Israel's Brutal System of Domination: Ignoring the Root Causes of Palestine's Struggle

Israeli soldiers entering a bedroom at night to interrogate a family about a man they didn't even know is a common practice, while settlers expand their colonies, preventing Palestinians from reaching their land and restricting movement between towns and cities with over 900 checkpoints, roadblocks, and settler-only roads. The article highlights the brutal reality of life for Palestinians, including the ongoing occupation, apartheid, and displacement, and the failure of the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions. Despite human rights organizations, the UN General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice ruling Israel's occupation as illegal, world leaders have refused to act, leading to a jarring lack of international accountability.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 9100 Palestinians remain in Israeli captivity, including more than 400 children, with thousands without charge or trial.
• The Ofer military courts operate a corrupt system designed to funnel Palestinians to prison based on extortion, plea bargains, and "secret evidence" which the detainee and lawyer are not allowed to see.
• Israeli settlers receive full legal rights in Israeli civil courts, creating a system of dual justice based on race.
• Almost everyone I met has experienced detention firsthand or through a close family member, involving beatings, humiliation, starvation, and threats.
• Israeli settlers have established an illegal settlement in the middle of a Palestinian village, destroying homes, olive groves, water, and electrical infrastructure with no repercussions.
• Israel controls the water, funnelling over 80% to their colonies while heavily limiting access to Palestinian communities.
• The international community has refused to hold Israel accountable for its actions, despite human rights organizations, the UN General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice ruling Israel's occupation as illegal.

Statistics:

• 9100 Palestinians remain in Israeli captivity, including over 400 children.
• 80% of Israel's water is funneled to their colonies, while heavily limiting access to Palestinian communities.
• 900 checkpoints, roadblocks, and settler-only roads restrict movement between towns and cities, including urgent medical access.
• 10 days - the length of time Awdah Hathaleen's body was withheld by authorities after being shot dead by a fundamentalist settler.
• 5 days - the length of time the killer was free to harass the family before being arrested.

Sources:

• Cole Martin, independent New Zealand photojournalist
• The Spinoff
• Asia Pacific Report
• UN General Assembly
• International Court of Justice
• Human rights organizations
• Tariq Hathaleen, cousin of Awdah Hathaleen
• Yinon Levy, fundamentalist settler