The NEU is appalled by and strongly condemns the Israeli military's assault on Hebron in the occupied West Bank, which began over the weekend of 23 October. This forms part of an escalating pattern of violence, displacement and collective punishment directed at Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces have reportedly forced thousands of Palestinians from their homes, commandeered civilian properties for military use, flattened an entire neighbourhood with bulldozers, and placed the city of Hebron under lockdown.
The assault follows an attack by two Palestinian gunmen last week in which two Israeli soldiers were killed. Human rights groups have condemned the response of the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) as amounting to collective punishment against Palestinian civilians. The collective punishment of a civilian population for the acts of individuals is prohibited under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, while the forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is likewise prohibited under international law.
The forced removal of families, demolition of civilian property and the denial of freedom of movement constitute a grave and ongoing assault on human dignity and fundamental rights. These actions deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis which has further limited access to employment, education, healthcare and other essential services for Palestinians across the occupied West Bank.
Statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have signaled the likelihood of further military aggression. The scale of military operations he has indicated would escalate military action in the West Bank to a scale not seen in the region in decades.
The NEU urgently calls on the UK Government to:
- Publicly condemn and press for an immediate end to the collective punishment and forced displacement taking place in Hebron and across the occupied West Bank.
- Demand that Israel lift the closure of the city of Hebron, allow displaced families to return to their homes, and allow access for independent journalists, humanitarian organisations and human rights monitors.
- Use all diplomatic and economic means to press Israel to comply with international law, including suspending the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement and ending all military cooperation and arms trade until international law is respected.
- Support independent international investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and back efforts to ensure accountability for all breaches of international law committed in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The NEU reaffirms that international law must be upheld consistently and without exception, and those who violate the law must be held accountable for all violations. We want a peaceful resolution in which both Palestinians and Israelis can live lives of dignity, in peace and safety. A just and lasting peace can only be achieved through respect for human rights, equality and self-determination for all.