Israel seeking 'permanent demographic change' in West Bank and Gaza, UN official says

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has accused Israel of seeking to impose a “permanent demographic change” in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Addressing the Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Turk said a report covering November 2024 to October 2025 showed Israel’s “utter disregard for human rights in Gaza and the West Bank”.

He said human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory had been “crushed”, citing the destruction of entire neighbourhoods, severe restrictions and the weaponisation of aid, as well as mass civilian casualties.

“Taken together, Israel’s actions appear aimed at making a permanent demographic change in Gaza and the West Bank, raising concerns about ethnic cleansing,” Turk said.

In August 2025, famine was declared in Gaza. Malnutrition has persisted despite a limited flow of aid.

Although a ceasefire was implemented in October, Turk said ongoing Israeli violations have killed more than 600 Palestinians and injured over 1,600 since then.

At least 1,700 violations have been recorded during the truce period, including the denial of medical treatment and transfers abroad, restrictions on aid, and daily attacks across the territory.

"Anywhere else, this would be considered a major crisis," he said. "People are still dying in Gaza from Israeli fire, cold, hunger, and treatable diseases and injuries."

Since the genocide began in 2023, Israeli forces killed more than 72,000 and destroyed over 80 percent of the territory's infrastructure.

'Man-made disaster'

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed more than 1,000 Palestinian deaths over the same period.

Turk described the situation there as “particularly disturbing”, pointing to the recent Israeli measures that expand civilian authority over areas long governed under military rule.

The changes, he said, consolidate annexation of territory considered illegally occupied under international law.

Turk described the situation across the occupied Palestinian territory as a “human-made disaster”, blaming Israel for forcible transfer and displacement.

"The absence of accountability for the egregious violations committed is nothing short of shameful."

He called for an end to violations in Gaza and urged Israel to cease its “unlawful occupation” of the West Bank.

"Human rights have been crushed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Any realistic effort to rebuild and move toward lasting stability will have to be anchored in human rights. And this is urgent," Turk added.