Palestinian history is already crowded with tragic memories caused by the successive Israeli government. Yet the ultra-racist new government brings more terrorism, thus more grief in the Palestinian scene. 

Since the Israeli Knesset passed a vote of confidence on Israel’s new government at the start of 2023, the right-wing government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu began a series of violence against the Palestinian people. 

The government has adopted “sovereignty” as its main motto. Thus, it declared war to destroy the Palestinians’ dream of having a free Palestine. 

Leaders of the new government are some of the most racist and extremist Israeli figures. They are following in the footsteps of former leaders, but with more extremism. 

 Bloodiest January 

According to data collected by Days of Palestine (DOP), Israeli forces and settlers killed in January at least 35 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

In the besieged Gaza Strip, a 13-year-old child was reported killed by wounds he sustained by Israeli missiles in an 2022 August aggression. 

8 children and an elderly woman were among the victims. Defense of Children-Palestine documented Israel’s use of lethal forces against the children of Palestine. 

Israel killed 20 Palestinians in Jenin alone. The West Bank city of Jenin survived horrific crimes committed by Israeli forces, the most outrageous of which was on January 26. 

As the first month of 2023 was to end, Israeli forces invaded Jenin while Palestinians were in their beds. The deadly raid claimed the lives of 9 Palestinians, including 2 children. 

The Palestinian ministry of health said that January 2023 is the deadliest January since 2015. Israel killed 6 Palestinians in January 2022 and 5 in the same month in 2021. 

 Detention on Rise

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained about 540 Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in January, including 92 children, and 10 women.

According to Palestine Center for Prisoners Studies (PCPS), the highest rate of detentions was recorded in occupied Jerusalem, as the IOF detained 270 Palestinians in the city only.

The Center stated that the Israeli occupation forces escalated in January incursions into cities and towns in the West Bank and Jerusalem, terrorizing and kidnapping Palestinian citizens. 

 More Demolitions 

 According to data by OCHA, Israeli occupation forces demolished at least 133 Palestinian-owned structures in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in 2023.

Demolishing 35 habitant homes, Israeli occupation displaced 174 Palestinians, including 77 children. 

Moreover, the Israeli government destroyed 35 agricultural facilities among the demolished facilities. 

34 of the structures were demolished in Jerusalem and 107 in the occupied West Bank, including 99 in area C.

 Settlers’ Violence 

Over 700 assaults against Palestinians and their belongings were committed by the Israeli occupation forces and illegal Israeli settlers.

These aggressions included attacking individuals, damaging property, razing land, uprooting trees, confiscating and destroying property, blocking off roads, and inflicting physical harm.

The Nablus Governorate recorded the highest number of attacks as Israeli settlers committed 131 violations. Meanwhile, settlers carried out 128 attacks in Jenin and 105 others in Bethlehem. 

Israeli settlers, protected by the Israeli government, regularly carry out attacks against Palestinian families, lands, and properties. 

Currently, about 700,000 Israeli settlers live in over 230 illegal settlements built since 1967 in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Violations in the Holy City 

The number of Israeli occupation crimes against the Palestinians in the occupied city of Jerusalem has increased sharply during the month of January 2023.

During the reporting period, at least 4516 colonial Israeli settlers invaded the courtyards of Al- Aqsa mosque and performed provocative Talmudic rituals in some of its yards.

In addition, Israeli occupation forces detained at least 255 Palestinians, while 11 administrative detention orders, 37 house arrests, and 26 prison sentences were issued in January. 

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation issued 28 banishment orders against Jerusalemite activists as well as employees of the Jerusalem Waqf (Endowment) Department.

In January too, The Israeli occupation forces leveled 42 Palestinian-owned structures in occupied Jerusalem leaving its People homeless, according to data collected by Marsad Network.

12 days passed since the start of February, and Israeli occupation forces still escalate terrorism against Palestinian people. 

So far in February 2023, Israel has killed at least 7 Palestinians and demolished about 22 Palestinian-owned structures.