254 Palestinians killed in West Bank airstrikes since 2023, UN panel finds

254 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank between October 7, 2023, and September 30, 2026, according to a report released Monday by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry. This figure represents a sharp rise from the six deaths recorded by airstrikes during the 15 years preceding that date, from 2008 through October 6, 2023.

The commission stated that annual Palestinian deaths in the West Bank have reached nearly 500 since 2022. These are the highest numbers recorded by the UN since it began collecting data on the topic in 2005. The panel attributed the increase to the launch of Operation Iron Wall in January 2025. It noted that airstrikes became more frequent in refugee camps and areas around Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus following that operation.

The report accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank and Gaza. It claimed that Israel continues to commit genocidal acts with the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part. This assessment was made despite a ceasefire agreement that went into effect in October 2025. Srinivasan Muralidhar, the Indian jurist serving as chair of the Commission of Inquiry, described the intentional killing of civilians and destruction of homes as part of a strategy to exterminate and displace Palestinians.

The panel analyzed public statements by senior Israeli officials to assess military conduct. It cited Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who referred to two million Nazis in the West Bank in November 2023. In November 2024, Smotrich argued for applying Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlement in the entire Judea and Samaria region. In January 2025, he wrote that Fondouk, Nablus, and Jenin should look like Jabalia. The commission also referenced a reported May 2026 statement by IDF Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, who said 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. The cases included alleged gang rape, genital violence, and forced nudity. One incident involved a male detainee at Megiddo Prison in 2025. He was allegedly blindfolded and raped with objects during interrogation. Guards reportedly mocked and photographed him while he suffered serious injuries without medical treatment. The commission concluded that Israeli authorities committed crimes against humanity involving torture and rape.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry called the document a propaganda piece detached from reality. The ministry said the report aimed to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense and delegitimize the Jewish state. It also accused the panel of legitimizing jihadist terrorism against citizens. Israel has previously rejected the commission’s allegations of systematic sexual and gender-based violence, calling the claims unfounded.

The commission also documented abuses by the Palestinian Authority. It accused the PA of suppressing political dissent through arbitrary arrests, detention, and torture. The report cited excessive force during West Bank protests in October 2023. At least two men, a boy, and a girl were killed in Ramallah, Tubas, and Jenin. The PA accepted responsibility for the death of the boy, who was run over by a security vehicle. The commission also investigated the December 2024 killing of a journalism student in Jenin refugee camp. She was shot in the neck near her home after documenting alleged security force abuses.

The panel found that the PA violated the right to life and the right to security of person. It stated that the authority failed to conduct prompt and effective investigations into these killings. The commission also noted instances where the PA allegedly ignored court orders for the release of detainees. Hamas was named only twice in the report, and neither mention accused the group of committing a specific crime or wrongdoing.

The report is the latest in a series of findings by the commission regarding the conflict. It focuses on Palestinian casualties resulting from military action and settler violence. The panel’s analysis included statements from elected members of the Knesset and senior military officials. The findings stand as the official record of the commission’s investigation into the period ending in late September 2026.