UN Sounds Alarm Over Israel's Displacement Operation in Hebron
Source reports published 26 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 27 Oct 2026, 6:56 am AEST
Following a deadly attack, Israeli forces have displaced nearly 2,000 Palestinians from Hebron, demolishing buildings and forcing residents to evacuate their homes. The UN has expressed serious concerns about potential ethnic cleansing and violations of international law.
What happened
- In response to a gun attack on an Israeli military checkpoint in Hebron on Friday, Israeli forces initiated a large-scale military operation targeting the neighbourhood of Farsh al-Hawa, where the attackers were killed.
- Within hours, the entire city of 250,000 people was sealed off, and the Farsh al-Hawa area, home to at least one of the gunmen, was flattened by bulldozers.
- Residents, including 2,000 individuals, were ordered to evacuate, with many being woken at midnight and instructed to leave immediately.
- Approximately 3,189 people, including 200 babies and 204 elderly, were displaced.
- The operation, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aimed to demolish buildings and dismantle terrorist infrastructure.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm over the expanding settlements and evictions, citing a "coercive environment" and concerns of ethnic cleansing.
- UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk condemned the "aggressive operation" and the displacement of Palestinians, highlighting the violation of international law and the threat of collective punishment.
Original reporting
- Guardian: ‘It’s collective punishment’: nearly 2,000 Palestinians in Hebron displaced as Israeli forces take over homes
2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00 - Al Jazeera: Palestinians are opening their doors to the displaced of besieged Hebron
2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00 - Deutsche Welle: UN sounds the alarm over Israel's Hebron military operation
2026-10-26T20:56:30.253000+00:00 - France 24 English: UN cites 'ethnic cleansing' concerns around Israel's Palestinian displacement operation in Hebron
2026-10-26T17:59:03+00:00