Amnesty International accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in West Bank

Amnesty International has accused Israel of carrying out, supporting, or tolerating the forced displacement of Bedouin and pastoralist populations in Area C of the West Bank, labeling these actions a "crime against humanity."

The human rights organization's report, published Wednesday, states that 27 Bedouin communities have been forcibly displaced between 2023 and 2025, or are currently under threat of expulsion. Area C, which constitutes about 60% of the West Bank, remains under Israeli civil and security control according to the Oslo Accords. Amnesty International characterizes these dynamics as "ethnic cleansing" and a "crime against humanity of forced transfer."

The NGO's findings are based on testimonies, field observations, and official documents, linking Israeli public policies, including calls for settlement expansion, with administrative measures aimed at "minimizing the Palestinian presence" in the area. This comes amid a significant escalation of violence in the West Bank since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. UN data indicates an average of six settler attacks per day since January.

While Israel generally rejects the notion of a coordinated state policy, attributing aggressions to isolated individuals, Amnesty and other international observers believe that certain political discourse and decisions foster an environment that encourages such violence and expulsions. The report highlights the vulnerability of Bedouin and pastoralist communities, often isolated and lacking adequate protection, making them susceptible to settler pressure and administrative measures. Journalists have documented forced departures, with one community leader lamenting the destruction of the Bedouin way of life, culture, and identity.

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The ethnic cleansing campaign is being carried out and supported by the (Israeli) state, and not by 'rogue' settlers or ministers.