UN Warns of Ethnic Cleansing as Israel Expands Military Operations

The United Nations has issued warnings that Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank may amount to ethnic cleansing. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Israel Defense Forces are pushing Palestinians into increasingly smaller areas of Gaza, specifically expanding deployments in Al Shujaiyeh, Gaza City, and Middle Gaza. The UN documented the use of explosive robots to destroy buildings and drones to attack tents, including an October 25 strike at the Al Shujaiyeh junction that displaced 800 people.

In the West Bank, the military demolished the homes of two gunmen in Hebron following an October 23 attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. This operation, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has forcibly displaced over 3,000 Palestinians and resulted in the destruction of factories, roads, and shops. While the military stated it will continue to operate offensively to protect residents, Palestinian officials claim the escalation is intended to bolster Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday's general election.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed grave concerns over the disproportionate use of force and the threat of erasing entire neighborhoods. In Gaza, UN official Ajith Sunghay noted that those displaced before ceasefire announcements have little prospect of returning to areas beyond the so-called yellow line, which the UN asserts Israel treats as a kill zone.