Jerusalem attack a ‘symptom of worsening repression in occupied West Bank’
The deadly attack in Jerusalem is a symptom of worsening pressures on Palestinians by Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, a Palestinian journalist says.
“What we’re really seeing is a symptom … of the Israeli military occupation,” Leila Warah said, speaking to Al Jazeera from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.
“The economy is crumbling. People can’t find work. People are met with military checkpoints wherever they go. It is very difficult for people to live what would be described as a normal life here in the West Bank.”
She said such repression had been a reality of life since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank began. “But since October 7, 2023, it has been significantly increasing with military raids and settler attacks.”
She said there were concerns that settler attacks on Palestinians could ramp up in retaliation for the Jerusalem shooting after calls from Ben-Gvir for Israelis to arm themselves.
“We do expect them to continue escalating and getting worse,” she said.
Israeli ministers call for deportations of families of Palestinian attackers
Two Israeli ministers have called for the families of Palestinians behind attacks on Israeli citizens to be deported to deter future violence.
In a post on X, Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel “must respond to terrorism with an iron fist” and “act to swiftly implement the law to deport the families of terrorists”.
Such a move, he said, would “deter future murderers and eliminate the breeding grounds from which they emerge”.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch expressed similar views. “We must shift from defence to deterrence, eliminate the terrorists, and immediately expel their families,” he said in a post on X. “This is not revenge – this is the only way to save lives.”
Last year, the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the government to deport the parents, siblings or children of people convicted of “terrorism” offences, including Israeli citizens, despite objections by human rights organisations.
Israel’s defence minister promises to crush ‘terror camps’ after Jerusalem attack
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warns of “the most severe and far-reaching consequences” after the deadly attack in occupied East Jerusalem.
“We will pursue terror everywhere,” Katz wrote in a post on X.
Israel’s forces are already carrying out raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank, its common response to attacks on Israelis.
