The International Commission ICSPR Reviews 2025 Israel’s Comprehensive Strategy of Colonial Annexation and Genocide

Date: February 17, 2025

Press Release

The International Commission Reviews 2025: Israel’s Comprehensive Strategy of Colonial Annexation and Genocide

The International Commission to Support the Rights of the Palestinian People – “ICSPR” – today reviewed the results of its 2025 annual report during a press conference held in front of its destroyed headquarters in Gaza City, with the presence of representatives from civil society and local and international media.

Lawyer Rana Hdeib, Director of Programs at the Commission, explained that the analysis of Israeli incidents and crimes during 2025 confirms the existence of a comprehensive criminal, racist, and colonial strategy to forcibly reshape the Palestinian reality, based on three parallel pillars:

• Expansion of Israeli aggression and colonial settlement aimed at annexing the West Bank without its residents.

• Genocide and total destruction in the Gaza Strip, making it a disaster area unfit for life.

• Breaking the national will through collective punishments, the siege, targeting prisoners, social and civil infrastructure, civilians, and obstructing humanitarian and medical aid.

On Colonial Annexation and Settlement in the West Bank

Hdeib pointed out that the report reviewed the expansion of colonial settlement crimes, settler attacks, legalization of settlement outposts, house demolitions, city isolation, destruction of camps in northern West Bank, with the imposition of creeping annexation of Palestinian lands.
She confirmed that these measures constitute a serious violation of international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and Security Council resolutions, and contradict the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, aiming to establish permanent control over the land, undermine the possibility of a viable Palestinian state, and dismantle Palestinian geographic and demographic continuity.

On the Crime of Genocide in Gaza

Hdeib noted that the report documented the continuation of the policy of genocide in the Gaza Strip, which led to the martyrdom of 21,430 civilians, including 70% women and children, and the disappearance of 4,125 people under the rubble, while the total casualties of the aggression since October 7, 2023, exceeded 72,000 martyrs and more than 171,000 injured, with nearly 9,500 missing under the rubble and 3,000 forcibly disappeared.
She explained that the Commission documented the targeting of 412 civilian shelters, the death of 500 people due to malnutrition including 154 children, and the impact of severe drought and malnutrition on more than 51,000 children, along with the destruction of 93% of agricultural land and fishermen’s boats.

On the Destruction of Infrastructure and Basic Services

Hdeib indicated that the Commission documented the destruction of 295,000 housing units, approximately 92% of buildings, with 90% of electricity networks out of service and 85% of water and sanitation facilities destroyed, leaving less than 6 liters of water per person per day.
She added that 34 out of 36 hospitals went out of service, 1,411 medical personnel including rare specialists were assassinated, 650,000 students were deprived of education, with 93% of schools and 12 universities destroyed, and 130 university professors assassinated.

On Forced Displacement and Social Collapse

Hdeib explained that the report recorded the repeated displacement of about 2 million Palestinians, the eviction of 288,000 families during the year, with the spread of diseases and the rise in new disabilities to more than 32,000 cases, mostly among women and children, in the Gaza Strip, which has become a laboratory for the “silent biological war.”

On Israeli Crimes and Violations Against Prisoners

Hdeib confirmed the continuation of execution and torture crimes against prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons, including arbitrary administrative detention, psychological and physical torture, deprivation of medical care, prevention of family visits, and undermining the right to education inside prisons, considering these policies war crimes and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

On Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid

Hdeib noted that the Israeli authorities prevented the delivery of food, fuel, and temporary shelters, and disrupted the work of UNRWA and 37 international organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and Oxfam, which exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and health disaster in Gaza.

On International Failure and Absence of Justice

Hdeib explained that the report highlighted the delay of the International Court of Justice in issuing its rulings, the inability of the International Criminal Court to hold occupation leaders accountable, and the continued paralysis of the Security Council due to the veto, reflecting the failure of the international community to protect Palestinian civilians.

Urgent Demands

Hdeib confirmed that the International Commission called on the international community, third states, the United Nations, the free people of the world, and Palestinian leaderships to:

• Impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on the occupation.

• Provide international protection for civilians and ensure the continued operation of UNRWA and humanitarian organizations.

• Pressure the occupation to stop ceasefire violations and ensure the flow of humanitarian and medical aid and fuel.

• Deliver heavy equipment and temporary housing to support recovery and reconstruction.

• Accelerate the issuance of international arrest warrants against occupation leaders responsible for genocide, war crimes, settlement, and prisoner abuse.

• Restore Palestinian national unity, internationalize the conflict, and activate the energies of the Palestinian people in confronting occupation crimes.

Hdeib warned that the continuation of genocide, colonial annexation, and Judaization of holy sites threatens the existence of the Palestinian people and the national cause, calling on the international community to activate mechanisms for international protection, impose deterrent sanctions, halt all crimes and humanitarian violations, and urge the free people of the world to continue international solidarity to pressure states to fulfill their legal and moral obligations toward the Palestinian people.

Attached is the 2025 Human Rights Report