Israel calls UN West Bank report propaganda after panel cites 254 airstrike deaths

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry released a report on Monday that accuses Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank and Gaza. The document also cites findings of misconduct by the Palestinian Authority, including arbitrary arrests and the targeting of journalists and human rights defenders.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to the release with sharp criticism. In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry described the report as a propaganda document aimed at undermining Israel’s right to self-defense. The ministry said the goal of the document is to delegitimize the Jewish state and legitimize jihadist terrorism against its citizens.

The commission detailed a sharp rise in Palestinian deaths caused by airstrikes in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. Between 2008 and October 6, 2023, the panel recorded six deaths from airstrikes. Between October 7, 2023, and September 30, 2026, that number rose to 254. The report notes that almost 500 Palestinians are killed annually in the West Bank, the highest numbers recorded since data collection began in 2005.

The panel linked this increase to Operation Iron Wall, which began in January 2025. It stated that airstrikes became more frequent in refugee camps and areas around Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. The commission described the operation as a shift toward widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure. It cited the Israeli Defense Forces' stated aim to dismantle structures that endanger military forces.

Srinivasan Muralidhar, the chair of the Commission of Inquiry, said the intentional killing of civilians and destruction of homes form part of a broader strategy. He stated that these actions aim to exterminate and displace Palestinians and impose unliveable conditions of life. The report claims Israel continues to commit genocidal acts despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025.

The commission analyzed statements by senior Israeli officials to assess military intentions. It cited Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who referred to two million Nazis in the West Bank in November 2023. In January 2025, Smotrich wrote that Fondouk, Nablus, and Jenin should look like Jabalia. The panel also highlighted a May 2026 statement by IDF Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, who said Israeli soldiers were killing like they had not since 1967.

The report verified four additional cases of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees since March 2025. Two victims were from the West Bank. One case involved a male detainee at Megiddo Prison in 2025 who was allegedly blindfolded and raped with objects during interrogation. The commission alleged that guards mocked the detainee and threatened his family. Israel rejected previous allegations of systematic sexual violence, stating that the IDF has rules prohibiting such misconduct.

The commission found that the Palestinian Authority violated the right to life and security of person. It cited the October 2023 killings in Ramallah, Tubas, and Jenin, where at least two men, a boy, and a girl died. The PA accepted responsibility for the death of the boy, who was run over by a security vehicle. The panel also investigated the December 2024 killing of a journalism student in Jenin who had documented abuses by security forces.

The report concludes that the PA failed to conduct prompt and impartial investigations into these killings. It notes that key witnesses were not asked to testify in the case of the journalism student. The PA spokesman blamed the killing on outlaws and said the case was under investigation.