The United Nations reports that more than 36,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes in the occupied West Bank during the 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2025, amid the continued growth of more than 500,000 Israeli settlers in the area.
Released Tuesday by the UN human rights office, the findings describe a level of displacement not previously seen in the territory and warn that the situation could amount to an unlawful population transfer under international law.
According to the report, Israeli authorities advanced or approved 36,973 housing units in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and roughly 27,200 additional units throughout the rest of the West Bank during the review period. It also noted the creation of 84 new settlement outposts, bringing the total to over 300.
The U.N. said the scale of displacement, combined with developments in Gaza, points to a wider trend. It stated that the circumstances “appear to indicate a concerted Israeli policy of mass forcible transfer throughout the occupied territory,” raising alarms about potential ethnic cleansing.
Investigators documented 1,732 incidents of settler violence resulting in casualties or property destruction, up from 1,400 the previous year. The report described the violence as “coordinated, strategic and largely unchallenged,” with Israeli authorities playing a significant role.
Citing Palestinian health ministry data, the report said at least 1,045 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Gaza conflict began. Israeli figures indicate that 45 Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks or during military operations in the same timeframe.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Israel to halt all settlement activity and reverse ongoing expansion. He called on authorities to “immediately and completely cease and reverse the establishment and expansion of settlements” and to allow displaced Palestinians to return.
The report also cautioned that Bedouin communities northeast of East Jerusalem face an increased risk of displacement due to continued settlement planning.
It emphasised that the unlawful transfer of protected persons constitutes a serious violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and “a war crime,” noting that in some cases it could also be considered a crime against humanity.
