February 3, 2025
Israel’s Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the West Bank in January 2025
Israel’s Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the West Bank in January 2025

In January 2025, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) and Israeli settlers continued their crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem. These crimes have included willful killings, destruction of public and private property, arrests, threats, among others.

In January, the IOF have launched a widescale assault on northern West Bank, dubbed “Iron Wall.” The assault began with the invasion of Jenin and its refugee camp on 21 January 2025, followed by Tulkarm and its refugee camp on 27 January 2025. As of the writing of this report, the IOF continue their assault on the West Bank by carrying out deadly airstrikes and extensive assaults that have killed 22 Palestinians, including two children, and injured dozens more. Additionally, thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, dozens of homes have been destroyed, and several more have been set on fire.

The Following is some of violations highlighted and documented by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR):

Killings and violation of the right to life and bodily integrity:

During the reporting period, the IOF and settlers’ attacks in the West Bank have resulted in the killing of 57 Palestinians, including 20 civilians; amongst them 8 children, while 2 Palestinian detainees died in the Israeli prisons. Additionally, 101 Palestinians, including 26 children and 5 women, were injured.

According to PCHR researchers’ monitoring, the killings occurred in various contexts, whether by shooting during protests, clashes, raids, and military attacks, by drone strikes, or through executions carried out by Israeli special units.

On 03 January 2025, Mohammed Medhat Ameen ‘Amer (18) was killed after being shot by the IOF with a live bullet in his abdomen, allegedly for throwing a locally-made bomb known as “pipe bomb” at them during their incursion into al-Zayyout Street in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Also, 7 civilians, including 6 children, were injured; 4 of them were deemed critical.

On 05 January 2025, Mo’taz Ahmed ‘Abed al-Wahab Madani (17) was killed after being shot by the IOF with two live bullets that penetrated his back and exited the chest while he was near Talat ‘Askar area between ‘Askar al-Jadeed and ‘Askar al-Qadeem refugee camps, east of Nablus. The IOF claimed that Madani had thrown stones at them and held his body for short time inside a military vehicle before handing them to a Palestine Red Cresent Society (PRCS)’s ambulance with no vital signs. Medical staff at Rafidia Governmental Hospital declared the death of Madani, a resident of Askar al-Jadded refugee camp.

On 07 January 2025, 3 civilians, including 2 children, were killed in an Israeli drone strike on a house yard of Basharat family in al-Mishmas neighborhood, west of Tamoun village, southeast of Tubas. This coincided with IOF’s besieging another house, 300 meters away from the neighborhood. The killed were identified as: Adam Khair al-Deen Ahmed Basharat (23), Hamza ‘Ammar Ahmed Basharat (11), and Reda ‘Ali Ahmed Basharat (9).

On 12 January 2025, Mo’taz Mahmoud ‘Abed al-Rahman Abu Znaid (35), an administrative detainee in Israeli prisons from Dura city in Hebron, died in detention. Mo’taz had been detained since 27 June 2023 and was transferred unconscious to Soroka Medical Center in Israel on 06 January 2025.  There are suspicions that he died of medical negligence from the prison administration.

On 14 January 2025, 6 Palestinians, including 2 civilians; among them a child, were killed when an Israeli drone fired 4 missiles at them in Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. The killed were identified as: Mahmoud Ashraf Mostafa Gharbiyia (15), Husam Hasan ‘Issa Qannouh (34), Ameer (27), Mo’min (28) and Bahaa’ (32) Ibrahim Mahmoud Abu al-Hayajjah, and Ibrahim Mostafa Ibrahim Saleh (26).

On 15 January 2025, 6 Palestinians, including one civilian, were killed after an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a house in al-Damj neighborhood in Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. The killed were identified as: Mohammed Yunis ‘Ar’arawi (33), Ahmed Yaseen ‘Ara’arawi (37), Mahmoud Ahmed Fayyad (22), Osama ‘Abed al-Kareem Abu Daroubi (26), Mostafa Mohammed Fayyad (26), and ‘Awad Subhi Abu Zaid (27).

