Gaza Watch: Israel’s Largest West Bank Assault in Decades, 10 Palestinians Killed, Global Outrage Intensifies

On August 28, 2024, the Israeli military launched its largest offensive in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians and the wounding of 22 others. The escalating situation has sparked international concern, with medical workers in refugee camps reporting detention and assault by Israeli forces. Amidst these operations, Doctors Without Borders has set up a field hospital in central Gaza, while the United Nations warns of worsening humanitarian conditions in the West Bank. This new wave of violence has led to sanctions from the United States targeting Israeli settlers for their violent attacks on Palestinians.

Israeli Military Raids and Casualties

• The Israeli military has intensified its operations across the occupied West Bank, killing at least 10 Palestinians during the largest assault in almost 20 years.
• In addition to the deaths, 22 Palestinians have been reported wounded.
• Raids were concentrated in Jenin, Tulkarem, and the Far’a refugee camp, where Israeli forces imposed severe restrictions on Jenin Governmental Hospital and established a checkpoint in Tulkarem’s Nur Shams camp.
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas cut short his trip to Saudi Arabia to return to the West Bank due to the escalating violence.

Humanitarian Crisis and International Response

• Medical workers in the Far’a refugee camp have reported being detained and assaulted by Israeli forces, severely limiting their ability to provide care.
• Doctors Without Borders has set up a field hospital in Deir el-Balah, Gaza, after Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital was evacuated, forcing about 650 patients to be relocated.
• The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement warning that Israel’s operations in the West Bank risk worsening an “already catastrophic situation,” citing increased abuses such as torture, arbitrary detention, and displacement of Palestinians since October 7.

US Sanctions and Israeli Government Reaction

• The US government announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
• In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the sanctions, vowing to have a “pointed discussion” with US officials. He remarked: “Israel views with utmost severity the imposition of sanctions on citizens of Israel.”

Continued Violence in Gaza and Syria

• Israeli forces carried out deadly attacks in central and southern Gaza, killing and wounding dozens. One of these attacks struck a school in eastern Deir el-Balah, killing eight Palestinians.
• On the Syria-Lebanon border, Israeli forces killed a Hezbollah member and four others in a strike near a Syrian checkpoint. Security sources reported that some of those killed were Palestinian fighters.

EU Concerns and Diplomatic Pressure

• The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell Fontelles, expressed concern over the comments of Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who compared the Israeli military raids in the West Bank to the war in Gaza and hinted at the possible evacuation of Palestinians from areas in the West Bank.
• Borrell warned that regional stability is at risk and that Katz’s statements on evacuating Palestinians could exacerbate the situation. He said: “The Israeli major military operation in the occupied West Bank must not constitute the premises of a war extension from Gaza, including full-scale destruction.” He further noted: “The parallel drawn by Katz, especially on evacuating Palestinian residents, threatens to fuel further instability.”

Israeli Forces and Al-Aqsa Mosque Violations

• Violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have raised tensions, with EU officials warning that “regional stability is at stake.”
• Families of Israeli captives held in Gaza have begun a march from Tel Aviv towards an area near the security fence, demanding a prisoner exchange deal.

Impacts on Health Services and Aid Efforts

• The UN has expressed concerns about the timing of the escalating violence, which has affected their operations, including a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza. A UN official stated: “The timing could hardly be worse,” as the UN was forced to abandon its Gaza headquarters due to the security situation.
• The war on Gaza continues to take a heavy toll, with reports indicating that over 40,534 people have been killed and 93,778 wounded since the conflict escalated.

Source: Al Jazeera