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: Demolitions
- Category: Demolitions (unreported reason)
20251225 - Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah - Israeli occupation forces carry out demolition operations
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Random shootings
20251225 - Tulkarem, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupier shoots his weapon empty with no one in sight
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251224 - al-Haraqat, Hebron Israeli troops stop cars
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Illegal laws
20251224 - Jabal Al-Mukaber, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli demolished two houses under pretext of no permit (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolitions (unreported reason)
20251224 - Jabal Al-Mukabe, occupied Jerusalem - Israelis demolishing two homes belonging to the Mashahreh family
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolitions (unreported reason)
20251224 - Jabal Al-Mukaber, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli demolished two houses under pretext of no permit (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Use of technology for oppressive objectives
20251224 - Tubas, Northern West Bank - Israeli occupation uses technologies to suppress occupied people
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolition as a collective punishment
20251224 - Bazariya, northwest of Nablus - The home of Malek Salem, killed by Israeli troops, was punitively demolished
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolition as a collective punishment
20251224 - Bazariya, northwest of Nablus - The home of Malek Salem, killed by Israeli troops, was punitively demolished