Israel's West Bank moves 'may be collective punishment'

Revoking permits to enter Israel will boost sense of injustice among them, top UN official's office says. 

Israel has sent hundreds of troops to the occupied West Bank after Wednesday's attack

Israel's cancellation of entry permits for Palestinians following a deadly attack in Tel Aviv may amount to collective punishment, which is banned under international law, according to the office of the UN's top human rights official.


The Israeli military on Thursday revoked permits for 83,000 Palestinians to visit Israel and said it would send hundreds more troops to the occupied West Bank, a day after a gun attack that killed four Israelis and wounded five in Tel Aviv. The two suspects were reportedly Palestinian and disguised as Orthodox Jews.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's office condemned the attack, but also expressed deep concern about the revoking of permits.