UN Warns of Possible Ethnic Cleansing in West Bank

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concerns on Tuesday about possible ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank, highlighting Israel's accelerated expansion of settlements and the forced displacement of more than 36,000 Palestinians over the past year.

The report, issued by the office of Volker Türk, covers the 12-month period ending October 31, 2025. It documents a surge in violence by Israeli settlers and security forces against Palestinians, including harassment, intimidation, and the destruction of farmland and homes. According to the report, Israeli authorities have played a central role in directing, participating in, or enabling these actions, contributing to what appears to be a concerted policy of mass forcible transfer aimed at permanent displacement across the occupied territory.

Much of the displacement has occurred in the northern West Bank, where Israel launched a broad military offensive in early 2025. Israeli officials stated that the operation targets militant groups active in the area. The UN report, however, describes the scale of these relocations as unprecedented, amounting to unlawful transfers prohibited under...