The recent forced displacement of around 200 Palestinians, including 78 children, from the village of Ein Samiya has once again highlighted the issue of ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank. The villagers, who have been living in the Jordan Valley for decades, decided to leave their homes due to the constant violence unleashed by illegal Israeli settlers and occupation forces.
Ein Samiya falls under Area C of the West Bank, which is under complete Israeli military administration. The villagers were never allowed to build permanent homes and infrastructure, in violation of the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993. These accords divided the West Bank into three areas, with the Israeli occupation continuously violating them.
In recent years, the Palestinians in Ein Samiya faced violence from nearby settlers, with Israeli authorities often protecting the settlers and demolishing Palestinian homes, schools, and other infrastructure. This harassment, along with the construction of illegal settlements, gradually forced Palestinian families to leave the village.
The displacement of the villagers has been condemned by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who described it as "racist" and "ethnic cleansing." Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem labeled it illegal and a war crime. This forced displacement is not an isolated incident; similar tactics are being used in other areas such as Masafer Yatta, Sheikh Jarrah, and the Negev desert.
These actions reflect Israel's systematic policy of expanding illegal settlements and stealing Palestinian land. The international community must take a stand against these violations of human rights and work towards a just and lasting resolution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.