A UN report published on Tuesday found that Palestinian civilians are systematically subjected to human rights violations by both Israeli settlers and security forces and by Hamas.

The report, conducted by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, found that both Israeli settlers and Hamas-affiliated forces are creating hostile and harmful environments for civilians, describing the situation of Palestinians as being “trapped between Israeli forces and settlers on one side and the fear-based rule of Hamas on the other.” However, the report attributes the primary responsibility for this situation to Israel. The chair of the Commission, Srinivasan Muralidhar, explained:

Violence by settlers is the direct outcome of Israeli policies that support, enable and protect their actions, whereas Hamas-affiliated forces have exploited the vacuum created by relentless Israeli attacks and the widespread destruction of Gaza. What is alarmingly similar is the deliberate infliction of suffering on Palestinian civilians. While their origins and motivations differ, both operate within environments engineered by Israel.

The report highlighted the especially alarming targeting of Palestinian children by Israeli settlers. In its investigations, the Commission found that settlers have “assaulted, abducted and abused Palestinian children while they were engaged in activities such as playing, going to school, or tending to animals and fields.” Settlers also threaten to commit sexual violence against Palestinian women and girls, impacting their ability to do activities such as attend school and work.

Additionally, the Commission documented 60 instances of violence involving Hamas-affiliated forces, including “two public executions of 11 men.” It emphasized that such punitive measures threaten to further traumatize a “severely traumatized civilian population.” It strongly condemned all violence and attacks against Israeli citizens.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that states must take “all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by armed conflict.” The Fourth Geneva Convention 1949 outlines protections for civilians during armed conflict.

The report called for the international community to put pressure on Israel to uphold its obligations under international law and act decisively to end the systems facilitating settler violence. In addressing Hamas’ punitive measures in Gaza, it outlined that future frameworks for peace and stability require clear commitments to accountability, proportionality, and international law. The report is due to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 15 June 2026.

In May, Israel introduced a death penalty applicable solely to Palestinians, raising alarm around human rights and discrimination. The government also announced plans in April to expand settler transfers into occupied territory, and accelerate the annexation of the occupied West Bank.