UN Report: Israel Accused of De Facto Annexation and Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza

In a report published on Thursday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued the harshest accusations against Israel in years. The document points to the systematic destruction of entire neighborhoods and the blocking of humanitarian aid as elements of a strategy aimed at bringing about a permanent demographic change in Gaza. According to experts, these actions, combined with forced displacements, raise legitimate concerns about the implementation of a scenario of ethnic cleansing. At the same time, the report's authors do not spare criticism of Palestinian armed groups. Hamas and other factions have been accused of taking hostages and inhumane treatment of civilians, constituting a gross violation of international humanitarian law. The situation in the occupied territories has remained tense since the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, initiating a decades-long dispute over borders and the right to self-determination of both nations. At the UN Security Council forum, the issue of "creeping annexation" of the West Bank was raised. Rosemary DiCarlo pointed to new regulations by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu that facilitate Israeli settlers acquiring land in areas administered by Palestinians. As many as 85 UN member states signed a joint statement condemning Tel Aviv's unilateral decisions, recognizing them as völkerrechtswidrig – contrary to international law. Israel rejects these accusations, calling UN reports part of a "malicious campaign" of disinformation. „We are witnessing a gradual de facto annexation of the West Bank, where Israel's unilateral steps are constantly changing the landscape and preventing a two-state solution.” — Rosemary DiCarlo Despite intense fighting, Hamas is trying to restore its influence in the enclave by appointing loyalists to key positions and collecting taxes, raising skepticism about the post-war order. Meanwhile, the United States is pushing a plan to stabilize the Region, considering the construction of a military base for 5,000 soldiers, which has met with fierce opposition from Egypt and Jordan. The situation is complicated by reports of blocked medical evacuation for thousands of seriously ill Palestinians, deepening the catastrophe in the region. Signatories of the statement: 85, Remaining countries: 108 85 — UN member states condemned Israel's settlement plans