• Opinion by Volker Turk (geneva)
• Friday, February 27, 2026
• Inter Press Service

GENEVA, February 27 (IPS) – The state of affairs within the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a human-made catastrophe.

The report earlier than you units out occasions between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025 that present Israel’s utter disregard for human rights in Gaza and the West Financial institution, and the intense violations additionally dedicated by Hamas and different Palestinian armed teams.

The proof gathered by my Workplace reveals a constant sample of gross violations and abuses of human rights, severe violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation and atrocity crimes – that stay unpunished.

Israel’s continued assaults on residential buildings and makeshift tents, destroying whole neighbourhoods, brought about mass civilian deaths. Greater than 25,500 Palestinians have been killed, together with whole households, and greater than 68,800 have been injured through the reporting interval.

Amongst these killed have been many Palestinian journalists. My Workplace has verified that 292 have been killed in Israeli operations since 7 October 2023.

Israel’s militarization of humanitarian assist, via the Gaza Humanitarian Basis, additionally led to large-scale killings. Between late Might and eight October 2025, my Workplace recorded 2,435 Palestinians killed by the Israeli navy close to meals assortment factors — principally younger males and boys.

In August 2025, famine was declared in Gaza, affecting greater than half 1,000,000 folks. In line with the Palestinian Ministry of Well being, a minimum of 463 Palestinians, together with 157 youngsters, died from hunger. This was the direct results of Israel’s blocking of humanitarian assist and different deliberate actions.

Israeli forces continued to kill humanitarian and medical personnel throughout this era, and to make mass arrests of Palestinians throughout Gaza and the West Financial institution. These arrests typically amounted to arbitrary detention, and included enforced disappearances.

Since 7 October 2023, my Workplace has verified that a minimum of 89 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody. Torture and different ill-treatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention stay widespread.

Israeli operations destroyed some 80 p.c of civilian infrastructure in Gaza – together with houses, faculties, hospitals, cultural websites, and water remedy crops.

Through the reporting interval, Israel continued to forcibly displace Palestinians, into ever-shrinking areas of the Gaza strip. Over the course of 2025, Hamas and different Palestinian armed teams continued to carry hostages in blatant violation of worldwide legislation.

Fifty-one hostages who have been seized on 7 October 2023 have been returned to their family members. On their launch, the hostages recounted their traumatic ordeals, together with sexual and gender-based violence, torture, beating, and extended confinement underground.

In June, there have been reviews that armed males, allegedly affiliated with Hamas, summarily executed 12 Palestinians related to the Gaza Humanitarian Basis. Within the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, Israeli safety forces continued to launch airstrikes and use illegal pressure, killing lots of of Palestinians.

In January 2025, Israeli forces launched Operation Iron Wall within the northern West Financial institution, which continues to be ongoing. Up to now, they’ve compelled 32,000 Palestinians from their houses.

In the meantime, Palestinian safety forces elevated the usage of pointless or disproportionate pressure, ensuing within the illegal killing of a minimum of 8 Palestinians. Additionally they arbitrarily detained and ill-treated greater than 300 Palestinians.

The ceasefire of 11 October 2025 introduced some measure of aid. However we should not mistake this for peace or security. Individuals are nonetheless dying in Gaza from Israeli fireplace, chilly, starvation, and treatable illnesses and accidents.

For the reason that ceasefire, Israeli assaults in Gaza have killed greater than 600 Palestinians and injured greater than 1,600, based on the Palestinian Ministry of Well being. Anyplace else, this may be thought of a significant disaster.

My Workplace has additionally recorded a minimum of 80 reported killings of Palestinians by Hamas for the reason that ceasefire, principally by abstract executions and in clashes with rival factions. Gaza now has the very best variety of amputee youngsters per capita on the planet.

Israel continues to destroy civilian infrastructure and forcibly switch Palestinians inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The humanitarian state of affairs continues to be extraordinarily precarious, as Israel continues to impede the humanitarian group’s potential to usher in meals, shelter, gasoline, medical provides, and different important objects.

