Israeli tanks have moved into the Occupied West Bank shortly after the defence minister declared an escalation of its operation – ordering troops to remain there “for the coming year”.
In a statement on Sunday, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the military to “prepare for an extended stay in the camps that were cleared for the coming year and not to allow the return of residents or for terror to grow again”.
Associated Press journalists saw a handful of Israeli tanks move into Jenin shortly after.
Israel launched a fresh offensive in the occupied territory on 21 January, calling it Operation Iron Wall.
Since then, more than 40,000 Palestinians living there have been displaced. Buildings and refugee camps have also been demolished and people have been killed.
Also on Sunday, Mr Katz confirmed the deployment of tanks to the West Bank stronghold city of Jenin, with wider operations expanding to “additional villages in the Jenin area”.
It is the first time tanks have entered the Occupied West Bank since the Second Intifada in 2002.
Normally, it is home to around three million Palestinians – most of whom are descended from those forced to flee their homes during various wars with Israel.
Under interim peace agreements from the 1990s, Israel maintains control of large parts of the West Bank, which it originally captured in 1967, while the Palestinian Authority (PA) presides over other areas.
Israel often sends troops into designated Palestinian zones – but usually withdraws them once they claim to have completed their missions there – mostly rooting out Hamas militants.
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Military blocks entry to some West Bank areas
Currently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right partners in his government to crack down on terrorist activity in the West Bank.
Clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians there have regularly proved deadly.
Hamas condemns prisoner release delay
Elsewhere on Sunday, Israel awoke to the decision to delay the planned release of 620 Palestinian prisoners – in exchange for the six Israeli hostages freed on Saturday.
In a late statement, Mr Netanyahu cited “repeated and ongoing violations” by Hamas, who he blamed for “humiliating and disgraceful” hostage handover ceremonies and the “use of our abductees for propaganda purposes”.
Hamas responded by “strongly condemning” the delay, accusing Israel of putting ceasefire negotiations in “grave danger” and using “flimsy excuses” to negate their obligations.
Five of the six hostages freed from Gaza on Saturday were handed over – as has become convention – by masked Hamas militants on a stage in front of crowds.
The practice, which Hamas denies is degrading, has been widely criticised by the United Nations and others.
Mr Netanyahu’s reference to propaganda came after two hostages – Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal – both abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 – appeared in a Hamas video seemingly near the handover site on Saturday.
The clip, filmed under duress, saw them plea with the Israeli government to cooperate and let them go, before they were seemingly returned to captivity.
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In Beirut on Sunday morning, tens of thousands of people gathered at the Chamoun Sports City Stadium – the largest in Lebanon – for the funerals of Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who were both killed in Israeli airstrikes last year.
As the commemorations took place, Israeli jets circled overhead.
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