UN Report Accuses Israel of Ethnic Cleansing and Settler Violence on West Bank

Amnesty International released a report alleging that Israel is conducting an "ethnic cleansing" campaign against Bedouin and shepherd communities in the occupied West Bank. The report states that between 2023 and 2025, 27 Palestinian communities faced forced displacement or the threat of it, and that Israeli authorities have accelerated settlement expansion, providing financial and logistical support to settlers.

A United Nations commission’s investigation corroborates these claims, documenting a 130% surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and agricultural land since 2023. The UN report records at least seven Palestinians killed and 832 injured in the past year, citing incidents such as the kidnapping of a 12‑year‑old girl and her brother. It also notes that Israeli security forces routinely protect settlers during these attacks, blurring the line between civilian settlers and the military.

Israel denies the allegations, claiming any wrongdoing is investigated sparingly, while the international community and the International Court of Justice consider the settlements illegal under international law. The findings call for increased pressure on Israel to halt settlement activity and protect Palestinian civilians.