During the month of October, Israel launched a comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people. Although the main military aggression was focused on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank was not exempt from Israeli attacks. Similarly, Palestinians with Israeli citizenship found themselves subject to restrictions, with a complete ban on protests and the arrest of hundreds due to solidarity with Gaza. Notably, during the month, illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank took advantage of the general prevailing atmosphere of incitement and militarization in the Israeli society, and continued to attack the West Bank. The world and the media were preoccupied with events in Gaza, allowing the settlers to pursue their settler ambitions, which primarily involve expelling Palestinians from their homes and lands to expand the Israeli control over the land and further establish new settlement outposts.

This edition of the report is a special issue released to cover and focus on the aggression on Gaza. The crimes and violations in this issue are divided into two parts: one specifically addressing the crimes in Gaza, while the other focusing on the crimes in the West Bank.  The report also highlights and lists various extremely racist statements made by Israeli political elites dehumanizing Palestinian in Gaza. It is crucial to note that phrases like "Flattening Gaza" have become widely circulated within Israeli military and political elites to the extent that they are no longer just striking statements but rather a prevailing, overarching sentiment (another report from New York Times titled: ‘Erase Gaza’). Additionally, various crimes and violations are reported in this newsletter, but the focus is primarily on the section detailing settler attacks, as following October 7th, settlers promptly launched retaliatory operations in nearly every region of the West Bank.

During the month of October, Israel launched a comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people. Although the main military aggression was focused on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank was not exempt from Israeli attacks. Similarly, Palestinians with Israeli citizenship found themselves subject to restrictions, with a complete ban on protests and the arrest of hundreds due to solidarity with Gaza. Notably, during the month, illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank took advantage of the general prevailing atmosphere of incitement and militarization in the Israeli society, and continued to attack the West Bank. The world and the media were preoccupied with events in Gaza, allowing the settlers to pursue their settler ambitions, which primarily involve expelling Palestinians from their homes and lands to expand the Israeli control over the land and further establish new settlement outposts.

The report highlights the most egregious violations and crimes, but it does not encompass all of them, especially when it comes to those committed by settlers in the West Bank. This limitation is due to the media’s emphasis on the Gaza Strip and the lack of comprehensive documentation for the extensive incidents in the West Bank. The complete lockdown imposed by the occupying forces on cities in the West Bank has made it challenging to document targeted Bedouin communities with low Palestinian population density. The absence of proper documentation, coupled with restricted access for journalists and activists, hindered efforts to reach these communities or counter attempts of displacement, some of which involved collaboration between the military and settlers. This newsletter also addresses the significant number of arrests, particularly in the West Bank. According to some reports, the number of Palestinian prisoners doubled during the war. A climate of mistreatment towards prisoners reached a point where Israel uses Jewish criminal inmates to assault Palestinian prisoners in addition to the prison guards.

Finally, settlers have been leading land eviction operations through their criminal behavior, and the assaults have been accompanied by the displacement of the targeted communities.

The War on Gaza:

In a grim turn of events starting on October 7th, Israel imposed a harsh and far-reaching siege on the Gaza Strip, depriving its inhabitants of the basic necessities like water, food, electricity, and fuel. This stringent measure exacerbated the ongoing 17-year humanitarian crisis in a territory declared unlivable by 2020.

The so-called "complete siege" allowed a meager convoy of 20 trucks enter by October 21, constituting only 4% of the daily requirements of people in Gaza before the hostilities—a fraction of the current need. The United Nations emphasizes the necessity of 100 trucks daily to meet the needs of the 2.3 million residents in Gaza. Adding to the tragedy, Israel weaponized humanitarian aid, employing it to forcibly displace residents from northern Gaza.

By the end of October, Israel's aggression resulted in a staggering death toll of 8,525, including 3,542 children and 2,187 women, with 21,543 more injured. There were 110 medical staff killed, and 65 journalists targeted during that period. The majority succumbed to Israeli aerial bombardment, totaling over 25,000 tons of explosives—equivalent to a doubled nuclear bomb's force. The Israeli military claimed over 12,000 targeted objectives in Gaza, violating the territory of 365 square kilometers. Reports indicate that Israel also used incendiary phosphorus bombs, which are deemed illegal by most countries and international actors, and which Israel itself committed not to use in 2013.

Israel's blockage of fuel into Gaza triggered a healthcare system collapse, forcing hospitals to release patients with fresh wounds and conduct surgeries, including amputations, without anesthesia. In October, Israeli forces attacked two hospitals in northern Gaza, prompting 117,000 citizens to seek refuge. The ominous specter of Israeli forces targeting hospitals looms large, with influential Rabbis advocating for bombing the Al-Shifa’ hospital, and 22 hospitals receiving evacuation notices—a death sentence for the sick and injured, according to the World Health Organization.

Striking Statements Regarding the War on Gaza and Dehumanizing Rhetoric:

The recent actions of prominent Israeli figures during the Gaza crisis expose a deeply troubling trend marked by dehumanization, weaponization of aid, and blatant disregard for international laws. 

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, President Isaac Herzog, and Minister Benny Gantz shockingly labeled Palestinians in Gaza as "human animals," setting the stage for inhumane treatment and violating war ethics and humanitarian agreements. The declared "complete siege" plunged Gaza into a dire humanitarian crisis, marked by severe shortages, aid blockades, and ongoing collective punishment.  The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned Israel’s decision to order a “full siege” on Gaza, and reminded states that depriving civilians of their basic essentials is prohibited under humanitarian law.

Minister of Energy Israel Katz exacerbated tensions by cutting off essential services, tying their restoration to the return of Israeli captives. This stark manipulation of humanitarian aid reveals a calculated effort to use basic needs as leverage for military objectives, resulting in forced population displacement – a blatant crime under international laws.

