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Israel’s Defense Minister has said tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians will not be allowed to return to their homes on the occupied west coast, as the Israeli army expands its operations against armed militants in the territory.
The “Iron Wall” military offensive, which launched at the end of last month, was considered the wider Israeli operation on the west coast for more than two decades.
Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that he had instructed the army “to prepare for a prolonged stay in camps that have been cleared for next year, and not allow residents to return”.
“We will not go back to the reality that existed in the past. We will continue to clear refugees and other terrorist centers in order to disassemble the (militant) battalions and terrorist infrastructures of extremist Islam built,” Katz added.
Israeli forces have so far aimed at Palestinian militant groups mainly in the northern refugee camps of Jen, Tulkarem, Nur Shams and Far’a. Idf said on Sunday that a platoon of tanks was set in Jenin and that the operations had expanded to the neighboring city of Khabatiya.
More than 50 Palestinians were killed during military operation, including a 13-year-old girl in Jenin on Friday, according to UN figures, as well as three Israeli soldiers. KB estimates that about 40,000 people have been forced to evacuate from their homes due to fighting.
Israeli officials had previously shown that evacuations from the camps had been voluntary and that the local population would be free to return.
During a visit to the camp last week with the Israeli army, the Financial Times confirmed that the area was almost completely emptied of more than 15,000 people. According to Israeli estimates, there are only about 1,000 people, with large parts of the camp – including major roads, schools, mosques and at least two dozen buildings – destroyed due to fighting.
Israeli military officials said they were targeting the local brigade Jenin, a loose confederation of young men armed from factions such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihad who have joined forces to increase their effectiveness.
Local Brigade, or kataibThe model has been repeated in other parts of the northern west coast, including in Tulkarem Camp, which Israel claims to be the origin of Thursday’s bus bomb plot.
Three improvised explosives exploded on buses on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, while a fourth device was neutralized by security forces. No one was injured as the buses were empty at the time of the explosions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Tulkarem refugee camp on Friday and pledged to expand the West Coast offensive.
“We are entering the fortresses of terrorism, flattening the entire roads used by their terrorists and homes, as well as eliminating terrorists and commanders,” he said.
Separately, the fragile ceasefire mediated by the US between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been questioned after Netanyahu delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners late on Saturday evening, despite the militant group that issued six hosts Israelis from captivity earlier in the day.
The prime minister’s office accused Hamas of “repeated violations” of the agreement reached last month, including “the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes”.
“Has decided to delay the release of terrorists who was planned for yesterday until the issuance of future hostages was secured, and without humiliating ceremonies,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The remains of the four Israeli hostages were expected to be released from Hamas on Thursday.
The initial 42-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to end next weekend, with talks on the second phase of the deal-which can see the release of dozens of remaining Israeli hostages and permanently end the war-Akoma to start with diligence .
Hamas issued a statement Sunday “strongly condemning” Israel’s decision to delay the release of prisoners, describing it as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement and a “deliberate attempt” by Netanyahu for mined the deal.
“We demand that the (international) brokers. . . Take their responsibilities and pressure the profession to enforce the agreement and to release prisoners without any delay, ”the statement added.
