As President Biden visits Bethlehem and East Jerusalem on the final day of his trip to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), the stakes could not be higher, said Oxfam today.
His trip comes in the midst of an alarming escalation in the demolitions of Palestinian homes and schools, forcible transfers of Palestinian civilians, and construction of illegal Israeli settlements that make the prospects for achieving a just and equitable end to the conflict even more distant.
Through its work with Palestinian communities and partner organizations, Oxfam sees the direct impact of these illegal and harmful policies on families every day. After 55 years of military occupation, people are increasingly losing their ability to study, to provide for themselves and their families, and to live in peace and dignity. In Gaza, 15 years of blockade and a lack of reconstruction after last year’s escalation of hostilities has left over sixty percent of the population dependent on aid, and 78% of Gaza’s piped water unfit to drink.
Oxfam Policy Advisor in Gaza Omar Ghraieb said: “Israel continues to systematically impose a protracted humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, causing immense suffering and rights abuses through settlement expansion, demolitions, movement restrictions, and cycles of violence – all with impunity. The US is effectively providing a blank check for these violations through its billions of dollars of military assistance. At the same time, US support to Palestinians continues to serve as a band-aid, entrenching aid dependency without addressing the root causes of humanitarian needs or the rising restrictions on dissent and civic space. As a Palestinian in Gaza, it has been a surreal and isolating experience to be forced to watch President Biden visit my country from the sidelines as the occupation becomes even further entrenched.
In Jerusalem, President Biden promised that the US would continue to work “toward a lasting negotiated peace between the State of Israel and the Palestinian people.” But unless his administration offers specific plans and secures concrete commitments to achieve this vision, these words will do nothing to change the status quo for millions of Palestinians across the region.
Indeed, in the wake of President Biden’s trip, Israel is likely to move ahead with plans to construct thousands of new housing units in illegal settlements and forcibly displace over 1,000 Palestinians from Masafer Yatta. More than a dozen Members of Congress have called on the Biden administration to prevent this forcible transfer.
Oxfam America Global Policy Lead Noah Gottschalk said, “The true test of President Biden’s visit will not be his words on the ground but the actions he takes as soon as the wheels are up on Air Force One. Now is the time for the US to move beyond short-term ‘confidence building’ measures. Instead, the Biden administration must take concrete and meaningful political action that addresses the fundamental drivers of poverty and violence, including the ongoing blockade and occupation, internal Palestinian political divisions, and the lack of respect for international humanitarian and human rights law.
“Oxfam believes that a lasting and sustainable peace should be rooted in the recognition of the human rights and dignity of all Israelis and Palestinians, as well a firm foundation in international law. While only the people of Israel and Palestine can achieve this, President Biden has the tools to bring the parties together, including ensuring US support to the region supports the pursuit of peace rather than prolonging the status quo. President Biden must bring more than just aid; he must bring change.”
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