Israel's Military Movement in the Occupied West Bank Investigated: Forensic Architecture Alleges Similar Strategies as in Gaza
In a recent report by Forensic Architecture, Israel's military operations in the West Bank, particularly during Operation Iron Wall, mirror tactics used in the Gaza conflict to seize and control territory. Launched in January, this operation has been characterized by the destruction of infrastructure, buildings, and water and electricity lines, as well as the displacement of thousands of Palestinians.
Isolation and barriers: The Israeli military has instilled a system of "spatial control" throughout the West Bank, clearing roads, and demolishing structures to allow for the rapid deployment of military vehicles. This network of military routes, evident in the Jenin refugee camp, allegedly aims to enable the military to move swiftly and deploy troops at will across the occupied territories.
Targeted locations: The report highlights Israeli action in the West Bank refugee camps of Jenin, Far'a, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem, demonstrating a coordinated plan to impose a similar network of military control as in Gaza. Ministers have openly stated their intention to replicate the methods used in Gaza, leading to widespread destruction and displacement.
Ministers' statements: In January, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel would apply the lessons learned from "repeated raids in Gaza" to the Jenin refugee camp. The following month, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich boasted that Tulkarem and Jenin would look like Jabalia and Shujayea, comparing West Bank refugee camps to devastated areas in Gaza. Smotrich added that these areas would be made uninhabitable, forcing residents to migrate.
Population affected: About 75,000 Palestinians live in the aforementioned refugee camps. Many of them were either displaced themselves or descendants of those displaced during the Nakba (meaning "catastrophe") between 1947 and 1949 when roughly 750,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes by Zionist forces. As a result of Operation Iron Wall, at least 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced, according to the United Nations.
Destruction of infrastructure: The destruction of Palestinian homes, hospitals, and infrastructure has been a significant component of the campaign. Israeli attacks on medical facilities in Gaza have also been observed in the West Bank, with hospitals put under siege, ambulances obstructed from reaching injured civilians, and medical personnel targeted. This widespread damage to civilian infrastructure has only exacerbated an already troubled humanitarian situation in the West Bank, according to the report.
Context: According to enrichment data, Operation Iron Wall marks a strategic shift to a more aggressive and prolonged Israeli military presence in the West Bank compared to prior raids. The campaign dismantles militant infrastructure, neutralizes imminent threats, and aims to maintain Israeli "freedom of action" in the region [3][4]. Destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure is justified under security and "military purposes" grounds, resulting in over 25,000 Palestinian displacements in Tulkarm alone [2]. This strategic occupation approach differs from Israel's military strategies in Gaza, focusing on sustained control and suppression within populated areas rather than episodic bombardments.
- The latest report by Forensic Architecture reveals that Israel's Operation Iron Wall in the West Bank resembles tactics used in the Gaza conflict, affecting not only the war-and-conflicts landscape but also the policy-and-legislation and politics arenas, as ministers openly declare their intention to replicate Gaza methods.
- The destruction of infrastructure, buildings, and essential services like water and electricity lines, along with the displacement of thousands of Palestinians, is a concerning aspect of Operation Iron Wall, Contributing to the general-news discourse on the troubled environment and economy in the West Bank.
- The Israeli military's "spatial control" system, evident in the Jenin refugee camp, involves clearing roads and demolishing structures, potentially affecting the health of the population living in these areas due to the resulting isolation and barriers.
- The displacement of 40,000 Palestinians as a result of Operation Iron Wall highlights the urgent need for humanitarian aid and support for refugees, adding to the crime-and-justice conversation around the violation of human rights and international law.
- The destruction of Palestinian homes, hospitals, and infrastructure in the West Bank reflects a concerning lack of regard for civilian lives and the well-being of the population, which contradicts established international norms and principles regarding military engagement and war.
