When a barrage of missiles was launched from Iran toward Israel on Friday night, the repercussions reverberated through neighboring Palestinian communities. Alaa Jaradat, a resident and construction worker in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, witnessed the chaos firsthand, as Israeli defenses intercepted the missiles, letting falling debris rain down on his family home, injuring his children. "We’ve had no help from the government, not even a warning,” lamented Jaradat, expressing a sense of despair as his family had to seek refuge with relatives.
According to officials from Palestinian emergency services, around 80 pieces of missile shrapnel have hit various Palestinian towns and neighborhoods since the conflict ignited, leaving seven people injured. While Israeli settlements are equipped with bomb shelters and air raid sirens, Palestinian communities are starkly unprepared, lacking necessary infrastructure and warnings for such attacks, highlighting the disparity in living conditions.
The ongoing military confrontation has intensified frustration towards both the Israeli military occupation and the Palestinian Authority, which governs a significant portion of the West Bank. Despite some emergency guidelines regarding unexploded ordnance, the authority has been criticized for its inadequate response, leaving residents feeling abandoned in their time of need.
Among scenes of escalating panic, residents have flocked to gas stations to stockpile fuel in anticipation of potential shortages, amplifying a grim joke circulating among Palestinians: "What’s the point of stockpiling fuel if you can’t move?"
Additionally, humanitarian concerns continue to grow as Israeli military operations, settler violence, and restrictions at checkpoints hinder the ability of ambulances to transport the injured effectively. Ahmed Jibreel, the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent, shares the grim reality that movement across these checkpoints is nearly impossible. His comments emphasize the dire circumstances and highlight the urgent need for support and resources for affected communities.
