Media release
Geneva 28th Dec 2023
In a damning report released today by the United Nations, the human rights situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is highlighted as rapidly deteriorating, prompting a call for an immediate end to violence by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
The report, covering the period from 7 October to 27 December 2023, reveals a staggering toll on Palestinian lives, with 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, confirmed dead in the occupied West Bank since October 7. Of these casualties, at least 291 were attributed to Israeli Security Forces, eight to settlers, and one remains unclear whether by Israeli Security Forces or settlers. This follows an already alarming death toll of 200 Palestinians in the region before October 7, marking the highest number in a ten-month period since 2005.
The UN report strongly condemns the use of military weapons during law enforcement operations, arbitrary detentions, and ill-treatment of Palestinians, calling for an immediate cessation. Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force, as well as discriminatory movement restrictions affecting Palestinians.
Türk stated, “The violations documented in this report repeat the pattern and nature of violations reported in the past in the context of the long-standing Israeli occupation of the West Bank. However, the intensity of the violence and repression is something that has not been seen in years.”
The report highlights a sharp increase in airstrikes, incursions, and settler attacks, causing extensive damage to civilian objects and infrastructure. The incursions, ongoing since October 7, resulted in at least 105 Palestinian deaths, including 23 children. The report details a particularly distressing incident on October 19 and 20, where an incursion into Nur Shams Refugee Camp led to the death of 14 Palestinians, including six children.
Israeli Security Forces have arrested over 4,700 Palestinians, including approximately 40 journalists, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The report documents cases of severe physical abuse, humiliation, and instances of sexual and gender-based violence during detention.
Furthermore, settler attacks have surged, averaging six incidents per day, including shootings, arson, and uprooting of trees. Many incidents involved settlers accompanied by or disguised as Israeli Security Forces, using firearms to attack Palestinians harvesting olives and depriving them of a vital income source.
Volker Türk emphasized the urgent need for Israel to take effective measures to end settler violence, investigate all incidents, and ensure the protection of Palestinian communities. He also called for accountability for actions leading to the creation of a coercive environment and voiced concerns about forcible transfer.
The High Commissioner urged Israel to grant the UN Human Rights Office access to the country, expressing readiness to report similarly on the October 7 attacks. As international scrutiny intensifies, the report underscores the imperative for immediate action to halt the escalating human rights crisis in the West Bank.
