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: ARMED ANNEXING BELLIGERENT
- Category: DESTRUCTION
20251209 - Husan, west of Bethlehem - Israelis block locals from nearing a site where two homes and an agricultural structure reportedly were demolished (2 videos)
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- Parent Category: ARMED ANNEXING BELLIGERENT
- Category: DESTRUCTION
20251209 - Husan, west of Bethlehem - Israelis demolished two homes and an agricultural structure
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- Parent Category: ARMED ANNEXING BELLIGERENT
- Category: DESTRUCTION
20251209 - Khillet Al-Farra area near the city of Yatta, south of Hebron - Israelis demolished three Palestinian homes (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Suspects
20251209 - X-user reports that 100 Israeli doctors are willing to carry out death penalties.
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- Parent Category: DAMAGE & DESTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE
- Category: Destruction of roads
20251209 - Al-Far'a refugee camp, northern West Bank - Israelis destroyed a road (7 photos)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Vandalism
20251208 - Jabal Al-Mukabber, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli troops ransacked the home of Palestinian Shadi Bishara (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251208 - Arraba, south of Jenin - Israelis abducting Palestinian woman Lubna Mazen Azzedine and her home vandalized (2 videos)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251208 - Arraba, south of Jenin - Israelis abducting ransacked the home of Palestinian woman Lubna Mazen Azzedine and abducted her (2 videos)
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251208 - Beit Furik, east of Nablus - sraeli occupation forces open fire during a razzia