In an unexpected military move, Israel has sent tanks into the West Bank city of Jenin, marking the first occurrence of this nature in over two decades. This decision aligns with a broader escalation of operations in the region, a strategy that officials suggest will extend for at least a year.
The Israeli Defense Forces have stated that tanks have not been deployed in Jenin since the height of the second intifada in 2002.
Following a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that began on January 19, Israel initiated a comprehensive military campaign in the West Bank. This has led to the deaths of more than 50 individuals and inflicted extensive damage upon roads and infrastructure within Palestinian refugee camps established after 1948.
Since the spring of 2022, Israel has intensified its military engagements in the West Bank due to an increase in Palestinian attacks. The situation escalated further in the aftermath of the Hamas assaults on October 7, 2023, contributing to the dire conditions now faced by the refugee camps, which have increasingly taken on the characteristics of urban slums and historically served as strongholds of resistance against Israeli occupation.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated recently that military operations in the West Bank are set to expand, with troops expected to maintain a presence in critical urban areas for the coming year.
This ongoing conflict has displaced approximately 40,000 people, now unable to return to their homes.
In the meantime, Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior figure within Hamas, declared that negotiations for a ceasefire would not resume until Israel frees 620 Palestinians who were scheduled for release on Saturday.
The deployment of tanks in the occupied West Bank is a direct consequence of Israel’s relentless offensive, prompting thousands to flee from northern refugee camps amidst the intensifying military response.
Separately, Iran’s foreign minister criticized Israel for purportedly violating Lebanon’s sovereignty following the flight of Israeli jets during the funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, which drew a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Beirut.
Steve Witkoff, a former special envoy under President Trump, is expected to arrive in the region shortly to discuss extending the ceasefire agreement, although he refrained from addressing whether Palestinians would be allowed to return to Gaza as part of a potential reconstruction plan.
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, voiced concerns that Israel’s military actions in both the West Bank and Gaza could lead to an escalation into a full-scale war.
He described the sight of Israeli tanks as a sign of a reasserted military occupation, systematically undermining Palestinian governance. Barghouti condemned Israel’s failure to release the mentioned Palestinians, calling it a serious violation of the ceasefire and hinting at a potential return to widespread conflict in Gaza.
In a recent interview with Face the Nation, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz asserted, “Hamas must be eradicated. We align with Israel in believing that this group, akin to ISIS and al-Qaeda, is one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations and should never be permitted to govern Gaza or perpetrate tragedies like the events of October 7 again.”
When the conversation turned to the phenomenon of Gazans—both young and old—celebrating Hamas’s grim displays, Waltz acknowledged, “While not every Palestinian identifies with Hamas, we cannot overlook the extent of radicalization that has taken root.”
Although he recognized that the entire Palestinian population does not support Hamas, it’s clear that a considerable portion does, with many in Gaza and the West Bank endorsing the group’s beliefs and tactics, if not actively belonging to the organization itself.
Hamas’s ideology finds resonance with millions within the Arab and Muslim communities, as well as significant numbers in Western nations.
According to a recent ISW war study, Iranian leaders have reiterated their commitment to supporting “resistance” militias in Syria against the interim government.
Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, remarked that Israel’s occupation of Syria stemmed from its unsuccessful campaign in Gaza, suggesting that this occupation could spur a new wave of resistance forces.
Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have recently encouraged Syrian youth to arm themselves and mobilize against the interim government.
Ref
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-21-2025
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