Hezbollah strikes, West Bank boils: Is a double front war looming for Israel?
In an unexpected twist amid the world’s gaze on Gaza’s war, Israel finds itself on the verge of a possible two-front confrontation. The Israeli army recently announced its move to activate an evacuation plan for residents living close to Lebanon. This action follows an alarming missile attack by the Iran-affiliated Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, targeting an Israeli village at the northern border. Tragically, this assault led to the demise of one civilian, leaving three others gravely injured.
With tensions simmering, Israel disclosed plans to evacuate 28 settlements in the nation’s northern territory. As conveyed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the defense ministry, evacuees will find shelter in state-sponsored guest accommodations. Responding to the situation, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant expressed Israel’s disinclination towards engaging in a war along the northern border with Lebanon. However, the Iran-supported militant group, after attacking Israeli posts in the contentious Shebaa Farms region, indicated its readiness to join forces with Hamas when deemed appropriate.
West Bank Violence: The Boiling Point
But it’s not just the northern frontier that’s in turmoil. The West Bank is witnessing escalating violence, fueled further by Israel’s stern response to Hamas’s assault on southern territories. According to the Palestinian Authority, clashes with Israeli forces, combined with Jewish settler attacks, have resulted in the deaths of 58 Palestinians and injuries to over 1,100 since early October. The IDF confirmed the detention of 360 Palestinians, including a significant number affiliated with Hamas. The military also reported confiscating weaponry and gear from a detainee in Kafr Qallil. As confrontations between the Israeli army and Palestinians in the West Bank intensify, the United Nations dubbed the recent incidents as the most fatal for West Bank Palestinians in over a decade.
Palestinian Journalists: The Silent Victims of Gaza Airstrikes
In a sobering revelation, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PSJ) declared that 11 Palestinian journalists have tragically lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes since the onset of the Gaza war, with over 20 others sustaining injuries. The organization further alleges that journalists faced obstructions, including detentions and physical abuse, when attempting to report on violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem. With media centers being targeted and two journalists currently unaccounted for, the role of free press during these tumultuous times is under significant threat.