The recent escalation of violence in the West Bank has once again thrust the region into the spotlight, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict. Hundreds of Israeli troops, backed by drones and armored vehicles, conducted massive raids in the occupied West Bank on August 28, marking the largest operation of its kind in over 20 years. While Israel has conducted near-daily raids in the West Bank since Hamas’s attack in October 2022, the scale of this operation has raised alarm bells and sparked international condemnation. This article examines the history and complexities of the West Bank, the rationale behind the latest raids, and the global response.
Understanding the West Bank
The West Bank, a territory east of Israel, lies on the western bank of the Jordan River. It is bordered by Israel to the north, west, and south, and shares a border with Jerusalem, a city sacred to Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and a frequent source of tension. The West Bank is home to an estimated two to three million Palestinians, along with approximately 430,000 Israeli Jews residing in 132 settlements and 124 smaller outposts. These settlements were established following Israel’s occupation of the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel claims the West Bank as part of its historical homeland, citing its significance in Jewish history and the presence of numerous holy sites, such as the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
The Issue of Settlements
The construction of settlements in the West Bank has been a contentious issue. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has made the expansion of settlements a top priority. In June 2023, his office announced plans to build 1,000 new homes in the Eli settlement. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ top court, ruled in July 2023 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal under international law. The ICJ called for an end to settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and demanded the immediate cessation of Israel’s “illegal” occupation of these areas and the Gaza Strip. While the ICJ’s advisory opinion is not legally binding, it carries considerable political weight and marks the first time the court has explicitly addressed the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation.
The Rationale Behind the Raids
The recent Israeli military raids in the West Bank were described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as part of a large-scale counter-terrorism operation in the Jenin and Tulkarem areas in the north. The IDF stated that the operation, conducted in coordination with the Israel Border Police forces and internal security services, was in its initial phases. Armored columns entered refugee camps in Tulkarem, Tubas, and Jenin, and gunfire and explosions were reported throughout the day.
According to the IDF, the raids were aimed at thwarting what they described as “Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructure” in the West Bank. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, claimed that Iran was attempting to establish an “eastern front” against Israel, justifying the raids as a necessary step to combat the threat. The IDF cited an increase in Palestinian attacks against Israelis, noting the deaths of 30 Israelis in 2023. However, they also acknowledged an increase in attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians, including the killing of a 23-year-old Palestinian in Jit in August.
International Reactions
The Israeli raids and the subsequent deaths of 10 Palestinians have sparked widespread condemnation. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, denounced the raids as a “serious escalation” and urged the US to intervene. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressed concern that the Israeli operations took place near four hospitals and that some had been surrounded, hindering the movement of medical teams. The UN called for an immediate cessation of the operations.
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also expressed alarm, emphasizing that Israel’s major military incursion into the occupied West Bank should not be seen as an extension of the Gaza conflict or a repeat of the “full-scale destruction” witnessed in the Palestinian enclave. The world is watching with growing anxiety as the situation in the West Bank unfolds, with fears that the latest raids could lead to further escalation and instability in the region.
