In the context of the Israeli presence in the West Bank since 1967, de facto annexation describes the Israeli consolidating control over foreign territory through incremental, factual actions (like building settlements, exploiting resources, applying laws) without a formal declaration, essentially creating permanent facts on the ground to claim sovereignty, even while de jure annexation (formal declaration) is prohibited by the UN Charter's ban on acquiring territory by force. While de jure is a formal declaration and de facto is the "creeping" process, both aim for permanent control, with the de facto approach avoiding formal illegality but still violating the prohibition on the use of force and establishing unlawful annexation.
International law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention (GCIV) and Hague Regulations, explicitly forbids the Israelis, as an annexing belligerent, from building colonies (settlements) in the occupied West Bank, deeming it a serious violation, as occupation is temporary and the power acts as an administrator, not a sovereign, prohibiting forceful acquisition or altering the territory's legal status. Such actions, termed "de facto annexation," are illegal and have no bearing on the rights of protected persons, who remain under the full protection of IHL.
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Please take note that dates refer to the day when a video or photo was posted on the account of a social media user, where it was found
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There may be duplicates, as a video or photo may show elements that may issue more than one category.
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Credit: photographers, videographers, reporters, and journalists in the West Bank, news agencies, and other sources.
- Details
- Parent Category: De facto annexation
- Category: Outposts
20251230 - Raba, southeast of Jenin - Israeli colonists expand an outpost established on Palestinian land
- Details
- Parent Category: METHODS OF ANNEXATION
- Category: De facto annexation
20251229 - Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah - Israelis continue levelling Palestinian land to make room for a colony
- Details
- Parent Category: De facto annexation
- Category: Outposts
20251225 - al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah - Colonists have expanded an outpost built on Palestinian land
- Details
- Parent Category: De facto annexation
- Category: Outposts
20251225 - southeast of Nablus - Colonists add mobile homes to the outpost on Mount Qarqafa, between the towns of Aqraba and Jurish
- Details
- Parent Category: METHODS OF ANNEXATION
- Category: De facto annexation
20251223 - Sa-Nur, south of Jenin - Israeli heavy equipment used to carry out levelling works at the site of the pre-2005 Israeli colony
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- Parent Category: METHODS OF ANNEXATION
- Category: De facto annexation
20251223 - Sa-Nur, south of Jenin - Israeli heavy equipment used to carry out levelling works at the site of the pre-2005 Israeli colony
- Details
- Parent Category: De facto annexation
- Category: Outposts
20251222 - Asira Al-Qibliya, south of Nablus - Israeli colonists are bulldozing Palestinian land to establish a outpost
- Details
- Parent Category: De facto annexation
- Category: Outposts
20251222 - Hebron, occupied West Bank - Israeli settlers establish an outpost east of the city
- Details
- Parent Category: METHODS OF ANNEXATION
- Category: De facto annexation
20251221 - Smotrich announce 69 new colonies to be build in the West Bank
