Israel Tank Westbank / Israel took a big step for the first time since 2002, army tanks entered the West Bank

Israel Tank Westbank: Israeli tanks have entered the occupied West Bank for the first time since 2002. This development comes soon after the statement of Israel's Defense Minister, in which he said that his forces would remain present in parts of the Palestinian territory for the next year. Journalists of the news agency Associated Press (AP) saw some tanks arriving in Jenin on Sunday. Jenin has long been a stronghold of armed conflict against Israel. The last deployment of tanks in this area was done in 2002, when Israel fought a deadly Palestinian uprising.

Violence increased in West Bank

Israel is further intensifying its action on the Palestinian territory and has said that it is committed to ending extremism amid a rise in attacks. Israel launched an invasion of the northern West Bank on January 21, two days after the ceasefire agreement. Violence has increased in the West Bank during the Israel-Hamas war.

Thousands of Palestinians displaced

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the army to be prepared to remain in some urban refugee camps in the West Bank until next year. Katz said about 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced from three camps in the northern West Bank and have now been evacuated. He said the army has to be prepared to stay in the camps 'for a long time' and 'not allow residents to return.'

Hamas carried out a terrorist attack

Katz made the remarks at a time when Israel is intensifying its offensive in Palestinian territory and the ceasefire that halted the Gaza war is still in place. Palestinian attacks from the West Bank have also increased and recently three empty buses exploded in Israel, which police are considering a suspected terrorist attack. More than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Question mark on future situation

This Israeli action can complicate the political and military scenario in the West Bank. The international community is concerned about this increasing violence and many countries have given their response to this situation. It remains to be seen in which direction the tension between Israel and the Palestinian territories will increase in the coming days and what impact it will have on regional stability.