Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, issued a dire warning about the escalating crisis in the West Bank. He expressed deep concern over the Israeli occupation authorities' continued violence, killings, and oppression, as well as the tightening of the siege on the civilian population and the arming of extremist settlers. This alarming situation poses a significant threat of further violence and instability.
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that Israel's actions in the West Bank are tantamount to a full-scale conflict, resulting in the tragic loss of around 163 Palestinian lives since last month. The occupation authorities have also detained over 2,000 Palestinians, and they persist in carrying out oppressive measures, imposing closures and blockades, and targeting innocent civilians across the occupied West Bank.
Mr. Aboul Gheit, as quoted by the spokesperson, decried the unprecedented levels of violence perpetrated by settlers against the Palestinian population in vast areas of the West Bank. He stressed that such acts are utterly intolerable and called upon the international community to condemn the disgraceful incidents of settlers attacking Palestinian homes, farms, and livelihoods, causing fear, destruction, and displacement. These actions are rooted in racism and hatred against the Palestinian people and must be exposed and condemned by the people who value common human values and equality among individuals. Remaining silent in the face of such injustice is an affront to the principles of humanity.
Mr. Aboul Gheit warned that the Israeli right-wing government, driven by settlers and deeply rooted in the settlement project, is recklessly pushing the situation to the brink of disaster. This government not only protects these harmful practices but also arms settlers and fosters a culture of impunity, resulting in the targeted killings of Palestinians based on their identity. He emphasised that their ultimate objective is to coerce Palestinians into leaving their lands and forcibly displacing them in a gradual manner, a goal that will never come to fruition.
Roshdy, quoting the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, highlighted that the Israeli government's aspiration to annex substantial portions of the West Bank after expelling its Palestinian residents remains a persistent objective. He also stressed that the current government is unwavering in its pursuit of this displacement policy to push Palestinians beyond the borders. Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed his unwavering support for the position of the Kingdom of Jordan, which vehemently opposes this policy, and for the heroic Palestinian people who stand resolutely on their land in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
