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As Israeli forces launched significant military operations in Palestinian areas of the occupied West Bank this week, marking one of the largest interventions in years, comments from Israel’s foreign minister have raised alarms across the region.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz suggested that “temporary evacuation” of Palestinian residents might be necessary to combat terrorism, shared through his social media platform as Israeli bulldozers wreaked havoc on infrastructure, destroying buildings and leaving devastation in their wake.
This remark evokes thoughts of Israel potentially applying the harsh tactics seen in Gaza, where a bloody year-long conflict has already displaced many, to the more densely populated and politically charged landscape of the West Bank. The fear amongst many is that such an approach could lead to the permanent displacement of West Bank Palestinians.
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, expressed concern that the military actions in the West Bank might escalate into a broader conflict similar to what has unfolded in Gaza. He emphasized the need for caution, stating that such operations should not set a precedent for the extension of warfare to the West Bank, which would entail widespread destruction.
Birds fly after an explosion in Nour Shams camp in Tulkarem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Aug. 29. (Mohammed Torokman/Reuters)
Long-time analysts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict align in their apprehensions. Khalid Elgindy, a fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., observed that rather than concluding its military efforts in Gaza, Israel appears to be escalating its military engagement into the West Bank.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with many of the 2.3 million residents having been displaced due to ongoing military operations. Reports indicate that more than 40,000 casualties have been counted since the onset of Israel’s military assaults last October, culminating in extensive injuries and humanitarian challenges.
In the latest West Bank incursions, reports indicate at least 17 Palestinian individuals, both civilians and militants, have lost their lives, including a prominent Islamic Jihad leader in Tulkarem.
Settler Influence Rising
Israel has justified its attacks on towns such as Tulkarem, Jenin, and Nablus on the grounds of counter-terrorism efforts and claims that attacks are allegedly financed and supported by Iran.
WATCH | Israel launches new operation in West Bank:
Israel launches major military operation in the West Bank
Israel has expanded its military campaign into the occupied West Bank, branding it a counter-terrorism effort. Palestinian leaders assert that the Israeli army is indeed transposing Gaza’s military strategies into the West Bank.
These recent operations were initiated just days following a suicide bombing attempt in Tel Aviv, which Hamas characterized as a failed attack.
Katz has implicated Iran in fostering a “terror front” against Israel, as the Israeli administration emphasizes the need to counter perceived external threats.
While the military scale in the West Bank is less extensive compared to Gaza, tensions are heightened with over 270 Jewish settlements established in this disputed territory. In a landmark ruling last July, the International Criminal Court declared Israel’s continuing occupation and settlement activities in the West Bank to be illegal under international law.
Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli forces, during his funeral in Nur Shams refugee camp, near Tulkarem, in the West Bank, on Aug 30. (Mohammed Torokman/Reuters)
Historically, following Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories in the aftermath of the 1967 war, the Israeli government has consistently resisted demands from the international community to enter negotiations concerning the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.
Prominent factions within the settler movement, backed by a powerful ultranationalist coalition supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, openly advocate for the addition of West Bank territories to Israel, with proposals to either vacate or pressure the Palestinian populace to leave.
Under Netanyahu, the influence of the settler movement has surged, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emerging as an influential force in the governance of Israeli settlements.
Surge in Settler Violence
Human rights organization Peace Now reported a marked increase in settlement activities, with 28 new Jewish communities established on Palestinian land last year and another 16 within the early months of 2024.
The settler demographic in the West Bank has expanded beyond 478,000, complemented by an additional 229,000 residing in occupied East Jerusalem, indicating a tripling of numbers over the last two decades.
Experts suggest that leaders within Netanyahu’s government align with the more extreme agenda of removing large Palestinian populations from significant areas of the West Bank. Elgindy highlighted the urgency of this situation, indicating a looming potential for escalating conflicts.
Tahani Mustafa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the current military operations as intensifying trends of violence that had already been pervasive even before the recent escalations attributed to Hamas’s attacks on October 7, which claimed 1,200 Israeli lives.
Mustafa observed that conditions in the West Bank have drastically worsened, with an increase in violence correlating with rising incidences of detainment and land seizures, compounding the daily struggles of West Bank residents.
Human Toll and International Response
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that from October 7, 2023, to August 19, 2024, 607 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with most casualties occurring due to actions taken by Israeli forces. In the same timeframe, 15 Israelis were reportedly killed in confrontations with Palestinians.
Additionally, it was reported that Israeli authorities demolished over 1,400 Palestinian homes and structures, representing more than twice the number of demolitions compared to prior months leading up to October 7.
Israeli settlers walk past construction machinery after structures were erected for a new Jewish seminary school in the settler outpost of Homesh in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on May 29, 2023. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
Despite calls for accountability within the international community, sanctions targeting the more extreme elements of the Israeli government or settler populations have been minimal. Various nations, including the United States and Canada, have refrained from instituting penalties against Israeli officials most responsible for the ongoing settlement expansions.
Mustafa indicated that the lack of significant global pressure on Israel contributes to the ongoing crisis, commenting on Tehran’s potential influence over militant factions within the region. While acknowledging Iran’s financial backing to various groups, she asserted the crucial context is the dire conditions in which locals find themselves.
“The motivation of these groups is rooted in their fight against the occupation, rather than aligning solely with Iran’s interests,” she stated.
Escalating Risks and Future Implications
Mustafa warned that the ongoing military intervention by Israel risks further radicalizing the local populace rather than curbing militant activities, suggesting that the current trajectory may inflame sentiments among Palestinians.
This perspective resonates with concerns in some Israeli security circles, where growing desperation among West Bank residents becomes apparent.
Ronan Bar, the Israeli security service chief, recently communicated to Netanyahu about the rising threat of “Jewish terrorism,” indicating that settler violence could jeopardize Israel’s standing both domestically and internationally.
Elgindy foresees that without considerable pressure from allies such as the United States, Israeli incursions in the West Bank will not only persist but escalate.
“Progressions along the current route suggest we will witness larger and more frequent military operations, correlating with an uptick in armed resistance from Palestinian factions,” he concluded.
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