UN rapporteur warns West Bank on verge of ‘mass ethnic cleansing’
A senior United Nations human rights official has raised alarm over the potential risk of widespread ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. The official cautioned that Israel, as the occupying power, appears to be enacting strategies aimed at annexing the entire Palestinian territory and displacing its residents.
During a statement issued on Monday, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, voiced concerns about the tangible possibility of large-scale ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by Israel in the occupied West Bank. This warning was reported by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
She emphasized that ethnic cleansing encompasses actions that qualify as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and potentially genocide.
A United Nations official has issued a warning amid an extensive Israeli military campaign unfolding in the West Bank over recent weeks. This operation marks the most prolonged Israeli offensive in the region since the second Palestinian Intifada, which took place in the early 2000s.
The recent surge in hostilities has led to the displacement of over 40,000 Palestinians in just a few weeks, with the majority originating from refugee camps located in the occupied West Bank.
Prime Minister Albanese highlighted that recent Israeli military actions in the West Bank involve the use of airstrikes, armored bulldozers, and the deliberate demolition of villages and key infrastructure, significantly affecting agricultural areas.
The United Nations rapporteur highlighted concerns regarding Tel Aviv’s strategy, which is perceived as an effort to establish a so-called “Greater Israel” devoid of Palestinian presence. The rapporteur noted that the strategy appears to depend on the forced displacement and oppression of Palestinian communities to achieve these objectives.
Albanese has expressed concern over Israel’s intentions regarding the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, characterizing the plan as an “ethnic cleansing” effort. He further warned that such actions could amount to a “genocidal campaign” aimed at eliminating the Palestinian nation.
A United Nations official has reiterated her appeal to the global community, urging them to meet their responsibilities in safeguarding Palestinians against annihilation. She emphasized that the sole pathway to achieving this is through the implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
A recent Advisory Opinion has concluded that Israel’s extended occupation of Palestinian territories is deemed “unlawful.” Furthermore, it determined that the substantial division of populations within the occupied West Bank violates international laws against “racial segregation” and “apartheid.”
According to a judicial directive issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel is obligated to implement all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide within the blockaded region and to address and penalize any incitement to genocide, among other mandates.
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asserted that the global community is aware of the Israeli government’s actions in the West Bank, drawing parallels to its strategies in the Gaza Strip. He accused the Israeli administration of attempting to displace Palestinians from their territories. Albanese also criticized Arab nations and the broader international community for their inaction on this issue.
