UN experts warn of escalating violence in West Bank and Gaza

United Nations experts have issued warnings regarding escalating violence and displacement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, settler-related incidents reached over 1,380 in the first seven months of 2026, averaging approximately 6.6 incidents per day. These attacks, which include arson, physical assaults, and infrastructure destruction, have contributed to the displacement of more than 2,300 Palestinians.

In the Gaza Strip, UN human rights experts reported that 160 Palestinians were killed in July, making it the deadliest month of the year despite a nominal ceasefire in place since October 2025. Experts noted that the death toll during this period has exceeded 1,200, including approximately 300 children.

Human rights officials expressed concern over the expansion of the ‘yellow line’ in Gaza, which demarcates occupied territory. As of June, the area deemed off-limits to Palestinians covered 65 percent of the Gaza Strip, up from 53 percent the previous year. Analysts warn these developments are re-engineering the geography of the territory through forced displacement and undermining the viability of a two-state solution.