Naveed Hussain
Days after temporarily halting its military offensive in Gaza, Israel has once again turned its sights on the West Bank, signaling an intensification of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Gaza ceasefire, which took effect on Sunday, has allowed Israel to shift its military operations to the West Bank, where raids have escalated, resulting in dozens of Palestinian casualties and the forcible evacuation of entire communities, particularly in the Jenin refugee camp.
While Israel’s military has been engaged in operations across the West Bank even during the onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023, the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip now gives Israel the ability to refocus its military resources on its occupation of the West Bank. This shift highlights the broader geopolitical realities of Israel’s approach to the Palestinian territories—one where peace, rather than war, remains a distant prospect.
In recent days, Israeli forces have dramatically escalated their operations in the West Bank, particularly in the Jenin refugee camp, a known stronghold of Palestinian resistance. The IDF has conducted multiple raids, targeting suspected militants and activists. The death toll in these operations continues to rise, with reports indicating that around a dozen Palestinians have been killed in the past week alone. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, and thousands of civilians are being displaced from their homes in the Jenin camp, further exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
A United Nations official has described Israel’s actions as employing “war fighting” methods, an assertion that underscores the severity of the violence unfolding in the West Bank. What is particularly striking about these operations is that, unlike Gaza, where Hamas has been portrayed as the principal adversary, the West Bank is largely controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA), a body that is politically aligned with Fatah and is not affiliated with Hamas. This fact raises critical questions about Israel’s true objectives. While Israel’s justification for its war on Gaza was centered around eliminating Hamas, its actions in the West Bank indicate that Israel is targeting all Palestinians, regardless of their political affiliations. It paints a picture of a broader policy of repression and domination, aimed at quelling any form of Palestinian resistance, whether organized or grassroots.
The ceasefire in Gaza, which was hailed as a temporary respite from the horrors of war, has quickly proven to be an illusion when viewed through the lens of Israel’s broader strategy in Palestine. The belief that the cessation of hostilities in Gaza would translate into peace and stability across the occupied territories has been swiftly shattered by Israel’s renewed aggression in the West Bank.
This is not a new development. For decades, Israel has maintained a policy of conflict, wherein peace is either delayed or undermined to preserve its security concerns and strategic interests. The notion of peacemaking has rarely been a priority for Israel’s political elite, particularly under the leadership of right-wing and far-right factions that view the Palestinian issue through the lens of territorial expansion and control.
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By shifting focus to the West Bank, Israel is sending a clear message that it will continue its policies of occupation, military repression, and settlement expansion, regardless of international pressures or temporary ceasefires. This shift underscores the deep-seated nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one that is not easily swayed by short-term pauses in violence. Israel’s strategy of permanent occupation and subjugation has been long established, and it is unlikely to change without significant international intervention or a drastic shift in the region’s power dynamics.
The current political landscape in the United States further complicates the situation for Palestinians. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. government has maintained strong support for Israel, with Biden surrounded by a cohort of influential Zionist officials. This alignment has bolstered Israel’s confidence in its military operations, as it is clear that Washington is unlikely to apply meaningful pressure on Tel Aviv to alter its course.
This political reality raises the specter of further Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a goal that has been openly discussed by prominent Israeli politicians. Israel has already taken steps in this direction with the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank, despite widespread international condemnation. Should the U.S. continue to turn a blind eye to these developments, Israel could move forward with formal annexation, further cementing its control over the entire Palestinian territory.
The possibility of annexation is particularly concerning given the already volatile situation in the West Bank. Such a move would undoubtedly fuel greater Palestinian resistance and provoke stronger reactions from neighboring Arab states, as well as the broader international community. However, the current trajectory of Israeli actions suggests that this may be part of a deliberate strategy to absorb the West Bank while stifling any form of Palestinian sovereignty.
The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East remains precarious, with tensions not only rising in Palestine but also in neighboring countries. The ceasefire in Lebanon, which has temporarily halted hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, is due to expire in the coming days. While Hezbollah may be temporarily weakened by recent Israeli strikes, the group remains a formidable force in the region. With Israel’s military focus currently divided between Gaza and the West Bank, it is likely that Hezbollah will reassert its presence in southern Lebanon, further complicating Israel’s military objectives.
Should hostilities resume in Lebanon, Israel could find itself embroiled in a multifront war. The prospect of simultaneous conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and southern Lebanon would place immense pressure on Israel’s military resources and its political leadership. The possibility of a regional conflagration is not distant, as the ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank fuels anger and resistance across the Arab world.
This scenario would likely lead to an escalation of violence across the entire region, with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, supported by Hezbollah and other regional actors, fighting for survival against an Israeli military that has shown little restraint in its pursuit of territorial dominance. The broader Middle East would once again be plunged into chaos, with no clear path to resolution in sight.
As Israel continues its aggressive campaign against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the future for the Palestinian people looks increasingly grim. The Gaza ceasefire may have temporarily halted the killing in the Strip, but it has done little to alleviate the systemic oppression faced by Palestinians in the West Bank. With Israel’s policies showing no signs of change and the international community largely passive, the Palestinian struggle for self-determination remains an uphill battle.
For Palestinians, the coming months could bring further suffering, displacement, and death, as Israel moves closer to its goal of annexing the West Bank and consolidating its control over all Palestinian territories. The international community must rise to the occasion, hold Israel accountable for its actions, and advocate for a just and lasting peace that respects Palestinian rights and sovereignty. Until then, the cycle of violence will likely continue, with no end in sight.
