The past week in Israel has been a rollercoaster of political and military turmoil, with the Israeli government, military and civilians all feeling the strain of a cycle of violence which has so far left 11 Israelis and 12 Palestinians dead. At the center of the storm is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing a slew of legal challenges at home while having to deal with accusations of tacitly allowing settler violence in the international press.

The crisis began with a special forces operation in the Palestinian territories, which saw a fierce gun battle with Hamas and PIJ militants resulting in seven Palestinians dead and several IDF soldiers wounded. This was followed by a Hamas attack on Israeli diners in the settlement of Eli, which killed four Israelis, and a violent raid by radical settler youth on Palestinian villages. The IDF responded with airstrikes on militant targets, while the US State Department and the UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) condemned settler violence and demanded reparations.

Meanwhile, an 18-member EU delegation visited the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, and the US administration announced restrictions on scientific and technological collaborations over the 1967 Green Line. The events of the past week have reignited the debate over the occupation, with some settlers and political figures calling for stronger measures against Palestinian violence, while others advocate peaceful coexistence and mutual prosperity. While the future of the conflict remains uncertain, one thing is clear — the coming days will be crucial for the stability of the region.