The ongoing missile exchanges have highlighted severe disparities in safety, leaving Palestinians without support or protection.
**Escalating Conflict: Palestinians Bear the Brunt of Israel-Iran Missile Exchanges**
**Escalating Conflict: Palestinians Bear the Brunt of Israel-Iran Missile Exchanges**
As tensions flare between Israel and Iran, Palestinian communities find themselves dangerously exposed.
June 16, 2025, 5:07 p.m. ET—In a shocking escalation of violence stemming from the current Israel-Iran conflict, Palestinian groups report that approximately 80 missile fragments have struck their communities since the clashes commenced on Friday.
Among the impacted is Alaa Jaradat, a construction worker from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, whose home sustained damage from debris resulting from Israeli interceptors colliding with Iranian missiles. His family's experience is emblematic of a broader crisis, as they faced minor injuries with no access to shelters or warnings to ensure their safety. “There’s no help from the government, not even a warning,” lamented Jaradat.
According to Nael Al-Azza of Palestinian emergency services, the West Bank's Palestinian neighborhoods—often located perilously close to Israeli settlements—lack the infrastructure required for protection against such attacks. In stark contrast, Israeli settlements are equipped with bomb shelters and air raid sirens. The absence of similar resources for Palestinians has heightened public frustration towards both Israeli military actions and the Palestinian Authority, which governs around 40% of the West Bank.
While emergency services have cautioned residents about unexploded ordnance, actionable guidance is largely missing, leaving many like Jaradat to ponder their next steps amidst rampant uncertainty. “I keep thinking about how I will repair the house and how we can regain any sense of safety,” he said, now temporarily residing with relatives.
As airstrikes and military actions persist, settler violence has compounded the already precarious situation for Palestinians. Roadblocks and checkpoints controlled by Israeli forces hinder access to medical assistance, according to Ahmed Jibreel of the Palestinian Red Crescent, noting that critically injured individuals often require arduous journeys on foot to reach ambulances.
Amid this chaos, panic has gripped Palestinian towns as families scramble to secure fuel supplies in anticipation of potential shortages from the ongoing hostilities. This frantic pursuit has even spawned dark humor in the community: “What’s the point of stockpiling fuel if you can’t move?”
Among the impacted is Alaa Jaradat, a construction worker from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, whose home sustained damage from debris resulting from Israeli interceptors colliding with Iranian missiles. His family's experience is emblematic of a broader crisis, as they faced minor injuries with no access to shelters or warnings to ensure their safety. “There’s no help from the government, not even a warning,” lamented Jaradat.
According to Nael Al-Azza of Palestinian emergency services, the West Bank's Palestinian neighborhoods—often located perilously close to Israeli settlements—lack the infrastructure required for protection against such attacks. In stark contrast, Israeli settlements are equipped with bomb shelters and air raid sirens. The absence of similar resources for Palestinians has heightened public frustration towards both Israeli military actions and the Palestinian Authority, which governs around 40% of the West Bank.
While emergency services have cautioned residents about unexploded ordnance, actionable guidance is largely missing, leaving many like Jaradat to ponder their next steps amidst rampant uncertainty. “I keep thinking about how I will repair the house and how we can regain any sense of safety,” he said, now temporarily residing with relatives.
As airstrikes and military actions persist, settler violence has compounded the already precarious situation for Palestinians. Roadblocks and checkpoints controlled by Israeli forces hinder access to medical assistance, according to Ahmed Jibreel of the Palestinian Red Crescent, noting that critically injured individuals often require arduous journeys on foot to reach ambulances.
Amid this chaos, panic has gripped Palestinian towns as families scramble to secure fuel supplies in anticipation of potential shortages from the ongoing hostilities. This frantic pursuit has even spawned dark humor in the community: “What’s the point of stockpiling fuel if you can’t move?”
