Israeli tanks have been deployed to the occupied West Bank for the first time in two decades and Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad accused Israel of attempting to annex the territory by force.
The move follows weeks of military operations that have displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians from the northern West Bank.
The escalation comes as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres voiced alarm over rising violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Newsweek has reached out the Israeli Prime Minister's Office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The escalation in the West Bank has come despite a ceasefire in the war in Gaza, which began in October 2023 when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel.
Israel's critics accuse it of seeking to annex the West Bank, which like the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.
Fighting in the West Bank could make it harder to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza, which was agreed by Israel to try to extricate the last of the hostages who were seized during the Hamas attack in 2023.
What To Know
Israel's military has intensified operations in the northern West Bank, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that these camps were "now empty of residents" following weeks of Israeli offensives. Katz stated he had directed troops to prepare for a prolonged presence in the cleared camps for the coming year.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently visited Israeli troops in the West Bank, ordering an expansion of military operations.
Israel's nationalist settler movement has long sought the annexation of the West Bank, known in Israel as Judea and Samaria. They have voiced enthusiasm for U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Right-wingers, including Netanyahu, reject the prospect of a Palestinian state alongside Israel despite that being the favored option of many world powers. They say it would be too much of a security risk for Israel.
UN Voices Alarm
The U.N. Secretary-General expressed deep concern over increasing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and growing calls for annexation.
Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Guterres said that human rights were being "suffocated" globally.
The UN estimates that 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced due to the recent Israeli offensive, which has killed at least 51 Palestinians, including seven children and three Israeli soldiers.
What People Are Saying
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: "I am gravely concerned by the rising violence in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers and other violations, as well as calls for annexation."
Islamic Jihad said in a statement: Israel's military actions "confirm the occupation's plans to annex the West Bank by force. Just as the attempts at liquidation and displacement in Gaza have failed, this plan will also fail in the West Bank and Jerusalem, no matter how intense the aggression or how great the sacrifices."
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated: "We will not allow the return of residents, and we will not allow terrorism to return and grow."
What Happens Next
Israeli forces are expected to maintain a prolonged presence in the northern West Bank, with operations likely to continue. The situation remains volatile, with a likelihood of further confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli forces.
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