UN says violations against Palestinians surge as Iran war overshadows crisis

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory warned Wednesday that the war with Iran has "eclipsed a surge in human rights violations against Palestinians," raising alarm over worsening conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.

While noting that "the announcement of a temporary ceasefire may represent the first step in ending regional hostilities," the commission stressed in a statement that "all parties who have breached international law and targeted civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel must be held accountable."

It said it is "deeply distressed by the death toll in the region" and called on all sides to "cease all forms of violence and comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the protection of civilians."

The commission added it is "appalled by the sharp deterioration in the human rights of Palestinians" since Feb. 28 and warned that the broader conflict is "obscuring the plight and situation of the Palestinian people."

It also said Israeli attacks in Gaza are continuing to cause civilian casualties, while the humanitarian situation remains "dire," with limited access to food, medical care, and shelter.

"In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, 22 Palestinians, including children, were killed by Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces since 28 February," the commission said, adding, at the same time, Israeli authorities have continued measures aimed at seizing and controlling land in the West Bank.

The commission said it had already found that between October 2023 and July 2025, "four categories of genocidal acts" were carried out in Gaza by Israeli authorities and security forces with "specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza," and expressed "serious concern that Israel continues to perpetrate genocidal acts to date in Gaza."