The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights believes that Israel aims to bring about “permanent demographic change” in the West Bank and Gaza

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Thursday, in a speech, that Israel aims to create “permanent demographic change in the West Bank and Gaza, raising fears of “ethnic cleansing.”

Published on: 02/26/2026 - 17:29

In a speech before the UN Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed Thursday that Israel's actions in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, including military operations leading to displacement, aim to bring about "permanent demographic change."

“The combined Israeli measures appear to be aimed at creating permanent demographic change in Gaza and the West Bank, raising fears of ethnic cleansing,” Turk said.

The UN official referred in particular to the Israeli military operation that has been ongoing for a year in the northern West Bank, which caused the displacement of 32,000 Palestinians.