Israeli Forces to Remain in West Bank for Year, Prevent Palestinian Return, Deploy Tanks for First Time Since 2002
Occupied West Bank (Quds News Network)- Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has announced the deployment of a tank division in Jenin, marking the first such operation in the West Bank since 2002. This move is part of an expanded offensive that is now in its 34th day.
Katz stated that approximately 40,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps, adding that the Israeli forces will maintain a presence in these camps for the coming year to prevent the return of residents.
“40,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated from the Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, and are now empty of residents. UNRWA activity in the camps has also been stopped,” Katz said.
“I instructed the IDF to prepare for a long stay in the camps that were cleared, for the coming year, and not allow residents to return and the terror to return and grow,” Katz said.
Images show three Merkava tanks near Jenin.
The Israeli military said a platoon from the 188th Armored Brigade was preparing to operate in Jenin “as part of the offensive effort.” An Armored Corps platoon normally consists of two or three tanks.
It marked the first time since the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield that Israeli tanks were operating in the West Bank.
On Sunday, Israeli forces expanded their offensive to the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, deploying additional military vehicles and bulldozers. They initiated home searches while destring roads, power lines, water pipes, and civilian vehicles.
Israeli occupation forces continue their destruction of infrastructure in Qabatiya, south of Jenin. pic.twitter.com/xc3LGRGShK
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 23, 2025
The military said the tank deployment came as it expanded its ongoing major offensive in the northern West Bank, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, which was launched on January 21.
Today marks 34 days since Israeli forces began their assault on Jenin which then spread to other parts of the northern West Bank, including Tulkarm and its Nur Shams refugee camp. At least 26 Palestinians have been killed in Jenin since January 21.
The army has also deployed hundreds of soldiers and bulldozers that demolished houses and tore up vital infrastructure in the overcrowded camp, forcing almost all of its residents out.
“We don’t know what’s going on in the camp but there is continuous demolition and roads being dug up,” said Mohammed al-Sabbagh, head of the Jenin camp services committee.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Jenin Mayor Mohammed Jarrar said the Israeli army “adopted a pattern of random destruction” in the camp and its surroundings in order to make the camp “uninhabitable”.
The mass displacement of Palestinians from various parts of the West Bank in recent weeks marks the largest displacement operation in decades.
According to figures from the Palestinian Authority, about 17,000 people have now been forced out of Jenin refugee camp, leaving it almost deserted. In Nur Shams, 6,000 people, or about two-thirds of its population, have been forced out, with another 10,000 leaving from Tulkarm camp.
“The ones who are left are trapped,” said Nihad al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee. “The Civil Defence, the Red Crescent and the Palestinian security forces brought them some food yesterday but the army is still bulldozing and destroying the camp.”
Israeli raids have demolished dozens of houses and torn up large stretches of roadway as well as cutting off water and power.
Humanitarian officials say they have not seen such displacement in the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East war, when Israel captured the territory west of the Jordan River, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
