A war without end: the Jenin massacre opens a new chapter of violence between Israelis and Palestinians

While the eyes of the world are on Ukraine and Russia, there has been an unresolved conflict in the Middle East for more than 50 years: the one between the Palestinians and Israelis for a highly disputed territory and where there are no negotiating points. It is a war that is triggered and dissipated from time to time, but that does not find a solution.

What happened this Thursday in Jenin (located in west bank), with the death of nine Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli forces, once again shows that the conflict is far from being resolved, even more so with a recently inaugurated government in Israel whose composition – full of far-right parties under the leadership of the inexhaustible Benjamin Netanyahu– It will not help at all to put cold cloths on the situation.

The raid occurred in a refugee camp during a daytime military operation. According to the Israeli Army, this was done after they received intelligence that an insurgent group linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad was preparing attacks against Israelis.

READ ALSO: The UN is “alarmed” by the 9 Palestinian deaths after Israeli attack on Jenin

The raid was especially violent at the site, which is often the scene of daily raids by Israeli soldiers. The clashes left the walls of several buildings burned. At least 20 more people were injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry added.

Palestinians killed in the Jenin refugee camp. PHOTO: PALESTINIAN EMBASSY IN PERU

In declarations to the agency AP, Akram Rajoub, governor of Jenin, said the army prevented medical teams from evacuating the wounded and fired tear gas that leaked into a children’s hospital and affected minors, in addition to interrupting surgeries. The Israeli army indicated that its troops blocked roads to facilitate its operation, which could have complicated the work of rescuers.

“What is happening in Jenin and its refugee camp is a massacre perpetrated by the Israeli occupation government”lamented Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Mahmud Abbaspresident of the Palestinian National Authority, who decreed three days of mourning and suspended the cooperation he maintained with Israel in matters of security.

READ ALSO: Arab League condemns the “horrible bloody massacre” of the Israeli Army in Jenin

A spiral of violence

The clashes come weeks after a commitment by the , to take a stronger position against the Palestinians and increase the construction of settlements in the territories they claim for their future state.

“This incursion is clearly the demonstration of Netanyahu’s return to power, and that his new government will be more extremist due to its very composition, since there are different parties that have a very right-wing vision and are willing to justify violence against Palestinians, like what happened in Jenin,” explains to El Comercio Mohamed-Badie El Yattioui, professor of International Relations at the American University in the United Arab Emirates.

Palestinian youths in Jenin throw stones at Israeli troops who have raided the refugee camp in search of armed insurgents. EFE/EPA/ALAA BADARNEH (ALAA BADARNEH/)

In fact, the new Minister of National Security, one of the most nationalist in the government, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for the relaxation of open fire regulations for soldiers and policemen who confront Palestinians, no matter if they launch stones or incendiary bombs. “The New York Times” recalls that the official has also requested immunity from investigation or criminal prosecution for any member of the security forces who act in combat situations.

READ ALSO: Itamar Ben Gvir: the extremist Israeli minister who could trigger a new Intifada

With the deaths on Thursday, reported the AFP agency. In fact, at least five were teenagers.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have been on the rise since Israel launched a series of military incursions last April following several attacks by Palestinians that left 19 Israelis dead.

Almost 150 Palestinians died in 2022according to the group Israeli rights activists B’Tselem, making last year the deadliest since 2004. According to the UN and Palestinian human rights groups, most of those killed have been civilians, but according to Israeli forces they were members of armed groups, which they seek to dismantle.

“There is a risk of deep violence that could develop in the coming months if there is no political solution. The problem is that you have to be realistic and it is very difficult to find a political solution, especially since the Netanyahu government is not going to allow any form of negotiation.”adds El Yattioui, who also does not ignore the divisions between the Palestinians, which continue to complicate any resolution.

The Lions and the Palestinian fed up

Regarding this, the appearance last September of a new armed group, The Lions’ Den (Lions’ Den, in English) has given a new framework to the conflict, hoisting the weariness of youth Palestine before his own government and the lack of definition about his future.

Lions’ Den on Telegram

Based in Nablus, the group —very active on TikTok and Telegram— claims to be disconnected from traditional militias and political factions, and does not have a clear command or hierarchy. Since their appearance they have carried out several attacks and open clashes with the Israeli forces, and their support has not stopped growing in the occupied territories.

#Palestine / #Israel ????????????????: “Lions’ Den” organized a military march in #nablus recently.

Fighters can be seen with a rare ex-#IDF UZI SMG, AKM rifle with Galil stock, M4-pattern carbines, Colt 603/653 (M16A1 rifles/carbines), ex-IDF ‘Menusar’ carbine and other AR-15 rifles. pic.twitter.com/579560jcg5

—War Noir (@war_noir) December 9, 2022

“The success of the Lions’ Den is also a way of showing everything that Mahmoud Abbas could not do in recent years, not only because of corruption, but because of the years lost by the traditional elite of Al Fatah, and the situation blocked in the Gaza Strip with Hamas”explains El Yattioui from Dubai.

“For young people in the West Bank and Gaza, ideologies have not allowed Palestinians to gain anything, whether they are from the nationalists of Al Fatah or from the Islamists of Hamas”Add.

Thus, the attack Jenin will only serve for armed groups, such as Lion’s Denvindicate their positions before the population Palestine tired of the Israeli occupation, the ineffectiveness of their own governments and international oblivion.

Source: Elcomercio