Ambassador Tamer Almassri
By George Swarei
Occupied West Bank – The Israeli government has escalated its military operations from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, intensifying its campaign amid accusations of annexation and ethnic cleansing. This expansion involves daily raids, settler attacks, and military operations across Palestinian territories, including Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarm, leading to the deaths of dozens of Palestinians.
According to reports, the first half of 2024 saw at least 632 Palestinians killed and over 5,400 wounded in the West Bank. Additionally, 1,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced, nearly 160,000 were impacted by home demolitions, and over 10,000 remain detained in Israeli prisons. The Palestinian leadership and several international observers assert that these actions are part of a broader strategy to annex the entire Palestinian territory, despite the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on July 19 declaring Israel’s annexation and “assertion of permanent control” in the West Bank illegal.
The ongoing conflict has drawn sharp condemnation from the state of Palestine, which accuses Israel of attempting to alter the status quo of religious sites in Jerusalem. Palestinian officials have denounced threats by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to establish a Jewish synagogue within the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, calling it an incitement for further violence and a prelude to the potential demolition of the mosque.
The Palestinian leadership holds the Israeli government responsible for the escalation and urges the international community to intervene, calling for sanctions on extremist elements and actions to enforce international law.
Amidst growing tensions, calls for global intervention have intensified to prevent a larger-scale conflict and potential genocide, as witnessed in Gaza. The situation remains critical as efforts to broker peace and enforce existing international legal frameworks continue to face significant challenges.