Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, infamous for his incendiary rhetoric, declared on Monday that the occupied West Bank “must look like Gaza’s Jabalia.” His remarks refer to the widespread devastation in Gaza’s Jabalia region, a result of the relentless attacks by the Israeli military, backed by the United States, over the past 15 months. These comments follow a shooting operation near the illegal settlement of Kedumim in the West Bank, where three Israeli settlers were killed, and eight others injured. Reports indicate that at least two Palestinians carried out the attack, firing on cars and a bus before fleeing.

Smotrich specifically targeted Palestinian towns such as Funduq, Nablus, and Jenin, calling for their destruction akin to Jabalia. This northern Gaza area saw hospitals, schools, and homes flattened under the guise of military operations, with Israel labeling everything in the region as legitimate targets. Since October 2023, over 45,800 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with 11,000 missing and feared trapped under rubble. In the West Bank, 835 Palestinians have been killed, and 6,450 injured in escalating violence by Israeli forces.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) previously ruled Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank illegal, labeling its policies as racial segregation and apartheid. The ICJ mandated Israel to end its occupation, dismantle its settlements, and compensate Palestinian victims. Meanwhile, UN experts have demanded targeted sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel. However, despite international condemnation, leaders like Smotrich continue to push for aggressive policies, intensifying the suffering of Palestinians under occupation.