Hebron: Türk calls for disproportionate force to end and displaced residents to return
The UN human rights chief voices grave concern over Israel’s operation and threats to empty neighbourhoods. Assessments are attributed to the complete official statement of 26 October.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called for force he describes as unnecessary and disproportionate to end in Hebron in the West Bank, in an official statement dated 26 October 2026.
According to the OHCHR release, Israel’s operation since Friday has forcibly displaced more than 2,000 Palestinians, demolished homes and commercial property and restricted freedom of movement. This is the account presented by the High Commissioner, rather than an independent AppiSToS count.
Return and compensation
Türk calls for displaced residents to be allowed to return home and urges Israel to ensure compensation and reparation for unlawful evictions, demolitions and associated displacement.
He says the lockdown confines many residents to their homes and immediate neighbourhoods, while statements by senior Israeli officials indicate that the measures are punitive.
Warning about neighbourhoods
The High Commissioner describes collective punishment as a grave violation of international law. He also warns that threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing. These are Türk’s assessments and warnings; the release is neither a judicial ruling nor a UN Security Council decision.
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