International law dictates that military occupation is an inherently temporary situation, and its prolonged, indefinite duration raises significant legal concerns, potentially leading to its classification as unlawful. While no specific maximum time limit is universally defined, the core principles of international law, especially international humanitarian law (IHL) and the right to self-determination, treat a long-overdue occupation as a violation of fundamental norms.
A key principle is that the occupying power does not acquire sovereignty over the territory, but merely exercises temporary administrative control. The purpose is to act as a de facto administrator until control can be returned to the sovereign power, ideally as soon as possible, but that has never been the intention of the Israeli belligerent. However, the role the Israeli belligerent is resorting to is that of taking the sovereignty that the Palestinian Authority has over the West Bank.
Therefore, the acquisition of territory by force is strictly prohibited under the UN Charter and customary international law. A prolonged occupation that seeks to make permanent changes to the territory or effectively annex it (de jure or de facto) is a serious breach of international law.
- Please take note that dates refer to the day when a video or photo was published on the account of a social media user, where it was found.
- Credit: photographers, videographers, reporters, and journalists in the West Bank, news agencies, and other sources.
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251230 - between Einabus and Urif, south of Nablus - Israelis open fire on a vehicle (2)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251230 - between Einabus and Urif, south of Nablus - Israelis open fire on a vehicle (3) ambulance blocked
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251230 - between Einabus and Urif, south of Nablus - Israelis open fire on a vehicle (4) Israeli reinforcement
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251230 - south of Nablus, occupied West Bank - Palestinian, Qais Allan, shot and killed in his car by Israeli troops between Aynabus and Awarta
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Illegal laws
20251230 - Silwan, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation demolish Palestinian proptery under the pretext of construction without a permit
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolition due to missing permit
20251230 - Silwan, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation demolish Palestinian proptery under the pretext of construction without a permit
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251229 - Silwad, east of Ramallah - Israeli occupation forces abduct a Palestinian youth
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Illegal laws
20251228 - Extremist group led by Ben-Gvir prepares bill to restrict call for Adnan
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Vandalism
20251228 - Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron - Israeli occupation troops ransacked a home and killed the homeowner's pet