Will the conflict spread to the West Bank front? Fears about Israel are growing in a region that is more tense than ever.
A worrying escalation. As Israel reportedly prepares a ground offensive following Hamas attacks, the conflict could spread to the West Bank after nine Palestinians were killed this Friday following clashes with Israeli forces during a demonstration in support of Gaza.
Violent clashes reportedly broke out in cities including Ramallah, Tulkarem, Nablus and Hebron. Elements that raise fears of an escalation of the conflict on this front and could force the Jewish State to defend its positions in the east of its territory while the Tsahal, the Israeli army, has to carry out its offensive to the west, with a view to the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Red Crescent, in turn, reported dozens of injuries in many places, some of them in critical condition.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 44 Palestinians have been killed in violence in the West Bank since Saturday linked to the conflict between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas.
Will diplomacy be enough?
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, spoke to the Palestinian President of the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas, last Tuesday, telling him in particular that he was working to prevent the conflict from “expanding”.
Since Hamas’s unprecedented offensive against Israel, the international community – from Washington to Paris, to China and the United Nations – has stepped up its warnings about spillover into the Middle East. And a number of world leaders, particularly Americans and French, are working to keep diplomatic channels open and prevent escalation.
But given the current situation, before Israeli forces intervene against Hamas on the Gaza Strip side, everything could change in the West Bank. Note that Hamas commander Mohammed Deif threatened Israel and called on Palestinians and Arabs to join the militants’ operation aimed at “wiping out the occupation.” [israélienne]”.
There could even be a conflagration on the Lebanese side, as the local terror group Hezbollah – an ally of Iran – claimed on Friday it was “ready” to intervene against Israel “at an appropriate time”.