UN warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ in West Bank
The United Nations has raised serious concerns that Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank could amount to “ethnic cleansing,” following the displacement of more than 36,000 Palestinians over the past year. According to a report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, this represents an unprecedented scale of forced transfer in the territory and may violate international humanitarian law.
The report documents a rise in violence, harassment, and destruction of Palestinian homes and farmland, allegedly involving both Israeli settlers and security forces. Volker Türk stated that Israeli authorities have played a central role in enabling or supporting these actions. The findings suggest a broader, coordinated policy aimed at the long-term displacement of Palestinians, particularly in northern areas where Israeli military operations intensified in early 2025.
At the same time, Israel has significantly expanded settlement activity across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, approving tens of thousands of new housing units and establishing dozens of new outposts. While Israel says its military campaign targets armed groups, most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law.
The report also highlights a sharp increase in settler violence, with over 1,700 incidents recorded during the reporting period. Human rights groups say such attacks often go unpunished, while Israeli officials describe them as the actions of a small minority.
The UN is calling for an immediate halt to settlement expansion, the return of displaced Palestinians, and an end to forced evictions and land confiscation. It warns that the unlawful transfer of civilians could constitute a war crime and, in some cases, a crime against humanity.
