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: ARMED ANNEXING BELLIGERENT
- Category: Targeting religion
20251230 - east of Nablus, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces ordering Palestinians to leave their homes to clear colonists to storm Joseph's tomb (with comment)
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251230 - Silwan, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation forces raid a home in the Al-Bustan neighborhood
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251230 - Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron - Israeli occupation forces
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251230 - Al-Ram, occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation forces
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251230 - Iraq Burin, south of Nablus - Israeli occupation forces
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Razzias (raids)
20251230 - Qabalan, southeast of Nablus - Israeli occupation forces
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- Parent Category: OPPRESSION
- Category: Depriving the freedom of movement
20251230 - east of Nablus, occupied West Bank - Israeli occupation forces shut down the entrance to the town of Beit Furik
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Targeting ambulances, medical personnel & hospitals
20251230 - between Einabus and Urif, south of Nablus - Israelis open fire on a vehicle (3) ambulance blocked
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- Parent Category: WAR CRIMES
- Category: Injuring or killing of occupied civilians
20251230 - between Einabus and Urif, south of Nablus - Israelis open fire on a vehicle (1)