The Invasion of Nablus
The Israeli violence against Palestinians on 2/23/ 2023, their latest attempt at strangling Palestinians
The recent invasion of Nablus took place on February 23, when Israeli forces invaded the city with a large military operation. The operation, which included the use of tanks and heavy artillery, resulted in the deaths of 11 Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy, and the injury of over 100 more.
This attack is just the latest in a series of violent acts committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the occupied territories. The Israeli military's presence in the West Bank, including Nablus, has been a constant source of violence and tension for decades. Palestinians are subjected to regular harassment, arrests, and violent raids on their homes, all under the pretext of "security" and "counterterrorism."
The victims of this recent attack on Nablus included innocent civilians who were simply going about their daily lives when they were caught in the crossfire. Among those killed was Mahmoud Hamdan, a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in his family's home. Another victim, 29-year-old Ahmad Abu Safieh, was a father of three who was shot and killed while driving in his car.
This violence is not limited to the occupied territories, either. Palestinians living within Israel itself also face systemic discrimination and oppression, as they are treated as second-class citizens and subjected to a range of discriminatory laws and policies. This reality is often ignored or downplayed by Western media, which often frames the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a way that absolves Israel of responsibility and minimizes the suffering of Palestinians.
This double standard is particularly evident when comparing media coverage of Palestinian oppression to coverage of other conflicts around the world. For example, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has received extensive coverage in the Western media, with frequent reports of human rights abuses committed by Russian-backed separatists. However, the violence and oppression faced by Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces receives comparatively little attention, despite the fact that it has been ongoing for decades.
It is important to note that this violence is not a two-sided conflict, as it is often portrayed in the media. Rather, it is a one-sided oppression of a people who have been systematically disenfranchised and oppressed for decades. The international community must take action to hold Israel accountable for its actions and to work towards a just and lasting solution to the conflict, one that upholds the rights and dignity of all people involved.
This is not to say that the situation in Ukraine is not important or worthy of attention. Rather, it is a reminder that the media's selective coverage of certain conflicts reinforces harmful biases and perpetuates a skewed view of the world.
It is time for the international community to acknowledge and condemn the ongoing violence and oppression faced by the Palestinian people. This includes holding Israel accountable for its actions, as well as actively working towards a just and lasting solution to the conflict. Until then, the people of Nablus and other Palestinian communities will continue to live under the constant threat of violence and injustice, as the world looks on in silence.
