Escalating Israeli Military Operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
September 12th, 2024
Justice for All Canada condemns the escalating violence perpetrated by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in the Occupied West Bank. From August 28th to September 6th, 2024, Israeli forces intensified their systematic use of military force, resulting in the killings of at least 36 Palestinians, including eight children, in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas. Israeli forces used airstrikes, bulldozers, snipers, and other war-like tactics in heavily populated areas, such as refugee camps. This included successive airstrikes and the use of bulldozers supported by fighter jets, drones, and ground forces. Thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, while civilian infrastructure has suffered significant damage.
“The apartheid system in Israel is simultaneously targeting both Gaza and the West Bank with unprecedented violence. What we are seeing in the West Bank is not only routine military operations, but a calculated assault on Palestinian communities. The sheer scale of destruction signals a clear intent to destabilize and displace, while the global community’s failure to intervene only emboldens Israel’s actions,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice for All Canada.
Israeli military operations in the Occupied West Bank have been marked by large-scale raids targeting Palestinian civilians, resulting in numerous unlawful detentions and abuse. During these operations, Israeli soldiers have conducted house-to-house searches, forcibly detaining young Palestinians and subjecting them to various forms of mistreatment, including physical violence and degrading treatment.
This latest violence comes at the behest of harrowing reports of torture and ill-treatment against detained Palestinians, including those from the West Bank. As the Israel human rights organization B’Tselem indicates, Israel appears to have a systematic, institutional policy that is focused on the continuous abuse and torture of all Palestinian prisoners. Israel has developed a system of camps designed for the abuse of inmates—where each individual is deliberately subjected to severe, unrelenting pain and suffering, both physical and psychological—which function as de-facto torture camps.
Israeli forces have also deliberately obstructed humanitarian aid and medical attention by stopping ambulances transporting the wounded to hospitals, delaying or denying critical medical care. The recent Israeli military directive to evacuate areas where local pauses had been agreed for polio vaccinations is a disturbing example of the continued disruption of humanitarian efforts. The escalating violence in the occupied West Bank comes after the Israeli government’s recent approval of the largest illegal land seizure in more than three decades.
Since 7 October, the violence in the Occupied West Bank has only intensified, with at least 692 Palestinians killed in Israeli operations, adding to the long list of violations that include frequent, lethal raids on refugee camps. In Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes continue unabated, densely populated areas like Al-Mawasi have been subjected to intense bombardment, resulting in devastating civilian casualties. The ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where at least 41,000 Palestinians--16,500 of them children—have been killed, has grossly lacked the immediate international attention it urgently requires. More than 1.9 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, many multiple times, due to continuous evacuation orders.
Justice for All Canada reiterates the call for Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, including the cessation of its unlawful occupation, settlement, and annexation of Palestinian territories. As stated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel must end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, halt genocidal acts, cease military operations in Rafah, and ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The implementation of the ICJ’s provisional measures orders, including those pertaining to the cessation of hostilities and the provision of humanitarian access, must occur immediately in order to mitigate the needless deaths and suffering of the Palestinian people.
The Canadian government has failed to hold Israel accountable for its continued violations of international law and ensure that the rights of the Palestinian people are upheld. The situation has been well beyond critical, warranting immediate action to end the occupation and secure lasting peace and justice for Palestinians. Justice for All Canada will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for the end of Israel’s violations of international law.
Justice for All Canada condemns the escalating violence perpetrated by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in the Occupied West Bank. From August 28th to September 6th, 2024, Israeli forces intensified their systematic use of military force, resulting in the killings of at least 36 Palestinians, including eight children, in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas. Israeli forces used airstrikes, bulldozers, snipers, and other war-like tactics in heavily populated areas, such as refugee camps. This included successive airstrikes and the use of bulldozers supported by fighter jets, drones, and ground forces. Thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, while civilian infrastructure has suffered significant damage.
“The apartheid system in Israel is simultaneously targeting both Gaza and the West Bank with unprecedented violence. What we are seeing in the West Bank is not only routine military operations, but a calculated assault on Palestinian communities. The sheer scale of destruction signals a clear intent to destabilize and displace, while the global community’s failure to intervene only emboldens Israel’s actions,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice for All Canada.
Israeli military operations in the Occupied West Bank have been marked by large-scale raids targeting Palestinian civilians, resulting in numerous unlawful detentions and abuse. During these operations, Israeli soldiers have conducted house-to-house searches, forcibly detaining young Palestinians and subjecting them to various forms of mistreatment, including physical violence and degrading treatment.
This latest violence comes at the behest of harrowing reports of torture and ill-treatment against detained Palestinians, including those from the West Bank. As the Israel human rights organization B’Tselem indicates, Israel appears to have a systematic, institutional policy that is focused on the continuous abuse and torture of all Palestinian prisoners. Israel has developed a system of camps designed for the abuse of inmates—where each individual is deliberately subjected to severe, unrelenting pain and suffering, both physical and psychological—which function as de-facto torture camps.
Israeli forces have also deliberately obstructed humanitarian aid and medical attention by stopping ambulances transporting the wounded to hospitals, delaying or denying critical medical care. The recent Israeli military directive to evacuate areas where local pauses had been agreed for polio vaccinations is a disturbing example of the continued disruption of humanitarian efforts. The escalating violence in the occupied West Bank comes after the Israeli government’s recent approval of the largest illegal land seizure in more than three decades.
Since 7 October, the violence in the Occupied West Bank has only intensified, with at least 692 Palestinians killed in Israeli operations, adding to the long list of violations that include frequent, lethal raids on refugee camps. In Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes continue unabated, densely populated areas like Al-Mawasi have been subjected to intense bombardment, resulting in devastating civilian casualties. The ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where at least 41,000 Palestinians--16,500 of them children—have been killed, has grossly lacked the immediate international attention it urgently requires. More than 1.9 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, many multiple times, due to continuous evacuation orders.
Justice for All Canada reiterates the call for Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, including the cessation of its unlawful occupation, settlement, and annexation of Palestinian territories. As stated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel must end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, halt genocidal acts, cease military operations in Rafah, and ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The implementation of the ICJ’s provisional measures orders, including those pertaining to the cessation of hostilities and the provision of humanitarian access, must occur immediately in order to mitigate the needless deaths and suffering of the Palestinian people.
The Canadian government has failed to hold Israel accountable for its continued violations of international law and ensure that the rights of the Palestinian people are upheld. The situation has been well beyond critical, warranting immediate action to end the occupation and secure lasting peace and justice for Palestinians. Justice for All Canada will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for the end of Israel’s violations of international law.