GENEVA: The United Nations has called on Israel to immediately halt its expanding settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, warning that the scale of Palestinian displacement over the past year raises serious concerns, including the risk of “ethnic cleansing.” The appeal follows a new report by the UN human rights office documenting developments over the 12 months leading up to October 31.
Mass Displacement on an Unprecedented Scale
According to the report, more than 36,000 Palestinians were displaced in the occupied West Bank during the period under review, marking what the UN described as an “unprecedented” level of forced displacement in the territory. The findings suggest that such large-scale expulsions may constitute unlawful transfer under international humanitarian law.
The report further noted that, when viewed alongside widespread displacement in Gaza, the pattern appears to indicate a broader policy aimed at the permanent displacement of Palestinians across occupied territories, raising alarm over potential violations of international law.
Expansion of Settlements and Annexation Concerns
The UN highlighted a sharp increase in Israeli settlement activity, pointing to the approval or advancement of nearly 37,000 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem and approximately 27,200 additional units across the rest of the West Bank.
It also documented the establishment of 84 new settlement outposts during the reporting period, bringing the total number to over 300. These developments, the report stated, are contributing significantly to the displacement of Palestinian communities and altering the demographic and geographic realities on the ground.
Under international law, Israeli settlements in occupied territories are widely considered illegal, a position consistently maintained by the United Nations.
Rising Violence and Casualties
Violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply since the October 7, 2023 attacks linked to Hamas. The UN report recorded 1,732 incidents of settler-related violence over the past year, a notable increase compared to 1,400 incidents in the previous reporting period.
According to Palestinian health authorities, at least 1,045 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied territory since October 2023. The report also noted a recent surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers, particularly following the escalation of regional conflict since late February.
UN Warning of Possible War Crimes
The UN human rights office stressed that the unlawful transfer of protected populations is a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and may constitute a war crime. In certain circumstances, it added, such actions could also amount to crimes against humanity.
Volker Turk urged Israel to immediately cease all settlement expansion and reverse ongoing projects. He also called for the evacuation of settlers from occupied areas and an end to the occupation, alongside measures to allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
Threat to Vulnerable Communities
The report also raised particular concern about Bedouin communities living northeast of East Jerusalem, warning that ongoing settlement expansion and land confiscation are placing thousands at increased risk of displacement.
The UN reiterated its call for an immediate end to practices such as forced evictions, house demolitions, and land seizures, stressing that these actions are exacerbating humanitarian conditions and undermining prospects for stability in the region.
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