JENIN, West Financial institution (AP) — Israeli tanks have moved into the occupied West Financial institution for the primary time since 2002, shortly after the protection minister stated troops will stay “for the coming year” in elements of the territory and indicated that Palestinians who’ve fled can’t return.
Related Press journalists noticed a handful of tanks transfer Sunday into Jenin, lengthy a bastion of armed battle towards Israel.
Israel is deepening its crackdown on the Palestinian territory and has stated it’s decided to stamp out militancy amid an increase in assaults. It launched the offensive within the northern West Financial institution on Jan. 21 — two days after the present ceasefire in Gaza took maintain — and expanded it to close by areas.
Palestinians view such raids as a part of an effort to cement Israeli management over the territory, the place 3 million Palestinians stay below navy rule. The lethal raids have precipitated destruction in city areas.
Majdi Mohammed through Related Press
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz stated he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the navy to “increase the intensity of the activity to thwart terrorism” in all refugee camps within the West Financial institution.
“We will not allow the return of residents, and we will not allow terrorism to return and grow,” he stated.
Earlier, Katz stated he had instructed the navy to organize for “an extended stay” in a few of the West Financial institution’s city refugee camps, from the place he stated about 40,000 Palestinians have fled, leaving the areas “emptied of residents.” That determine was confirmed by the United Nations.
The camps are house to descendants of Palestinians who fled or have been pressured to flee throughout wars with Israel a long time in the past.
It was not clear how lengthy Palestinians can be prevented from returning. Netanyahu stated Israeli forces will stay “as long as needed.”
Tanks have been final deployed within the territory in 2002, when Israel fought a lethal Palestinian rebellion.
The Palestinian overseas ministry referred to as the Israeli strikes “a dangerous escalation of the situation in the West Bank,” and urged the worldwide neighborhood in an announcement to intervene in what it termed Israel’s unlawful “aggression.”
Netanyahu below stress to crack down
Mohammad Mansour/AFP through Getty Photos
Underneath interim peace agreements from the early Nineties, Israel maintains management over massive elements of the West Financial institution, whereas the Palestinian Authority administers different areas. Israel recurrently sends troops into Palestinian zones however usually withdraws them as soon as missions are accomplished.
The U.N. says the present Israeli navy operation is the longest for the reason that Palestinian rebellion of the early 2000s.
Violence has surged within the West Financial institution all through the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza. Israel has carried out raids, however with combating in Gaza and Lebanon on maintain, Netanyahu has been below stress from far-right governing companions to crack down on militancy within the West Financial institution.
Greater than 800 Palestinians have been killed within the West Financial institution for the reason that struggle in Gaza erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 with a Hamas assault on southern Israel. Israel says most have been militants, however stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions in addition to folks not concerned in confrontations have additionally been killed. In the newest operation, a pregnant Palestinian girl was killed.
Jewish settlers even have carried out rampages in Palestinian areas within the territory. There has additionally been a spike in Palestinian assaults emanating from the West Financial institution. On Thursday, blasts rocked three empty buses in Israel in what police view as a suspected militant assault.
Israel delays launch of Palestinian prisoners
Ariel Schalit through Related Press
The West Financial institution raids come at a delicate time, because the truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza stays tenuous.
Israel stated early Sunday it was delaying the newest launch of tons of of Palestinian prisoners till it will get assurances that Hamas stops what Israel calls “humiliating” handovers of hostages.
The 620 prisoners ought to have been launched shortly after six Israeli hostages in Gaza have been freed Saturday — 5 of them in staged ceremonies criticized by the U.S. and Pink Cross as merciless.
Palestinian members of the family have been distraught. “What have the prisoners done? We don’t know what happened. They killed our joy,” stated one mom, Najah Zaqqot.
In the meantime, Netanyahu confronted new criticism over the struggle whereas talking at a navy commencement. As he held up an image of Shiri Bibas and her younger boys, Ariel and Kfir, whose stays have been returned from Gaza final week, to display “what we are fighting against,” viewers members referred to as out “Shame!” and “Why didn’t you save them?” The prime minister didn’t react.
With per week left within the ceasefire’s first part, Israel and Hamas don’t seem to have begun negotiations on its second part. The truce’s collapse may result in renewed combating in Gaza, the place Netanyahu stated on Saturday that 63 hostages stay, together with the stays of a soldier captured in 2014.
The U.S. particular envoy for the Center East, Steve Witkoff, advised CNN on Sunday that he expects the second part to go ahead, including: “We have to get an extension of phase one and so I’ll be going into the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that.”
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Israel captured the West Financial institution, Gaza and east Jerusalem within the 1967 Mideast struggle. Palestinians need all three territories for his or her future impartial state.
Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.
