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Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific strongly condemns Israel’s incursion into the occupied West Bank and the trail of destruction and death the occupation army has left in the wake of its ongoing raids in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem.
Israel’s deadly raids have been taking place across the occupied West Bank for more than three weeks now. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that Israeli forces are using “lethal war-like tactics”. At least 33 people have been killed, including children, and dozens wounded. Nida Ibrahim, a Palestinian journalist on the ground has said that this was the most destructive raid they’ve seen in decades. The siege on the city of Jenin has left Palestinians with no food, water or electricity. At least 30 Palestinians were arrested in raids, including children and former prisoners. Israel’s total number of arrests in the West Bank since October 7 has reached 10,700.
We are extremely concerned about how the global inaction and failure to enforce international law on the genocidal campaign in Gaza has now emboldened the Israeli government to replicate the same in the occupied West Bank – from the mass murder of innocent people, and destruction of infrastructure, to the almost irreparable damage to the land, air and water. If Israel is allowed to continue, their ecocide will render Palestinian land unlivable for any form of life to thrive.
While horrific, this development is hardly surprising. For months, violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has steadily increased and have been carried out without significant consequences or accountability, with settlers rapidly seizing West Bank land. The total amount of West Bank land that Israel has declared its own this year amounts to 23.7sq km (9.15sq miles), making 2024 by far the peak year for Israeli land seizures. Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister has promised to flood the West Bank with a million new settlers. Just last month, armed settlers invaded the town of Jit and fired bullets and tear gas at Palestinians and set several homes, cars and other property on fire, which ended with one person being killed.
Our colleagues from PENGON/Friends of the Earth Palestine have shared with us that in the northern part of the Westbank, particularly in Tulkarem, all agricultural lands on the 48 landlines in the contact areas have been attacked by the IDF forces and settlers. These attacks have ranged from destroying agricultural lands and agricultural facilities such as irrigation networks or water tanks, to uprooting trees and burning them. In the Jordan Valley area, there are relentless attacks by settlers on pastures and livestock. One of their most recent attacks resulted in dozens of livestock being poisoned.In the southern part of the WestBank, in Battir, farmers are prevented from reaching their lands, most of which are lands in Area C. It has affected the farmers psychologically and economically. Their inability to tend to their lands has also affected the land quality.
The ongoing checkpoints blocking the way between cities and villages have also prevented some, including our colleagues from PENGON, from reaching the areas to do their work normally.
None of these crimes has received any significant repercussions from the Israeli authorities, nor has there been any concrete action taken to deter future offences. If anything, they reiterate the same genocidal intent and dehumanisation that Israeli government officials have espoused and impunity in these cases suggest the implicit endorsement of the Israeli state.
For 11 months, the world has borne witness to the levelling of the Gaza strip where the people have endured torture, senseless massacres, sexual assault, and countless war crimes. During this period, more than 650 Palestinians, including 150 children, have also been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Recently, the United Kingdom has suspended 30 out of 350 arms licenses. While we would like to welcome the decision, it is simply not enough, nor will it make a dent on Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. As we reach the unfortunate one year mark of a crisis that has been allowed to go on for far too long, the world, especially Israel’s allies, MUST do better to uphold international law.
The health and environmental costs we’re seeing as a result of Israel’s persistent attacks are already too great. Polio, a disease that has been nearly eradicated globally, has re-emerged in Gaza after 25 years. Hepatitis A, along with dangerous skin diseases have also been spreading due to lack of clean water and the destruction of the healthcare system. The constant bombardment and use of weapons like white phosphorus, are destroying the environment beyond relief, and are part of a growing list of concerns about how this crisis has and will continue to destroy every aspect of life in Gaza.
We cannot and must not allow what happened in Gaza to repeat itself once more in the West Bank. The genocide and ecocide must come to an end, not only by ending the current invasion but by also lifting Israel’s 76 year occupation of the State of Palestine. The Palestinians have a right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination and that right must be upheld.
As always, we stand in solidarity with Palestinians and our colleagues at PENGON as they continue to face this disaster. We are anxious and worried about their wellbeing and safety and we will continue to support them in any way we can.
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific calls on all governments to demand an end to Israel’s escalated attack that endangers human and environmental rights. Governments must use all diplomatic and economic mechanisms at their disposal to deter Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the West Bank, beginning with ceasing arms sales to Israel to prevent further deaths and damage to the land, halting economic relationships with Israel and Israeli companies and considering cutting diplomatic ties. Governments who fail to do everything within their power to stop the attacks risk being found complicit in genocide.
Social movements, including the environment movement, must continue to raise their voices in support of Palestine, pressuring their governments and institutions, countering zionist propaganda and calling for international law to be upheld.
