NEW YORK: While the world’s eyes remain fixed on the devastation in Gaza, a parallel crisis has been unfolding in the occupied West Bank. Since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly assault that triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza, Israeli military operations have surged in the West Bank — with deadly consequences for Palestinians.
The Israeli army says these intensified operations are a response to a growing militant threat in the region. But the scale and impact of these raids, particularly on civilians, tell a much broader and grimmer story.
According to data compiled by the United Nations and Peace Now, an Israeli watchdog group, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war began. Most deaths have occurred during military raids on towns and refugee camps. While Israel claims many of those killed were militants or youths throwing stones and firebombs, rights groups argue that excessive force is being used and civilians are being caught in the crossfire. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that at least 182 children under 18 have been killed since October.
In the north of the West Bank, Israeli offensives have displaced over 40,000 people from four major refugee camps. Families have been forced to seek shelter with relatives or rent apartments they cannot afford, as Israeli authorities have declared that they may not return for at least a year. The military says it is targeting terrorist infrastructure, but residents say civilian homes and essential infrastructure have been destroyed, with drone strikes now reintroduced in crowded urban areas.
At the same time, violence from Israeli settlers has spiked. Palestinians in rural areas, especially Bedouin communities, face near-daily harassment and assaults. Since the war began, settlers have established around 80 new unauthorized outposts. These small hilltop enclaves are often inhabited by hardline activists and have become flashpoints of violence. Although the Israeli government claims to oppose settler violence, rights groups and Palestinians say the military often turns a blind eye.
Adding to the tension, Israel’s right-wing government — dominated by pro-settler politicians — has formalized 13 new settlements since the war began, at least five of which were previously unauthorized outposts. These settlements further fragment Palestinian territory and reduce the feasibility of a future Palestinian state. The vast majority of the international community considers these settlements illegal under international law.
Meanwhile, new and unpredictable Israeli checkpoints have brought daily life to a crawl. Roads connecting Palestinian towns have become gridlocked, with spontaneous closures during peak hours making even short commutes last hours. Once-open crossings now shut down frequently, further suffocating movement and daily life.
As global attention remains fixed on Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank warn of a creeping, quieter crisis — one of displacement, violence, and despair. With no sign of de-escalation, many fear the world is ignoring a slow-burning tragedy that could reshape the region for generations.
