Israeli soldiers' looting of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank is rapidly rising

Almost daily, Palestinian families complain about the loss and theft of their property after Israeli army raids in the occupied West Bank.

Lost or stolen items, as Palestinians call them, range from money, gold jewellery, vehicles, and valuable electronic devices, but the Israeli army doesn't acknowledge their confiscation.

In some cases, the Israeli army records what it confiscates from Palestinian homes for documentation purposes, without returning them. However, in most cases, soldiers steal money and gold from homes and then leave, only for residents to discover it.

These actions have increased in frequency in recent months, coinciding with the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, with human rights organisations documenting soldiers there robbing homes and exploiting the displacement of their residents.

Blatant theft

Mohammad Salama, a former Palestinian prisoner from Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, was surprised by the Israeli army's raid on his home last June, on the first day of Eid al-Adha. The soldiers forced Malik and his family to stay in one room after assaulting and abusing them. Then, the Israeli soldiers proceeded to search the house for more than an hour, vandalising its contents.

"They collected all our ID cards and herded us into one of the rooms. We could hear the sounds of furniture being smashed. Suddenly, one of them called me and ordered me to leave with him," he told The New Arab.

Salama went with the soldier, who escorted him out of the house and asked him for his car keys. The soldiers then stopped him in front of his vehicle and threatened to run him over if he moved. Then they took the car keys.

After the soldiers left the house, the family was surprised to find that they had lost money and gold jewellery worth 50,000 shekels ($14,000), in addition to the vehicle worth over 60,000 shekels ($17,000).

"On that day alone, the homes of former prisoners in the town were raided, and at least 500,000 shekels ($142,000) in cash and gold jewellery were confiscated. Another vehicle was also confiscated," he added.

Salama filed an objection to the confiscation of his vehicle, which he relies on for his work. The Israeli army responded by claiming that it took his vehicle because he receives a salary from the Palestinian Authority, while not commenting on whether Israeli soldiers had stolen gold and money as well.

"I didn't bother filing any complaints against the soldiers because I already knew the answer: no one will hold them accountable, and our money will not be returned," he concluded, grimly.

Thefts by the Israeli army during intensive raids in the occupied West Bank occur almost daily.

In Tubas, soldiers raided Fuad Sawafta's home last month, assaulted him and his brothers, and forced them to remain in one room, handcuffed.

After the soldiers withdrew, Fuad and his father didn't find their ID cards. After searching for them, they found them lying under a rug in the house, but only after stealing the money inside, which exceeded 2,000 shekels ($600).

That same night, soldiers stole 4,000 shekels ($1200) from Fuad's neighbour after raiding his home. They also didn’t file complaints against the soldiers.

"Israel is stealing all of our land. Will it retaliate against its soldiers for stealing our money? I don't think so," Sawafta told TNA.

Collective punishment

It is difficult to document the number of cases or the amount of money confiscated due to the lack of legal or human rights follow-up and the Palestinians' failure to report this, knowing in advance that the soldiers will not be held accountable or the stolen items recovered.

In a single day, Israeli soldiers had allegedly robbed more than 100 homes in the town of Ya'bad, south of Jenin. Residents reported the thefts to the municipality, including cash, gold jewellery, phones, computers, watches, as well as gifts. In one case, Israeli soldiers apparently stole from children's piggy banks.

Clear signs of the theft were evident in the Jenin and Tulkarm refugee camps, whose residents were entirely and forcibly expelled, and where Israeli soldiers have been wreaking havoc for six months.

Hilmi al-Araj, director of the Hurriyat Centre for Civil Rights, told TNA that regardless of whether the theft decisions were made by individual soldiers or by the Israeli military leadership, they all amount to a policy that falls under collective punishment, theft of funds, and the impoverishment of the people.

These thefts have increased, encompassing hundreds of homes in occupied West Bank villages, camps, and cities. Information has reached the ears of the army and its leadership, yet no measures have been taken to prevent the continuation of this policy, according to him.

"Silence and acquiescence in the crime of looting and theft constitute encouragement and acceptance of it, because it harms and frightens Palestinians and increases their poverty and hunger. The Israeli occupation doesn't recognise the Palestinian people and practices all forms of siege, abuse, arrest, torture, killing, and assault against them," al-Araj added.

"We hold the occupation army, its leadership, and the Israeli government fully responsible for all of this, as well as the international community, which is obligated to provide legal and political protection to a people under occupation in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, responsible for its deafening silence," he concluded.