UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank

“Israeli settlers and security forces have intensified their killings, attacks and harassment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in the past weeks. This includes the demolition of hundreds of homes and forced mass displacement of Palestinians, contributing to the ongoing consolidation of annexation of West Bank territory by Israel, in violation of international law,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson at the UN biweekly press briefing in Geneva.

Since the launch of Israel’s operation “Iron Wall” in the north of the occupied West Bank earlier this year, about 30,000 Palestinians remain forcibly displaced. Israeli forces have shot live ammunition at unarmed Palestinians, including those attempting to go back to their homes in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams.

“Israeli security forces have often used unnecessary or disproportionate force, including lethal force against Palestinians who did not pose an imminent threat to life. The youngest victim, two-year-old Laila Khatib, was shot in the head by Israeli security forces on 25 January while she was inside her house in Ash-Shuhada village, in Jenin. On 3 July, 61-year-old Walid Badir was shot and killed by Israeli security forces, reportedly while he was cycling back home from prayers, passing through the outskirts of the Nur Shams camp.Laila and Walid are among at least 964 Palestinians killed since 7 October 2023 by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” the UN Human Rights Spokesperson said.

Since 7 October 2023, 53 Israelis have been killed in reported attacks by Palestinians or in armed clashes, 35 in the West Bank and 18 in Israel.

In June, the UN recorded the highest monthly injury toll of Palestinians in over two decades. “In all, 96 Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers. During the first half of 2025, there have been 757 settler attacks that resulted in Palestinian casualties or property damage – a 13 per cent increase on the same period in 2024,” Al-Kheetan said.

“Since the start of operation “Iron Wall”, Israeli security forces have issued demolition orders for about 1,400 homes. These large-scale demolitions, if not rendered absolutely necessary by military operations, violate Israel’s obligations as the occupying power,” he said.

Israeli demolitions have displaced 2,907 Palestinians across the West Bank since 7 October 2023. In the same period, a further 2,400 Palestinians, nearly half of them children, have been forcibly displaced as a result of the actions of Israeli settlers thus emptying large parts of the West Bank of Palestinians.

“Permanently displacing the civilian population within occupied territory amounts to unlawful transfer, a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and, depending on the circumstances, may also amount to a crime against humanity,” the UN Human Rights spokesperson stated.

“Israel must immediately stop these killings, harassment and home demolitions across the occupied Palestinian territory,” Al-Kheetan said. He added: “As the occupying power, Israel must take all feasible measures to ensure public order and safety in the West Bank. It is under the obligation to protect Palestinians from settler attacks and to end the unlawful use of force by its security forces. There must be thorough, independent and transparent investigations into all killings and all other alleged violations of international law. Those responsible must be held to account,” he stated.

He said that Israel must bring to an end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

Ravina Shamdasani: + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org

Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

Thameen Al-Kheetan: +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org

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