A bulldozer is tearing out enormous chunks from buildings in a depopulated Palestinian neighborhood. It is not removing rubble; this is a demolition operation – methodical and involving immense destruction.
It is part of Operation Iron Wall, an extensive Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank. Officially, Iron Wall aims to root out militant groups to prevent another October 7 attack from originating in the volatile refugee camps of Jenin or Tulkarm.
Politically, it satisfies demands from the extreme right in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government who advocate for a return to warfare in Gaza. This is why it was initiated mere days after the Israeli-Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to the UN, 40,000 individuals have been displaced so far.
Zeinab Qasam, who is inspecting her home in Tulkarm after an Israeli raid, describes the area as a “mini-Gaza”. Her family has been forced to evacuate three times since January. During one of the evacuations, Israeli forces ransacked her neighbor’s apartment, rifling through drawers and firing into the walls and ceiling, even holding her children at gunpoint.
The IDF has also set up sniper positions nearby, which is why traversing these streets is perilous. You never know who might have you in their crosshairs. This operation appears aimed at constructing wider roads to ease military actions and operations against “terrorists,” according to Zeinab.
The situation worsened on February 7 when 10-year-old Saddam Rajab, shot in the stomach during an Israeli operation in Tulkarm, succumbed to his injuries. The medical help he needed was delayed because of extensive IDF searches.
Saddam’s father, Iyad Rajab, is deeply concerned about the children growing up with such experiences and the growing resentment among Palestinians.
Donald Trump has announced he will “make a decision” on the West Bank soon after being asked if he supports Israel’s annexation of the occupied area. It remains unclear what his decision will entail or how it would affect the three million Palestinians who reside in the West Bank.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/operation-iron-wall-west-bank-areas-turning-into-mini-gaza-as-israeli-troops-raid-homes-13313593
