Israeli Military Deploys Tanks to West Bank, Marking First Deployment in Over Two Decades

For the first time in more than 20 years, Israel's military deployed tanks into the occupied West Bank on Sunday, escalating tensions in the region. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) sent a tank platoon to the northern city of Jenin, part of an ongoing operation called "Operation Iron Wall," which began last month after the Gaza ceasefire. The Israeli government has stated that it intends to maintain a prolonged presence in refugee camps across the West Bank.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, indicated that the military will aim to prevent the return of residents to camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams, where approximately 40,000 individuals have been evacuated. Palestinian residents from Jenin described being forced to leave their homes by the Israeli military, with no clear indication of when or if they will be allowed to return.

The recent escalation has claimed the lives of at least 27 people in Jenin and 70 across the West Bank this year, according to Palestinian health officials. Additionally, Israeli forces demolished multiple apartment buildings in a refugee camp earlier this week.

The use of tanks in the West Bank is a significant step, as Israel last deployed tanks during “Operation Defensive Shield” in 2002, at the height of the second Palestinian Intifada. The military’s reintroduction of heavy machinery has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian authorities, who have condemned it as an aggressive escalation.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) reported that over 365 Palestinians have been detained in Jenin and Tulkarem since the operation's onset on January 21, with arrests impacting individuals of all ages and demographics.

Further military operations have been reported in other towns in the Jenin area, with the Israeli military also carrying out demolitions and infrastructure damage in the region. Jenin Mayor Mohammad Jarrar confirmed that numerous buildings, including residential apartments, have been destroyed or severely damaged.

The Palestinian foreign ministry has called for international intervention, accusing Israel of violating international laws and agreements. The Israeli government has justified its military actions as necessary to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate militants, particularly in refugee camps, which they deem as strongholds of radicalism. However, Palestinian officials have dismissed these justifications as pretexts to assert control over Palestinian territories.

The situation remains tense, with calls for global intervention mounting as Israel’s presence in the West Bank grows.