UN accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and occupied West Bank

- The UN Human Rights Office reported that Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank between Nov 1, 2024 and Oct 31, 2025 “appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift,” citing intensified attacks, systematic destruction of neighborhoods and denial of humanitarian aid — together with forcible transfers — that raise concerns of ethnic cleansing. - The report describes unprecedented civilian killing and maiming in Gaza, widespread famine, and destruction of civilian infrastructure, creating conditions that make it increasingly difficult for Palestinians to continue existing there as a group. - It says patterns of deadly attacks raise grave concerns that Israeli forces intentionally targeted civilians or launched attacks knowing civilian harm would be excessive; such acts “would constitute war crimes.” - The report attributes the prevalence of famine and malnutrition directly to Israeli actions that restricted aid, noting at least 463 Palestinians, including 157 children, have died of starvation in Gaza. Use of starvation as a weapon could amount to crimes against humanity, and—if carried out with intent to destroy a protected group in whole or in part—could constitute genocide. - The report follows the wider conflict that began after the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on southern Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people. The UN warned Gaza is “not at peace” and that the West Bank faces a “serious risk of explosion.” A UN-backed report and Gaza health authorities paint a grim picture of the Israel–Palestine conflict. Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israel’s offensive has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10, 2025 — part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war — but both sides repeatedly accuse each other of violating the deal. The conflict in Gaza is described as the deadliest and most destructive in generations. The UN report documents systematic unlawful use of force by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, along with widespread arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment of Palestinians and extensive unlawful home demolitions — actions the report says are used to discriminate against, oppress, control and dominate Palestinians. The report also cites troubling incidents of unnecessary or disproportionate force by the Palestinian Authority. The West Bank, seized by Israel in the 1967 war and sought by Palestinians for a future state, remains largely under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some PA-administered areas.