KUALA LUMPUR: In the aftermath of a month-long assault that claimed over 10,000 Palestinian lives, including children, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces appeared to be redirecting their efforts toward the city of Jenin.
The recent surge in hostilities has been observed in clashes between the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and Palestinians in the outlying areas of the occupied West Bank.
Jenin, home to a significant refugee camp, is under the de jure civil and security control of the Palestinian National Authority.
With a population of approximately 14,000, the camp is comprised of descendants of Palestinians who were displaced during the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
Several news outlets, including Reuters, reported that Israeli forces have been conducting frequent incursions into the refugee camp since March last year, for the so-called objective of conducting counter-terrorism operations.
The latest series of raids, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, have resulted in at least 21 Palestinians killed.
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia conference executive Muhd Nur Iman Ramli said the attacks on Gaza and Jenin refugee camp were not only an attempt by the Israeli forces to expand their occupation but also to serve as political purpose of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, he said, is seeking re-election to become the prime minister for another term amid dwindling popularity and mounting of calls for him to step down.
A recent poll by Israeli free-to-air television channel Channel 12 indicates that 76 per cent of Israelis want Netanyahu to step down, with 64 per cent advocating for an immediate election post-war.
"The Israeli forces are intensifying their operations in the West Bank since they claimed that the Hamas movement is recruiting fighters from the Jenin refugee camp.
"This is the excuse they have been using as a 'licence' to carry out more incursions into Jenin.
"Apart from an attempt to expand the land of Israel, we can view that the attacks are to serve the interest of Netanyahu himself, who wishes to become the Israeli prime minister for another term.
"With what is happening in Gaza and Jenin, I do not think he (Netanyahu) can take a step backwards since he is now facing mounting pressure and criticism over the on-going crisis not only from the global community but also within Israel," he said.
Geopolitical strategist Dr Azmi Hassan claimed that the brutal attack on the Gaza strip which has now being expanded into the city of Jenin clearly showed Israeli forces' strategy to destroy 'everything and anything' related to the Palestinians.
"When the Israeli forces launched the attack on the Gaza strip early last month, they were trying to justify it with the objective of eliminating Hamas. However, this is not enough for them.
"They (the Israeli forces) are using the pretext of wanting to destroy Hamas to justify their intention and wishes to take control of Gaza and the West Bank.
"The attacks on Gaza and the incursions in the West Bank show Netanyahu's clear intention, which is that they want to eliminate Hamas to take control of the Gaza strip and increase their control over the West Bank.
"I believe that this is their (Israel) endgame by using Hamas as the scapegoat," said Azmi from the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research.
Universiti Malaya's Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies director Professor Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail agreed with Muhd Nur Iman and Azmi when he said that Israel's long-term aim is to drive out all Palestinians so that the project of 'Eretz Israel' (to designate greater land of Israel) can be achieved.
"The right-wing elements in the present Israeli government cannot wait to see that happen and that is why the brutalities committed against the Palestinians are increasing all the time.
"And eventually Jenin and the whole of the West Bank will suffer the same fate as Gaza. The Zionists will try to make the Palestinians feel that it is not worth the suffering to continue to remain on their lands," he said.
Muhd Nur Iman said the on-going attacks and brutalities against the Palestinians have started to generate a negative implications on Israel from the global community.
"The pressure from the international community to cease all attacks against the Palestinians is growing stronger day by day. Not only from the global community, but there is also awareness from within Israel to end all the brutalities.
"Israel's public relation image in the eyes of the global community is beyond repair due to the development in Gaza and in the West Bank.
"I believe that such developments have also placed global 'superpowers' which are still or previously behind Israel in a dilemma and under pressure from their respective people who condemned the atrocities against the Palestinians," he said.