Israel accused of “extermination” in the West Bank

 

TT-AFP

Published 18:14

 

An Israeli soldier during an operation in Hebron, in the West Bank, last Saturday. Photo: Mahmoud Illean/AP/TT

Israel has committed crimes against humanity—including “extermination”—in the West Bank, according to an independent group of experts linked to the UN.

While the group does not speak on behalf of the UN, it was established under a mandate from the UN Human Rights Council in 2021. Last year, in a report, they concluded that Israel’s conduct of war in the Gaza Strip constitutes genocide—a position they maintain in this new report.

They now assert that Israeli authorities and forces have carried out “widespread and systematic attacks” against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. According to the group, acts of violence by Israeli settlers form part of these attacks.

The experts state that Israeli authorities have intended to “collectively punish” civilians in the West Bank following the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023.

“Extermination, torture, rape”

According to the report, the crimes against humanity committed in the West Bank include “extermination, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence,” as well as “persecution” based on several interconnected grounds. Israel is also accused of committing war crimes in the West Bank. Israel’s UN ambassador dismisses the report—which addresses both Israeli and Palestinian abuses—as part of a “disinformation campaign intended to demonize the State of Israel,” and calls for the expert group to be disbanded.

Jurist and human rights defender Navanethem “Navi” Pillay—who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year—served on the expert panel from 2021 to 2025.

“Concerns regarding ethnic cleansing”

Meanwhile, Israel is facing criticism from UN human rights chief Volker Türk over its ongoing military operation in Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, where thousands of people have reportedly been driven from their homes. The military operation has been described as a response to the fatal shooting of three Israeli soldiers last Friday. The suspected perpetrators, who were shot and killed by the military, were two Palestinians.

“Collective punishment is a serious violation of international law. Threats to empty and demolish entire neighborhoods also raise serious concerns regarding ethnic cleansing,” Türk stated.