As Israel prepares for elections in October, the rhetoric surrounding the ongoing occupation has taken a worrisome turn. Politicians, especially from the far-right, have begun using aggressive policies towards Palestine not only as a platform for political gain but as the very core of their campaigns. This alarming shift in focus reflects not just political maneuvering but an ongoing strategy that has intensified violence and deepened divisions within the region.
In the lead-up to Israel’s October elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc has shifted its focus to utilize far-right policies towards the Palestinian territories as a key campaign theme, amplifying tensions between communities amidst an overall backdrop of unrest. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has integrated the machinery of occupation directly into his campaign messaging. Utilizing AI-generated advertisements that threaten to replicate his policies in the occupied territories within Israel’s Palestinian population centers, Smotrich’s slogan prompts an unsettling atmosphere of intimidation.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has escalated this confrontational stance, sharing AI visuals that depict Palestinian prisoners in distressing and dehumanizing manners. His actions, including planting an Israeli flag on facilities belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, align with an aggressive policy push that coincides with recent military actions reminiscent of earlier government strategies.
As campaign rhetoric intensifies, violence in the occupied territories has similarly escalated. Recent reports indicate not only an uptick in demolitions and evictions across the West Bank and East Jerusalem but also an alarming rise in fatalities in Gaza, where civilian casualties have tragically widened beyond targeted military operations.
In Gaza, a wave of aerial strikes has seen increasing numbers of civilian deaths— including farmers and children— in stark contrast to previous operational definitions focused on specific military targets. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting a cumulative death toll exceeding 73,000 since the latest round of violence began in October 2023.
The West Bank also bears witness to escalating settler violence, with Israeli settlers reportedly attacking Palestinians and their properties in numerous incidents. Settler-led efforts to forcibly displace Palestinian residents, including violent raids in the village of al-Mughayyir, have compounded an already perilous situation. Reports document a pattern of violence that persists with apparent state support, as settlers operate with minimal accountability.
Amidst a backdrop of expanded land seizures and home demolitions targeting Palestinian communities, the Israeli government has greenlighted numerous settlement expansions. This has included controversial buffer zone orders that further entrench illegal settlements in the region, leading to significant incursions into Palestinian administratively-controlled areas.
As the upcoming elections loom, the actions and rhetoric from the far-right significantly shape the political landscape, suggesting a potentially dire trajectory for peace and coexistence in the region. The continuing cycle of violence and intimidation reflects deeper systemic issues that need addressing if a sustainable future is to be forged.
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