Worse year in the history of Palestine

In addition to the genocide in Gaza, 2024 was marked by the Israeli state enacting its most aggressive, sustained demolition campaign across East Jerusalem and the West Bank since the Nakba. Demolitions have almost doubled since 2023 and have quadrupled from 2020. From January 1, 2024, Israel has carried out 549 military operations across East Jerusalem and the West Bank alone, destroying 1,766 structures and displacing 4,275 people from their homes and lands. From the beginning of the year, there has been an average of 1.51 military operations a day across the small, often isolated Palestinian communities in Area B and C and the embattled neighborhoods of Jerusalem. These military assaults displace, on average, nearly 12 people a day. These data points cannot be understood without the context of the genocide of Gaza, which has taken the lives of well over 200,000 people and systematically destroyed infrastructure. Israel has waged a scorched-earth policy, flattening over 52,564 structures and damaging an estimated 163,778 homes, businesses, hospitals, and other life-sustaining Palestinian infrastructure.

Ethnically cleansing the lands is of course a prerequisite for supplanting the indigenous population as a means of primitive land and resource accumulation. As we can see, after a period of elimination, Israel follows up with rapid settlement expansion and land and resource theft.

The Israeli Higher Planning Council is setting in motion 198 new housing units across three West Bank settlements. This marks their fourth meeting in December, following previous discussions for 286, 227, and 274 units. The total number of units discussed in December amounts to 985.

The specific plans include 5 units in Givat Ze'ev, 192 in Etz Efraim, and 1 in Alei Zahav. With earlier approvals of 5,255 units in July and other advancements throughout 2024, the total number of settlement units advanced this year will reach 9,705.

A key policy change under the Netanyahu-Smotrich government in June 2023 removed the requirement for Defense Minister approval in settlement construction planning. The council has shifted from quarterly meetings approving thousands of units at once to weekly meetings advancing hundreds of units, a strategy aimed at normalizing settlement expansion while reducing international attention.

Seven new outposts were established in Area B of the West Bank, marking the first such expansion since the Oslo Accords, as most West Bank colonization happens within the isolated communities of Area C. Five outposts were built in near Bethlehem, with two more near Ramallah.

This expansion represents a significant shift in settler activity beyond Area C, with these seven outposts making up 13.5% of the 52 total outposts established in 2024. The Israeli government has not only allowed this expansion but has also authorized the Civil Administration to demolish Palestinian construction in the "Agreed-Upon Reserve," leading to numerous Palestinian families being forcibly displaced from their homes due to settler violence and demolition orders.

This development contradicts the 1995 Oslo II Agreement, which placed Area B under Palestinian civil control with Israeli security oversight. This further highlights how the Oslo Accords were simply a colonial framework to advance colonialism across the rest of historic Palestine. The "Agreed-Upon Reserve," comprising 3% of West Bank territory, was specifically designated under Palestinian planning authority in the 1998 Wye Plantation agreement. While previous Israeli governments typically prevented settlement expansion into Area B, current enforcement is minimal — by design — with only one of the seven new outposts being temporarily evacuated before being re-established. As Israel carries out these violent acts of land theft and further diverges from the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority does not respond but rather focuses its efforts on besieging Palestinian refugee communities in Jenin refugee camp, doing the work of “security” for the zionist state.

Demolition summary

December 26, 2024 | East Jerusalem, Sur Baher

A Palestinian family was forced to self-demolish their 75m² residential house due to lack of Israeli permits, displacing six people including three children. The rooftop structure contained two bedrooms, bathroom, and living room. The family was previously fined 35,000 NIS and given 48 hours for demolition after failed legal attempts to prevent this displacement since 2017.

December 25, 2024 | West Bank, Area C, Nahalin

Civil administration demolished an animal structure and recreational park affecting 21 people including 12 children. The 1.5 dunum park included swimming facilities, playground, and two-story building. During demolition, forces fired tear gas, causing several inhalation cases, and destroyed 7 water tanks and uprooted 16 trees.

December 25, 2024 | West Bank, Area C, An Nabi Elyas

Israeli forces demolished two Palestinian livelihood structures: a 1,500m² car maintenance shop where tools and equipment were reportedly taken, and a 300m² empty structure. One owner received demolition orders in 2021 and has since worked unsuccessfully to prevent the demolition through legal action.

December 24, 2024 | West Bank, Area A, Nur Shams Camp

During a 43-hour military operation, Israeli forces demolished nine residential structures housing 33 individuals. The raid caused extensive damage to the camp's main street and infrastructure, affecting hundreds of structures and disrupting access to essential services.

December 24, 2024 | West Bank, Area A, Tulkarm Camp

Israeli forces conducted a 43-hour operation resulting in seven Palestinian fatalities. The operation included drone strikes and road demolitions, temporarily displacing 61 people from 12 families. Approximately 700 houses sustained damage, with widespread disruption to electricity and water services affecting over 11,000 residents.

Moving forward

We have to take honest assessment of what is working and what isn't.

By any metric, this has been the most horrific year of violence in Palestinian history. This reality is in direct contradiction with much of the rhetoric and talking points by liberal solidarity groups in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and elsewhere, with groups talking about “building power,” “unprecedented support for Palestine,” and “organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement.” These slogans, while good for building email lists, soliciting donations, and getting people to join webinars for organizational growth, come at the expense of Palestinians, as they obscure the way the mainstream movement strategies, tactics, and ideology have all but left the people of Gaza abandoned.

As we move into 2025, with the harshest winter months ahead of us, an emboldened Trump administration entering the White House, and the Palestinian Authority showing every sign that they’re willing to do the dirty work of the imperialist financiers, there needs to be a honest conversation about what is working, what isn’t working, and what needs to change to support the Palestinian communities that are most vulnerable and at-risk.

This starts first with money. As the year is coming to end, many of you are sifting through emails from the legacy NGO’s explaining how your donation will be doubled if you donate today. Stop. Think instead of donating instead into the grassroots formations who are aiding the people of Gaza directly. Here are three campaigns we’re uplifting and donating to ourselves.

Gaza Funds

Give directly to families in Gaza. Gaza Funds focuses on uplifting stagnating campaigns, which have not recently received support. The website shows only one campaign at a time, so as not to overwhelm viewers.

Support here

Workshops 4 Gaza

Workshops 4 Gaza organizes a number of excellent, fascinating workshops each month. Sign up for a workshop by donating to the requested campaign for a family in Gaza, give a workshop to a friend as a gift, or donate so that others might be able to join the workshops as guests. Workshops 4 Gaza also has a bookstore on their website, through which you can buy books and support the work of the Sameer Project.

Support here

Water and Waste Infrastructure for Gaza City

This fundraiser is for the Gaza City municipality and will help to provide the funds to rebuild some of the essential, life-saving infrastructure for water and waste, which Israel has systematically destroyed as part of its genocide campaign.

Support here