'Ethnic cleansing' concerns over West Bank operation - UN

Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, launched after a deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen, raises serious concerns of "ethnic cleansing", the United Nations has warned. The municipality in Hebron, the Palestinian territory's largest city, said in a statement that 3,189 people had been forced from their homes by the ongoing operation.

It followed Friday's attack in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers at a checkpoint near the city, just days before the Israeli elections. The gunmen were killed in a shootout. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged a major operation in response.

Israeli troops soon entered the Hebron neighbourhood of Ein Deir Baha, where the assailants lived and ordered residents to leave. The attack near Hebron happened on Friday Israel's military told AFP it had arrested 40 people throughout the West Bank, including 20 in the Hebron area, after conducting searches in more than 400 sites since the start of the operation.

It added the operation "is expected to continue for several days" and would focus on the area where the attackers came from, Ein Deir Baha. UN rights chief Volker Türk said that Israel's "aggressive operation" had resulted in "demolished homes and commercial property, and deprived residents of the ability to move freely".

"Those who have been displaced must be allowed to return home," he said in a statement. "Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing," he added. Mr Türk said the "sweeping steps taken raise grave concerns of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force - which must end".

He said the lockdown was confining many people to their homes and immediate neighbourhoods. "Declarations by senior Israeli government officials indicate that the measures implemented are punitive in nature and designed to instil fear," he said, adding "this is unacceptable". Mr Türk said: "Those who have been displaced must be allowed to return home.

"Israel must ensure compensation and reparation for unlawful evictions and demolitions, and associated displacement. "Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. "Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing." UN Secretary General António Guterres said 'settler violence is surging' Speaking earlier in Cairo, UN Secretary General António Guterres said he was deeply alarmed by Israeli actions in the West Bank.

"Evictions are unrelenting with Palestinians driven from their lands. Settler violence is surging," he said. He added: "We are seeing an increasingly coercive environment, with the spectre of ethnic cleansing looming ever larger.

"This must end." Mr Guterres said there could be no durable peace in the Middle East "without the realisation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination". Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported a disagreement between Israel's military chief and its political leaders over the length of the operation.

Kan said that during a situational assessment, military Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir called for the operation to come to an end yesterday, arguing the military had done what it set out to do. Citing a military source, Kan reported that Mr Netanyahu demanded that the military operation continue regardless.

Mr Netanyahu was forced to deny reports of a confrontation with Mr Zamir over possible military action against Iran , on the final day of campaigning before tomorrow's general election. Last night, Israel's Channel 12 reported Mr Zamir had resisted carrying out unspecified military action relating to Iran and asked the prime minister for signed legal authorisation.

Mr Netanyahu dismissed the report, saying "there was no such confrontation".