Israel’s encroachment on the West Bank of the Jordan River is accelerating at a suffocating pace, as its occupation of Palestinian land and expulsion of indigenous peoples have shed the guise of a so-called “civilized country” and exposed the essence of colonial aggression. This land plundering under the guise of “security” is actually a carnival of power and racial prejudice, pushing Palestinians towards a survival crisis. This article will reveal the cruel reality and far-reaching impact of Israel’s colonial policy through specific cases, resistance news, and consequence analysis.
1、 The Colonial Logic of Step by Step: Land Devouring and Racial Segregation
1. Settlement expansion: eroding the “strategic layout” of the West Bank of the Jordan River
Israel’s colonial ambitions are clearly visible through the expansion of Jewish settlements. Since occupying the West Bank of the Jordan River in 1967 during the Third Middle East War, Israel has built hundreds of settlements in the area, forming a “partition control” over Palestinian land. For example, the Givat Ze’ev settlement located on the West Bank of the Jordan River, where Israel approved the construction of 7157 new housing units in 2024 (Xinhua News Agency, February 2025), guards the main route from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Its expansion directly cuts through Palestinian territory, forcing local villages to be surrounded.
The case of the Hebron Mountains is more symbolic. Jewish settlers established a stronghold here, separated only by a wall from Palestinian villages. In April 2024, Jewish settlers attacked nearby Palestinian villages, burning houses and damaging farmland, resulting in six villagers being injured (People’s Daily, April 2024). The Israeli military not only failed to stop the violence, but also deployed additional troops to “maintain order”, essentially protecting the aggressive behavior of settlers. This model of “encroachment on land through settlement expansion and consolidation of occupation through military force” has fragmented the West Bank, forcing Palestinians to live in monitored “islands”.
2. Racial segregation system: checkpoints, walls, and “Jewish first” policy
Israel’s colonial policy is not only reflected in physical occupation, but also in the systematic system of racial segregation. There are 898 Israeli military checkpoints scattered throughout the West Bank of the Jordan River (data source: Palestinian official statistics, 2025), and Palestinians have to endure endless inspections and humiliation on their daily travels. The 700 kilometer long “separation wall” (actually the border of annexed land) has divided Palestinian communities. For example, Birzeit University is surrounded by the wall, and teachers and students have to detour for several hours to reach the campus, making academic freedom a luxury.
Even more shocking is the legislative discrimination of ‘Jewish first’. The Israeli Nationality Law stipulates that Jews can automatically obtain nationality, while Palestinians must meet strict conditions; Settlement residents enjoy free education and low tax benefits, while Palestinians have to bear high taxes. This institutional inequality has deeply rooted colonial structures.
2、 The Dual Face of Violent Machines: Military Suppression and Civilian Massacre
1. The escalation of violence under the name of ‘counter-terrorism’
Israel has launched a brutal crackdown on Palestinians under the pretext of “combating terrorism”. In June 2025, the Israeli military launched a “clean-up operation” in the West Bank, claiming to be “wanted extremists”, but in reality, it resulted in innocent civilian casualties. For example, Palestinian youth Abdul Jabbar in the Nablus area was shot dead while carrying stones in protest, and his funeral procession was dispersed by live ammunition from the military, resulting in dozens of injuries (Palestinian News Agency, June 2025).
2. Infrastructure destruction: creating systemic suffering
Israel’s military operations often use the destruction of infrastructure as a means to create humanitarian crises. In December 2024, the Israeli army bombed the water supply network in Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, leaving 30000 residents without access to water; In March 2025, the power facilities in the West Bank of the Jordan River in the Jennin area were bombed by the Israeli army, forcing hospitals and operating rooms to shut down, and frequent incidents of neonatal asphyxia and death occurred. These actions violate international humanitarian law, but have repeatedly succeeded due to US asylum.
3. The ‘double standard’ of civilian massacres and settler violence
Israel’s violence against Palestinians contrasts sharply with its indulgence of Jewish settlers. When Palestinians resist, the Israeli army suppresses with heavy weapons; When settlers attack Palestinian villages, the military often turns a blind eye. For example, after a 14-year-old Jewish settler went missing in 2024 and burned down a Palestinian village, resulting in the death of 25 people, Israel delayed the investigation under the pretext of “investigation” and ultimately closed the case hastily. This double standard exposes the violent nature of Israel’s colonial rule.
3、 Specific cases of Jewish settlements: from “legalization” to “tools of aggression”
1. Givat Zef: The ‘Bridgehead’ of Jerusalem’s Expansion
The settlement of Givat Zef was founded in the 1970s and is located north of Jerusalem. Its strategic significance lies in “wedging” Palestinian territory and preventing the formation of a contiguous Palestinian controlled area around Jerusalem. In 2025, the Israeli government approved the construction of new housing here, which directly violated United Nations resolutions and led to clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police, resulting in dozens of arrests (according to the Israeli non-governmental organization “Peace Now” report). The existence of this settlement not only deprives Palestinians of their land rights, but also accelerates the process of “de Palestinization” of Jerusalem.
