In a bloody spree of brutality, two young Palestinian men have been shot by the soldiers over the last 24 hours during an operation across the occupied West Bank. The two murders fueled further the tensions across the region, an operation that has so far killed several people and evicted hundreds out of their homes.
Adel Bishkar, just 19, died when soldiers shot him in the chest while living in the Askar refugee camp, close to the city of Nablus, last Friday, WAFA, the Palestine news agency, has released. Bishkar died shortly after being admitted to the local hospital. His community, as well as his relatives, has been sent into mourning by the news, many deploring the brutality by soldiers.
Yesterday, Issa Riyad Issa Jabali, just 28, died shot by soldiers while living in the southern region of Nablus. Jabali’s killing has added further to the ever-mounting list of people killed across the region, an operation by soldiers that has gained momentum over recent weeks. Both killings have sparked an outpouring across the region, Palestinians accusing soldiers of targeting civilians, as well as deploying force beyond measure.
Both killings form an extensive operation by soldiers known as Operation Iron Wall, an operation across the region, located in the region of Jenin, that has entered day number 26 consecutively. The operation, one of the largest across the region over many years, has killed least 25 people, leaving dozens injured. The operation has also seen extensive property, infrastructure, as well as public buildings, flattened, leaving neighborhoods flattened.
WAFA reported the ongoing military onslaught has displaced around 20,000 of body people from the area of Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp. While many have found refuge in nearby towns and villages, others are displaced in Jenin itself to find near shelter and basic needs. The humanitarian crisis there is catastrophic; reports are of food, water and medical supply shortages.
Preventing Attacks
The Israeli military has said it is targeting militant networks and preventing attacks on Israelis. But Palestinian officials and human rights groups have criticized the campaign, saying it punishes civilians unfairly and violates international law. The scale of the destruction of homes and infrastructure has also drawn worldwide condemnation over high civilian casualties.
In Jenin, the wounds of the offensive are everywhere. Streets that once teemed with the hustle and bustle of life have emptied and the sounds of gunfire and explosions have taken the place of the day-to-day hum. Local residents say there has been a climate of fear and uncertainty, with many unsure of when — or if — they might return to their homes. “We lost everything,” said one displaced resident who did not want to be named. “Our homes are gone, our lives are shattered and we have nowhere to go.”
The deaths of Bishkar and Jabali have ignited and kindled the anger and frustration amongst Palestinians. Many consider the Israeli offensive a trigger for a wider strategy aimed at solidifying the occupation and suppressing Palestinian resistance. Protests erupted across the West Bank, with calls for an end to violence and accountability for those responsible.
As the situation in the West Bank deteriorates, both sides are increasingly calling for some international intervention. Human rights groups are pressing the United Nations and international bodies to act now to protect civilians and hold any perpetrators accountable; for now, however, those in Jenin and other affected areas are caught somewhere between two warring camps, their lives torn apart by a conflict that shows no signs of relinquishing its grip.
