Under cover of Gaza war, “Israel” accelerates ethnic cleansing in West Bank

As global attention remains fixed on the devastating war in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, is witnessing an intensified campaign of forced displacement, destruction, and lockdowns.

Since late 2023, “Israeli” authorities have taken advantage of the world's focus on Gaza to escalate violations across the West Bank in an unprecedented manner, according to UN and human rights reports.

Widespread raids and infrastructure destruction

Military raids have surged in Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus. These operations go beyond arrests and now include large-scale destruction.

• Killings and arrests: Hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have been killed and thousands injured. Thousands more have been detained in near-daily raids.
• Systematic destruction: Bulldozers have demolished roads and critical infrastructure, including water, electricity, and sewage networks, especially in refugee camps. Human rights groups have labeled the actions as collective punishment.

Settler violence: “Israel’s” unofficial weapon

Violent attacks by settlers have increased dramatically, particularly in Area C, under full “Israeli” control. Human rights groups such as B’Tselem report that these attacks are often carried out with the protection or complicity of the 'Israeli' military.

• Common attacks include arson of homes and farmland, physical assaults, and use of live ammunition.
• Impact: Dozens of Palestinian families, especially in Bedouin and herding communities, have been forcibly displaced in what observers call a “silent ethnic cleansing.”

Home demolitions: institutionalized displacement

Demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures have surged, especially in Area C and East Jerusalem, under the pretext of lacking building permits -- permits that are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.
According to UN OCHA, hundreds of buildings have been demolished since late 2023, leaving hundreds of Palestinians homeless, including many children.

Closures and blockades: economic and humanitarian suffocation

A web of military checkpoints and closures has fragmented the West Bank into isolated enclaves. These restrictions have:

• Crippled the economy, cutting off workers from jobs inside the Green Line and hindering trade.
• Restricted essential services, preventing access to hospitals, schools, and universities.

Using the Gaza war as cover

Observers say “Israel” is using the war on Gaza to accelerate long-standing plans to reshape the West Bank, undermining the possibility of a viable Palestinian state.

What is unfolding is not a series of isolated incidents but a calculated strategy of displacement, destruction, and economic strangulation, while the international community remains largely silent.