Amnesty International Accuses Israel of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ in West Bank

Palestinian students walked home after receiving their year-end reports on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in the West Bank Bedouin hamlets of Khan al-Ahmar. This scene underscores a larger issue highlighted by Amnesty International, which accused Israel of conducting a campaign of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. The accusation was detailed in a 149-page report, which argues that this displacement is part of a deliberate state policy.

Report Findings

The report claims the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank is not merely the work of violent settlers. Instead, Amnesty International suggests the Israeli government supports these actions. While settlers establish outposts on Palestinian land, Amnesty argues these activities are part of a broader state-led strategy. The international community largely sees these settlements as illegal. Israel, however, considers the West Bank disputed territory, meant for future negotiations.

The United Nations reported that over 100 West Bank villages have been wholly or partially evacuated between January 2023 and April 2026. During the same period, more than 7,280 Palestinians faced displacement due to the demolition of homes and structures by Israeli forces.

Israeli Government’s Stance

Israel has previously dismissed these charges, including those of ‘ethnic cleansing,’ as biased. The government did not immediately respond to the current report. Agnès Callamard, the head of Amnesty International, stated, “These abuses are not the result of a few ‘bad apples.’ Settler violence is a core component of a state-sanctioned campaign of ethnic cleansing.” She described the situation as a deliberate annexation that defies international law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government has concentrated support from settler leaders. Key ministers advocate for formal annexation of West Bank territories. Over 700,000 Israelis reside in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas captured by Israel during the 1967 Mideast war. They are claimed by Palestinians as part of their future state. Amnesty reported the Israeli parliament (Knesset) has proposed several bills to extend Israeli civil law over settlement areas.

Impact on Communities

According to rights groups, Palestinian Bedouin communities in the West Bank face severe displacement due to settler violence and land seizure. These events have intensified since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Bedouin herding communities, particularly in remote areas, are vulnerable. Compared to urban Palestinians, these communities often cannot resist the pressure from armed settlers establishing new outposts.

Peace Now, an anti-settlement monitoring group, reported that of at least 363 outposts in the West Bank, 212 have been established since 2023. Although built without Israeli authority approval, these outposts are sometimes legalized retroactively.

Amnesty’s report examined 27 hamlets and villages affected by displacement from 2023 to 2025. Researchers interviewed Palestinians and lawyers, reviewed over 420 videos, and analyzed various reports. The international community, Amnesty argues, has failed to intervene effectively to stop the displacement. Dror Etkes of the settlement watchdog Kerem Navot noted that since October 2023, settlers have taken about 12.5% of West Bank land.