Israeli bulldozers do extensive damage to West Bank infrastructure
Israeli military bulldozers have extensively damaged roads, sewage systems, and businesses in the occupied West Bank.
Residents say it has been an unprecedented level of devastation, according to a New York Times article published on Wednesday.
The military vehicles, deployed in Tulkarem and Jenin during two weeks of intense raids beginning in late August, “tore up mile after mile of streets and alleys, leaving sewage to seep into the deep ruts left behind,” the Times report said.
Videos recorded by locals showed bulldozers razing infrastructure, shops, and businesses while Israeli soldiers prevented emergency responders from accessing victims in need of medical care.
“We watched their bulldozers destroy streets, wipe out businesses, pharmacies, and schools. They even tore down the town's soccer field and uprooted a tree in the middle of a road,” said Kamal Abu al-Rub, the governor of Jenin. “What was the purpose of this destruction?”
Israel has also escalated airstrikes to target homes in the West Bank, a strategy used in Gaza.
“They are creating conditions, both materially and psychologically, that make people feel Gaza is coming to the West Bank,” said Shawan Jabarin, the director of Al Haq, a human rights organization based in the West Bank.
“There is a growing fear among Palestinians that this is part of a plan to kill and forcibly remove us.”
Nidal Obeidi, the Mayor of Jenin, said approximately 70 percent of the roads in the city were either severely damaged or completely destroyed during the recent raids.
In addition, several areas experienced outages in internet, electricity, and phone services, while water and sewage lines were also cut off, leaving nearly 80 percent of Jenin’s population without access to running water.
Businesses in both Jenin and Tulkarem have also suffered considerable losses. Rami Kmail, a local shop owner, told reporters that his store had sustained damage in 10 separate Israeli raids since October 7, 2023, costing him up to $20,000 in repairs after each incident.
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