Israeli military deployed tanks to the occupied West Bank this weekend, for the first time in two decades, marking a significant escalation in its operations.
While discussions around a potential ceasefire in Gaza continue, Israel has steadily intensified its military actions in Palestinian cities across the West Bank, resulting in numerous casualties and the displacement of tens of thousands of residents.
Since Hamas’ attack on October 7, Israel has frequently launched airstrikes on the West Bank—an occurrence that was almost unheard of before.
Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Sunday that the military would maintain a year-long presence in the region, emphasizing efforts to prevent displaced residents from returning.
United States President, Donald Trump, has faced heavy criticism for suggesting the expulsion of 2.1 million Palestinians from Gaza. However, as Israeli newspaper Haaretz pointed out in an editorial on Monday, “Israel is already doing in the West Bank what it threatens to do in Gaza.”
Understanding the West Bank
The West Bank, situated west of the Jordan River between Israel and Jordan, has remained under Israeli military occupation since 1967.
Home to over 3.3 million Palestinians, the territory was seized by Israel from Jordan following a brief war that year. Many Israelis refer to the area as Judea and Samaria, asserting a biblical connection to the land.
Since the occupation began, around half a million Israeli settlers have established communities in the West Bank, despite international law deeming these settlements illegal. Nonetheless, the Israeli government has actively supported and encouraged their expansion.
During the 1990s, efforts to negotiate peace led to the Oslo Accords, which established the Palestinian Authority to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza, laying the groundwork for a potential independent Palestinian state.
Many Palestinian communities in the West Bank are referred to as refugee camps. Originally set up after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war for those displaced during Israel’s creation, these camps have since evolved into urban neighborhoods.
In July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal, calling for an end to its decades-long presence in the territory.
Escalation Since October 7
Tensions in the West Bank have long simmered between Palestinians and the Israeli government. Israel has routinely carried out military raids, which it claims target Palestinian militants. However, Hamas’ attack on October 7 ushered in an even more aggressive Israeli response.
The military heightened restrictions on Palestinians, introduced new checkpoints, and imposed tighter controls on movement between the West Bank and Israel. This period also saw a surge in violent attacks by Israeli settlers, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians.
In August, Israel launched “Operation Summer Camps,” a large-scale military incursion into the northern West Bank cities of Jenin and Tulkarem. Residents described severe hardships as armored vehicles rolled in, cutting off water and electricity, forcing them to ration food.
Armored bulldozers used in these operations often leave roads completely destroyed. While Israel claims this is necessary to neutralize explosive devices, the practice has rendered entire neighborhoods impassable.
Beyond direct military action, Israel has targeted key Palestinian institutions. Last year, the Knesset passed a law restricting the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, accusing it of failing to curb extremism.
UNRWA plays a vital role in Palestinian society, educating 45,000 students and providing healthcare services to nearly a million people annually in the West Bank.
A Surge in Military Operations
Israel launched an even more aggressive offensive in January, focusing on the Jenin refugee camp under the banner of “Operation Iron Wall.” Officials claim the mission is aimed at dismantling Iran-backed militant networks.
Defense Minister Katz has openly admitted that Israel is applying its Gaza strategy to the West Bank.
“A powerful operation to eliminate terrorists and terror infrastructure in the camp, ensuring that terrorism does not return to the camp after the operation is over—the first lesson from the method of repeated raids in Gaza,” Katz stated last month.
The military campaign has forced over 40,000 Palestinians from their homes, according to the United Nations. More than 1,000 Palestinians, including at least 184 children, have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Israeli military recently acknowledged the killing of two 13-year-old children and launched an investigation into the incidents.
Jenin’s mayor, Mohammad Jarrar, revealed to CNN that Israeli forces had demolished at least 120 residential buildings, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
“I believe this operation from the beginning was a political agenda disguised and wrapped in a military and security operation,” he remarked. “But it’s very clear—we all know the goals of this far-right government policy.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed such concerns, stating in Brussels on Monday that “it’s military operations taking place there against terrorists and (there are) no other objectives but this one.”
Trump’s Influence on Israeli Policy
Trump’s return to the political spotlight has emboldened factions within Israel advocating for the annexation of West Bank settlements and potentially the entire territory.
Earlier in February, Trump remarked that “people do like the idea” of annexation but noted that his team had yet to finalize a position.
“But we’ll be making an announcement probably on that very specific topic over the next four weeks,” he added.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister responsible for West Bank settlements, has actively pushed for annexation, citing Trump’s potential election as an opportunity for Israel. He has repeatedly stated that the only way to eliminate the possibility of a Palestinian state is to apply full Israeli sovereignty over settlements in Judea and Samaria.
Smotrich, a West Bank settler himself, has also been a vocal opponent of the Gaza ceasefire, pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume military operations there. In January, he declared that securing the West Bank was now an official “war goal.”
“After Gaza and Lebanon, today, with God’s help, we have begun to change the security concept in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich stated.
A Turning Point in Jenin
Israel’s invasion of the Jenin refugee camp had already marked a severe escalation, but this weekend demonstrated that its military presence is far from temporary.
During a visit to Jenin on Friday, Netanyahu praised the troops’ actions, describing their work as vital. A widely circulated photograph showed him inside a Palestinian home that had been converted into a military command center.
“We are eliminating terrorists, commanders,” Netanyahu declared. “We are doing very, very important work against the desire of Hamas and other terrorist elements to harm us.”
On Sunday, the Israeli military took another unprecedented step by deploying tanks to Jenin—a move unseen since the Second Intifada in 2002. The decision signals that Israel believes ground troops and airstrikes alone are no longer sufficient.
Meanwhile, amid growing international criticism, Defense Minister Katz confirmed that displaced Palestinians would not be permitted to return.
“Today, I instructed the IDF to prepare for an extended presence in the cleared camps for the next year, and not to allow the return of residents and the resurgence of terror,” he stated.
The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis, emphasizing that many displaced civilians are struggling to access necessities such as food, water, shelter, and medical care.
“The ICRC reiterates that the population shall be treated humanely and protected from violence,” the organization said in a statement Monday.