For the reason that ceasefire, a minimum of 11 youngsters have died from hypothermia. I deplore Israel’s resolution on the finish of final 12 months to droop some 37 assist teams from Gaza. I additionally deplore the ban on UNRWA operations and the demolition of its premises in East Jerusalem in blatant violation of worldwide legislation.

In the present day, the state of affairs within the West Financial institution is especially disturbing. Current Israeli measures increasing land expropriation consolidate the annexation of Palestinian territory. That is in flagrant breach of the Palestinian proper to self-determination.

Israeli safety forces proceed to make use of pointless and disproportionate pressure, and have killed 1,020 Palestinians since 7 October 2023, based on figures verified by my Workplace.

Taken collectively, Israel’s actions seem geared toward making a everlasting demographic change in Gaza and the West Financial institution, elevating considerations about ethnic cleaning.

The absence of accountability for the egregious violations dedicated is nothing wanting shameful. As an alternative, there are efforts to impede accountability. The unilateral sanctions imposed on 11 judges and prosecutors of the Worldwide Legal Court docket are utterly unacceptable.

As are these imposed on the Particular Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, appointed by this Council. Again and again, I stand earlier than this Council and transient on the litany of violations. I make suggestions, plead for accountability, and for respect for worldwide legislation.

I achieve this once more as we speak, as a result of it’s essential. The continued violations of worldwide legislation in Gaza should cease. I must challenge a stark warning in regards to the quickly deteriorating state of affairs within the West Financial institution. Israel should finish its illegal occupation, consistent with the conclusion of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice. And Israel should raise undue restrictions on the circulate of humanitarian assist.

Now we have thought so much in regards to the contribution my Workplace could make to shift the trajectory of this terrible state of affairs. It might appear incongruous or inappropriate to speak about reconstruction because the struggling continues unabated.

However we’ve a duty to consider what is required to interrupt this mindless cycle. To speak about lasting peace. Human rights have been crushed within the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Any practical effort to rebuild and transfer towards lasting stability must be anchored in human rights. And that is pressing. The reconstruction of Gaza just isn’t a logistics train.

Rebuilding Gaza and restoring human rights all through the Occupied Palestinian Territory requires specializing in what folks have lived via over many generations and reducing via the contested narratives.

I see 5 components that may assist us get there.

First, there should be significant steps in the direction of accountability for all human rights violations and abuses. My Workplace’s reviews type a part of this document. Continued monitoring and reporting of the human rights state of affairs is essential.

Second, there should be the long-overdue realization of Palestinians’ proper to self-determination, together with full duty for their very own governance and management over their land and assets. Palestinians should have the ability to form their very own futures and lead reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

Third, safety is greater than weapons and partitions. Unequal remedy is feeding grievances. Folks can solely really feel protected once they think about equal justice and the rule of legislation. All segregationist legal guidelines and insurance policies that resemble the sort of apartheid system we’ve seen earlier than should be dismantled.

Fourth, Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations and human rights defenders which might be trusted by their communities should be central companions in safeguarding human rights going ahead. They want the assist and safety of the worldwide group.

And eventually, we want understanding and therapeutic amongst Palestinian communities, and between Palestinians and Israelis. This implies working to undo the dehumanization which has fuelled this decades-long battle.

The voices of peace actions – Palestinian, Israeli, and those who deliver collectively Palestinians and Israelis – should be heard and heeded. This could strengthen the constituency for dialogue and improve the area for shared narratives.

The worldwide group must step into the ethical vacuum and seize the second – to not return to the pre-October 2023 established order, however to lastly handle the underlying causes of this battle.

Member States must pursue a path to sustainable peace — one during which Palestine and Israel dwell aspect by aspect in equal dignity and rights, consistent with UN resolutions and worldwide legislation.

IPS UN Bureau

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