A New Storm

Israeli tanks entered the occupied West Bank this week for the first time in more than two decades as part of an expanded military operation targeting Palestinian militant groups, a move that comes amid a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and growing pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from far-right coalition partners to escalate operations in the West Bank, the Associated Press reported.

On Sunday, Israeli tanks reportedly moved into Jenin – a city long associated with armed resistance – as Israeli forces continued their crackdown on militants following an offensive that began on Jan. 21.

The last time Israeli tanks were used in the West Bank was during the Palestinian uprising – or Intifada – in 2002, Reuters added.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military operations would focus on Palestinian refugee camps in areas, including Jenin and Tulkarm, which he described as strongholds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

He said around 40,000 Palestinians have fled the camps since the beginning of the offensive, adding that troops would remain in the territory for at least a year and that tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians would not be allowed to return.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu said the military presence would last “as long as needed.”

The Palestinian Authority condemned the tank deployment as a “dangerous escalation,” urging international intervention. Palestinian officials warned the move would “not lead to stability or calm” in the region.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas and its allies launched an attack from southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

More than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, according to Palestinian health officials. While Israel claims that its crackdown on the territory is meant to stamp out militancy, many Palestinians view the raids as part of an Israeli effort to maintain control over the region where around three million Palestinians live.

The recent raids also come as Netanyahu is facing domestic pressure from his far-right government allies to crack down on militants in the West Bank.

Tensions have risen further as Jewish settlers have carried out violent rampages in Palestinian villages. Meanwhile, Palestinian attacks against Israelis have increased, with three empty buses being bombed in what Israeli police suspect was a militant operation last Thursday.

Observers said the West Bank operation also coincided with renewed tensions over the ceasefire in Gaza, according to France 24.

Over the weekend, Israel suspended the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, citing concerns over Hamas’ “humiliating” treatment of Israeli hostages during public handovers in Gaza.

As the ceasefire’s first phase nears its end, negotiations over a second phase have yet to begin. US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced plans to visit key regional players, including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, in an effort to secure an extension of the truce.

However, Hamas has refused to engage in further negotiations until Israel fulfills its obligations under the current agreement.