In brief
In the West Bank, the recent recognition of Palestine by countries like the UK and France contrasts sharply with heightened Israeli military presence and territorial claims. The heart-wrenching account of Abdel Aziz Majarmeh, whose 13-year-old son was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers, underscores the urgent humanitarian and political crises faced by Palestinians, even as global support for their statehood increases.
States are there to protect. But so are fathers.
Abdel Aziz Majarmeh was standing next to his 13-year-old son, Islam, as he was shot dead by Israeli forces this month at the entrance to Jenin refugee camp, in the occupied West Bank.
My son fell to the ground, and then I heard the sound of a shot, he said. An army jeep came up and five or six soldiers pointed their weapons at me, telling me to leave. I didn't even know my son was martyred. I started dragging him away.
Abdel Aziz said he had gone to the camp – occupied by Israel's army since January – to retrieve family documents from his home there.
There is no one for me to complain to, he told me. They control everything. The Palestinian Authority can't even protect itself – it only implements the decisions of the Jews.
As a Palestinian, Abdel Aziz is resigned to his powerlessness. As a father, he's tormented.
In my mind, I keep asking that soldier: why pick on a 13-year-old boy? I'm standing right next to him. Shoot me. Why are you shooting children? I'm here, shoot me.
Israel's army said it had fired to neutralize a threat posed by suspects who had approached them in a closed military area, and was examining the incident. It refused to clarify what threat the teenager had posed.
The UK, France and other countries are now set to recognise a Palestinian state, as Israeli control spreads across the West Bank and the Gaza War grinds on. Jenin's mayor, Mohammed Jarrar, expressed the importance of this recognition, despite his fears of increased occupation.
Recognition of a Palestinian state by the UK and France is a recognition of a political chasm between Israel and its European allies. With Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing to prevent a Palestinian state, the tacit approval of settlement expansion and military actions raises significant concerns regarding the future of Palestinian sovereignty.
While the memories of conflict and tragedy resonate strongly in the West Bank, the recognition by international powers serves as a potential beacon of hope amidst despair. Abdel Aziz Majarmeh's poignant declaration reflects the deep-rooted belief in the eventual liberation of Palestine, as he mourns his son’s loss in a struggle spanning generations.