On 19 January 2025, the IOF killed Ahmed Rashid Rushdi Jazar (14), from Sebastia village, by shooting him in the chest during an Israeli patrol’s infiltration into western Sebastia, northwest of Nablus.

A Palestinian detainee, Mohammed Yaseen Khalil Jaber (22), from Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, died in the Israeli jails. Jaber had been detained in Negev Prison since 12 July 2023. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs, he passed away on 18 January 2025 without mentioning the cause of death. However, the ministry indicated that he had sustained an abdominal injury during clashes on 24 March 2022 and had been in an unstable condition ever since, requiring constant medical care.

On 21 January 2025, the IOF backed by drones started a ground invasion into Jenin city, its refugee camp, and the surrounding villages.  The ground invasion has collected the lives of 10 Palestinians, including 9 civilians; among them a child.1

On 24 January 2025, in extrajudicial execution crime (assassination), the IOF killed two Palestinians in an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle they were driving near the Medical Center in Qabatiya village, south of Jebin. The killed were identified as: Mohammed Zakarna and Mohammed Kmail, whom the IOF claimed were wanted persons.

On 25 January 2025, an Israeli special force killed Laila Mohammed Ayman al-Khatib (2 years and a half) after she was hit with a live bullet in her head during their incursion into Mothalat Ash-Shuhada village. Moreover, Laila’s mother and her aunt were moderately injured while they were in Laila’s house. The special forces was besieging a house in the village.

On 26 January 2025, the IOF stationed at Qalandia military checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem, killed Adam Majdi Sab (16) after shooting him with a live bullet in his right thigh, and injured two other children in their limbs, allegedly for throwing stones and Molotov Cocktails at the checkpoint. 

The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) declared the death of ‘Abed al-Jawad Yaser Mohammed al-Ghoul (26), who succumbed to a bullet injury sustained by the IOF on 21 January 2025 in Khelet al-Soha neighborhood in Jenin. Al-Ghoul had been transferred to hospitals in Ramallah due to his critical condition.

On 27 January 2025, in an extra-judicial execution crime (assassination), two Palestinians were killed and 4 civilians were wounded in a drone strike on vehicle traveling on Nablus Street, at Nur Shams refugee camp’s entrance near al-Ghazal factory, east of Tulkarm.

Moreover, Osama Omar Abu al-Hayaja (25) was killed in a drone strike on a house roof near the Cinema roundabout in central Jenin city. This coincided with the IOF’s imvasion into Jenin city for the 7th consecutive day.

On 29 January 2025, in an extrajudicial execution crime (assassination), the IOF killed 10 Palestinians and seriously injured another after an Israeli drone fired two missiles at them while they were sitting in a house yard in central Tamoun village in Tubas.

On 30 January 2025, in extrajudicial execution crime (assassination), an Israeli special unit shot dead Qasem ‘Aboud Mutee’ al-‘Aklik (42) while he was on the street. His body is held by IOF.

Moreover, the IOF killed two Palestinians and injured three female civilians in a drone strike on a building in Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. This coincided with the IOF’s incursion into Jenin city and its refugee camp for the 9th consecutive day.

Demolition and land-razing

During the reporting period, the IOF and Israeli settlers demolished 123 facilities, including 71 houses; 13 were self-demolished by the owners in occupied East Jerusalem and 15 were demolished under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Moreover, IOF demolished houses belonging to 4 Palestinian detainees in the Israeli prisons in eastern Tulkarm, as prat of their collective punishment policy for allegedly carrying out an attack. They also demolished 52 commercial facilities. Additionally, the IOF razed a one-kilometer-long basecourse street, demolished 6 electricity poles in Kherbet al-Taweel and in Nahalin village in Bethlehem, and levelled 20 dunums planted with olive trees, south of Madama village, southeast of Nablus, and in Haris village in Salfit.

