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: DAMAGE & DESTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE
- Category: Destruction of roads
20251127 - Tammun, south of Tubas - Israeli army bulldozer destroys a road during their razzia in the town
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- Parent Category: DAMAGE & DESTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE
- Category: Destruction of roads
20251127 - Tamoun, occupied West Bank - Israeli bulldozers destroyed the asphalt road
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Use of civilian objects for military objectives
20251126 - Tubas in the northern West Bank - Israeli occupation convert a Palestinian home into a makeshift post
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251126 - Tayasir, north of the occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces abduct a Palestinian youth
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251126 - Al-Fawwar refugee camp, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces abduct a Palestinian youth
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Terrorism by occupying forces
20251126 - Arab Al-Rashayda, south of occupied Hebron - Occupation forces besieging a Bedouin community with teargas
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Terrorism by occupying forces
20251126 - Arab Al-Rashayda, south of occupied Hebron - Occupation forces besieging a Bedouin community with teargas
- Details
- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Terrorism by occupying forces
20251126 - Arab Al-Rashayda, south of occupied Hebron - Occupation forces besieging a Bedouin community with teargas
- Details
- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Terrorism by occupying forces
20251126 - Arab Al-Rashayda, south of occupied Hebron - Occupation forces besieging a Bedouin community with teargas