As the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran commands global attention, Israeli military activities in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank have continued unabated, according to reports The focus on the Iran conflict has not led to a de-escalation in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where significant developments have occurred since the wider war began
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities have closed the Rafah border crossing This action impacts a critical lifeline for the Palestinian territory, which has been under an Israeli-led blockade for years. Alongside the crossing closure, Israeli strikes and military raids have continued throughout the enclave
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler attacks and military operations have also persisted without any reduction in frequency or intensity These ongoing events compound the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, which has severely deteriorated since October 7, 2023
The context for these recent actions is the war on Gaza that started on that date. According to data cited by Al Jazeera, more than 72,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza The conflict began after Hamas led an attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 250 captive The continuation of military operations in Gaza and the West Bank indicates that the broader regional war has not diverted Israel's military focus from the Palestinian territories
Mohsin Rana
