Israel sent tanks to the West Bank on Sunday for the first time since 2002, instructing the military to prepare for a “long-term stay” as the Jewish state is determined to push terrorism out in refugee camps on its territory .
Several tanks have been seen moving to Jenin as a fragile ceasefire between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to “enhance the strength of activities to stop terrorism” across the Jordan River.
Katz said the troops will remain “next year” in part of the territory, indicating that the Palestinians who fled will not return.
Hamas will release more hostages in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal
The Israeli tank will be driving towards the West Bank on February 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
“We do not allow residents to return, and we do not allow terrorism to return and grow,” he said.
Previously, Katz told the troops to prepare for “long-term stays” in some of the urban areas of the West Bank, from which about 40,000 Palestinians fled and “empty the residents.” . The figures were confirmed by the United Nations.
On February 23, 2025, Israeli tanks will be operated during an Israeli operation at Jenin on the West Bank. (Reuters/Ranleen Sawafuta)
Netanyahu said the Israeli military will be “as long as necessary.”
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has called Israel a “a dangerous escalation of the situation in the West Bank.”
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The tank was last deployed to the territory in 2002, when Israel fought deadly Palestinian violence.
Sunday's move comes as there remains a delicate ceasefire contract between Hamas and Israel that reached a month ago.
Israeli military vehicles are shown on February 23, 2025 at Jenin on the West Bank. (Reuters/Ranleen Sawafuta)
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Hamas released six hostages on Saturday in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the contract. Netanyahu said 63 hostages remain, including the remains of soldiers captured in 2014.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamasterolists in the Gaza Strip led the attack in southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people and lured around 250 more.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
