Published on: 2026-08-11
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 11, 2026 Peace and Security
The situation in the occupied West Bank has reached a “critical point” and requires immediate international action. This was stated by Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaking on Tuesday at a Security Council meeting.
According to him, the region is experiencing a systematic deterioration of the security situation, accelerated by the expansion of Israeli settlements, increased violence, and the deepening crisis of the Palestinian Authority.
“The West Bank is experiencing a turning point… This is the result of decades of unresolved conflict, which has intensified the illegal Israeli occupation, pushed the Palestinian National Authority to the brink of collapse, and undermined the prospects for establishing an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state,” Alakbarov said.
A sharp rise in violence and large-scale population displacement
According to the UN, since the beginning of the year, 76 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank as a result of actions by Israeli military and settlers, including 18 children. Three Israelis were also killed in the clashes.
Since January 2023, complete or partial displacement has affected 127 Palestinian communities, with 47 of them being completely displaced. In 2026, around 3,800 Palestinians were displaced due to settler violence, demolitions, and evictions, nearly half of whom are children.
Alakbarov noted that the level of violence by settlers is “unprecedented”: in 2026, more than 1,430 incidents were documented, affecting about 260 Palestinian communities. Many attacks, he said, occurred in the presence of Israeli forces.
The situation remains especially severe in the Nablus area, where on July 24 settler attacks resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers, as well as extensive destruction.
Accelerated expansion of settlements
Alakbarov reported that Israel has significantly accelerated the construction and legalization of settlements. Since the beginning of the year, plans for the construction of about 12,360 housing units have been advanced in the approval process or approved, including 5,160 in East Jerusalem. In mid-July, the Israeli government announced the allocation of 431 million dollars for the creation of 34 new settlements, previously approved in 2026.
Alakbarov emphasized that these steps are systemic: “These are interconnected actions, not isolated events. They completely change the West Bank, weaken the Palestinian administration, and promote de facto annexation.”
Threat of Financial Collapse of the Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian Authority is experiencing a severe financial crisis: Israel is withholding about six billion dollars of revenues, which prevents the payment of salaries and the provision of basic services to the population. An additional threat is posed by the possible suspension, starting from September 1, of processing shekel transactions by Israeli banks.
Call to immediate action
Alakbarov called for action “without delay” to ensure progress towards a two-state solution. He emphasized that further deterioration of the situation in the West Bank would jeopardize not only the implementation of international resolutions but also the prospects for an overall peaceful settlement.
Death of children
The Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Hannan Suleiman, told the Security Council session about an elderly woman from the West Bank who was afraid to leave her home after a grenade was thrown through the kitchen window where her grandchildren were.
“The main spaces where childhood takes place – home, classroom, street, neighborhood – are becoming increasingly unsafe,” she warned.
From January 2024 to July 2026, the UN confirmed the death of 174 Palestinian children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. More than 1,500 children were injured, with nearly half of them suffering gunshot wounds. During the same period, three Israeli children were killed and another 15 were injured.
Suleiman also expressed deep concern that 355 Palestinian children from the West Bank are in Israeli military detention, which is the highest number in the past eight years.
Suleiman called on the Security Council to protect children, end the forced displacement of Palestinian families, ensure access to education and medical care, and safeguard humanitarian operations.
“Children in the West Bank have the same rights as children everywhere – to live, to study, to feel safe, and to envision their future without violence and fear,” she emphasized.
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