Israel moves tanks into West Bank for first time since 2002

Israel sent tanks into the West Bank connected Sunday for the archetypal clip since 2002, telling its subject to hole for "an extended stay" arsenic the Jewish state remains determined to stamp retired coercion successful the territory’s exile camps.

Several tanks were seen moving into Jenin arsenic a fragile ceasefire betwixt the violent enactment Hamas and Israel remains successful place.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said helium and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the subject to "increase the strength of the enactment to thwart terrorism" crossed the West Bank.

Katz said troops volition stay "for the coming year" successful parts of the territory and indicated that Palestinians who person fled cannot return.

HAMAS RELEASES MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 600 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL

"We volition not let the instrumentality of residents, and we volition not let coercion to instrumentality and grow," helium said.

Earlier, Katz said helium instructed the subject to hole for "an extended stay" successful immoderate of the West Bank's municipality areas, from which helium said about 40,000 Palestinians person fled, leaving the areas "emptied of residents." That fig was confirmed by the United Nations.

Netanyahu said Israeli forces volition stay "as agelong arsenic needed."

The Palestinian overseas ministry called the Israeli moves "a unsafe escalation of the concern successful the West Bank."

MEET EDAN ALEXANDER, THE LAST LIVING AMERICAN HOSTAGE IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY

Tanks were past deployed successful the territory successful 2002, erstwhile Israel fought against deadly Palestinian violence.

The determination connected Sunday comes arsenic the delicate ceasefire deal that was reached a period agone betwixt Hamas and Israel remains successful place.

Hamas freed six hostages connected Saturday successful speech for much than 600 Palestinian prisoners arsenic portion of the agreement. Netanyahu has said 63 hostages remain, including the remains of a worker captured successful 2014.

The struggle began connected Oct. 7, 2023, erstwhile Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip led an battle successful confederate Israel, sidesplitting much than 1,100 radical and abducting astir 250 more.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.