254 West Bank Airstrike Deaths Logged Since 2023

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry released a report on Monday detailing alleged war crimes in the West Bank and Gaza.

The document states that 254 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank between October 7, 2023, and September 30, 2026. This figure contrasts with the six deaths recorded by the commission in the same location between 2008 and October 6, 2023. The report notes that nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed annually in the West Bank since 2022, a rate the commission identifies as the highest since it began collecting data in 2005.

The commission attributes the increase in aerial attacks to the launch of Operation Iron Wall in January 2025. It describes the campaign as a shift toward the widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure, particularly in refugee camps and areas surrounding Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. The report quotes the Israel Defense Forces stating that reconstruction efforts endanger citizens and military forces, thereby justifying the dismantling of structures.

Srinivasan Muralidhar, the Indian jurist and chair of the commission, stated that the intentional killing of civilians and destruction of homes form part of a strategy to exterminate and displace Palestinians. The panel also concluded that Israel committed crimes against humanity involving torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. It verified four additional cases of sexual violence against detainees since March 2025, including one male detainee at Megiddo Prison who was allegedly blindfolded and raped with objects during interrogation.

The report analyzes public statements by Israeli officials to assess intent. It cites Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who referred to two million Nazis in the West Bank in November 2023 and said in January 2025 that Fondouk, Nablus, and Jenin should look like Jabalia. It also references a May 2026 statement by Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, the IDF Central Command chief, who said soldiers were killing like they had not since 1967.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the report on Monday, labeling it a propaganda document detached from reality. The ministry said the findings aim to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense and legitimize jihadist terrorism. The government disputes the commission’s verification methods and notes that the IDF has rules prohibiting sexual and gender-based misconduct.

The commission also accused the Palestinian Authority of violating the right to life and security. It cited arbitrary arrests, detention, and the targeting of journalists and activists. The report mentions the December 2024 killing of a journalism student in Jenin refugee camp, who was shot in the neck. The Palestinian Authority spokesman blamed the killing on outlaws, though the commission noted that key witnesses had not been asked to testify.

Hamas is named exactly twice in the document, and neither mention accuses the group of committing a crime or other wrongdoing.