Ethnic cleaning despite huge global support for Palestine

Photo: Community members in Khirbet Samra, Jordan Valley, loading their flock into trucks before their departure due to settler violence. Saturday, March 1, 2025. (972 - Dikla Taylor-Sheinman)

Ethnic Cleansing Palestinians struggle to remain on their land Photo: Demolition in Bir Hadaj, Naqab (Negev), 26 March 2025 - RCUV

Repeatedly over the years we have said that Israel’s Zionist agenda is to make life so difficult for the Palestinians that they leave. Since October 7^th, when Hamas broke out of Gaza with the resulting massacre, Israel’s violent retaliation has not only been directed at Gaza but also within the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Naqab (Negev). Israel’s takeover of the Jordan Valley is almost complete, more than 40,000 have been displaced from the north of the West Bank and mass expulsions are unfolding in the Naqab.

ICAHD has been clear in identifying genocide as what happens under settler colonialism. With the following developments, no wonder Palestinian communities are exhausted and struggling to retain their presence on their land: * Demolitions have soared everywhere. Daily tens of thousands of Palestinians live in fear of the sound of the bulldozer arriving with them given 15 minutes to evacuate.

* Checkpoints and obstacles have increased to 849 as they permanently or intermittently control, restrict and monitor Palestinian movement in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the H2 area of Hebron. They impede Palestinian access to basic services, workplaces and to schools.

* Settler violence continues to be unleashed, often with members of the Israeli army either standing by, taking no action, or aiding them. Since the start of 2025, the Centre of Jewish non-Violence has documented more than 40 violent settler attacks in the village of Susiya alone. The Israeli government provides the settlers with funds and weapons.

* Unprecedented surge in the approval of 10,600 of new settler housing units in the West Bank, including 4,920 in East Jerusalem, since the beginning of this year.During the whole of 2024, the total approved was 9,971 units.

* Surveillance of Palestinians has increased. Settlers have installed cameras right over the shared women’s bathroom in Umm al Khail in the South Hebron Hills. More frightening is that Israel is developing AI programmes that can track human rights activities, monitor Palestinian construction in Area C and has tools to know what every person in the West Bank is doing.

* Israel is still withholding the February taxes revenues it collected on behalf of the Palestinians which means that the Palestinian Authority is unable to pay public sector salaries. Therefore, thousands of families have no means to celebrate Eid al-Fitr which starts this weekend following the end of Ramadan.

The cruelty is intolerable. There are many initiatives that support the oppressed peoples of the world and the largest by far is the mass movement demonstrating global solidarity with the Palestinian people. Demonstrations, rallies and other gatherings happen on a weekly basis however the situation for the Palestinians continues to deteriorate because governments still refuse call Israel to account. Our activities must continue as well as lobbying our political representatives. Look out for information about a new Palestinian – led campaign that ICAHD is supporting to help refine our strategic focus.

Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 864 – Israel’s Military Presence in the West Bank . Fifty-three MPs have already expressed their alarm over the escalating Israeli military assaults across the illegally occupied West Bank but this number needs to increase substantially. Write to your MP now.

Add your name to the War on Want petition to the government that calls for it to end its support of Israel’s settlements, illegal occupation and apartheid regime.

Write to Benjamin Netanyahu – Use the form letter that has been prepared by Amnesty to reach Israel’s Prime Minister. It calls for him to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Let him know how many internationals are appealing to him.

The e-action to David Lammy - We continue to promote the e-action directed at Britain’s Foreign Minister, prepared by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. It calls for Israel to abide by the ceasefire agreement and lift the siege on Gaza. Within the letter, it defines actions for the British government to take

The march assembled at Green Park and went to Whitehall; thus, it was a short distance with the route only released by the Metropolitan Police a few days before it took place. The event was held in the context of Israel refusing to move into stage 2 of the ceasefire deal when it was to withdraw its troops from Gaza before Hamas released more of the Israeli hostages. In addition, earlier in March, Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza as well as humanitarian aid, including food and water, thus entrenching genocide through starvation.

Since Israel’s war on Gaza began, there has been no enforcement of international law and with rulings from the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court ignored. The UK government along with others in the West remain silent. As Jeremy Corbyn MP pointed out while speaking on the platform at the end of the march, history will brutally judge those who watched the Palestinians lives being destroyed. Our government will find that it was on the wrong side of history.

Before the march set off, ICAHD UK filmed several short interviews. Those interviewed included Jews, Christians and Muslims which again demonstrated that a wide cross-section of British society participates in these peaceful opportunities to demonstrate our outrage about what is happening as well as our solidarity in the struggle for peace and justice for all peoples.

Free Films on Palestine Watch & Share Photo: They Do Not Exist - Film by Mustafa Abu Ali

Who are the Palestinians? Many people in the West know so little about them and their history. For some, Palestinians are thought of as lesser human beings because they do not have white skin.

In light of Israel’s genocide, a large number of filmmakers have made their films about Palestine available online for free . From documentaries about the Nakba and the Occupation, to characters such as Edward Said and Naji Al Ali and events like the olive harvest and weddings, these films are a valuable resource – and all for free.

Use this opportunity to access them to enlarge your understanding of the indigenous Palestinian people and then select at least one film to recommend to others who have no understanding of the Palestinian struggle.

Monday, 10 November – Thursday, 20 November – Study tour to Palestine/Israel. Many thanks for your ongong support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please join usor make a donation to enable our campaign to spread at this critical time in history.

From all at ICAHD UK. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israeli-Committee-Against-House-Demolitions-UK/366423593418140 Facebook https://www.twitter.com/ICAHDUK/ Twitter http://icahduk.org Website mailto:info@icahduk.org Email