UN Panel Details 254 Airstrike Deaths in West Bank
The report accuses both Israeli and Palestinian forces of rights abuses while noting a sharp rise in air campaign casualties since 2023.
By Ivan Mori ·
The United Nations Commission of Inquiry released a report on Monday that documents a steep rise in Palestinian deaths from Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank. The panel concluded that both Israeli forces and the Palestinian Authority committed serious violations of international human rights law.
The data shows a dramatic shift in casualty rates. Between 2008 and October 6, 2023, airstrikes killed six Palestinians. From October 7, 2023, through September 30, 2026, that number rose to 254. The commission linked this increase to Operation Iron Wall, which began in January 2025. It noted that air attacks became more frequent in refugee camps and areas near Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus.
Srinivasan Muralidhar, the Indian jurist chairing the commission, described the conflict as part of a strategy to displace Palestinians. He stated that the killing of civilians and destruction of homes, combined with a denial of responsibility, aim to impose unliveable conditions. The panel also accused Israel of committing genocidal acts with the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.
The report analyzes statements from Israeli officials to gauge military intent. It cites Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who referred to 2 million Nazis in the West Bank in November 2023. In January 2025, he suggested that Nablus and Jenin should look like Jabalia. The panel also noted a reported May 2026 comment by IDF Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, who said soldiers were killing like they had not since 1967.
The commission verified four additional cases of sexual violence against detainees since March 2025. One case involved a male detainee at Megiddo Prison in 2025. He was allegedly blindfolded, forced to remove clothing, and raped with objects during interrogation. Guards reportedly mocked him and threatened his family. The panel concluded that such acts were not isolated and formed part of crimes against humanity involving torture and rape.
The report also assigns responsibility to the Palestinian Authority. It accused the PA of suppressing dissent through arbitrary arrests and torture. The panel cited the October 2023 deaths of four people in Ramallah, Tubas, and Jenin during protests. It also detailed the December 2024 killing of a journalism student in Jenin. Witnesses said a security member threatened to shoot her the day before she was killed by a single shot to the neck.
Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry called the document a propaganda effort to undermine self-defense. The ministry stated the report aims to delegitimize the Jewish state and legitimize jihadist terrorism. It rejected previous findings on sexual violence, arguing the IDF has rules and mechanisms to investigate such claims.
The commission found that the PA failed to conduct impartial investigations into killings. It noted that PA security forces ignored court orders for the release of detainees in several instances. The panel concluded that the PA violated the right to life and the right to security of person.
