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: DEMOGRAPHIC ALTERATION
- Category: Forced displacement
20251202 - Nablus, West Bank - Israelis order residents to leave their homes near Zawata roundabout ahead of a demolition
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Collective punishment
20251202 - Zawata, west of Nablus - Punitive demolition of the family’s house of imprisoned Sanoubar
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Vandalism
20251202 - Tubas, occupied West Bank - Occupation forces ransacked home during a razzia (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251202 - Qabatiya, south of Jenin - Israeli occupation forces abduct multiple Palestinians
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251202 - Hebon, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces were holding a razzia in the Red Crescent Specialized Hospital
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251202 - Qabatiya, northern West Bank - For the second day in a row, the town remains under a full Israeli siege and curfew
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251202 - outside Ramallah - Israeli belligerent closed the Atara Gate, forcing the patient to be switched to another ambulance
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251202 - Qabatiya, northern West Bank - For the second day in a row, the town remains under a full Israeli siege and curfew
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Targeting ambulances, medical personnel & hospitals
20251202 - Hebon, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces were holding a razzia in the Red Crescent Specialized Hospital