Israel’s latest military assault in the Occupied West Bank, the largest in two decades, marks a dangerous and unprecedented escalation of violence that risks collectively punishing all Palestinians .
Under the cover of the relentless bombardment of Gaza, Israeli forces have unleashed unlawful lethal force against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank, carrying out unlawful killings, denying medical assistance to those injured and displaying a chilling disregard for Palestinian lives.
“What we are now witnessing in the West Bank has striking similarities to the beginning of the crisis in Gaza in October 2023. Amnesty International is very concerned that the Israeli military’s actions in the West Bank will lead to further killings, forced displacement and destruction of critical infrastructure, which are unlawful measures of collective punishment against Palestinians,”
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International’s Occupied Palestinian Territory spokesperson
“These unlawful actions are key pillars of Israel’s system of apartheid against Palestinians and of its unlawful occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The Israeli siege on the Jenin refugee camp, where 20,000 Palestinians shelter, has entered a seventh day, leaving Palestinians without access to food, water, power or internet. Bulldozers have destroyed critical infrastructure, including roads, water and energy grids and new checkpoints have been established. Israeli fighter jets, drones, bulldozers and soldiers have caried out raids in several Palestinian cities and towns including Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus and Tubas.
Amid alarming reports that Israeli forces have encircled and blocked off access to hospitals, Amnesty International urges the Israeli authorities to take action to safeguard health facilities and personnel, and guarantee access for individuals in need of medical attention. As the occupying power, Israel has an obligation under international law to protect Palestinians, their homes and the infrastructure throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“This horrifying spike in unlawful killings, lethal force and state backed settler violence in the Occupied West Bank must end. Israel’s brutal military tactics across the Occupied Palestinian Territory causes immense suffering on a mass scale and means that no Palestinian is truly safe under the occupation,” says Mohamed Duar.
The International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem is unlawful, and that Israel must withdraw its forces from Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Since October 2023, there has been a horrifying spike in lethal force by Israeli forces and violent state-backed settler attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with Israeli forces and settlers killing at least 659 Palestinians, including 151 children, thousands injured, and over 3,300 have been displaced and over 12,000 arbitrarily detained.
Amnesty International has documented how Israeli forces unleashed a brutal wave of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank following the deadly 7 October attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel. This research highlighted how Israeli forces carried out unlawful killings, including by using lethal force without necessity or disproportionately during protests and arrest raids, and denying medical assistance to those injured.
Amnesty International has also documented the shocking increase in state-backed settler violence against Palestinians. These patterns continue unabated as Israeli forces have also escalated their use of arrests, including arbitrary detention, to crush any form of Palestinian dissent.
“The International community, including Australia, must immediately end the grave risk of genocide against Palestinians in the World’s longest running occupation, ensure accountability and justice and demand Israel end the unlawful occupation of the Palestinian Territory,” says Mohamed Duar.
“This horrifying spike in unlawful killings, lethal force and state backed settler violence in the Occupied West Bank must end.”
