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State of Palestine

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As of early 2026, the human rights situation in the State of Palestine remains a profound humanitarian and legal crisis. Reports from the United Nations and international monitors describe a landscape defined by the lingering effects of the 2023-2025 conflict, a fragile and often-violated ceasefire, and systemic internal governance issues.

The issues are generally categorized into those arising from the Israeli occupation and those stemming from internal Palestinian governance (Hamas and the Palestinian Authority).


1. The Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza

Despite a "Phase Two" ceasefire agreement discussed in late 2025, the Gaza Strip remains in a state of "unprecedented ruin."

  • Civilian Casualties: By early 2026, the death toll has exceeded 71,000, with a disproportionate number being children and women. Even during ceasefire periods, deaths from hypothermia and malnutrition have been recorded due to the collapse of infrastructure.

  • Starvation and Disease: UN reports indicate that roughly 96% of children face severe malnutrition. Access to clean water is critical, with many residents surviving on less than 5 liters per day—well below the WHO survival minimum.

  • Destruction of Infrastructure: Over 80% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. As of January 2026, not a single hospital is fully operational, and hundreds of thousands remain in "winter-vulnerable" tents.

  • Aid Restrictions: The introduction of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" (a system supported by the U.S. and Israel) has been criticized by NGOs for politicizing aid and maintaining what amounts to a "humanitarian blockade."


2. Human Rights in the West Bank and East Jerusalem

The West Bank has seen a sharp escalation in violence and territorial "asphyxiation" over the last year.

  • Settler Violence: In 2025 and early 2026, settler attacks averaged five incidents per day, often targeting Palestinian olive harvests and rural communities.

  • Military Operations: In January 2025, Israel launched Operation "Iron Wall," the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, leading to significant civilian displacement and extrajudicial killings.

  • Administrative Detention: Israeli authorities hold approximately 9,000 Palestinians, nearly half of whom are detained indefinitely without charge or trial. Reports of systematic torture, sexual abuse, and "starvation rations" in Israeli prisons have been corroborated by B'Tselem and the UN.

  • Apartheid and Discrimination: A January 2026 OHCHR report concluded that Israel’s laws and practices in the West Bank constitute a system of apartheid, citing segregated road networks, discriminatory water allocation, and the "permanent subordination" of Palestinian residents.


3. Internal Palestinian Governance Issues

Human rights violations are also reported within the internal Palestinian political systems.

  • Hamas in Gaza: Following the 2025 ceasefire, Hamas has reportedly killed at least 80 Palestinians in internal clashes with rival families and suspected collaborators. There are ongoing concerns regarding the summary execution of dissenters and the continued holding of any remaining remains of hostages.

  • Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank: The PA faces a crisis of legitimacy. In early 2026, protests erupted over a presidential decree by Mahmoud Abbas that requires candidates for the upcoming local elections to adhere to the PLO’s program, effectively barring opposition factions.

  • Corruption and Repression: The PA continues to be criticized for the arbitrary arrest of political activists, "security coordination" that facilitates Israeli arrests, and a failure to provide basic services amid a deepening economic collapse.


4. Suppression of Civil Society and Press

  • Media Bans: In early 2026, the Israeli government extended its ban on Al Jazeera, with plans to apply these restrictions to the West Bank on "national security" grounds.

  • NGO Blacklisting: As of January 1, 2026, a new Israeli policy effectively blacklisted dozens of international NGOs, requiring them to undergo a "re-registration" process that many human rights groups claim is designed to halt their operations in Palestinian territories.


International Legal Status

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli leaders for war crimes, while the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued an advisory opinion declaring Israel’s presence in the occupied territory unlawful and calling for the dismantling of settlements.

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