Sun Feb 23 12:25:39 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Military Launches Extensive West Bank Operation, Displacing Thousands
**RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM** – Israel has launched a major military operation in the northern West Bank, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians and prompting international concern. The operation, now over a month long, involves the widespread destruction of infrastructure and the reported evacuation of three refugee camps.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that the army had “evacuated” the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps, claiming they are now devoid of residents. He stated that troops will maintain a presence in these camps for the next year to prevent the return of Palestinians and suppress what he termed “terrorism.” This amounts to approximately 40,000 Palestinians displaced.
The operation has involved extensive home raids, bulldozer demolitions of critical infrastructure, and the deployment of tanks in Jenin – a move unseen since the end of the Second Intifada in 2005. At least 27 Palestinians have been killed in Jenin and its surrounding camp since the Gaza ceasefire on January 19th. The overall death toll in the West Bank since the October 7th Gaza war has surpassed 800, according to Palestinian sources.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, strongly condemned the Israeli actions, warning of a dangerous escalation and asserting that the operation will not lead to stability. Reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa detail ongoing Israeli raids and attacks across the West Bank, including arrests in Nablus and Beit Hanina, and the destruction of utilities in Qabatiya.
The Israeli government contends the intensified military presence is a response to recent attempted attacks, citing explosions near Tel Aviv as justification for the “intensive” West Bank operation. No group has claimed responsibility for these explosions. The long-term implications of this large-scale displacement and military presence remain a significant point of contention.
First Piper 