UN Officials Criticize Israeli Military Operation in West Bank

The United Nations has voiced significant concern regarding a large-scale Israeli military operation currently underway in the West Bank city of Hebron. The operation follows a deadly shootout last Friday that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen, with three additional soldiers sustaining injuries. Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the West Bank and the demolition of specific buildings.

UN Response

UN officials have issued sharp criticism of the military activities, citing humanitarian concerns:

• Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: Stated on X that expanding settlements and evictions are creating a coercive environment, warning of the risk of ethnic cleansing.
• UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk: Condemned the "aggressive operation," noting the displacement of thousands of residents and the destruction of homes and commercial properties. Türk characterized the actions as potential collective punishment, which violates international law.

Operation Details

According to reports from the Hebron municipality, residents in the Deir Baha neighborhood were ordered to evacuate, affecting approximately 3,000 people, including infants. The Israeli military described its actions as targeted searches aimed at dismantling "terrorist infrastructure" and locating weapons, stating that operations in Deir Baha were expected to continue for several days.

Official Reactions

The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected a recent UN report accusing the state of war crimes, labeling the document as "propaganda." The ministry stated that the report serves to undermine Israel's right to self-defense and delegitimize the state while failing to acknowledge threats from jihadist terrorism. Readers should monitor official statements from the Israeli military and UN channels for further developments regarding this ongoing situation.