Israeli tanks enter West Bank for first time since 2002 as military presence expands

Israeli tanks entered the occupied West Bank for the first time since 2002, following a statement from Israel's defense minister about a year-long military presence in the area. The tanks were seen moving into Jenin, a site of armed resistance. This military operation began on January 21 and has intensified amid rising violence. About 40,000 Palestinians have fled urban refugee camps due to the ongoing Israeli actions, which the Palestinian foreign ministry condemned as a dangerous escalation. The current situation marks the longest Israeli military operation in the West Bank since the early 2000s. Violence has surged, with over 800 Palestinians reported killed since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023.