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Arab-Israeli conflicts

Israel's Devastating War on Gaza Sparks Increased Settler Attacks on Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As Israel's devastating war on Gaza continues, settlers in the occupied West Bank are taking advantage of the international community's focus on the conflict to expel Palestinians from their land in the West Bank. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Israeli settlers have displaced 1,285 Palestinians and destroyed 641 structures in the West Bank since October 7, with 15 farming communities being completely cleared and many civilians forced to take refuge in nearby towns.

Settlers are primarily targeting farming communities in Area C, which is under Israeli control, and are often armed with semiautomatic rifles and other weapons. Palestinian farmers, on the other hand, are often unarmed and have no means of defending themselves. "Farmers have nothing to protect them, just their naked chests," said Abbas Milhem, the executive director of the Palestinian Farmers Union.

The international community's response to the crisis has been limited, with the United States imposing sanctions on a few Israeli settlers, but not on key figures such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. These two politicians have been at the forefront of pushing for the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, which is a clear violation of international law.

According to Peace Now, a nonprofit organisation that monitors land confiscation in the West Bank, Israel has seized 23.7sq km of Palestinian land in 2024, making it the peak year for Israeli land seizures over the past three decades.

Key Takeaways:

  • Israeli settlers have displaced 1,285 Palestinians and destroyed 641 structures in the West Bank since October 7.
  • 15 farming communities have been completely cleared, and many civilians have been forced to take refuge in nearby towns.
  • Settlers are primarily targeting farming communities in Area C, which is under Israeli control.
  • Palestinian farmers are often unarmed and have no means of defending themselves.
  • The international community's response to the crisis has been limited, with the United States imposing sanctions on a few Israeli settlers.
  • Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been at the forefront of pushing for the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
  • Israel has seized 23.7sq km of Palestinian land in 2024, making it the peak year for Israeli land seizures over the past three decades.
  • Settlers are armed with semiautomatic rifles and other weapons, while Palestinian farmers have nothing to protect themselves.
  • Abbas Milhem, the executive director of the Palestinian Farmers Union, says that farmers have "nothing to protect them, just their naked chests."
  • The United States has imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers, but not on key figures such as Smotrich and Ben-Gvir.
  • Israel's war on Gaza has led to a significant increase in settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Statistics:

  • 1,285 Palestinians displaced in the West Bank since October 7.
  • 641 structures destroyed in the West Bank since October 7.
  • 15 farming communities completely cleared.
  • 513 people killed in the West Bank since the start of the war on Gaza.
  • 199 Palestinians killed in the first nine months of 2023.
  • 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank before the Hamas-led attacks.
  • 23.7sq km of Palestinian land seized in 2024.
  • 9.15sq miles of Palestinian land seized in 2024.

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera: "South Africa asks ICJ to order Gaza ceasefire, halt Israel's Rafah assault" (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/16/south-africa-asks-icj-to-order-gaza-ceasefire-halt-israels-rafah-assault)
  • Al Jazeera: "How Israel keeps stealing Palestinian land" (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/11/how-israel-keeps-stealing-palestinian-land)
  • Al Jazeera: "Israeli settlers are expanding illegal outposts amid Gaza war" (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2024/3/19/how-israeli-settlers-are-expanding-illegal-outposts-amid-gaza-war)
  • OCHA: "Casualties in the West Bank" (https://www.ochaopt.org/data/casualties)
  • Middle East Council for Global Affairs: "Sanctions on Israeli settlers" (https://www.mecga.org/sanctions-on-israeli-settlers/)

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