A new report from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, details a decades-long system of discrimination against Palestinians in the West Bank that has intensified since December 2022. The findings document how nearly every aspect of Palestinian life is controlled and curtailed by Israeli laws, policies, and practices.
‘Systematic Asphyxiation’ of Rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the situation as a “systematic asphyxiation of the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank.” He stated that Palestinians face restrictions when accessing essential services like water, schools, and healthcare, as well as in everyday activities such as visiting family or harvesting crops.
Unequal Treatment and Oppression
The report asserts that Israeli authorities apply two distinct legal and policy frameworks to Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, leading to unequal treatment regarding movement and access to vital resources like land and water. The report concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe this separation, segregation, and subordination are intended to be permanent and to maintain oppression.
Deterioration Since October 7th
The situation has further deteriorated since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups from Gaza, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages taken in southern Israel. The report cites expanded use of unlawful force, arbitrary detention, torture, severe movement restrictions, repression of civil society and media, and settlement expansion.
Settler violence, often occurring with the support or participation of Israeli security forces, is also noted as escalating. The report details instances of unlawful killings, including the deaths of 10-year-old Saddam Hussein Rajab in January 2025 and eight-month pregnant Sondos Shalabi in February 2025, both of whom were unarmed.
Impunity and Calls for Change
The report highlights widespread impunity for actions affecting Palestinians. Mr. Türk has called for Israel to repeal laws and policies that perpetuate discrimination, dismantle illegal settlements, end the occupation, and respect the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the report say about the legal basis for its conclusions?
The report states that acts committed with the intention to maintain a policy of separation, segregation, and subordination amount to a violation of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which prohibits racial segregation and apartheid.
How has the situation changed since October 7, 2023?
Since October 7, 2023, the report cites an expansion of unlawful force, arbitrary detention, torture, severe movement restrictions, repression of civil society and media, and settlement expansion, compounding existing issues.
What specific examples of violence are mentioned in the report?
The report highlights the killing of 10-year-old Saddam Hussein Rajab in January 2025 and the shooting of eight-month pregnant Sondos Shalabi in February 2025, both of whom were unarmed, as examples of unlawful killings.
What steps might be taken to address the concerns raised in this report?
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