The IOF have destroyed dozens of homes completely or partially and set others on fire during their extensive military assault on Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Tubas. It is still impossible to assess the full extent of the damage due to the ongoing incursions by the IOF.

Moreover, during their incursions, IOF conducted extensive destruction to the cities and refugee camps in the West Bank, particularly to the infrastructure including water pipes, telephone and electricity lines in streets in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, Tamoun village, Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas, and Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps, east of Tulkarm.

Raids and arrests

The IOF have conducted raids into Palestinian cities, refugee camps, and villages across the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and arrested hundreds of Palestinians. During their incursions, IOF confiscated 2 bulldozers, 2 agricultural tractors, 5 private vehicles, 2 concrete pumps, 2 concrete mixers, and a crane while working in Area “C” in Salfit and Hebron.

On 09 January 2025, the IOF raided Kisan village’s school in Bethlehem, where they assaulted teachers and some students and fired teargas canisters at the school. They also subjected the students to field interrogation, enticing fear among them, particularly the children.

On 16 January 2025, the IOF raided St. Luke’s Hospital in Nablus and threw bombs in its yards, enticing fear among the patients and their companions.

Since 21 January 2025, the IOF have continued their ground invasion of both Jenin, its refugee camp, west of the city, and the surrounding villages, as well as Tulkarm and its refugee camp since 27 January 2025, with Israeli warplanes heavily hovering above. The extensive destruction, arrests, and forcible displacement of the camp’s residents are still ongoing.2

Land confiscations and settlement expansion

During the reporting period, the IOF and Israeli settlers continued their settlement expansion policy materialized in confiscating and razing Palestinian lands to establish settlement outposts and expand settlements.

On 02 January 2025, a group of Israeli settlers set up many tents on the Palestinian-owned lands in Siloun area, south of Qaryout village, south of Nablus, between “Eli” and “Shvut Rachel” settlement, as a prelude to establish a pastoral settlement outpost and connect the mentioned settlements with Shillo settlement.

On 03 January 2025, a group of Israeli settlers plowed the Palestinian-owned land, al-Tha’la, east of Yatta city in Hebron, as a prelude to seize.

On 05 January 2025, Israeli settlers established a pastoral settlement outpost on Palestinian-owned lands in ‘Ein Fares area in Nahalin village in Bethlehem, between “Beitar Illit” settlement and the villages of Wadi Fukin and Jab’a. They set up two large livestock barracks in the area as a prelude to establishing a large settlement outpost.

On 07 January 2025, the IOF declared confiscation of 262 dunums of Palestinian-owned lands in Jab’, al-Ram, and Kafr ‘Aqab village in occupied East Jerusalem’s suburbs in favor of expanding the settlement road 45 that extends from Mukhmas village to the new tunnel under Qalandia International Airport, north of the City.

On 09 January 2025, Israeli settlers set up caravans in al-Tha’la area, east of ‘Atouf area, east of Tamoun village, southeast of Tubas, as a prelude to establish a pastoral settlement outpost on the Palestinian-owned lands.

On 11 January 2025, a group of Israeli settlers set up several caravans in Qusra village’s lands, southeast of Nablus, as a prelude to establishing a pastoral settlement outpost.

On 13 January 2025, Israeli bulldozers razed large areas of Palestinian-owned lands adjacent to “Tekoa” settlement in Bethlehem in favor of settlement expansion.

Moreover, the IOF seized 7.5 dunums from Palestinian-owned lands adjacent to “Beitar_Illit” settlement in al-Harayiq area in Husan village in Bethlehem in favor of settlement expansion.

On 14 January 2025, the IOF levelled a plot of land in al-Harayiq area in Sarta village in Salfit near Barkan industrial settlement to expand the settlement.

