Why are Israeli tanks in the occupied West Bank?

Israel has ordered its military to prepare for an “extended stay” to combat Palestinian armed groups operating in the area’s refugee camps and has deployed tanks into the occupied West Bank.

Since a ceasefire ended fighting in Gaza, an estimated 40, 000 people have been driven from their homes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank over the past month as a result of the military’s expansion of operations.

Fears of a new Nakba have grown more vocal as Israeli extremists call for total annexation of Palestinian territories and American President Donald Trump’s proposal to ban everyone who lives in Gaza.

What’s all you need to know about the most recent West Bank escalation and its implications:

In the West Bank, exactly, what did Israel do?

The first tank to be deployed into the occupied West Bank since 2002, when Israel launched a bloody crackdown on a Palestinian uprising known as the second Intifada, which lasted until 2005, was Israeli-led invasion of the Jenin refugee camp.

Israel launched its attack on January 21 and has since moved beyond Nur Shams refugee camp and Jenin and its camp southward to Qabatiya and Burqin, and eastward to Tulkarem.

It has also raided further south in the West Bank, hitting Kobar and Silwad north of Ramallah, the Beitunia neighbourhood of Ramallah, and Hebron.

The Israeli army is also evicting civilians as they carry out their raids, destroying roads, putting up days-long curfews, preventing town hall arrests, and seizing control of homes for military use.

Is that legal?

No, it is not legal.

According to the International Court of Justice’s statement from July, “governments have obligations to make sure that Israel puts an end to the unlawful occupation.”

In a resolution issued in September, Israel was requested to end its unlawful occupation of Palestine in a year.

Israel and the Palestinian Authority both have control over large portions of the West Bank under the Oslo Accords, which were intended to form a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under international law to ensure the protection of Palestinians, the provision of basic services, and the respect of human rights.

What purpose does Israel’s use of tanks serve?

Israel frequently makes raids on the West Bank, but they typically resign as soon as possible.

The military’s relentless pursuit of repression of Palestinian armed groups is demonstrated by the use of heavy tanks in addition to the customary armored personnel carriers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a military ceremony on Sunday, said the deployment showed that “we are fighting terror with all means, everywhere”.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the move was a continuation of Israel’s “genocide, displacement and annexation”.

Why now? What does Israel want?

As fighting in Gaza and Lebanon is halted, far-right governing partners have been pressuring Netanyahu to retaliate against the armed resistance in the West Bank.

Following a string of bus explosions on Thursday night near Tel Aviv, his announcement that Israel was “entering terrorist strongholds, flattening entire streets that terrorists use, and their homes” was also made. There were no casualties reported and no groups claimed responsibility.

Three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, and according to Palestinians, the expansion of raids is a part of a wider effort to assert Israeli dominance there.

According to sources close to the prime minister, the army plans to construct large corridors in Tulkarem and Jenin to facilitate the movement of its forces and heavy equipment, similar to the so-called Netzarim Corridor in Gaza.

Is Israel once more removing people from their homes?

About 40, 000 Palestinians have fled the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, Nur Shams and Farea, which “are now empty of residents”.

How long will it take for people to be prevented from returning to their homes?

Israel Katz, the country’s defense minister, stated that troops will be stationed in some areas for a year and that the tens of thousands of Palestinians who were forced to flee will not be able to do so.

“We will not allow the return of residents, and we will not allow terrorism to return and grow”, he said.

Where will people who have been displaced go?

Israeli or Palestinian authorities have no idea how to house the displaced, who are residing in subpar homes.

Israeli advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said some 500 people expelled from Tulkarem and Nur Shams found temporary shelter in al-Labad, east of Tulkarem, camping out in the basements of mosques, event halls, and community centres.

Others took refuge in nearby villages including Ezbat al-Jarad, Bal’a, Attil, Bizzariya, and Jarushia, PHR said.

ظروف قاسية يعيشها النازحون من مخيم طولكرم في ظل البرد والشتاء وعدوان المستمر. pic. twitter.com/JpGN0JUOsj

Translation: People displaced from Tulkarem camp live in harsh conditions amid the cold and the ongoing aggression.

Are those who have been expelled in any way helped?

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is Israel’s main source of aid to Palestinians, has been forced to close its Jerusalem headquarters. Katz placed a command to the UNRWA to halt activities in the West Bank camps on Sunday.

UNRWA is accused of supporting armed groups by Israel, and a law prohibiting its activities in Israel was passed on January 30.

According to PHR, there is a severe shortage of food, power, and medical supplies, and that the Israeli army is “obstructing Red Crescent vehicles and humanitarian services, reducing their ability to provide first aid or transport patients for… treatment.”

Will this have an effect on Gaza’s ceasefire?

Israel’s and Hamas’ current ceasefire in Gaza appears to be strained, and West Bank attacks could change that.

Basem Naim, a Hamas official, claimed that the Israeli raids were “intentionally sabotaging the deal” and that a new war was being waged by the Hamas.

Source: Aljazeera