Israeli Police Chief’s ban on solidarity protests and threats to transfer supporters to Gaza violate free expression, signaling a concerning attempt to suppress opposition amid the Gaza attacks. Particularly shocking were his words on October 17th, when he stated in reference to Palestinians living in Israel: "Anyone who wants to be a citizen in Israel, welcome. But anyone who wants to show solidarity with Gaza, I will put them on buses and transfer them to Gaza immediately."

The Israeli army's spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, stated that "emphasis is on the damage, not precision", endorsing indiscriminate destruction in Gaza. This approach translated into the widespread demolition of entire neighborhoods, intensifying the already dire humanitarian crisis.

Likud Party deputy Tally Gotliv,'s call for a "Jericho" nuclear missile, referring to it as weapon of the Day of Judgment, raises alarming concerns about potential disproportionate force before troops are even sent into Gaza, disregarding civilian lives.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir's distribution of very large quantities of weapons to Israeli civilians and improvised militias poses a direct threat to Palestinians in mixed towns. This misuse of "readiness units" amid societal incitement heightens the risk of civilians being wrongfully targeted and executed. The implications are grave for innocent lives in this perilous environment.

Prominent Crimes During the War on Gaza:

This account details a series of devastating events during the war on Gaza, revealing a relentless onslaught by Israeli forces on residential areas, hospitals, and religious institutions. The humanitarian crisis escalated as critical while infrastructure is destroyed. From October 8th to October 31st, Israeli airstrikes and bombardments caused significant casualties and widespread destruction. Of particular significance are the attacks on hospitals, ambulances, UNRWA schools, and the Church of St. Porphyrius, the oldest church in Gaza and the third oldest in the world – all of which resulting in substantial casualties. 

The indiscriminate nature of these attacks is underscored by the high number of civilian casualties, including children, women, and the elderly and it is compounded by the intensified bombing near hospitals, foreshadowing an alarming trend of direct assaults on medical facilities that would escalate in the subsequent weeks. The use of explosives and the intentional destruction of residential neighborhoods further exacerbated the already dire situation in Gaza.

Timeline of Events:

This timeline summarizes the gravity of the attacks resulting in an alarming humanitarian crisis and the extensive damage inflicted on Gaza's infrastructure during this period of conflict.

Illegal Settler Attacks and Land Seizures in the West Bank:

In October, a series of disturbing incidents unfolded in the West Bank involving Israeli settlers. The Palestinian student Labib Dumaidi, 19, tragically lost his life in Hawara when settlers directly fired at him. The violence continued with settlers opening fire on homes in Jalboun. Parts of a house in Qusra were demolished, marking the commencement of a relentless assault on the town, strategically taking advantage of the global focus on the Gaza conflict. The University of Haifa arbitrarily expelled six Palestinian students, accusing them of supporting Hamas. Subsequently, three Palestinians were killed in Qusra, with additional violence unfolding later that day. Settlers attacked ambulances in Qusra, resulting in the tragic deaths of a father and son. On another front, settlers razed structures in Masafer Yatta, and Bedouin communities near Jerusalem faced oppressive travel restrictions. The unsettling trend continued, with settler-led "Judaization" forcibly displacing Palestinian communities in Area C. Settlers threatened Palestinians in the West Bank with forced displacement to Jordan, distributing alarming publications in towns like "Deir Istiya." 

The month concluded with another tragedy as a settler along with an Israeli soldier, fatally shot 40-year-old Palestinian Bilal Salah while he was harvesting olives in Sa'wiyah.

Crimes and Violations:

Starting on October 7th, Israeli forces enacted a blockade on the West Bank by closing key checkpoints, barring access to cities like Jerusalem and isolating other cities like Jericho. The closing of international borders, and primarily, the Karama border crossing was also closed as part of the blockade on the West Bank.  In parallel, Israeli forces, carried out various violations on Palestinians that include: raids on Palestinian villages, arrests linked to social media posts, the demolition of public facilities.  Attacks and intensive incursions were carried out on Jenin city, Jenin refugee camp, and Nour Shams refugee camp, resulting in extensive casualties and substantial infrastructure damage. The attacks on Jenin refugee camp were repeated at the end of the month.

Inside Israel, extremist Jews attempted to expel Palestinian students from Netanya College on October 29th.

Prisoner Issues and Arrests:

During the month of October, Israel arrested more than 2,047 Palestinians from various areas in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip – according to the Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD). This number does not include Palestinian workers from Gaza who were arrested during the war, and there are preliminary estimates from the head of the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority that the number of arrested Palestinians in Gaza is approximately 4,000 Palestinian workers. After October 7, Israeli forces arrested 1,680 Palestinians, amid a campaign of repeated arrests and incursions into Palestinian cities, villages, and camps, averaging about 70 arrests per day. The arrests are mainly concentrated in the Hebron governorate, where there were approximately 500 detainees, and the number of administrative detention orders reached more than 650.

Killed and Wounded:

The heightening of tensions saw an increase in incidents that unfolded against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the month of October. The attacks, marked by indiscriminate airstrikes, shootings, and settler attacks, spanned various locations, including Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. In Gaza, the attacks wiped out entire families with clear evidence of war crimes committed by Israel. People that followed evacuation orders advising residents to move south were still subject to Israeli airstrikes with many meeting their deadly fate. One of the main strikes, targeted the Baptist Hospital known today as Al-Ahli Hospital killing 100s of Palestinians, some of which were taking refuge while others were the sick and injured. The Euro-Med Monitor estimated that Israel is killing an average of 100 children per day.