Even as Palestinians in the West Bank protest against Israel’s war on Gaza, they’re facing increasing attacks themselves. The Qalandia checkpoint, a crossing point between the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, was relatively quiet on November 1, despite Palestinian groups calling for a “day of rage” to denounce Israel’s relentless bombing of the Gaza Strip. However, tensions were high as Israeli bombs had recently devastated the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. In Ramallah, the capital of the West Bank, the streets were blocked with rubbish containers, shops were closed, and protesters gathered in Al-Manara Square.
About 200 people, mostly teenagers, marched through the streets of Ramallah, expressing their frustration over the lack of a unified and effective response from the international community to stop the attacks against Gaza. Many attendees blamed the Palestinian Authority for not doing enough to defend Palestinian interests during the war. Some protesters carried graphic posters of the children killed in Gaza, emphasizing the devastating toll of the conflict.
Amid the protest, a 38-year-old man, attending with his wife and young son, voiced his disappointment in relying on the international community for decades with little progress. He placed his son on his shoulders and joined the march. Another protester, a 35-year-old woman from Bethlehem, shared her fear of the settlers who have surrounded her hometown, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of arming them. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has reportedly distributed weapons to settlers in the West Bank, further escalating tensions.
While some young protesters shouted slogans threatening violence against Israel, a passing elderly man disapproved of such radicalization. He believed violence is not an effective means of resistance. Meanwhile, a 29-year-old man working at a coffee shop expressed his frustration with the Palestinian Authority’s lack of action, emphasizing the stark imbalance of power between armed settlers and unarmed Palestinians.
The situation escalated further on November 2 when Israeli forces raided the town of Qalqilya near Ramallah, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinians, including 14-year-old Ayhem Mahmud al-Shafi. Since October 7, at least 183 Palestinians, including 44 children, have died in the West Bank due to attacks by Israeli forces or settlers. In the Gaza Strip, over 11,200 Palestinians have been killed, and approximately 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s attacks on southern Israel on October 7.
Ayhem’s funeral procession in Ramallah drew hundreds of mourners, with shopkeepers closing their businesses as a sign of respect. Chants for martyrs and the liberation of Palestine filled the air as the procession made its way through the streets. Ayhem’s grieving family bid him a tearful farewell in Al-Amara Square, reminding everyone that he was not just a number.
The ongoing violence in the West Bank has highlighted the urgent need for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians continue to demand their right to their land and freedom, while the international community grapples with finding a unified and effective response to address the escalating tensions.
