Since October 7, 2023, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has surpassed 1,050.
According to recent data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA):
- Total Fatalities: At least 1,054 Palestinians have been killed between October 7, 2023, and early February 2026.
- Child Casualties: This figure includes at least 230 children.
- Settler Violence: A significant portion of these deaths—approximately 33 in late 2025 alone—involved Israeli settlers, sometimes acting alongside military forces.
- Detention Deaths: At least 28 of the total fatalities from the West Bank occurred while individuals were in Israeli detention.
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has expressed "serious concerns" over the spike in violence, noting that the lethality of recent military operations in the northern West Bank (such as in Jenin and Tulkarm) has reached levels not seen since the Second Intifada.
Since the October 7, 2023 attacks, the United States has continued to supply Israel with thousands of heavy munitions, including 2,000-pound MK-84 bombs, BLU-109 bunker-buster bombs, and GBU-39 small diameter bombs, despite documented concerns regarding their impact on civilian populations. Reports indicate that over 15,000 of these bombs have been transferred to Israel.
Impact and Capabilities of the Weapons
- MK-84 (2,000-pound bomb): These are large "dumb" bombs often equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, designed to create large blast radii and destroy high-rise buildings.
- BLU-109 (Bunker Buster): Designed to penetrate hardened concrete structures before detonating, these bombs have been used in densely populated areas, leading to significant destruction.
- GBU-39 (Small Diameter Bomb): While more precise, these have also been used in attacks that resulted in high civilian casualties, such as the strike on the al-Tabin school.
- Human Impact: Investigations have indicated that these weapons, particularly when used in crowded, enclosed spaces, have caused "vaporization" of bodies and severe thermal injuries, leaving only small fragments of remains. The use of these 2,000-pound bombs in residential areas has been linked to the destruction of entire families.
US Knowledge and Policy
- Administration Awareness: The Biden administration acknowledged the potential for "significant civilian devastation" caused by these weapons in densely populated areas, leading to a temporary pause of a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs in May 2024, particularly concerning a potential Rafah offensive.
- Continued Shipments: Despite these concerns, thousands of these bombs were delivered in the months following Oct 7.
- Resumption of Shipments: In early 2025, the Trump administration moved to lift the pause on these heavy bombs, allowing for the delivery of 1,800 MK-84 bombs to Israel.
- Reports of Misuse: A New York Times investigation found that US-supplied 2,000-pound bombs were used in some of the deadliest strikes in Gaza, and reports indicate they have been used in areas previously designated as safe zones.
While some in the U.S. government argued for, and temporarily implemented, restrictions, the overarching policy has been to continue providing these weapons to Israel.
