Un Reports Israel'S Actions Aim For Demographic Change In Palestine

In a recent address to the UN Human Rights Council, UN rights chief Volker Turk stated that Israel's actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip appear to be aimed at creating a 'permanent demographic change,' raising serious concerns about ethnic cleansing. Turk highlighted the ongoing military operation in northern West Bank, which has displaced approximately 32,000 Palestinians, and noted the increasing harassment of Bedouin communities by Israeli settlers. He remarked, 'Taken together, Israel's actions appear aimed at making a permanent demographic change in Gaza and the West Bank,' emphasizing the urgency of the situation as the Israeli government accelerates settlement expansions, approving a record 54 settlements in 2025, according to the NGO Peace Now. Furthermore, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led to most of its 2.2 million residents being displaced at least once since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, with intensified attacks and destruction of neighborhoods contributing to a dire humanitarian situation.