Israel has launched yet another large-scale military operation, this time targeting the West Bank. The operation, referred to as “Operation Summer Camps,” comes after years of tension and violence in the region. But as the dust settles and the suffering continues to mount, one critical question arises: Can Israel sustain and survive this new war in the West Bank?
A New Operation, A Familiar Strategy
On August 28, Israel shifted its focus from Gaza to the northern West Bank, executing its most significant military operation in the region since 2002. Backed by helicopters and drones, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) invaded key cities like Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarem. The target? Refugee camps that have long been at the heart of Palestinian resistance.
The immediate aftermath was predictable. Hospitals, emergency centers, and ambulances became targets, echoing Israel’s tactics in Gaza. According to Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Israel swiftly besieged these vital services, leaving civilians with nowhere to turn for help.
This violence is not an isolated incident. Over the past year, 660 Palestinians have lost their lives to Israeli military actions in the West Bank alone. The IDF’s systematic raids and arrest campaigns are ongoing, and the death toll continues to climb.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
In the city of Jenin, the destruction is staggering. Journalist Mariam Barghouti described the situation as “a collective torture chamber.” Civilians, including minors, have been arrested en masse, homes have been destroyed, and the entry of basic necessities like food and water has been blocked. Those who manage to escape are left traumatized.
UN reports indicate that between August 27 and September 2, Israeli forces killed 30 Palestinians, including seven children. This represents the highest weekly death toll since November 2023. Many victims, including children as young as 13, were killed while attempting to provide bread to families in besieged neighborhoods. The violence is indiscriminate, with no regard for age or circumstance.
The Role of Settlers
The Israeli military isn’t the only source of terror in the West Bank. Illegal Jewish settlers have long been given free rein to attack Palestinians, a pattern that continues today. According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 1,300 attacks by Israeli settlers have been recorded over the past year, with more than 120 leading to Palestinian deaths or injuries.
These settlers are part of a broader Israeli strategy that seeks to erase Palestinians from the West Bank entirely. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has publicly stated that the goal is to deal with the West Bank as they have with Gaza. This includes the mass displacement of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes.
Systemic Torture and Abuse
Alongside the violence and displacement, Palestinians continue to endure systemic torture at the hands of Israeli forces. Testimonies from Palestinian detainees reveal a horrifying reality: beatings, electric shocks, starvation, and even rape are routine methods of torture used by the Israeli military. These practices have been widely reported, but little has been done to hold Israel accountable.
The situation in Israeli prisons is equally dire. Between October 2023 and July 2024, at least 53 Palestinian prisoners died in Israeli custody. The total number of Palestinian detainees is now estimated to be 21,000, a staggering figure that continues to rise as Israel expands its crackdown on Palestinian resistance.
The Resistance Fights Back
Despite the overwhelming force used against them, Palestinian resistance groups are not standing idly by. In Jenin and Tulkarem, fighters have been using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to damage Israeli military vehicles and inflict casualties on Israeli forces. These acts of defiance demonstrate that, even in the face of immense suffering, Palestinian resistance remains strong.
Reports from various sources suggest that resistance fighters are using a combination of machine guns and IEDs to engage Israeli forces in intense confrontations. Though the odds may be stacked against them, the resilience of the Palestinian people is undeniable.
International Response: Silence or Sanctions?
The international community’s response to Israel’s actions has been one of general inaction. Calls for sanctions and arms embargoes have been ignored, and military aid to Israel continues unabated. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has urged nations to impose sanctions and halt all forms of military support to Israel, warning that continued complicity makes these countries partners in Israel’s crimes.
Retired Israeli General Yitzhak Brick has been one of the few voices from within Israel to acknowledge the futility of the current strategy. In a recent statement, Brick warned that Israel is heading towards collapse if the war of attrition with Hamas and Hezbollah continues. His words offer a sobering reminder that the cost of this conflict extends far beyond the Palestinian territories.
What’s Next for Israel?
As Israel’s new war in the West Bank rages on, the question remains: Can Israel survive? The country is now fighting on multiple fronts, with growing discontent both domestically and internationally. The humanitarian cost of this conflict is staggering, and the toll on Israeli soldiers continues to rise.
If Israel’s goal is to erase Palestinian resistance, the current strategy seems to be backfiring. Far from eliminating the threat, Israel’s actions are only strengthening the resolve of Palestinian fighters and drawing the world’s attention to their plight.
In the end, Israel’s survival may hinge not on its military might, but on its willingness to seek a peaceful resolution. Without a fundamental shift in strategy, the future looks bleak for both Israel and the Palestinian people.
Conclusion
The war in the West Bank is far from over, and its outcome remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the ongoing violence is unsustainable. As long as Israel continues to pursue military solutions to political problems, the cycle of violence will only perpetuate itself. The world is watching, and it’s time for real change before more lives are lost.
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