As tensions rise across the region and talk of a potential regional war between Israel and Iran intensifies, Palestinians are increasingly anxious about the possibility that their territory could become a battleground, particularly the West Bank.
Concerns are mounting that such a conflict could have catastrophic humanitarian and political consequences, especially given the presence of a far-right Israeli government intent on displacing the Palestinians and seizing their lands.
The growing regional tensions could prompt Israel to take escalatory steps against the Palestinians, leveraging the international preoccupation with a possible war with Iran. Analysts suggest that the Israeli government might increase attacks in the West Bank and Gaza in a bid to weaken Palestinian resistance and prevent any Palestinian-Iranian alliance.
Some also warn that Israel could use the pretext of war to tighten its control over Jerusalem and the West Bank, intensifying settlement construction and expanding its security grip.
In the West Bank and Gaza Strip, many Palestinians are worried about the impact any potential conflict between Israel and Iran might have on their lives. Ahmed Al-Ali, a resident of Ramallah, expressed his fears by saying that “we are already suffering from the occupation and the settlers, but if a war breaks out between Israel and Iran, things will get much worse. We fear that the war will destroy whatever hope we have left for a better future.”
Palestinians living in rural areas, particularly those vulnerable to settler attacks, have expressed deep concerns that Israeli settlers, emboldened by the distraction of a regional war, might carry out further assaults against them. This fear is heightened by the fact that the settlers are currently exploiting the global focus on the war in Gaza in order to launch attacks. A wider regional conflict could make things even worse.
The village of Khirbet Al-Nahla located between Hebron and Bethlehem in the West Bank has experienced repeated attacks by extremist settlers armed by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Mohamed, a resident of the village who was recently assaulted by dozens of settlers while defending his land, is receiving treatment at the Beit Jala Hospital. He recounted the recent violence, noting that the settlers had repeatedly damaged his land. When he tried to defend his property, they attacked him brutally.
“We’ve suffered numerous attacks recently, but the last one was the worst. Now, with all this talk of a regional war, we are afraid that armed settlers will launch more attacks and crimes against us because no one cares about the Palestinian people,” Mohamed said.
Several Palestinian officials have called on the international community to act swiftly to prevent the war and protect the Palestinian people.
“We call on the United Nations and the international community to intervene urgently to stop this escalating situation. We need international guarantees to ensure that Israel does not exploit the situation to intensify its aggression against the Palestinians,” one Palestinian diplomat stated.
The Palestinian leadership has urged calm and warned against the dangers of regional escalation. “We reject any military escalation in the region, as it will only bring more destruction and suffering to our people. We urge all the parties to exercise restraint and seek peaceful solutions to the ongoing conflicts,” the Palestinian diplomat said.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) said that it is closely monitoring developments and engaging in diplomatic contacts with the international community to de-escalate tensions and prevent a regional war. Sources said that the Palestinian leadership is warning that Israel might use the war to displace more Palestinians from the West Bank.
In Gaza, factions aligned with Iran, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have expressed their readiness for potential developments. Spokespersons for Hamas have stated through the movement’s media outlets and Iranian and Lebanese channels that the group will not stand idly by if a regional war breaks out.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which maintain strong ties with Iran, see a potential confrontation between Israel and Iran as an opportunity to strengthen their positions on the Palestinian scene. However, their leaders are also aware that any escalation could worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Palestinian concerns over a regional war are not only political, but also humanitarian and security related. If a wider war breaks out, Palestinians in Gaza fear a repeat of the blockade and bombardment of the Strip, while those in the West Bank worry about an increase in settler attacks and rising violence.
Firas, a human rights activist from Nablus, said that “we fear that Israel will use this war to tighten the siege, increase settlement activity, and perhaps even attempt to carry out mass expulsions in some areas.”
Palestinian concerns extend beyond politics and security to the economy. Palestinian markets have seen a surge in activity, with many people rushing to buy and store food supplies. Such panic buying has been triggered by scenes of Israelis stockpiling goods from supermarkets, prompting many Palestinians to follow suit.
Mahdi Al-Sharbati, the owner of a supermarket in Bethlehem, noted a spike in commercial activity despite the financial hardships faced by many Palestinians who have been under a blockade in the West Bank since the outbreak of the war on Gaza.
Many customers have been buying food items suitable for storage, he said, with some even purchasing on credit due to fears of war.
“In previous years, such as during the first Gulf War, Israel imposed a security cordon and curfew. Now, with the ongoing war in Gaza and the ten-month blockade, people are worried, so they’re stocking up on essentials like flour, sugar, and rice. My store was nearly emptied during the first few days after the possibility of a regional war was announced,” he said.
The Palestinian Ministry of Economy has tried to reassure people by saying that food supplies in the northern governorates of the West Bank are sufficient to meet the needs of the population for six months, with a three-month supply of flour.
However, it acknowledged that monitoring commercial activity between cities, especially in the northern West Bank, faces difficulties due to Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods, including closures, checkpoints, and continuous raids.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 August, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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