West Bank: Hebron crackdown displaces thousands, Türk warns of ethnic cleansing

Israel’s “aggressive operation” in the West Bank city of Hebron raises serious concerns of ethnic cleansing, UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned on Monday, as the number of Palestinians forced from their homes passed 3,000 on the eve of Israeli elections.The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said aid partners are supporting local authorities in Hebron to meet the needs of more than 3,000 people evacuated by Israeli forces since Friday.Mr. Türk said the operation had demolished homes and commercial property, and deprived residents of the ability to move freely.The operation began after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron on Friday, killing two soldiers and wounding three others. Both gunmen were killed.“The sweeping steps taken raise grave concerns of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force – which must end,” Mr. Türk said in a statement.Punishment ‘designed to instil fear’The Israeli lockdown is confining many people to their homes and immediate neighbourhoods, the UN rights chief said.“Declarations by senior Israeli Government officials indicate that the measures implemented are punitive in nature and designed to instil fear....