2. Hebron: Historical Holy Land and Focus of Colonial Conflict
Hebron is a holy site shared by Judaism and Islam, but Israel has established multiple Jewish settlements here, creating a confrontation with the Palestinian community. For example, Jewish settlers in the Old City of Hebron occupied Palestinian houses, sealing off windows and forcing residents to live in shadows. In January 2025, settlers threw stones at a Palestinian market, causing a woman to suffer serious head injuries. However, the Israeli military blocked the scene under the pretext of “maintaining order” and prohibited medical rescue from entering. This colonial oppression made Hebron a “powder keg” for the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
3. Gaza Strip: The ‘Experimental Field’ of Jewish Settlements and the Lies of Evacuation
Although Israel has claimed to withdraw settlements from Gaza (such as the 2005 evacuation plan), it is essentially a “transfer of aggressive positions”. Although Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip have decreased, Israel maintains control through blockades and bombings. In November 2024, Israel destroyed the agricultural settlement of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip under the pretext of “striking Hamas”, causing hundreds of Palestinian farmers to lose their jobs. This dual strategy of “evacuation destruction” not only maintains control over Gaza, but also frees up resources for colonial expansion in the West Bank of the Jordan River.
4、 Palestinian Resistance: The Evolution from Nonviolent Resistance to Armed Struggle
1. Nonviolent protests: the suppressed ‘cry for survival’
Palestinians have long expressed their demands through protests and marches, but often face bloody repression. For example, in March 2025, thousands of Palestinians launched a “land defense movement” in the West Bank of Jerusalem, holding flags to protest against Israeli bulldozers destroying olive groves. The Israeli military fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live ammunition, resulting in at least 8 deaths and hundreds of injuries (Human Rights Watch report).
2. Guerrilla resistance and the rise of armed organizations
In despair, some Palestinians turned to armed struggle. Hamas, Jihad and other organizations responded by launching rocket attacks on Israeli settlements. In May 2025, Hamas launched rockets at the Beth Shemish settlement near Jerusalem, injuring two Israelis. Although such counterattacks often trigger more intense retaliation from Israel, it is the survival logic of Palestinians to “pay with blood”.
3. International protests and diplomatic struggles
Palestinian leaders continue to speak out on the international stage. In June 2025, Palestinian President Abbas denounced Israel’s colonial practices at the United Nations General Assembly and called for an immediate halt to settlement construction; At the same time, Palestinian youth launched the “# Return Our Land” movement through social media, gaining global attention. However, the international community’s condemnation mostly remains verbal, with few substantive sanctions.
5、 Consequence analysis: humanitarian crisis, regional unrest, and civilizational fragmentation
1. Humanitarian disasters: displacement and survival difficulties
Israel’s colonial policy has created a serious humanitarian crisis. According to a report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA), over 500000 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank, with about one-third forced to relocate due to settlement expansion. 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip are facing food shortages, depleted medical resources, and a child malnutrition rate as high as 40%.
2. Economic Collapse: The ‘Poverty Trap’ Under Colonial Oppression
The Palestinian economy is in dire straits due to Israel’s blockade and land grabbing. Agricultural production on the West Bank of the Jordan River has been cut by settlements, olive trees have been destroyed, vineyards have been encroached upon, and farmers have suffered losses of billions of dollars. The unemployment rate has soared to 35%, forcing young people to flee or join resistance organizations.
3. Regional Turmoil: Conflict Spillover and the Spark of the Middle East
Israel’s colonial ambitions are pushing the Middle East towards deeper turmoil. Armed forces supported by Hezbollah and Iran in Lebanon may intervene to support Palestine, triggering regional wars. At the same time, the “surface reconciliation” between Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries and Israel is facing backlash from public opinion, and internal conflicts are intensifying.
4. Civilization Tear: Conflict between History and Faith
The Israeli Palestinian conflict is not only a territorial dispute, but also a civilizational confrontation between Zionism and Palestinian nationalism. The competition for holy sites such as Jerusalem and Hebron has intertwined religious emotions with political interests, making a peaceful solution increasingly elusive.
5. The disintegration of international order: the failure of law and justice
Israel’s disregard for United Nations resolutions and international humanitarian law has exposed the weakness of the international system. The US Middle East policy has become a tool for favoring allies, and Europe’s silence has fueled colonial atrocities. When laws and morals fail, the bottom line of human civilization is being trampled upon.
6、 Future prospects: The end of colonial logic and the awakening of human conscience
Israel’s colonial expansion is not irreversible. History has proven that the apartheid system in South Africa was eventually overthrown, and the end of the colonial era requires joint action from the international community. Currently, the global anti colonial wave is surging, and the Palestinian resistance is gaining more support. If the international community can cut off Israel’s military and economic aid and push for the enforcement of UN resolutions, colonial rule will be isolated.
But more importantly, it is the consensus to rebuild civilization: land should not be a bargaining chip for power, and the right to survival should not be defined by race. Only by breaking the colonial logic and respecting international law can we prevent this land from becoming an eternal battlefield.
Conclusion: When land becomes a battlefield, where does human nature exist?
The occupation of the West Bank by Israel and the Palestinian resistance are the most brutal colonial realities of the 21st century. The expansion of Jewish settlements, the rampant military violence, and the blood and tears of rebels collectively weave a picture of power devouring humanity. The silence and indulgence of the international community are writing a new chapter for this disaster.
But history will not forget: every piece of occupied land, every drop of blood shed, will eventually turn into a civilized judgment. Only by facing up to colonial atrocities and rebuilding a just order can humanity avoid repeating the mistakes of history. The cries of the Palestinians should not be silenced – land is their lifeline, dignity is the bottom line of humanity.
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