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)
20251223 - Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation troops during a razzia
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251223 - Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation troops
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251223 - Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupying belligerent deploys reinforcements
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251223 - Tuqu’, southeast of Bethlehem - Israeli troops inside a Palestinian house
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Beating, torture, other prisoner rights abuses
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation soldier seen kicking a Palestinian
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Targeting reporters & journalists
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli forces target journalists with stun grenades and tear gas during a razzia
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Targeting ambulances, medical personnel & hospitals
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation forces block an ambulance during the demolition of Palestinian stores
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolition of economic-related objects
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation bulldozers demolish Palestinian stores
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- Parent Category: Demolitions
- Category: Demolition of economic-related objects
20251223 - Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation bulldozers demolish Palestinian stores