OMM Newsroom
UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Monday called on Israel to end what he described as the “unnecessary and disproportionate use of force” in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, where more than 2,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced since Friday, Anadolu Agency reported.
In a statement, Türk said the Israeli operation had led to the demolition of residential and commercial properties and severe restrictions on residents’ freedom of movement.
“The sweeping steps taken raise grave concerns of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force – which must end,” he said.
Türk warned that the Israeli lockdown had confined many Palestinians to their homes and surrounding neighborhoods. He added that statements by senior Israeli officials suggested the measures were punitive and intended to instill fear.
“This is unacceptable,” he said.
Türk called for displaced Palestinians to be allowed to return to their homes and urged Israel to provide compensation and reparations for unlawful evictions, demolitions and the resulting displacement.
“Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law,” he said.
He also warned that threats to empty and erase entire neighborhoods raised “serious concerns of ethnic cleansing.”
