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Last week, amid a joint speech by American leader Donald Trump and Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, colleague parliamentarian Ayman Odeh and I raised a banner urging the recognition of Palestine. We were forcibly removed from the parliamentary assembly, revealing the weak condition of what's frequently portrayed as the "sole democratic state in the Middle East". How can officials speak about regional peace while refusing to acknowledge a population denied of basic liberties and rights under decades-long military control?

The Reality in the West Bank

Nowhere is the hypocrisy more apparent than in the occupied West Bank. There, words of reconciliation sound distant and faint, while the terrifying sounds of settler violence and intimidation persist strongly. Over 30 occurrences of settler aggression against Palestinians have been documented since the unveiling of the US 20-point plan in late September, including attacks, stealing of agricultural produce, and burning of cars and belongings.

Targeted Aggression During Agricultural Period

The increase in violence by colonists is deliberate. This period marks the start of harvest seasons. More than a crucial economic activity, it represents an important communal and cultural moment that demonstrates endurance under occupation. Exactly for these causes, annually colonists attack Palestinians throughout this precious time. During the last year's agricultural season, human rights organizations documented 113 distinct incidents of aggression, intimidation, harvest-thwarting, or destruction to olive trees and crops involving settlers and soldiers, which occurred on lands belonging to 51 Palestinian villages, municipalities, and communities.

Israeli military appeared to have played a greater role in hindering the harvesting season

Yesh Din also found that "Israeli military appeared to have played a larger role in obstructing the harvesting season". In approximately 70% of instances where access to lands was forcibly prevented, troops, border guards, and settler civilian security coordinators were actually on site. They either personally prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching and harvesting their property, or failed to prevent colonists who harassed or attacked them.

Political Support for Settler Activities

This comes as no surprise, as the head of the settlers' political party, Bezalel Smotrich, was named as an extra minister in the Defense Ministry responsible for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. In Umm al-Khair, for example, a special military coordination team removed personally-owned olive plants of Palestinians, citing lack of permits, but ignored violations by an illegal adjacent colonist encampment. Last week, the local court decided to halt all building work in the outpost, which was constructed on lands taken by Israel and illegally transferred to colonists.

Takeover Goals and International Reaction

In the occupied West Bank, colonist violence is nothing but a tool used by the government to pursue practical annexation. Recently, Smotrich led a march of many of colonists in favor of taking over the West Bank. He was quoted as stating, "We are continuing to establish presence with our feet of the Land of Israel with many pioneers, numerous heroes, and hundreds of thousands of colonists who live in this part of the territory ... we must to normalize it and establish it permanently."

The settlers and their backers in the Knesset are explicit about their motives and intentions. Why, then, do government officials in the west hesitate from substantial sanctions and diplomatic measures? Smotrich was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in June, but the effect of the sanction has been limited. He may not be permitted to go to the United Kingdom and visit the West End, but he still enjoys the governmental authority to take territories in the West Bank. Remarkably in the declaration of sanctions, the British government highlighted they take place "personally" solely.

Global Recognition and Reality

If the British administration recognizes the reality of colonist aggression and its grave consequences on Palestinian life, why does it still permit settlement produce to be marketed in stores and outlets in the UK? If Starmer is serious about recognition of Palestine as a state, how come he permit the Israeli administration to breach its sovereignty with such aggressive methods? Or was the acknowledgment an empty tactic to shut down opposition in the United Kingdom, a hollow gesture only to be implemented in the rebranding of some maps?

Pathway to True Resolution

A just resolution must respect the fundamental rights of the Palestinian population for self-recognition, independence, and liberty from military occupation and siege. Only when every person's worth between the river and Mediterranean Sea is respected can we truly declare peace has been achieved.

Genuine peace requires an independent Palestinian nation alongside Israel: this is the sole solution that enjoises agreement among the global community, the Palestinian leadership, and the Israeli peace advocates.

Trump may have inflicted influence on the Israeli leader to stop the violence, but he likely only did so because the strain of his relationship with the isolated government of the Israeli PM had become too great. The mass protests throughout the globe for the freedom of Palestinian territories, and the persistent opposition demonstrations inside the country, are the real forces behind this pressure.

It is thanks to this massive civil movement that a ceasefire has been signed, the captives freed, and the people of Gaza can experience protection from destruction. After the ceasefire agreement has been signed, it is vital to keep applying this pressure. The world has turned a blind eye to the atrocities in Gaza for too long; it must not make the same mistake in the occupied territories.