TEHRAN – Israeli forces and settlers have escalated brutal violence in the occupied West Bank since a ceasefire in Gaza took effect over the weekend.
Israeli forces attacked the city of Jenin on Tuesday, killing several Palestinians and wounding dozens.
Israeli forces also arrested 18 Palestinians in towns near Hebron and Tulkarem, Wafa news agency reported.
Israeli forces have reportedly set up checkpoints and blocked roads, preventing people from entering and exiting cities, towns and villages across the West Bank.
On Monday, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian vehicles and property in the West Bank under the protection of regime forces, injuring more than 20 Palestinians.
The assault on Israeli settlers coincided with President Donald Trump’s signing of an order on Monday lifting U.S. sanctions imposed on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli rights groups said the settlers were acting in “full cooperation with the Israeli military.”
Mr. B’Tselem mentioned the hidden motives behind the attacks on settlers in the context of enforcement of the ceasefire in Gaza.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, he said the settlers wanted to “impose a ‘price’ for releasing Palestinians from Israeli prisons.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement condemned the settler attack.
Hamas said in a statement: “The escalation in settler terrorism is due to the heroic people of all governorates of the West Bank rising up in a wave of massive anger to stop the settlers and repel terrorist attacks. “This highlights the urgent need to do more.”
According to Al Jazeera, the resistance movement says that settler violence in conjunction with Israeli military operations “will not succeed in encouraging people to give up their land and rights,” but will instead lead to “further fortitude and defiance.” He said it would be.
The UN Secretary-General also expressed deep concern about the “existential threat to the integrity and contiguity” of Gaza and the West Bank from Israel’s actions and the “unstoppable expansion of illegal settlements.”
Antonio Guterres, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, added: “Israeli senior officials are openly talking about formally annexing all or part of the West Bank in the coming months.” Such an annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law. ”
On Monday, Israeli Chief of Staff Helj Halevi ordered troops to prepare for a major operation in the West Bank.
“In parallel with strengthening defense preparedness in the Gaza Strip, we must prepare for a major operation in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) in the coming days,” Halevi said in a statement.
Halevi’s statement drew attention to Israel’s plans to annex all of the West Bank as President Trump begins his four-year presidency.
Last November, Israel’s finance minister said he believed Israel could work with President Trump to facilitate the annexation of the West Bank.
That same month, he posted a message on X asserting Israel’s “sovereignty” over the West Bank.
“2025: The Year of Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich wrote of X, using the Biblical name for the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and has expanded its settlements into Palestinian territory over the past few years. All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.
However, Israel failed to quell Palestinian resistance to the occupation.
Israel began the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, but was forced to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas after its military ambitions in the enclave failed. A ceasefire was reached a week ago.
It came into effect on Sunday after Israel massacred more than 47,000 Palestinians, including 17,800 children, in the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, since the start of the Gaza conflict, Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 800 Palestinians in the West Bank.
The ceasefire in Gaza highlighted Israel’s failure to achieve its goals, which primarily include the eradication of Hamas.
Israel is currently stepping up attacks in the West Bank in a desperate attempt to cover up its military failures in Gaza.