UN Warns of Potential Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza and West Bank

The United Nations has raised alarm over Israel’s intensified military actions and forced displacement of Palestinians, warning that these measures may amount to ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank.

According to a UN human rights report covering November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025, Israel’s military conduct during the Gaza war, coupled with its blockade of the territory, has created living conditions increasingly incompatible with Palestinians’ continued existence as a group in Gaza.

The report states that “intensified attacks, the systematic destruction of entire neighborhoods, and the denial of humanitarian aid appear aimed at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza.” It added that forcible transfers targeting permanent displacement have heightened concerns over ethnic cleansing.

In the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem, the UN cited the “systematic use of unlawful force” by Israeli security forces, widespread arbitrary detention, and extensive unlawful demolitions of Palestinian homes. These actions, the report notes, appear designed to discriminate against, oppress, and dominate the Palestinian population, altering the character, status, and demographic composition of the region.