The war's second front in the West Bank
As Israel’s assault on Gaza continues following the October 7 Hamas attacks, the occupied West Bank has turned into a dangerous labyrinth. It’s the second front in an expanding conflict. Settlers, supported by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), are rapidly expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, taking advantage of the ongoing conflict. Routes between Palestinian areas change by the hour, turning what were once short journeys into long, difficult trips. Thousands of Palestinian families are trapped in their homes, too afraid to venture out due to escalating violence and constant surveillance by drones.
Since the negotiations with Hamas over Israeli hostages in Gaza began more than 200 Palestinians have been released from prison. One was Jawad Tawfiq Yousef Kamil, an 18 year-old from Qabatiya near Jenin, who spent a year in prison before being released on 24 October.
“Since 7 October the situation in prison got worse for detainees; they started beating us as punishment of what happened. I still don’t feel safe. Israeli soldiers can storm our house at any time. I fear they can pick me up again."
A 3-day Israeli raid in Jenin killed at least 10 Palestinians and left at least 34 wounded people. The IDF describes these operations as part of the counterterrorism against Hamas in the West Bank, but many Jenin residents are more scared of these raids to become collective punishment. The work of medical staff at the Jenin Hospital is severely compromised by the deployment of Israeli forces outside the hospital.
Publication: Tortoise, 12 December 2023
