The United Nations expressed concern about Israel's recent military operations in the city of Hebron located in the West Bank. This operation was initiated following an armed conflict on Friday that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian forces, with three other soldiers injured.
Severe Criticism from UN Officials
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, stated in a statement on Monday: "Settlements are expanding, evictions are continuously ongoing, and Palestinians are being driven from their lands." He also emphasized the increasing pressure environment overshadowed by the specter of ethnic cleansing.
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Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also condemned Israel's operations, stating that this "aggressive" operation has led to the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians. He added: "Collective punishment is a serious violation of international law, and threats of evacuation and complete erasure of neighborhoods raise serious concerns about ethnic cleansing."
Military Operations and Their Consequences
Israeli forces entered the Deir Bahar neighborhood, where the attackers lived, and asked residents to leave the area. The municipality of Hebron announced that more than 3,000 people, including 200 infants, have been forced to leave the area. The Israeli army stated that this operation will continue to seek out and eliminate terrorist infrastructure and find weapons.
This extensive response to the recent conflict comes on the eve of Israel's general elections on Tuesday, elections that may lead to the end of Benjamin Netanyahu's premiership. Netanyahu has positioned himself as the only one capable of ensuring Israel's security, but his opponents have accused him of lacking a plan.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the UN report on war crimes in the West Bank as "propaganda." They did not consider these findings a "human rights report" and labeled it a document of reality detached from truth, aimed at undermining Israel's right to self-defense and legitimizing jihadist terrorism against its citizens.
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