United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office warned on the 15th that in recent weeks, Israeli security forces and settlers have escalated their killings, attacks, and forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, severely violating international law.
Since Israel initiated its “iron wall” operation in the northern West Bank at the beginning of the year, over 30,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes. The Israeli military has repeatedly opened fire on civilians who are unarmed, attempting to return to their homes, using unnecessary or excessive force, even deadly force.
Since October 7, 2023, at least 964 Palestinians have died. In the first half of this year alone, settlers in Israel launched 757 attack incidents, resulting in casualties or property damage, an increase of 13% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, around 1,400 demolition orders were issued by the Israeli military, leaving over 2,900 people homeless. Furthermore, another 2,400 individuals were violently displaced by settlers, nearly half of whom were children.
The United Nations pointed out that systematically expelling civilians constitutes illegal population transfer, seriously violating the Geneva Convention IV, which may also constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity under specific circumstances.
The United Nations calls on Israel to immediately cease its killings, harassment, and demolitions, fulfill its legal obligations as an occupying power, protect Palestinian civilians, eliminate illegal use of force, and conduct independent, transparent investigations and accountability for all death events and violations of international law. (CCTV Yu Peng)