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: Demolition as a collective punishment
20251224 - Bazariya, northwest of Nablus - Israeli bulldozers destroyed the family house of Malik Salem who was killed by Israelis
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251223 - Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation soldiers during a razzia at a soccer field
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251223 - Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation soldiers during a razzia at a soccer field
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- Parent Category: DEMOGRAPHIC ALTERATION
- Category: Forced eviction
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation forces order a Palestinian family to leave their home. The source of this video reports that the Israelis were going to use the building for military objectives.
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Vandalism
20251223 - As-Samou, south of Hebron - Colonizing terrorists assaulted a Palestinian family in their home
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Vandalism
20251223 - Deir Al-Ghusoun, north of the occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces ransacked a house (4 photos)
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- Parent Category: ARMED ANNEXING BELLIGERENT
- Category: Targeting religion
20251223 - Hebron, occupied West Bank - Footage shows colonists inside the Ibrahimi Mosque
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Abduction
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation soldier seen kicking a Palestinian
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupying belligerent deploys reinforcement during the demolition of Palestinian stores