MSF has warned of the risk of "ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank due to the violence of settlers

Médecins sans frontières (Médecins sans frontières) warned on Thursday of the risk of "ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank due to the "forced mass displacement" of Palestinians by the army and Israeli settlers.

The organization has denounced in a statement that its groups have witnessed the "blatant practices" imposed by the Israeli occupation, which it has lamented prevent any possibility of the expulsion and return of Palestinians from its territory, such as the demolition of homes and restrictions on mobility, preventing medical, educational and water supplies.

"The risk of ethnic cleansing, with the forced displacement of Palestinian communities, will consolidate permanent demographic change," said Simona Onidi, coordinator of Jenin and MSF projects in Tulkarem.

The organization noted that in April and May 246 people, including at least 97 children, were forcibly displaced from 12 villages in the Hebron Governorate in the southern West Bank after their homes were destroyed.

In this regard, it has criticized the plan to build 3,410 homes for settlers approved by Israel in the so-called E1 area of the West Bank, which would completely divide the West Bank, as it would block the north of the south, separating East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.

"This is one of the clearest attempts by the Israeli authorities to end any future vision of Palestine," the organization stressed.

MSF has also reported that the Palestinian population suffers mobility restrictions, as settlers establish "unpredictable" checkpoints and restrict access to "essential health care, school, work and other services".

It has indicated that since May the public water supply in Hebron has been reduced to 50% by Israel, due to a reduction in supply caused by pipe cuts, affecting nearly 800,000 people.

The organization calls on Governments, especially those with close political, military or economic ties with Israel, to "exert strong pressure to put an end to practices that displace and harm Palestinians by force" and to ensure the end of "illegal occupation under international law".