An Israeli driver’s car was set ablaze after he mistakenly entered the Palestinian town of Qalandiya in the West Bank. The incident comes amidst increasing violence in the region, with numerous mob killings and clashes reported since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Canada has imposed sanctions on seven Israeli settlers, including prominent figures like Ben-Zion Gopstein and Elisha Yered, for their involvement in extremist violence in the West Bank. This is the second time in a month that Canada has taken such action, reflecting growing international concern over the escalating violence in the region.
A viral video showing an Israeli soldier tying a wounded Palestinian man to the bonnet of a military vehicle during an arrest raid in Jenin, West Bank, has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The Israeli army has admitted to a violation of operational procedures and initiated an investigation into the incident. The incident highlights the escalating violence in the West Bank, where tensions have surged since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023.
A video showing an injured Palestinian man strapped to the hood of an Israeli military jeep during an arrest raid in Jenin has sparked outrage. The Israeli military confirmed the incident, stating it was a violation of protocol and will be investigated. The incident highlights the escalating violence in the West Bank since the Gaza war.
The United States has determined that an Israeli military unit engaged in gross human rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank before the conflict in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that the U.S. will postpone a decision on whether to impose sanctions on the unit pending a review of new information provided by Israel. The Israeli government has vehemently opposed any such restrictions, emphasizing that U.S. military assistance for Israel’s defense remains unaffected. The scrutiny centers on a specific Israeli unit, believed to be Netzah Yehuda, which has been linked to abuses against Palestinian civilians, including the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian American in 2022. The U.S. Leahy Law mandates the cessation of military aid to foreign units responsible for severe violations of international law or human rights, but it permits waivers if appropriate reforms are implemented. This incident marks the first potential application of the Leahy Law against Israel, a close ally of the United States.
In an attempt to assert its influence in the Middle East, Turkey proposed a security arrangement plan to several Arab states, including the Palestinian Authority. The plan involved deploying forces in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as part of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, some Arab countries, such as Egypt, initially refused the proposal. Egypt maintains normal relations with Turkey but views its attempts to gain a foothold in the Palestinian arena with suspicion. The report suggests that Turkey may be trying to assert itself at Qatar’s expense due to the failure of hostage deal negotiations.
The US State Department has condemned plans by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to legalize dozens of illegal settler outposts in the West Bank. Spokesperson Vedant Patel described the reports as “dangerous and reckless.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson has threatened to intervene if President Biden imposes sanctions on an Israeli military battalion over alleged misconduct in the West Bank. The Biden administration is reportedly considering sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a unit largely comprised of ultra-Orthodox nationalist Jews, following incidents leading up to Hamas’ October 2022 attack on Israel, including the arrest and subsequent death of a Palestinian American man. The possible sanctions have drawn criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government, who have urged the State Department to reconsider. Johnson said he received written assurances from White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan that the sanctions would not affect funding for Israel and that the administration would be judicious in its approach.
The spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, Abu Obeida, has called for an escalation across all fronts in a televised speech marking 200 days since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. The war began with a Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, which killed nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized 253 hostages. Israel launched an aerial assault and ground offensive in Gaza in response, vowing to eliminate Hamas and end its rule of Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has placed the Palestinian death toll since October 7 at over 34,000 people, although this figure cannot be independently verified and does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed some 13,000 Hamas gunmen in battle, as well as some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7. In his speech, Abu Obeida praised Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13, saying the direct strikes with hundreds of explosive drones and missiles “set new rules, drew important equations, and confused the enemy and those behind it.” He also called for an escalation in the West Bank and Jordan, which he called “one of the most important Arab fronts.” Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, intercepted and shot down dozens of Iranian drones that entered its airspace and were heading to Israel, two regional security sources said earlier this month.
Layan, an American citizen of Palestinian descent, was abducted by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. She is one of over 5,500 Palestinians detained by Israel without charge or trial. Israel’s use of administrative detention, torture, and other human rights abuses is a violation of international law. The Biden administration must pressure Israel to end its oppression of Palestinians and hold it accountable for its war crimes in Gaza.
