A Review of Human Rights Violations in Israel and the West Bank
Over a Year of War
Since the horrific massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7 and the outbreak of war, human rights violations have become an unwelcome part of the new reality. In Gaza, a humanitarian disaster is unfolding, and human rights—and international law—are violated daily. Over 41,000 people have been killed, many of whom are women and children, tens of thousands more have been injured, and most residents have been displaced from their homes. In Israel, close to 1,700 women, men, children, and soldiers were murdered during the October 7 massacre and the war, thousands were injured, and tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from their homes in the south and north. Hamas is still holding 101 Israeli hostages.
The horrific crisis in Gaza has published by a group of anti-occupation organizations, which include ACRI. In this report, we seek to spotlight fundamental changes that have taken place regarding the situation of human rights in Israel and the West Bank. We at ACRI have been publishing periodic reports on the state of human rights in Israel and the West Bank for decades. We have never published a report showing such a severe and comprehensive deterioration.
Over the past year, the Israeli government has chosen to ignore the growing needs and anguish of its citizens and instead has undertaken an unprecedented policy of abandoning Israeli citizens and residents while doing severe damage to the principles of democracy and basic human rights. This report reveals a reality of excessive, unrestrained, and illegal use of force in government conduct. It is demolishing the judicial system and the civil service with the aim of accumulating unlimited power; increasing the use of force in the West Bank and granting tacit permission for unrestrained settler violence in the West Bank; using force to limit freedom of expression and protest; and systematically violating the rights of detainees and prisoners. This does particular harm to the rights of Palestinians in the territories and Arab society in Israel.
Instead of addressing the urgent needs created by the war, the government continues to act from narrow political motives and to shirk its responsibilities towards most citizens. It promotes a racist and reckless budget, continues to fan the flames of social and political divisions, and persists its efforts to advance the judicial overhaul and undermine the foundations of democracy. In the shadow of the war, when public attention is directed elsewhere, the government is also making profound changes regarding control of the West Bank. It is deepening and accelerating the annexation process while establishing Jewish supremacy and pushing out the Palestinian population, with the aim of realizing the vision of full Israeli sovereignty in the occupied territory.
Disasters or emergencies often serve as opportunities to advance anti-democratic moves, to violate human rights and question the ideals underlying them, to discriminate against minorities, and to silence criticism. Measures taken during emergencies normalize the violation of human rights and democracy. Even when they are promoted as temporary measures for the crisis period, they not-infrequently become permanent or have long-term suppression effects.
The importance of this report lies in the concerning comprehensive picture it presents. We hope it will deepen the public's understanding of the damage being done to human rights and democratic institutions, and that it will stir the public to action and resistance. Monitoring human rights violation processes is also critical for there to be any hope of correction under a different government and reality.
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