Israel's Violation In West Bank, Gaza, And Settlers' Fear In Return To North (X image @omarsuleiman)

The Israel-Palestine war is long from over. Though a ceasefire agreement was reached on January 16, halting Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the occupation force has just shifted the aggression to the occupied West Bank. Forced displacement of the Palestinians, raids, bombing, and Israeli settler violence against the Palestinians are a daily scene in West Bank for the past 30 days.

After three public buses exploded in Tel Aviv in February 20th, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the occupation force to “intensify operations” in the occupied West Bank. Though no group have claimed responsibility for the attack, a statement issued by the Qassam Brigades’ Tulkarem branch on Friday night stated, “The revenge of the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier is present on our land”.

The poorly written Arabic messages that was found on the explosive devices prompted social media users to suspect that the attacks were staged. Netizens and Palestinian analysts have hinted at a possible false flag operation to justify escalating the siege and attack on West Bank.

“In light of the severe terror attack attempts [in the Tel Aviv area] by Palestinian terror organizations against the civilian population in Israel, I instructed the IDF to increase the intensity of the counterterrorism activity in the Tulkarem refugee camp, and all the refugee camps in [the West Bank]”, Kartz said in a statement released.

Also Read: Hamas To Release All Israeli Hostages In One Go; Aims For Permanent Truce

Since reaching Gaza ceasefire, Israeli troops have been conducting a violent offensive across the occupied West Bank. The Israeli aggression has caused the largest displacement of Palestinians from the territory since 1967.

Israel also broadened its “open-fire” orders in the occupied West Bank, implementing the so-called “open-fire mechanism” used inside Gaza, which allowed for the shooting and killing of any unarmed Palestinian, regardless of whether they were considered a suspect, said media report.

Speaking to Israeli media, the occupation soldiers told that he head of the central command, Avi Balut, has allowed shooting to kill without resorting to detention, adding that the increase in the number of deaths of unarmed Palestinians was “unusual”. Army unit commanders revealed that any vehicle coming from the combat zone can be fired at, meaning Palestinians who are fleeing from the attacks and have been displaced by Israel’s operations are in the line of fire, reported The Cradle.

According to Hamas, Israel has violated the ceasefire for more than 200 times since its implementation. Israel also refused to retreat from Lebanon, after the due to withdraw was over. Israel-Lebanon was reached in November last year.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli news paper, Israeli settlers are afraid to return to north Israel from where they were displaced due to Tel Aviv’s war with Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah. As per the report, the settlers from the Metula settlement have filed a petition with Israel’s Supreme Court requesting a conditional order and hearing to discuss an appeal for the settlement’s exclusion from the return protocol that is set to begin in early March.

Also Read: All The Time Israel Tried Ethnic Cleansing Of Palestinians

As per the report, the Metula settlement council head, David Azoulay, argued that the Israeli government’s refusal to exempt Metula residents from returning has led to a “completely unreasonable” outcome. It would force the settlers to leave their current accommodation, places of employment, and schools to return to an area where 70 percent of the houses have been damaged or destroyed.

Thousands of Israeli settlers were displaced from the north in fear of Hezbollah attack, which started after Israel started bombing southern Lebanon. According to property tax data obtained by Ynet, “a disturbing partial image emerges that indicates destruction and damage to approximately 9,000 buildings and over 7,000 vehicles that were damaged mainly by Hezbollah fire”.

While the Israeli settlers refuse to return to the ruined region, Lebanese people, who were largely displaced from their homes after Israel started relentless bombing, returned to the their homes despite the massive destruction. Israel continue to remain in Lebanon, violating the ceasefire deal.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Gaza is entering second phase. In the latest hostages exchange deal, the bodies of four Israeli captives were handed over to the Red Cross. Oded Lifshitz, Sheri Bibas, and her two children Ariel and Kfir were transferred over to the Red Cross in coffins by Hamas.

According to Hamas, the hostages were killed by Israeli bombing. Abu Obeida, the Hamas spokesperson, said all four captives had been alive before the places where they were being held were bombed by the Israeli army during the war.

“The war criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi army killed them with missiles from Zionist warplanes”, read the banner Hamas put up during the exchange deal.

Also Read: What Is Saudi Arabia’s “Arab Alternative” To Trump’s Plan Of Ethnic Cleansing Gaza

As per report, around 70 of the 251 captives taken by Hamas on October 7th 2023 remain in Gaza. Over 30 of the hostages were pronounced dead, during Israeli bombing on Gaza. Several of those remaining under Hamas captivity are said to be the occupation force soldiers and commanders.

Reportedly, Israel is delaying the phase two talks and negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s conditions for the start of phase two are a complete disarmament of Hamas, an end to its presence in Gaza, and no Palestinian Authority (PA) involvement in the post-war management of Gaza. The disarmament of Hamas, the resistance and political power in Gaza, was also vouched by Arab nations including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE), which were trying to propose and “Arab Alternative” to US President Donald Trump’s taking over of Gaza, and making it “Riviera of Middle East”, by “clearing out” Palestinians from their homeland.