What happened
According to a report by Dawn, the United Nations has expressed grave concerns that an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Hebron could amount to ethnic cleansing. The military action was launched after an incident on Friday in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near Hebron before being killed in a shootout. The attack occurred days ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for Tuesday.
In response, Israeli troops entered the Ein Deir Baha neighborhood of Hebron, where the two gunmen lived, and commanded residents to pack their belongings and vacate the area.
Key facts
Based on the report by Dawn, key developments and official statements include:
- Humanitarian Impact: The Hebron municipality reported that 3,189 people have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to the ongoing military intervention.
- Property Damage and Restrictions: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk reported that the aggressive military actions have resulted in the demolition of homes and commercial properties, alongside a lockdown restricting residents' movement.
- Violations of International Law: Türk stated that declarations from senior Israeli officials indicate the measures are punitive and intended to cause fear. He warned that collective punishment and threats to erase neighborhoods violate international law, demanding that displaced residents be allowed to return and receive compensation.
- Broader West Bank Concerns: Speaking in Cairo, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of unrelenting evictions, rising settler violence, and an increasingly coercive environment across the West Bank.
Why it matters
The warnings from top UN officials underscore severe concerns over collective punishment, forced evictions, and disproportionate force in the region. Secretary-General Guterres stressed that lasting peace in the Middle East remains unattainable without realizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Specific responses from Israeli military authorities regarding the UN statements were not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 26, 2026 · Photo by Sushanta Rokka on Unsplash