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: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251120 - Beit Furik, east of Nablus - Israelis are launching an abduction campaign
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251120 - west of Jenin, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces shut down the entrances to Zububa
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251120 - west of Jenin, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces close the entrances to the village of Zububa
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251120 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Sami Al-Mashaikh and and Amro Al-Marboo’ killed by Israeli troops during a razzia (1)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251120 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Sami Al-Mashaikh and and Amro Al-Marboo’ killed by Israeli troops during a razzia (2)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251120 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Paramedics transfer a Palestinian injured by Israeli occupation forces' gunfire
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251120 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Farewell to Sami Al-Mashaikh in the Palestinian Medical Complex after he was killed by Israeli troops
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251120 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Farewell to Sami Al-Mashaikh in the Palestinian Medical Complex after he was killed by Israeli troops
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- Parent Category: ARMED ANNEXING BELLIGERENT
- Category: CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
20251120 - HRW - Israel Emptying Refugee Camps a Crime Against Humanity