Israeli journalist says Palestinians face threat of expulsion from the river to the sea

Israeli journalist Amira Hass has warned that Palestinians residing between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea are facing the growing threat of forced expulsion by Israel. Speaking to Middle East Eye, Hass emphasized that Israel possesses a robust ideological, political, economic, and military infrastructure capable of facilitating mass displacement of Palestinians.

This warning comes as Hass, who has lived in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank since 1993, has reported on Israel's occupation for Haaretz for over three decades. She argued that Israel's current policy aims to "erase" Palestinians instead of seeking a diplomatic solution for a Palestinian state, targeting those in Gaza, the West Bank, and even Israeli citizens.

Hass noted that religious-nationalist and far-right forces have gained substantial political influence over Israeli governance. She explained that the situation is a result of a prolonged process where Palestinians have been geographically fragmented while Israel maintains control over most of the territory. This includes the Oslo Accords, which resulted in Palestinian "Bantustans" and allowed Israel to maintain sovereignty over the region.

Hass further explained that economic and security pressures, such as movement restrictions, checkpoints, and home demolitions, further isolate Palestinians, making it increasingly difficult for them to maintain their livelihoods and connect with their communities.