Israeli Forces Ramp Up Operations, Arrests and Legislation in the Occupied West Bank
In a series of escalating events, Israeli forces have reportedly arrested over 25 Palestinians in the West Bank town of Azzun, advanced controversial legislation, and launched a large-scale military operation in the northern West Bank. These developments have occurred amidst reports of unpunished settler violence and ongoing displacement of Palestinians.
Context and Background
The arrests occurred during a raid in Azzun, where the Israeli troops converted a resident's house into an army outpost and set up military checkpoints, effectively restricting the movement of residents, according to the Middle East Eye. This incident coincides with Israel's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee backing a bill that aims to ease the Jewish purchase of land in the West Bank.
The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) killed Sultan al-Ghani, a Palestinian accused of murdering an Israeli guard in 2024, in a separate incident. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has initiated a new operation in the northern West Bank, targeting primarily Palestinian refugee camps, as reported by Le Monde and The Hindu.
Unpunished Violence and Displacement
Amidst these developments, B'Tselem, a human rights organization, claimed that 21 cases of Israeli settlers killing Palestinians over the past two years have gone unpunished. The group described this as part of an ethnic cleansing
campaign in the West Bank, noting an increasingly permissive and reckless open-fire policy
by the military since October 2023.
Al Jazeera English highlighted a surge in displacement and settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers established a new outpost in the Bedouin community of Shallal Al-Auja, north of Jericho, which threatens local Bedouin communities, as reported by the Middle East Eye.
Legal and Military Actions
A group of former Israeli defense and legal officials have voiced their opposition to a proposed bill seeking to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. The officials warned that the proposal could severely damage the security of Israel and its citizens, and could endanger Jews and Israelis around the world,
as reported by the Middle East Eye.
On the military front, the Israeli army has launched a large-scale operation in the northern West Bank, with three brigades leading the offensive in Tubas. As part of the operation, the Israeli forces have reportedly bulldozed roads, cut water lines, closed town entrances, and converted houses into military barracks, as reported by Middle East Eye and ANSA.
Current Status
The situation remains tense as the Israeli forces continue their operations in the West Bank. The large-scale military operation in Tubas is ongoing and could take days, according to the Middle East Eye. The impacts of these developments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the lives of those living in the West Bank remain to be seen.