Dr. Saeb Erekat on the Ongoing Israeli Violations and Crimes Against the Land and People of Palestine

For the expansion of its settlement enterprise, Israel firmly continues to conquer Palestinian lands and to destroy the Palestinian people's lives and livelihoods. It has become clear that the passivity of the international community allows Israel to commit more violations and  even war crimes and has left Palestine and the Palestinians on their own.  

Throughout the past nearly four-hundred days, the Israeli occupying forces and its armed settlers have attacked Palestinians with all their might and, as a result, around 800 Israeli settler attacks were registered, 250 Palestinians were killed, 18000 others were injured,  7100 were detained, and 1000 Palestinian homes and other structures were destroyed.

Since the beginning of this October alone, Israel has carried nearly ten demolition operations throughout the West Bank; in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, and Tubas, which resulted in the demolition of twenty-two homes and the displacement of more than one hundred Palestinians. Several thousand other Palestinians remain at a heightened threat of mass demolitions and forcible transfer.

On the 9th of October, Israel carried out two major assaults against two unprotected Palestinian communities in Khan Al-Ahmar near Jerusalem (close to Maale Adumim settlement), and in Khirbet Ras al-Ahmar in the northern Jordan Valley, which have alone left 80 Palestinians displaced; including children and elderly people. Israel has also destroyed their animal shelters, water tanks, and  solar cells, after having denied these communities access to basic water and electricity services. 

International law and resolutions clearly define the foundations and principles towards achieving peace and security - and this is the only way forward. The international community's commitment to the two-states solution ought to be translated into action, instead of issuing self-defeating statements to blame the occupied population equally as the occupying power. The end Israel's half a century-long occupation of Palestine is the end of violence, incitement, and hatred.