In a significant escalation of violence, the Israeli army conducted a raid in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinian military commanders and two civilians, including a mother and her child. Among the commanders killed were a member of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades and two from Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. This raid took place in the Tulkarem refugee camp, where several army convoys and bulldozers stormed the area, leading to the destruction of homes, markets, and entire neighborhoods.
The Tulkarem camp, like much of the West Bank, has been subjected to frequent Israeli army raids and settler attacks, which have intensified since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power at the end of 2022, leading a far-right government. The intensity of these raids increased further following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7. Israel justifies these near-daily raids as necessary measures to capture Hamas cells and ensure Israeli security. However, critics argue that these actions exacerbate the underlying causes of armed resistance, particularly Israel’s decades-long occupation, recently declared unlawful by the International Court of Justice.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Israel has killed 203 people in the West Bank between January and June 6 this year, marking an increase of 75 fatalities compared to the same period last year. Activists and experts believe that Israel is exaggerating the threat of terrorism to justify increasing violence, which results in mass displacement and the expansion of illegal settlements.
Israel’s military operations in the West Bank primarily target towns such as Jenin, Tulkarem, and the Nur Shams refugee camp. These areas frequently witness firefights between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed men. Shadi Abdullah, an activist from Tulkarem refugee camp, reported that the Israeli army often fires missiles at residential areas, bulldozes educational centers and hospitals, cuts electricity, and causes civilian casualties during these raids. Similar tactics have been observed across the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, where significant destruction has occurred. Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed in Jenin during a raid in May 2022.
Israel claims to target Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad factions in the West Bank, along with newly emerging independent armed groups. Recently, several students from Birzeit University were arrested for allegedly plotting a significant terror attack against Israeli forces or settlers. Tasame Ramadan, a Palestinian activist from Nablus, noted that Israel does not differentiate between popular and armed resistance, aiming to maintain control and instill fear among Palestinians.
Many young Palestinians join armed groups or pick up arms to protect their communities from increasing settler violence and army raids. Tahani Mustafa, a senior Palestine analyst for the International Crisis Group, explained that these fighters are often disillusioned Fatah constituents rather than Hamas affiliates, challenging Israel’s narrative of legitimate violence.
Jewish settlers frequently attack Palestinian villages, seeking to expand their territory in the West Bank. These settlers, often protected by the Israeli army, justify their actions by invoking the threat of terrorism. In April, the killing of an Israeli teen in the West Bank led to a wave of vigilante and armed attacks by settlers, resulting in the death of a Palestinian boy and numerous injuries.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), established by the 1993 Oslo Accords, faces criticism for its inability to protect Palestinians from Israeli soldiers and settlers. The PA’s security coordination with Israel and its lack of jurisdiction over Israelis limit its capacity to defend its constituents. As a result, Palestinians remain vulnerable to ongoing violence and displacement, with little recourse for protection.
The situation in the West Bank remains volatile, with Israel’s intensified military operations contributing to a cycle of violence and resistance. As the international community watches, the humanitarian and political implications of these actions continue to unfold.
