New York(The COW News Digital) The United Nations has urged Israel to dismantle what it described as a racially discriminatory system imposed on Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, warning that the situation has worsened significantly in recent years.
According to a newly released report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Israel continues to enforce a structured and systematic regime of discrimination against Palestinians, particularly in the West Bank. The report states that discriminatory laws, policies, and practices have become more entrenched, severely impacting the daily lives and fundamental rights of the Palestinian population.
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, in an official statement accompanying the report, said that Palestinian rights are being deliberately and consistently restricted. He noted that these restrictions extend far beyond security-related measures and have permeated almost every aspect of civilian life.
“The daily existence of Palestinians is marked by discrimination,” Türk said. “From access to water and basic services to education, healthcare, family life, and livelihood, Palestinians face obstacles rooted in unequal treatment and exclusionary policies.”
The report highlights that Palestinians often encounter severe difficulties when attempting to access essential services. Movement restrictions, checkpoints, permit systems, and land access limitations were cited as major barriers that prevent Palestinians from traveling freely to schools, hospitals, workplaces, and even their own agricultural land, including olive groves that are central to their economic survival.
The OHCHR report further noted that these practices contribute to a climate of prolonged hardship and undermine Palestinians’ social, economic, and cultural rights. It emphasized that the legal and administrative framework governing the occupied territories applies different standards based on nationality and ethnicity, resulting in deep structural inequality.
UN officials stressed that international law prohibits racial discrimination and apartheid-like practices, calling on Israel to bring its policies into compliance with international human rights obligations. The report urged the international community to take meaningful steps to ensure accountability and protection for Palestinian civilians.
Israel has repeatedly rejected similar accusations in the past, arguing that its policies are driven by security concerns. However, the UN report maintains that security justifications cannot excuse widespread and systematic discrimination against a protected population under international law.
The findings are expected to add pressure on Israel amid ongoing global scrutiny of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, while reigniting debate within international forums over human rights, accountability, and justice.
