Palestine Weekly: Ahead of Elections, Israel Doubles Down on Attacks

The past week in Gaza has been marked by unrelenting violence, with Israeli attacks killing dozens of Palestinians, including children and displaced families. At least 57 people have been killed since July 13, with six children and eight women among the dead.

The scale and intensity of these assaults raise disturbing questions about Israel’s intentions ahead of its upcoming elections. The timing of the attacks cannot be coincidental: hours after Israel’s parliament dissolved itself and set an October 27 election date, an Israeli drone struck a funeral procession outside Ahmad Yassin Mosque in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least eight mourners.

The Israeli government’s actions in Gaza are mirrored across the occupied West Bank. The security cabinet has approved billions of shekels to establish new settlements, with settler road infrastructure receiving a significant boost. This is not just about creating “facts on the ground”; it’s about cementing Israel’s control over Palestinian land and resources.

The destruction of Palestinian water infrastructure in the northern Jordan Valley is particularly egregious. The systematic targeting of artesian wells, pumps, and generators has left thousands without access to clean drinking water. This is a stark reminder of Israel’s disregard for basic human rights.

Gaza’s humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. Sixty-three percent of households now access less than six litres of drinking water per day, while 60 percent live within 10 metres of exposed sewage. The blockade on livestock feed imports has pushed barley prices to triple, threatening a die-off in August that would reverse the modest herd recovery recorded between October 2025 and May 2026.

This is not just a humanitarian crisis; it’s also a stark reminder of Israel’s ability to manipulate the Palestinian economy for its own benefit. By restricting access to basic necessities like food and water, Israel is exerting control over an entire population.

Israeli leaders have shown little restraint when it comes to exploiting the electoral cycle for short-term gain. The settlement expansion and infrastructure development across the West Bank are a clear example of this policy. By creating “facts on the ground”, Israel’s leadership believes it can secure key concessions from voters, including support for continued occupation and settlement.

The violence in Gaza is not an aberration; it’s part of a larger pattern of Israeli aggression that has characterized the past few decades. From the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to the current escalation in Gaza, Israel’s leaders have consistently shown a willingness to disregard international law in pursuit of their objectives.

This raises disturbing questions about Israel’s accountability and its commitment to basic human rights. If the international community continues to turn a blind eye to these abuses, we risk emboldening Israeli aggression and perpetuating a cycle of violence that shows no signs of abating.

The world must act swiftly to pressure Israel’s leadership to cease these attacks and respect the rights of Palestinian civilians. This means imposing meaningful sanctions on Israel for its violations of international law, supporting initiatives that promote economic development in Gaza, and holding Israeli leaders accountable for their actions.

Ultimately, it’s up to the world to decide whether we continue down this path of escalating violence or take a stand against Israeli aggression. The choice is clear: we can either watch Gaza burn or act to stop it.