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The United Nations Human Rights Office has issued a serious warning about the lives of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The UN says that due to Israel’s discriminatory policies, conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that they now appear similar to an apartheid (racial segregation) system.
The UN’s latest report states that systematic discrimination against Palestinians has increased rapidly over the past few years. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank are being suppressed at every level. Under Israeli laws and policies, strict and discriminatory restrictions are imposed on access to water, education, healthcare, meeting family members, and even harvesting olive crops.
The report criticizes the legal and administrative measures adopted by Israel, through which settlement expansion and de facto annexation are being promoted. In May 2025, Israel’s Security Cabinet resumed the land registration process in the West Bank, a move described as an attempt to strengthen settlements.
A survey released in November 2025 revealed serious inequalities faced by Palestinians in access to healthcare services and security. In addition, human rights organizations say that these policies violate international law and are making the lives of Palestinians even more difficult.