human rights commissioner sharply criticized Israel on Monday over a military operation in the occupied West Bank. The operation was launched following a shootout on Friday that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen, while injuring three other Israeli soldiers.
UN Condemns Settlements and Displacement
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in a social media post on Monday that settlements are expanding and evictions are continuing while Palestinians are forced off their lands. He added that the environment is becoming increasingly coercive with the threat of ethnic cleansing growing larger.
UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk also released a statement condemning the Israeli actions. Türk stated that the aggressive operation forced thousands of Palestinians from their homes, destroyed residential and commercial properties, and restricted the free movement of residents.
Türk emphasized that collective punishment violates international law and that threats to empty and erase entire neighborhoods raise serious concerns regarding ethnic cleansing. Meanwhile, a UN report released on Monday accused Israel of committing war crimes in the West Bank.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the report, labeling it as propaganda. The ministry stated that the findings did not constitute a human rights report but rather a propaganda document detached from reality, designed to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense, delegitimize the Jewish state, and legitimize jihadist terrorism.
Details of the Hebron Operation
Israeli troops moved into the Deir Baha neighborhood, where the attackers lived, and commanded residents to pack their belongings and depart. According to the Hebron municipality, over 3,000 people, including 200 infants, received orders to leave.
The Israeli military reported over the weekend that its forces were conducting precise, targeted, and thorough searches to locate and dismantle terrorist infrastructure, find weapons, and question suspects in Hebron. The military noted that the operation was slated to continue for several days with a focus on Deir Baha.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to demolish buildings in Hebron and close off the West Bank just days ahead of Israel’s general election on Tuesday. Netanyahu has positioned himself as the sole guarantor of Israeli safety, though his opponents have criticized him for lacking a clear plan as the election approaches and potentially threatens his premiership.
