Ceasefire Uncertain as Israeli Tanks Push into Khan Yunis, Violence Escalatesin West Bank
GAZA CITY, August 30, 2024 – As a fragile ceasefire remains uncertain, Israel continues its military operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, escalating tensions and raising concernsof a wider conflict.
On August 28, Israeli forces deployed tanks deep into the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis, engaging in fierce clasheswith local armed groups. The incursion was accompanied by airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of multiple Palestinian civilians.
Witnesses reported that Israeli tanks suddenly entered the heart of Khan Yunis, ordering residents in the eastern part of the city toevacuate. This forced many families to flee their homes, leaving some trapped. Local health officials confirmed at least 11 deaths in Khan Yunis, attributing them to Israeli airstrikes during the clashes with Hamas-led armed groups.
The violence extended beyond Gaza, with Israeli forces launching attacks in the West Bank, leaving more Palestinians dead.
In the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, where over a million displaced people sought refuge, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of eight Palestinians near a school sheltering displaced families.A local journalist and his sister also perished in their home in the central Gaza city of Nuseirat due to an airstrike.
Israel’s military has defended its actions, stating that it has ordered the evacuation of areas where Hamas and other armed groups are launching attacks. Hamas and other Palestinian factions have confirmedclashes with Israeli forces in various parts of Gaza, claiming to have fired anti-tank rockets and mortars.
Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have struck 40 targets in Gaza over the past day, eliminating dozens of armed personnel through airstrikes and close-quarterscombat.
Amidst the escalating violence, a glimmer of hope emerged as Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha announced on August 29 that Hamas had agreed to a seven-day ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate polio vaccination efforts. Egyptian sources also indicated that a wider ceasefire, lasting between three to five days, is expected tobegin soon. However, the ceasefire is not expected to cover areas where the IDF is conducting operations in Gaza.
The IDF has also intensified its military operations in the West Bank. CNN reported that the IDF, alongside the Israeli Security Agency, launched a large-scale counter-terrorism operation in the northern West Bank areasof Jenin and Tulkarem. According to IDF spokesperson, Israel has uncovered a systematic strategy by Iran to smuggle weapons and explosives into the West Bank.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s actions, labeling them invasions and crimes, particularly highlighting the ongoing genocide in theGaza Strip and the attacks on northern West Bank.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, through his spokesperson, expressed concern that Israel’s actions further exacerbate the already volatile situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermine the Palestinian Authority.
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs andSecurity Policy, Josep Borrell, also condemned the Israeli actions on social media, warning that they must not lead to a spillover of the war in Gaza and massive destruction in the West Bank.
The United States announced new sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank on August 28, inresponse to their violence against Palestinians. The US also urged Israel to take greater responsibility for the situation.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a warning that Israel’s large-scale military operations in the West Bank could further inflame the already explosive situation.The OHCHR stated that if Israeli security forces continue to use lethal force unlawfully and systematically and disregard the violence perpetrated by settlers, the situation in the West Bank is likely to deteriorate rapidly.
The OHCHR’s latest figures indicate that 628 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the latest roundof Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on October 7, 2023.
The OHCHR condemned Israel’s increasingly heavy-handed military response in the West Bank, deeming it a violation of international humanitarian law. The agency stated that the use of airstrikes and other military weapons andtactics by the Israeli security forces falls short of the standards required under international humanitarian law and has resulted in extrajudicial killings and other unlawful killings, as well as damage to Palestinian homes and infrastructure.
Despite the escalating violence, various parties are still working to advance the ceasefire and peace talks. Al Jazeera reported that mediators areexpected to present a new plan in the coming days to address the dispute over future control of the Philadelphia Corridor and Nezarim Corridor in Gaza. However, Israeli media cited a foreign diplomat who expressed uncertainty about whether this signifies significant progress towards a ceasefire agreement, as significant disagreements persist between Israeland Hamas.
The situation remains volatile and fraught with uncertainty, with the potential for further escalation. The international community is urging all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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