'Israel' expanding, consolidating settlements in West Bank: Turk
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The UN human rights office has sounded the alarm over "Israel's" escalating settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
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FILE - A general view of the Israeli settlement of Efrat, Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (AP)
The United Nations human rights office has accused "Israel" of rapidly expanding and solidifying settlements in the occupied West Bank, further integrating the territory into "Israel" in violation of international law.
A report set to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council later this month highlights concerns over the "annexation of Palestinian land," particularly as US policies under President Donald Trump have shifted and new settler outposts have emerged in areas designated for a future Palestinian state.
“The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime,” UN High Commissioner Volker Turk stated, calling on the international community to take decisive action against "Israel’s" settlement expansion.
“Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers,” Turk emphasized.
"Israel" withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year, citing what it alleged as persistent anti-"Israel" bias.
UN rapporteur warns of 'mass ethnic cleansing' in West Bank
Earlier today, a senior United Nations human rights official issued a stark warning about the ongoing threat of mass ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank, as "Israel" continues its aggressive campaign to take over Palestinian territory and forcibly displace its residents.
In her remarks, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, emphasized that the risk of "Israel" carrying out "mass ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank is "real". She highlighted that such actions would amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and potentially genocide, according to international law.
Albanese's warning comes amid a large-scale Israeli assault on the West Bank, the longest of its kind since the second Palestinian Intifada. This offensive has displaced over 40,000 Palestinians, predominantly from refugee camps, in just a few weeks. The aggression, which includes airstrikes, bulldozers, and the destruction of villages and infrastructure, is forcibly displacing Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank.
'A genocidal campaign'
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory also pointed out that the Israeli actions are part of a broader strategy aimed at creating a "Greater Israel", free of Palestinians. To achieve this goal, she said, the Israeli government is relying on forced displacement and the ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, Albanese referred to "Israel’s" actions as a "genocidal campaign" designed to erase the Palestinian nation. She called on the international community to fulfill its obligations to protect Palestinians, citing the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) Advisory Opinion, which declared "Israel’s" occupation of Palestinian territories "unlawful" and found that its actions constitute "apartheid" and "racial segregation".
The ICJ ruling demands that "Israel" take all necessary steps to prevent genocide and hold accountable those inciting such crimes in the occupied territories.
Last week, Albanese stated that the world is witnessing "Israel" repeat in the West Bank the same actions it has taken in Gaza, with a clear goal of forcing Palestinians off their land, while Arab nations and the international community stand by without intervention.
Israeli settler and forces attack Palestinians in West Bank raids
Israeli settlers, backed by occupation forces, launched on Monday attacks on Palestinians and their homes across the occupied West Bank.
According to the WAFA news agency, settlers, supported by Israeli soldiers, assaulted Palestinians in Wadi Hilweh, part of the East al-Quds neighborhood of Silwan.
Activist Aref Jaber also reported settler violence in al-Khalil’s Old City, specifically in the Jaber, as-Salaymeh, and Wadi Nasara districts.
During the attacks, 64-year-old Abdul Aziz al-Shantir sustained head injuries when settlers stormed his shop. In Wadi al-Hussein, east of al-Khalil, settlers hurled stones and empty bottles at Palestinian homes.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided the village of Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah, opening fire on a parked vehicle.
Israeli occupation forces continued on Sunday their assault on the city of Tulkarm and its refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, raiding neighborhoods, setting fire to homes, and demolishing residential buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp.
For the 48th consecutive day, Israeli forces stormed several areas of the Tulkarm refugee camp, forcibly expelling Palestinian residents from their homes as part of their ongoing military assault.
Meanwhile, occupation troops deployed additional reinforcements to Tulkarm, moving through the main streets while restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians and vehicles. Military vehicles and bulldozers were also seen in front of buildings seized by Israeli forces on Nablus Street, which have been turned into military outposts.
Simultaneously, Israeli troops opened fire on an ambulance heading toward the Nur Shams refugee camp to evacuate a patient, preventing it from reaching its destination.
More than 12,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from Nur Shams so far, with another 12,000 displaced from the Tulkarm camp.
