During a trip to the West Bank in 2022 to conduct research and visit her family in Nablus, Yara Asi recalled the military siege that besieged the city, a major economic hub for the region, in an effort to weed out militants living there. Asi remembered thinking that the world would intervene to prevent the city from being closed, but the siege lasted for more than three weeks and resulted in the deaths of more than 23 Palestinians across the territory. Throughout that year, Israeli raids and airstrikes killed over 150 Palestinians, making it the deadliest year for the West Bank since 2006. The attacks continued into 2023 and have only escalated since then.
As most attention remains on Gaza, Israeli military attacks on the West Bank have resulted in the deaths of more than 594 people since October 7, including 115 children killed by live ammunition, and 1,411 children injured, according to the United Nations. Around a dozen of those deaths were caused by violence from extremist Israeli settlers.
Despite these escalating events, there has been little intervention or critique from the international community. Israel further expanded its military campaign in the West Bank with raids and airstrikes on Tulkarem, Jenin, and Tubas, marking its largest attack in the occupied territory since 2002 during the Second Intifada. In just three days, at least 20 Palestinians were killed in preemptive strikes, with footage showing civilian infrastructure being destroyed. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, called for military action to eliminate the threat in a manner similar to how terror infrastructure in Gaza is handled.
The ongoing strikes and the fear of continued violence have raised concerns about the future of Palestine. Asi, who has a personal connection to Nablus, wonders if there will even be a place called Palestine for future generations to go to. The current situation has sparked worries about the possibility of ethnic cleansing in the region.
Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, believes that Israel’s actions in the West Bank are motivated by a desire for total control of the region and a long-term plan to eliminate Palestine. He emphasizes that the international community, particularly the United States, has provided little accountability for Israel’s actions, allowing them to proceed unchecked.
The evidence of human rights violations in Israel’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank continues to mount, with reports of targeting civilians, infrastructure, blocking aid, and abusing detainees. Despite potential war crime charges and genocide cases, Israel has received ongoing support from the U.S., including weapons transfers.
The attacks on the West Bank are seen as part of Israel’s broader strategy to annex Palestinian territory and achieve its vision of Greater Israel. The lack of consequences for actions in Gaza has emboldened Israel to continue its aggressive tactics in the West Bank. The policy towards Israel is described as “completely disjointed” with a lack of vision beyond allowing Israel to dominate. This level of support has led to the Israeli military feeling it has free rein, as it is the message coming from its top supporter and supplier. The support for Israel has also isolated the US in the international community, particularly in the UN Security Council. This support has weakened the US and has resulted in a lower standard of living for future generations due to wasted resources on needless wars.
Despite rhetoric from Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris supporting a two-state solution, the US has made little effort to get Israel to end its illegal occupation. The current situation has left many feeling further from a two-state solution than ever before. Recent strikes and conflicts in the region are seen as attempts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prolong his stay in power and satisfy his far-right coalition.
The attacks in the West Bank and the accusations against aid providers for Palestinians in Gaza are causing concerns about further loss of life in the region. Living conditions in the West Bank are worsening due to the tightening grip of Israeli forces, leading to increased interest in immigrating to other countries among young people. Settler violence, facilitated by Israeli forces, is also on the rise.
Overall, the situation in Israel and the occupied territories is dire, with many feeling genuine fear for their safety and future. The ongoing conflicts and lack of progress towards a two-state solution are only exacerbating the situation for those living in the region. Please rephrase
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