UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned of the repercussions of Israel's ongoing military operation, underway since Friday, in the city of Hebron in the West Bank, which has resulted in the forced displacement of more than 2,000 Palestinians, the destruction of homes and commercial property, and the denial of residents' freedom of movement.
Türk said the wide-scale Israeli measures raise serious concerns about the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force, stressing the need to halt these practices.
He explained that the restrictions and closures imposed by the occupation authorities are trapping large numbers of residents inside their homes and residential neighbourhoods, noting that statements by senior officials in the Israeli government indicate that the measures taken are punitive in nature and aimed at spreading fear among the population, which is unacceptable.
Türk stressed the need to allow the displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and to ensure their compensation and redress for the harm caused by unlawful evacuations and demolitions and the resulting displacement, emphasising that collective punishment constitutes a grave violation of international law.
