Hebron displacement spikes as West Bank violence reaches record levels

Since Friday, Oct. 23, Israeli forces have evacuated more than 3,000 Palestinians from the city of Hebron, demolishing homes and commercial premises and restricting movement in the area. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that aid partners are working with local authorities to meet the basic needs of those displaced. UN human‑rights chief Volker Türk described the operation as “aggressive” and warned that the sweeping steps raise grave concerns of ethnic cleansing. He called for the immediate return of all displaced residents and for compensation for unlawful evictions.

Violence across the occupied territories has intensified. OCHA recorded more than 2,000 settler attacks in the West Bank since the start of 2026, many of which have damaged property and disrupted the olive harvest. In Gaza, arson attacks have targeted families living along the so‑called “yellow line.” About 200 families were displaced after a fire engulfed a UN site in Deir al Balah, and at least nine households lost shelters in the Ash Shuja’iyyeh neighbourhood of Gaza City. Additionally, three separate shooting incidents were reported near UN schools and a UN convoy.

Independent UN investigators have concluded that Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent Hebron operation. The commission’s chair, Srinivasan Muralidhar, said the pattern of killings, demolitions and forced displacement reflects a broader strategy that threatens the existence of Palestinian communities. In response, the UN rights chief has urged Israel to end collective punishment, allow displaced persons to return, and provide reparations. Humanitarian agencies, coordinated by OCHA, continue to deliver assistance to the thousands affected in Hebron, Gaza and the wider West Bank.