Synopsis
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to brace for a yearlong presence in West Bank refugee camps, escalating military actions in the region. This directive follows extensive operations in Qabatiya, leading to significant destruction and displacement of Palestinians amid a fragile truce with Hamas.Key Takeaways
- Military operations in West Bank refugee camps to last a year.
- 40,000 Palestinians reportedly displaced from recent operations.
- UNRWA's activities in the region have been largely halted.
- Deployment of a tank division to Jenin marks a significant escalation.
- Ongoing military actions coincide with a fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
Jerusalem, Feb 23 (NationPress) The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has directed the military to gear up for a prolonged presence in refugee camps situated in the West Bank for the upcoming year, coinciding with Israel's intensified military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
On Sunday, the Israeli army broadened its operations into Qabatiya, a city located in northern West Bank, with troops and bulldozers moving into the locality, according to the Palestinian news outlet WAFA.
Eyewitness accounts indicate severe infrastructure damage, home raids, interrogations, and roads obstructed by earth barriers, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Katz mentioned that he has ordered the military to prepare for a “prolonged presence for the coming year” in the refugee camps that have been targeted by recent military actions, promising to prevent displaced residents from returning.
He estimated that nearly 40,000 Palestinians have fled from camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams since the onset of this military campaign.
Katz also noted that the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in these camps have been “halted”.
In January 2025, legislation was put in place by Israel to prohibit UNRWA from functioning within Palestinian territories and to bar Israeli authorities from interacting with the agency. Despite this, some activities of UNRWA persist.
Katz characterized the military actions as a struggle against the “resurgence of terrorism”.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has announced the deployment of a tank division to Jenin.
According to Kan TV, this signifies the first instance of tank deployment to Jenin in nearly 20 years.
The military stated it has augmented its troop numbers, sending the Nahal Brigade infantry unit and the Duvdevan Unit, a special forces group, to conduct operations in villages situated in the Jenin area.
The military campaign in Jenin commenced on January 21 and has since extended to additional cities and refugee camps, resulting in extensive destruction and numerous fatalities.
This operation in the West Bank unfolds amid a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas established in January, which brought to a halt 15 months of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that have resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths and left the area devastated.
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, Jenin and its neighboring refugee camp have been under Israeli siege, leading to the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians in that area.
