UN Report Accuses Israel and Palestinian Authority of Rights Abuses

The United Nations released a report on Monday accusing Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank and Gaza.

The document, issued by the Commission of Inquiry, also cited specific violations by the Palestinian Authority, including arbitrary arrests and the targeting of journalists.

Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry responded by labeling the report a propaganda document detached from reality. The ministry stated that the findings aim to undermine Israel's right to self-defense and delegitimize the state while legitimizing jihadist terrorism.

The Commission found that nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed annually in the West Bank since 2022, marking the highest recorded numbers since data collection began in 2005. It attributed this rise to a sharp increase in deaths caused by airstrikes following October 7, 2023.

Specifically, the report noted that six Palestinians were killed by airstrikes between 2008 and October 6, 2023. In contrast, 254 were killed between October 7, 2023, and September 30, 2026. The Commission linked this trend to Operation Iron Wall, which launched in January 2025, noting a shift toward the destruction of housing and infrastructure in areas around Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus.

Srinivasan Muralidhar, the Indian jurist serving as chair of the Commission, said the intentional killing of civilians and destruction of homes form part of a strategy to exterminate and displace Palestinians. The report claimed Israel continues to commit genocidal acts with the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025.

The investigation also reviewed statements by Israeli officials. It cited Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who referred to two million Nazis in the West Bank in November 2023 and later argued for applying Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. The Commission also referenced a reported May 2026 statement by IDF Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, who said soldiers were killing like they had not since 1967.

The report verified four additional cases of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees since March 2025. One case involved a male detainee at Megiddo Prison in 2025 who was allegedly blindfolded and raped with objects during interrogation. The Commission alleged that guards mocked the victim and that he suffered rectal bleeding without medical treatment. It concluded that these acts formed part of a broader attack on the civilian population.

Regarding the Palestinian Authority, the Commission accused it of suppressing political dissent through torture and the targeting of activists. It investigated the December 2024 killing of a journalism student in Jenin, who was shot near her home after documenting abuses by security forces. The PA blamed outlaws for the death, but the Commission found that key witnesses had not been asked to testify. The Authority also faced criticism for ignoring court orders regarding the release of detainees.

The Commission stated that Hamas was mentioned exactly twice in the report, and neither mention accused the group of committing a crime. Israel has previously rejected similar allegations from the Commission, describing the claims as unfounded and disputing the verification methods used. The next step in the process remains the distribution of the full document to UN member states.