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.
- Details
- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251130 - Al-Zawiya in the central West Bank - Israeli occupation forces blocks the entrances to the town using earth mounds
- Details
- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251130 - Al-Zawiya in the central West Bank - Israeli occupation forces blocks the entrances to the town using earth mounds (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251129 - Tubas, occupied West Bank - Fourth day of the Israeli razzia
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251129 - Al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah - Israeli occupation forces abduct a Palestinian youth in the village
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251129 - Khillet Al-Fara, south of Hebron - Israeli occupation forces detain Palestinian Bassam Mohammad Nawajaa in Umm Al-Amad
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Terrorism by occupying forces
20251129 - Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah - Israeli occupation forces fire tear gas and stun grenades at a public park
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Terrorism by occupying forces
20251129 - Farsh Al-Hawa, Hebron - Israeli occupation forces fire tear gas at the entrance of the town
- Details
- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251129 - Mikhmas, east of Ramalla - Israeli occupation forces fire teargas
- Details
- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251129 - Qabatiya, south of Jenin - Israeli occupation forces storm the town