AN EVALUATION OF THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS OF THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION AND SETTLER COLONIALISM IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA

 

Abstract

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an extremely sensitive and passionate subject; however, it is often misrepresented in western media. The military occupation and illegal settler colonialism practices of Israel have led to numerous human rights abuses and ultimately have persuaded many international watchdogs, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty

International, to label Israel an apartheid state. This literature review will discuss the tools of occupation used by Israel to oppress Palestinians including the separation wall, restriction of movement and blockades, and home demolition. It will further examine in detail the use of mass incarceration and excessive force used by military and police as a tool of occupation, the restriction to access of water Israel imposes on Palestinians and the U.S. complacency in the

Israeli occupation of Palestine. By exploring the practices of oppression, this paper will explain why the Israeli occupation and settler colonialism have created a humanitarian crisis in the West

Bank and Gaza.

Introduction

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most enduring conflicts in modern history and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza is a humanitarian crisis that needs to be addressed. Together, Israel and Palestine’s land area just barely exceeds that of Massachusetts but has almost double the population.  Often explored in the context of religion or ethnicity, discussions revolving around the Israeli occupation generally garner an emotional connection experienced by both those within the borders of Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as outside observers. The polarized and often divisive support for either side of the conflict, and abhorrence for the opposing members of the conflict further contribute to the complexity in addressing the emotionally charged conflict. To better understand the humanitarian crisis of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian Territories, the following will be discussed: the general background to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and the tools Israel deploys to maintain the occupation of Palestine. In addition, the following will be examined in depth: the Palestinian water crisis; mass incarceration as a tool of occupation; and the United States’ involvement in the occupation of Palestine

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