RAMALLAH, March 19, 2026 (WAFA) – United Nations experts condemned the accelerating pace of ethnic cleansing and annexation carried out by Israel, the occupying power, in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the forced displacement of Palestinians, amid escalating violence by Israeli forces and colonists.
In a statement, the experts said that, in the context of the conflicts with Iran and Lebanon, Israel is intensifying its ethnic cleansing and annexation of the West Bank.
They added that “since February 28, Israeli forces have closed most of the West Bank crossings, obstructing access to workplaces, schools, health services, and aid, and isolating communities even from ambulances and fire trucks.”
UN experts stated, “Entire communities live in constant fear of colonist terrorism that wreaks havoc in the West Bank day and night, effectively besieging and isolating them from the outside world.”
They added that “thousands of Palestinian families have been forced to flee their homes due to escalating settler attacks and the destruction of essential infrastructure, particularly in the Jordan Valley, where some were displaced months ago.”
The UN experts also expressed grave concern over reports of sexual assaults perpetrated against Palestinians by colonists. They said that colonists draw their incitement from hate speech disseminated by high-ranking Israeli government officials and from the widespread impunity for blatant attacks that kill and injure Palestinians, including children and the elderly.
They noted that colonists target Palestinian homes, vehicles, and livestock, and vandalize crops, olive trees, and vital water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
UN experts noted that colonists threatened and physically assaulted anyone attempting to protect Palestinian villages and families, including Israeli volunteers.
They stated that "between February 3 and 16, at least 86 attacks by colonists against Palestinians occurred in 60 locations. On March 2, armed colonist groups, accompanied by Israeli military forces, raided the village of Qaryut in the Nablus Governorate, resulting in the killing of two Palestinians and injuries to others. Ambulances were unable to reach and evacuate the wounded for over an hour due to road closures by Israel."
They emphasized that this is "an example of the coordinated implementation of Israel's annexation and ethnic cleansing policies by the occupying forces and colonists; they are two sides of the same coin."
They further noted that "recent reports revealing the provision of weapons and vehicles to these groups (colonists) confirm evidence indicating that the Israeli authorities rely on illegal colonists to pave the way for ethnic cleansing."
They condemned the remarks of the extremist Israeli minister, Ben-Gvir, who claimed that “Jews are above the law in the West Bank,” while simultaneously granting gun licenses to colonists in occupied East Jerusalem.
The UN experts stated, “Just a few weeks ago, we condemned the Israeli government’s plan to displace and seize Palestinian land, expand and encourage the establishment of illegal settlements, and register Palestinian land as Israeli property.”
“We called on states to end the illegal occupation, in compliance with the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and General Assembly resolution ES-10/24. Regrettably, states have failed to stop Israel’s crimes, thus encouraging impunity and giving it a green light to continue its atrocities against Palestinians.”
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