Kathmandu— Ahead of the October election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc is trailing in the polls, far-right Israeli ministers are using anti-Palestinian policies as a key part of their campaign. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has released an AI-generated ad warning about building Jewish settlements in areas with large Palestinian populations under the slogan “Ahmed is right to be afraid.” Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has produced videos depicting Palestinian prisoners and planting Israeli flags on UNRWA facilities. These actions come as Gaza strikes widen beyond targeted assassinations to include civilians, and settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank intensifies.

Gaza Strikes Intensify

The death toll in Gaza has widened again, with strikes killing farmers, delivery workers, fishermen, and children. On August 28, a drone killed three members of the Abdin family while they farmed land in al-Qarara. Another strike on August 30 near a bakery west of Deir el-Balah killed Husam Osama Nasir and a three-year-old child. Hospitals have also been hit; a medicine warehouse inside al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital was struck, wounding three people and damaging the hospital’s water tanks and laboratory equipment.

Settler Violence in West Bank

In the West Bank, settlers continue to forcefully remove Palestinians from their homes. On August 30, soldiers and masked settlers jointly raided al-Mughayyir village northeast of Ramallah, shooting four residents and loading stolen property onto a pickup truck. Settlers also attacked and ransacked homes in Beita south of Nablus on the same day. Other incidents include arson attacks, assaults, and land seizures.

Land Seizures and Outposts

The Israeli state is accelerating land seizures to encircle illegal settlements with security routes. In Nahalin west of Bethlehem, settlers leveled land to expand Beitar Illit under the direct supervision of the settlement administration. Peace Now reported that settlers have established at least 26 new outposts specifically within Area B over the past two and a half years.

The ongoing violence and political campaigning ahead of the October election highlight the deepening tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.