JENIN, West Bank – Israeli tanks entered the occupied West Bank on Sunday for the first time in many years, prompting Palestinian leaders to label the movement a “dangerous escalation.” This development follows a statement from the Israeli defense minister declaring that troops would remain in parts of the territory for a year, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians who cannot return to their homes.
Witnesses from a news agency observed multiple tanks making their way along dirt paths into Jenin—a city known for its long-standing resistance to Israeli control.
Israel’s military has been intensifying its campaign in the Palestinian territory, asserting its objective to eliminate militant activity amid a surge in attacks. The current offensive was initiated in the northern West Bank on January 21, merely two days after a ceasefire in Gaza had been established, and has subsequently expanded to adjoining regions.
Many Palestinians perceive these violent incursions as an attempt to bolster Israeli dominance in a territory governed by military rule, where approximately 3 million Palestinians reside. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directed the military to ramp up efforts to combat terrorism across all refugee camps in the West Bank.
“We will not permit the return of residents, nor allow for a resurgence of terrorism,” Katz remarked. He had previously indicated plans for a “prolonged presence” in certain urban refugee camps in the West Bank, which have already seen an exodus of around 40,000 Palestinians, rendering these camps largely vacant.
These refugee camps primarily shelter descendants of Palestinians displaced during previous conflicts with Israel. It remains uncertain how long the ban on returning will last, with Katz mentioning that Israeli forces would maintain their presence “for the coming year.” Netanyahu added that the troops would remain “as long as necessary.”
The last time tanks were deployed in the West Bank was in 2002 during a violent Palestinian uprising.
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned these Israeli actions as a significant deterioration of the situation in the West Bank and urged global authorities to intervene against what they labeled Israel’s unlawful “aggression.”
“Even if they stay, we will return to the camp eventually,” stated Mohamed al-Sadi, one of the displaced residents from Jenin. “This camp belongs to us. We have no other options.”
Amid escalating violence in Gaza and Lebanon, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure from right-wing coalition partners to take decisive action against perceived militancy in the West Bank. The United Nations has categorized the ongoing Israeli military operations as the most prolonged since the Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s.
Under interim peace agreements established in the early 1990s, Israel retains significant control over large portions of the West Bank, while the Palestinian Authority governs other areas. Although Israel frequently dispatches troops into Palestinian regions, it typically withdraws shortly after completing missions.
Since hostilities began in Gaza with a Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, over 800 Palestinians have been reported killed in the West Bank. While Israel claims the majority of those dead were militants, non-combatants and local youth protesting against the raids have also lost their lives, including a recent incident where a pregnant Palestinian woman was killed.
Additionally, there has been an increase in violent acts carried out by Jewish settlers against Palestinian communities. Following a recent uptick in Palestinian attacks originating from the West Bank, explosions targeting three empty buses in Israel were suspected to be linked to militant activities.
Israel gained control of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East conflict, and Palestinians seek these territories as part of their future independent state.
The fragile truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza faces uncertainty as it enters its first phase with only a week remaining. As no discussions have been reported regarding negotiations for a subsequent phase, any failure of the ceasefire could reignite hostilities in Gaza, where approximately 63 hostages remain, with many feared dead, including a soldier taken hostage in 2014.
“We are prepared to return to intense conflict at any moment,” Netanyahu mentioned on Sunday, while the military heightened its readiness around Gaza.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, shared his anticipation for the continuation of the truce’s second phase, indicating plans to travel to the region soon to advocate for an extension of the initial phase. His itinerary includes visits to Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Conversely, Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi stated that further discussions with Israel would not take place until the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, whom Israel postponed freeing.
Israeli officials asserted that the release would only proceed once guarantees were received from Hamas that the latter would cease what Israel referred to as “humiliating” handover processes involving hostages, which have drawn criticism from both the U.S. and the Red Cross.
Egypt and Qatar have urged Israel to facilitate the release of the prisoners, with Egyptian officials declining to entertain any of Israel’s demands until that occurs.
Family members of the detainees expressed distress over the situation. One mother, Najah Zaqqot, uttered, “What have the prisoners done? We remain in the dark. This situation has shattered our happiness.”
The White House expressed support for Israel’s decision to delay the release of Palestinian prisoners, calling it “an appropriate” measure. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes justified the delay by highlighting the cruel treatment of hostages by Hamas.
“The President is prepared to back Israel in whatever decisions it makes concerning Hamas,” Hughes affirmed in a statement.
As the backlash against Netanyahu grows, he faced backlash during a military graduation event where audience members shouted criticisms as he showcased a photograph of a deceased mother and her children, stating, “This is what we are fighting against.”
