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January 23, 2025Press Release
22 January 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza Overshadowed by Escalation in the West Bank
A ceasefire in Gaza offers a momentary reprieve, but Israel’s intensified actions in the West Bank signal an alarming escalation.
Statistics show a dramatic surge in military raids, extrajudicial killings, and mass detentions of Palestinians. These actions exacerbate the suffering of civilians and further entrench occupation and colonial settlement policies.
Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, the West Bank has experienced a significant escalation in violence and humanitarian distress. The available data indicates:
Casualties:
- Over 607 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank during this period.
- Notably, there has been a four-fold increase in child fatalities, with an average of three Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces each week since October 7, 2023.
Detentions:
- While specific figures for detentions, including children, are not detailed in the available sources, there have been numerous reports of mass arrests and detentions across the West Bank during this period.
House Demolitions:
- In 2024, Israeli authorities demolished 1,004 Palestinian homes and other structures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
- In 2025, as of January 19, 71 structures have been demolished, displacing 107 Palestinians.
Raids:
- The West Bank has witnessed a substantial increase in military operations, including a significant operation in Jenin on January 21, 2025, resulting in at least eight Palestinian deaths.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the West Bank.
We call on the international community to take urgent and decisive action to:
– End the Occupation: Israel’s continued military presence and control over Palestinian territories contravene international law and violate the fundamental rights of Palestinians to self-determination.
- Halt Colonial Settlements: The expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank represents a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and systematically displaces Palestinian communities.
- Protect Human Rights: Immediate measures are needed to prevent further violence, ensure accountability, and safeguard the lives of Palestinian civilians.
Furthermore, we categorically reject Israel’s claim to a “biblical right” to dominate the West Bank. This narrative is both exclusionary and regressive, undermining the principles of equality and coexistence necessary for a lasting peace. Territorial and governance decisions should be based on international law, justice, and respect for all peoples’ rights—not selective interpretations of religious texts.
We urge global leaders, human rights organizations, and civil society to unite in demanding an end to these violations. Without immediate intervention, the prospects for peace and stability in the region will remain elusive.
End the occupation. End the settlements. End the oppression.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President MAPIM