On 17 January 2025, a group of Israeli settlers set up a caravan on Palestinian-owned lands in An-Naqura village in Nablus as a prelude to establishing a new settlement outpost.

Also, a group of Israeli settlers set up a caravan on Palestinian-owned lands in Qusra village in Nablus as a prelude to establishing a new settlement outpost.

On 18 January 2025, a group of Israeli settlers set up many caravans on Palestinian-owned lands in An-Nazla ash-Sharqiya village in Tulkarm as a prelude to establish a new settlement outpost.

On 20 January 2025, the IOF issued a decision to seize 67 dunums from Hableh village’s lands in Qalqilya to expand part of the bypass road No.55, starting from Ayal checkpoint to what was known as the Green Line on Habla village’s lands, south of Qalqilya.

Settler violence

Israeli settlers conducted 50 attacks against Palestinian villages and cities across the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, the most violent of these attacks have targeted Palestinians and their properties. Their attacks injured 33 Palestinians, including a woman and 4 children, and caused extensive damage to properties.

The attacks included a shooting on a Palestinian vehicle in al-Fondoq village with 2 persons inside causing damage to the vehicle and its windows and burning 6 houses, 5 commercial facilities, a greenhouse, a plant nursery, a generator, 17 private vehicles and a farming tractor. The settlers also uprooted 450 olive and apple trees and limon and orange trees as well as burning areas of agricultural lands.

On 03 January 2025, Israeli settlers; some were armed, attacked Silwad village in Ramallah and burnt 5 vehicles and a farming tractor. They also assaulted 7 villagers, variously wounding them.  The settlers also attacked Barqa village in Ramallah and uprooted farmers’ tents to displace them.3

IOF attacks in Jerusalem

IOF’s violations and Judaization attempts continued in occupied Jerusalem by approving the building of hundreds of new settlement units and entrenching their house demolition policy against Palestinians under various pretexts. IOF also continue to impose age-based access restrictions to Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially on Fridays, and enforce strict search procedures.

In addition to house and facility demolitions as elaborated above, PCHR documented the following:

On 09 January 2025, the Israeli occupation authorities in Jerusalem announced the commencement of the “Silicon Wadi” settlement project in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood of Jerusalem. The project threatens the demolition of around 200 facilities and the confiscation of 2,000 dunums of Palestinian-owned land.

Restriction on freedom of movement and checkpoints

The IOF have established more military checkpoints in the West Bank and tightened restrictions on freedom of movement between the cities and villages, rendering them isolated and entrenching geographical fragmentation. During the reporting period, the IOF established hundreds of temporary checkpoints and metal detector gates along the streets and between the villages in addition to tens of permanent checkpoints aiming to restrict Palestinians’ freedom of movement by searching and arresting them. During the reporting period, IOF arrested many Palestinians and confiscated 2 vehicles: one at a checkpoint near the “Karmei Tzur” settlement in Hebron and another at the Ain Sinya checkpoint in Ramallah.

Since 19 January 2025, the IOF have begun increasing the number of military checkpoints, establishing 18 metal detector gates and numerous temporary checkpoints at the entrances of Palestinian cities and villages, as well as along roads across the West Bank. They have furthered restrictions on freedom of movement between these cities and villages, further isolating them from one another. The intensified presence of these checkpoints and metal detector gates is part of the IOF’s policy to strangle the West Bank and tighten their control and sovereignty over it.  It is also part of the broader annexation plan aimed at tightening restrictions on the Palestinians, destroying life essentials and restricting their freedom of movement.4


  1. Details available at PCHR’s press release:https://pchrgaza.org/?p=34947 ↩︎
  2. Details available at PCHR’s press release:https://pchrgaza.org/?p=35028 ↩︎
  3. Details available at PCHR’s press release:https://pchrgaza.org/?p=34368 ↩︎
  4. Details available at PCHR’s press release:https://pchrgaza.org/?p=35031 ↩︎