For the first time since 2002, Israel launched a raid into the occupied West Bank using tanks, targeting the Jenin Refugee Camp in the northern region. Three Israeli army tanks, accompanied by military vehicles, conducted the raid on Jenin Refugee Camp.
Footage shared by activists and seen in local media showed Palestinian children throwing stones at the tanks. These images recalled the “Defense Shield” attacks carried out by the Israeli army in the West Bank during the Second Intifada in 2002. The Israeli army announced earlier in the day that, expanding its attacks in the occupied West Bank, it would enter Jenin with tanks for the first time since 2002.
Following the implementation of a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza, the Israeli army announced that it had escalated and intensified its attack on January 21 in Jenin, expanding the assault to nearby villages. The Yedioth Ahronot newspaper reported that Israeli tanks entered the occupied West Bank for the first time in 22 years and were spotted near Jenin. It was reported that the Israeli army would impose a 48-hour curfew in Kabatiye town south of Jenin in the northern West Bank.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Jenin Governor Kamal Abu Rub stated that Israeli forces launched a large-scale attack in Kabatiye from the early morning hours and declared a 48-hour curfew. A written statement from the army indicated that 26 Palestinians were detained in raids carried out in various areas of the West Bank.
The statement pointed out that the Israeli army had expanded its “operations” in many areas of the northern West Bank throughout the night, leading to the detention of Palestinians in these operations. Following the ceasefire in Gaza that came into effect on January 19, the Israeli army initiated an attack named “Iron Wall” on January 21 targeting Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. After continuing the intense attacks in Jenin, the Israeli army expanded the assault to Tulkerim on January 27, El-Faria Refugee Camp in Tubas on February 2, and Tamun town, withdrawing its forces on February 8.
On February 9, Israeli forces expanded their attacks to include the Nur Shams Refugee Camp east of Tulkerim. At least 56 Palestinians lost their lives, thousands were injured, and the structures and infrastructure were significantly damaged in the attacks carried out by the Israeli army since January 21. Since October 7, 2023, when Israeli soldiers and settlers started seizing Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, over 920 Palestinians, including 167 children, have been killed, and nearly 7,000 people have been injured.