UN Warns Israel of Gaza Escalation, West Bank Annexation

A senior official at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has raised alarm over Israel’s ongoing military operations in northern Gaza and what he described as de facto annexation efforts in the occupied West Bank.

Ajith Sunghay, head of the OHCHR office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stated that Israeli military operations have caused widespread destruction of residential buildings in southern parts of North Gaza province and northeastern areas of Gaza City.

In remarks published by the official UN News website, Sunghay stressed that the bombardment has led to increased civilian casualties and mass forced displacement, with local health authorities reporting 816 Palestinian fatalities between August 26 and September 1—double the number of deaths recorded the previous week.

“Nearly one million Palestinians remain trapped in northern Gaza, under growing pressure to flee into smaller, more crowded areas in the west of the enclave,” Sunghay warned.

He added that many civilians are unable to move due to extreme risks and the absence of safe zones, noting that Israeli forces continue to strike areas where people seek humanitarian assistance.

Humanitarian Access Blocked as Death Toll Mounts

Sunghay noted that humanitarian workers are facing severe obstacles in delivering life-saving aid, reporting that the UN has documented over 2,146 deaths near US- and Israeli-supported humanitarian centers and along aid convoy routes since the military campaign began in late May.

Alarming Moves Toward West Bank Annexation

The UN official also expressed deep concern about Israel’s accelerating plans to extend sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank.

He cited the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion in July, which concluded that Israel had already carried out a “de facto annexation” of large swaths of Palestinian territory.

“Through settlement expansion, outposts, and forced displacement, Israel continues to reshape the West Bank,” Sunghay said. He pointed to the construction of checkpoints and segregated roads that isolate Palestinian communities while facilitating settler movement.

Grave Consequences for Palestinian Rights

Sunghay warned that any formal declaration of annexation would have catastrophic implications for Palestinian rights, including their right to self-determination, access to natural resources, and freedom of movement.

He added that Israel's strategic aim appears to be “the acquisition of maximum land with minimum Palestinian population,” a policy that risks mass expulsions, intensified settler violence, land confiscation, and large-scale demolitions of Palestinian homes.