As the War in Gaza Drags on, Palestinians in the West Bank Have ‘Reached Rock Bottom’
The Israeli military’s bombardment of Gaza has dominated headlines for the past week, but the conflict has also had a devastating impact on Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli military has carried out a series of raids in the West Bank, killing at least 19 Palestinians, including several children, and arresting hundreds more. The raids have been accompanied by a wave of settler violence, with Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians and their property, and burning down homes and olive groves.
The violence has left many Palestinians in the West Bank feeling isolated and helpless, and has exacerbated long-standing grievances against the Israeli occupation.
“We are at rock bottom,” said Noura Erakat, a Palestinian-American lawyer and activist. “The West Bank is being left to burn while the world focuses on Gaza. The international community has failed to hold Israel accountable for its crimes, and the Palestinian leadership has failed to provide any meaningful resistance.”
The Israeli military’s actions in the West Bank have been widely condemned by human rights groups and the United Nations. The UN Human Rights Council has launched an investigation into the Israeli military’s actions, and the International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into possible war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas.
Despite the international condemnation, the Israeli government has shown little willingness to change its policies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the military campaign in Gaza until a ceasefire is reached, and has accused the international community of being biased against Israel.
The conflict in Gaza and the West Bank is rooted in a long-standing dispute over land and resources, and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has maintained a presence in the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War, and has built hundreds of settlements on Palestinian land, which are considered illegal under international law.
The Israeli government argues that the settlements are necessary for security reasons, but Palestinians and human rights groups say they are a major obstacle to peace and a violation of their rights.