Israel now applying its ‘Gaza model' in the West Bank

Arab News

31-01-2025

https://arab.news/m6wbw
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to have shifted from Gaza to the West Bank, with little international accountability, even though there are no hostages being held there.
While global observers grapple with the ramifications of the US foreign aid suspension and incendiary calls for the forced displacement of 1.5 million Gazans, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has played a pivotal role in delaying ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli military operations continue to escalate, exacting a devastating toll on Palestinian civilians.
In recent weeks, Israeli military forces have intensified their presence in the West Bank, notably through the reoccupation of the Jenin refugee camp. This aggressive strategy mirrors historical patterns, drawing uncomfortable parallels to the policies of Ariel Sharon in the 1970s. Once again, the civilian population bears the brunt of military maneuvers as homes, roads and infrastructure are razed in the name of security.
The deployment of massive Caterpillar D9 and D10 bulldozers to demolish homes and widen roads in Jenin is eerily reminiscent of Gaza's long-standing plight. The Israeli military claims these operations target militant strongholds, yet the scale of destruction suggests a broader objective — one that punishes entire communities rather than surgically addressing security threats. The Israeli army reported that its recent incursion in Jenin resulted in 18 Palestinian deaths and 60 arrests, yet it made no mention of the homes that were demolished or the families left homeless.
In the town of Tamun, south of Tubas, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of 10 Palestinians in what can only be described as a massacre. Elsewhere, the pattern of destruction continued: the Al-Taqwa prayer hall in Sur Baher was demolished under the pretext of lacking a permit, while businesses and homes in Jabal Al-Mukaber suffered a similar fate. The cumulative effect of these actions suggests an insidious strategy — one that seeks to impose the 'Gaza model' on the West Bank, reducing Palestinian cities and refugee camps to rubble.
The expansion of Israeli military aggression cannot be separated from the inflammatory rhetoric of far-right Israeli officials
Daoud Kuttab
The expansion of Israeli military aggression cannot be separated from the inflammatory rhetoric of far-right Israeli officials, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who openly advocate for the destruction of Palestinian communities. These calls for violence are not empty threats; they translate into real-world policies that systematically strip Palestinians of their homes, rights and dignity.
Adnan Dmeiri, a former spokesperson for the Palestinian security forces, articulated the sheer absurdity of Israel's justification for these incursions. Speaking to Al-Monitor, he pointed out that the destruction of essential infrastructure — such as roads, water systems and power grids — serves no military purpose beyond collective punishment. The calculated targeting of civilian spaces under the guise of counterterrorism raises fundamental ethical questions. How can one claim to fight extremism while employing tactics that deepen resentment and suffering?
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture. Abu Fayez, a resident of Jenin, likened the destruction to a second Nakba, a reference to the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948. His words carry a chilling truth: for many, the loss of a home is not just a material setback — it is the erasure of history, identity and future prospects. Similarly, Maysoun Khanfar, another displaced resident, described the trauma of being forced from her home in the dead of night, watching helplessly as entire neighborhoods were reduced to ashes.
The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank demands an immediate response from the international community. Yet, time and again, Palestinian suffering has been met with indifference or, worse, outright complicity. While some global leaders issue hollow condemnations, meaningful action remains elusive. The destruction of mosques, schools and hospitals — protected under international law — should elicit more than mere words of concern.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs has condemned the targeted destruction of places of worship, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual significance of these sites. Such violations underscore the need for accountability. The international legal framework, including the Geneva Conventions, explicitly prohibits the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Yet, in practice, enforcement is nonexistent when it comes to Israel's actions in the Occupied Territories.
Time and again, Palestinian suffering has been met with international indifference or, worse, outright complicity
Daoud Kuttab
If history has taught us anything, it is that silence emboldens aggressors. The world has watched this crisis unfold for decades, offering only sporadic interventions that fail to address the root causes of Palestinian suffering. Without substantive pressure — both diplomatic and economic — Israel has little incentive to alter its approach. The global community must demand an end to the systematic destruction of Palestinian homes and the relentless cycle of displacement.
Beyond the statistics and political maneuvering, it is essential to recognize the human cost of this ongoing violence. The destruction in Tulkarem, Jenin and other West Bank areas is not merely about military strategy, it is about the everyday lives of people who are trying to survive under occupation. Families that once had homes, businesses and places of worship now face an uncertain future, stripped of the most basic of human necessities.
For every building reduced to rubble, there is a family left homeless. For every school destroyed, there are children who will struggle to access education. For every act of aggression met with silence, the message is clear: Palestinian lives are deemed expendable in the grand chess game of global geopolitics.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot shift from one occupied area, Gaza, to another, the West Bank including East Jerusalem.
A just resolution requires international accountability, a halt to illegal settlements and recognition of Palestinian sovereignty. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved through military might, but rather through genuine dialogue and mutual recognition of rights.
• Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist and former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is the author of 'State of Palestine NOW: Practical and logical arguments for the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.' X: @daoudkuttab