ISRAELI tanks have been seen moving into Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
Associated Press journalists saw a handful of tanks move on Sunday into Jenin as Israel deepens its crackdown on the illegally occupied Palestinian territory.
Israel has said it is determined to stamp out militancy amid a rise in attacks – although no group has taken responsibility.
Israel launched the broad offensive in the northern West Bank on January 21 – two days after the current ceasefire in Gaza took hold – and expanded it to nearby areas.
Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sunday said the army is expanding its military offensive across the occupied West Bank and troops are preparing to remain in some refugee camps “for the next year”.
It is understood the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has “evacuated” three refugee camps in the northern West Bank with 40,000 residents displaced.
In a statement, Katz said: “So far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams, which are now empty of residents.
“I have instructed [soldiers] to prepare for a prolonged presence in the cleared camps for the next year and to prevent the return of residents and the resurgence of terrorism."
The spokesperson for Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, has condemned the decision to deploy tanks, saying: "This is a dangerous Israeli escalation that will not lead to stability or calm, and we warn of this dangerous escalation."
Israel has killed more than 800 Palestinians in the West Bank since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023.
