As a member of Youth Against Settlements in Hebron, activist Izzat Karaki advocates for nonviolent resistance. Amid rising violence in the West Bank and a world that turns a blind eye, he shares his reality under Israeli occupation.
Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in January, the Israeli military offensive in the West Bank has intensified. +972 magazine titled it ‘Worse than the Second Intifada’. Izzat, how are you experiencing the situation on the ground right now?
Our lives were already very hard and complicated before October 7th. And even before the ceasefire, things got worse in a different way. Israel’s bigger plan is to evacuate Palestinians from Hebron and increase the number of Israeli settlements. Hebron is unique because in 1997 it was divided into two parts, H1 and H2, and the settlements are inside the city. They are as much a part of my daily life as my coffee. Now Israel is talking about annexing H2, the area where I live. But what will they do with us Palestinians who live here? We are talking about 36,000 people, compared to only a few hundred Jewish settlers- and 900 soldiers.
In an Interview for dis:orient in 2023, you explained that all the soldiers in Hebron are there solely to protect the settlers from Palestinians, while no one protects Palestinians from settler violence. How is this reflected in Hebron today?
It got worse over time. Since October 7th, we have been dealing with extremely violent soldiers and settlers, day and night. One important thing to keep in mind is that in the H2 zone, there is no hospital, no ambulance services, not enough water, and not enough electricity. In 2015, Palestinians living inside H2 were assigned numbers. People living outside did not get one, so they can’t pass through the Israeli checkpoints to visit friends and family anymore. But even if you do have a number, soldiers at checkpoints make it difficult for you to go from one zone to another. Since October 7th, the checkpoints have been closed off for long periods, trapping people in H2. Last week, the checkpoint was closed off all week, so sometimes they close the city completely.
As Palestinians, we are being isolated from the other Palestinians, which forces us to leave. The Israeli soldiers and the settlers won’t come to your house, take your things, and throw you out. Instead, they make life so unbearable that you have no choice but to leave. Many families have already done so, they simply couldn’t handle the situation anymore.
And how has the situation worsened with the ongoing military offensive?
The very same day the Israeli military withdrew from Gaza, they moved into the West Bank. They told us: “We are done with Gaza. Now it’s your turn.” That is why, since the announcement of the ceasefire, the Israeli military has been raiding Hebron and most other cities. They are arresting people, demolishing houses, and closing roads. For example, out of the 122 entrances to my city, 112 have been closed off by the military.
I used to film whenever Israeli soldiers or Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians. But now, I can’t, because if I try to film them, they come after me instead and beat me up. Every time I pass through an Israeli checkpoint, I have to delete apps like Instagram and WhatsApp from my phone. Because if they find out you’re following the news, they will detain you, they will beat you up, hold you captive for hours, and confiscate your phone.
Speaking more broadly about the West Bank: 40.000 Palestinians have been internally displaced. This is the highest number since the Naksa in 1967. In addition Israel sent tanks for the first time in 20 years. Where is the greatest displacement happening and where are people going?
Many people have been killed all over the West Bank. Most of the displacements are happening in the northern part, in places like Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nablus. The Israeli army is raiding refugee camps and has been staying there for over a month around the clock . Many families have already left their homes. They just want to live in peace, they don’t resist, they don’t fight; they go to hospitals and hotels, they stay with neighbours or move in with family in safer areas. The level of violence in the camps, especially in the north, is extremely high.
Violence in the West Bank is nothing new to you—your organization, Youth Against Settlements (YAS), has been directly exposed to both settler and military aggression since it was founded in 2007. But the scale is unprecedented, with 362 attacks in Hebron since October 7th alone, ushering in this new phase of escalation. How can YAS operate facing the attacks and restrictions?
Unfortunately, only five of our members have an identification number and can enter H2. The Palestinian families here are suffering immensely. As a group, we do everything we can to help them. We assist them with their houses and when someone is stopped at a checkpoint or arrested, we gather to support them and their families. We used to do a lot more, like holding demonstrations. But now, it is too dangerous: If you go out to protest peacefully against the occupation, the Israeli military will come to your house the same night and arrest you.
YAS is a non-partisan group. In October 2024, YAS and its founder Issa Amro were awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize. The Right Livelihood Award was justified by YAS’s strict commitment to non-violence, which stands in "sharp contrast" to "the violent reality of the Israeli occupation". What does nonviolent resistance mean to you and what does it look like in practice?
To be honest, it is difficult to be a Palestinian and believe in non-violence, because we grow up surrounded by violence. But I want to convince all my people to join me. We are activists, but we cannot make a difference or resist the occupation by ourselves. We need families with us. Helping and educating fellow Palestinians means that we are not alone, and they are not alone. We also try to raise awareness about life under the occupation. We do advocacy work and use social media, hold Zoom calls with universities and schools and organize public meetings. Our mission is to remain and to stay.
You said you are raising awareness for what is happening. Did winning the Alternative Nobel Prize have any practical consequences?
Yes, for sure. We are already well known internationally, but this kind of recognition brings more attention to our work. When people search for our name on the internet and see what we are doing, they become more interested in supporting us. We have had the opportunity to work with new people and build new relationships with organizations interested in learning about Palestinian life under occupation. And we are trying to increase the visitor numbers here in Hebron.
Why is this relevant now?
We used to have many delegations coming almost every day. This is so important, because if you visit Hebron, in just two hours you will understand the true meaning of the Israeli occupation and apartheid. The old town used to be the heart of Hebron and when there were international visitors, many shops were open. But since October 7th, the visitors are afraid to come. If you go to the old town now, it is empty, almost like a ghost town, because the people had to close their shops and leave.
You have been active with YAS for almost 16 years—and you keep going. What gives you hope?
If I were to lose hope, I would have to pack up my things and leave. Essentially, we live for hope and we try to give it simultaneously to the people. Many Palestinians give up, because they are tired of it all. Sometimes, I also feel the same and I ask myself: what is all of this for? Because even though we talk, we give speeches and tours, in the end, nothing improves, it even gets worse. Nowadays, they are harassing children and women at the checkpoints—searching their phones or cursing at them. If I witnessed this and spoke up, I would also be attacked and humiliated. So, I do feel helpless. But to lose hope is to lose everything. That is why I hold on to it.
In July 2024, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories violates international law. Do such decisions make you feel more optimistic about the future?
It is very important that Israel has been declared responsible for apartheid and that the occupation is illegal. Even when Netanyahu was the subject of an arrest warrant and nothing happened when he traveled to the US, it was still significant to us. I think Netanyahu could be stopped if countries like Germany or the US put pressure on him. But unfortunately, we don’t see this international support. Instead, most Israeli leaders say they have never had a greater friend than Trump. And the Israeli government and military can do whatever they want because they know that they will not be held accountable. So, I am afraid that the planned annexation of the Palestinian territories will happen. And every time I think about it, it makes me feel sad.
