Gaza Herald_ UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has accused Israel of attempting to enforce a “permanent demographic change” in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Speaking to the Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Turk presented a report covering November 2024 to October 2025, highlighting Israel’s blatant disregard for Palestinian human rights.
According to the report, human rights in Gaza and the West Bank have been systematically crushed. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, aid has been weaponized, and severe restrictions have left civilians vulnerable. Turk warned that these actions appear aimed at permanently altering the population makeup of these territories, raising serious concerns about ethnic cleansing.
Humanitarian Crisis and Ongoing Violence
In August 2025, Gaza was officially declared to be facing famine, with malnutrition persisting despite limited aid. Even after a ceasefire in October, Israeli violations have continued, resulting in over 600 Palestinian deaths and more than 1,600 injuries. Over 1,700 incidents have been recorded during the truce, including denial of medical care, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and daily attacks.
“Anywhere else, this would be considered a major crisis,” Turk said. “People are still dying in Gaza from Israeli fire, cold, hunger, and treatable diseases.” Since the start of the genocide in 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 72,000 Palestinians and destroyed more than 80% of Gaza’s infrastructure.
Forced Displacement and Illegal Annexation
In the West Bank, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed during the same period, and new Israeli measures are expanding civilian control over areas long governed by military law. Turk warned that these moves consolidate the illegal annexation of Palestinian land.
Describing the situation as a “man-made disaster,” Turk blamed Israel for the forcible transfer and displacement of Palestinians. He condemned the lack of accountability for these violations as “nothing short of shameful” and called on Israel to end its unlawful occupation of the West Bank.
“Human rights have been crushed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said. “Any realistic effort to rebuild and achieve lasting stability must be rooted in respect for human rights, and this is urgent.”
