Meanwhile, fear and an eerie sense of unease has permeated the West Bank. Morale is low. The hustle and bustle Ramallah is known for has died down. Koran verses that are usually reserved for mourning are blaring even in stores, replacing what’s often lively music.
As I walk through my neighborhood, I can see my neighbors gathered in front of TVs watching the 24-hour feed of horror supplied by Arabic news channels. In Ramallah, schools have turned to online learning as teachers faced difficulties coming to the city from other villages and towns. For two days, a commercial strike called for by various Palestinian factions in support of Gaza shuttered the doors of everything from supermarkets to coffee shops.
Among West Bank residents, the shock at the scale of violence remained days on. Many are still processing the news, and wondering what this will all lead to — what Gaza’s fate will be, and ultimately, their own as well. Speaking to people, mixed emotions were apparent: grief at those who were killed on both sides of the fence mixed with fear at the amount of destruction that will come about in the next few days, if not weeks or months. “The important thing is to end the war and end civilian deaths. To achieve this, ultimately, the occupation and siege also must end,” said one friend, echoing a sentiment shared by many others.
Already, the violence is seeping into the West Bank as well. In certain areas, like Hebron and Nablus, Israeli settlers, armed and feeling empowered by events in Gaza, have rampaged, killing at least five Palestinians (one who was stabbed to death) or torching homes, cars and other property. At least 30 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed since Saturday, according to the PA Ministry of Health. That number is expected to rise.
