For the first time in over two decades, Israeli tanks have entered the occupied West Bank, signaling a significant escalation in military operations. This move, impacting tens of thousands of Palestinians, marks a concerning development in the region's already volatile situation, raising questions about long-term control and the future of a Palestinian state.
In a move echoing the tensions of the past, Israeli forces have deployed tanks in the occupied West Bank, marking the first such action in over 20 years. This deployment is part of an intensified military offensive that has already led to the displacement of approximately 40,000 Palestinians from refugee camps in the northern region.
"So far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps...which are now empty of residents," stated Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.
The Israeli military has announced intentions to maintain a presence in these West Bank refugee camps for the coming year, signaling an extended period of heightened military activity.
The recent military operation spans multiple refugee camps near Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas. This action was initiated shortly after a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, the offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 51 Palestinians, including seven children, and three Israeli soldiers.
The military has confirmed that "a tank division will operate in Jenin" as part of the expanded operations, the first time tanks have been deployed in the area since the end of the second Intifada in 2005.
In Tulkarem and Jenin, the Israeli army has been demolishing homes using explosives, creating new access routes into the densely populated camps. Armored bulldozers have been used to upturn roads, disrupt water supplies, and tear down building facades.
"The Nahal [infantry] Brigade and [elite] Duvdevan Unit forces have begun to intervene in other villages," according to Katz.
Violence in the West Bank has been on the rise since the breakout of war in Gaza in October 2023. Since then, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 900 Palestinians in the territory, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the Israeli actions as "a dangerous escalation of the situation in the West Bank," urging international intervention against what it describes as Israeli "aggression." A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also condemned the decision to deploy tanks.
The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, is considered by Palestinians as the core of a future Palestinian state. However, increasingly vocal calls for its annexation by Israeli hardliners add further complexity to the situation. The current military actions and their potential long-term implications raise critical questions about the region's future and the prospects for peace.