Israel Deploys Tanks to the West Bank

Farrukh Abadi

Israeli tanks rolled into the West Bank for the first time in over 20 years as its genocidal Operation Iron Wall has so far displaced over 40,000 Palestinians and killed over 60. The operation has continued for more than a month, focusing the brunt of its attack against Jenin and Tulkarm—refugee camps renowned for their armed resistance. Palestinian fighters continue to push back against Israeli forces across the West Bank, liquidating vehicles and soldiers.

As Israel attempts to annex the West Bank through demolition, displacement, and settlement construction, a senior Israeli military official stated that their forces intend to stay in the area at least until the end of the year. Israel’s operation is being carried out in tandem with the collaborationist Palestinian Authority, who are carrying out their own attacks on Palestinians. Prior to Israel’s latest operation, the PA had led a month-long assault against resistance forces in the West Bank that failed to quell the armed struggle.

Despite the onslaught against the West Bank, which has been amplified since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and particularly accelerated since the Gaza ceasefire, Israeli and PA forces have continued to fail in their efforts to liquidate the resistance. Clashes have been documented in the Al-Aroub camp north of Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm, with several confirmed Israeli casualties.

The attacks from Israeli forces have been joined with attacks by Israelis from illegal settlements in the West Bank, who set fire to an agricultural facility and attacked Palestinian property in the southern West Bank. Israeli genocide is coupled with expansion of settlements, with a recent Palestinian Liberation Organization report showing that 44.5% of the West Bank is under Israeli control.

Israel unilaterally claimed control over the Ibrahami Mosque in Hebron in the southern West Bank, one of the holiest sites in Islam. About 10 days prior to the takeover, Israeli soldiers cleared out the staff and desecrated the building. The takeover comes on the 31st anniversary of a terrorist massacre carried out by an Israeli extremist at the mosque in 1994, which killed 29 Palestinians and left 125 more wounded.

In response to the takeover of the mosque, Hamas stated: “The occupation will not gain legitimacy or sovereignty over even an inch of our land, and it will fail in breaking our people’s resolve to resist in defense of their homeland and sanctities.”

Israel continues its aggression throughout the region. In Syria, Israel has carried out ground and aerial assaults, including airstrikes south of the Syrian capital Damascus. Israel also killed 2 people in an airstrike in eastern Lebanon earlier this week.

As Israel lashes out in all directions, it becomes increasingly surrounded as resistance forces bide their time. Israeli officials told the Washington Post in a recent interview that Israel will not be able to achieve any objectives if it re-invades Gaza. Hamas and Israel are set to swap prisoners Thursday (02/26) morning in what will be the final exchange during the first phase of the ceasefire, with four dead Israelis traded for 620 Palestinians after Israel refused to free the Palestinians during the last exchange on Saturday.

Photo: Israeli tanks deployed to Jenin. Credit: QNN.

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