UN warns of 'ethnic cleansing' risks after Israeli operation in Hebron

The United Nations on Monday warned of serious concerns about what it described as "ethnic cleansing" resulting from the ongoing Israeli military operation in the city of Hebron in the West Bank, following the killing of two Israeli soldiers in an attack carried out by two Palestinian gunmen.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in a statement that "collective punishment is a grave violation of international law," adding that threats to empty entire neighborhoods of their inhabitants and erase them raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was ready to carry out a wide-ranging operation in the West Bank that would include evacuating residents, searching neighborhoods and demolishing infrastructure. From the city of Hebron, Netanyahu said the army would apply inside the cities "the offensive and successful model" that had been implemented in refugee camps.

Netanyahu added that the army would enter the neighborhoods from which the perpetrators had come, evacuate residents, search and demolish what he described as the "infrastructure of terrorism," while also asserting that Hamas was behind the attack, which also left five people injured near Hebron.

"We will pursue Hamas terrorists, and those who send them, anywhere and at any time. You will not find a place to hide," he said, affirming that his forces are acting forcefully and stepping up efforts to thwart attacks and carry out large-scale arrests.

Netanyahu instructed security forces to impose an immediate security cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank from Friday, according to his office.

The Israeli army said it had killed the two attackers and foiled "a terrorist attack" that wounded five people, and said it had prevented an attack against Israeli civilians, noting that the gunmen were armed with an M-16 rifle and a pistol, without providing further details about the alleged target of the attack.

Following that, Israeli forces set up checkpoints and closed several Palestinian towns in the area as part of the security measures taken.