Wed Feb 26 14:07:31 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Tanks Roll into Jenin, Met with Selfies and Rocks, Not Resistance

**JENIN, West Bank –** Three Israeli tanks entered the Jenin refugee camp on Monday, prompting a largely unexpected response from residents. Instead of armed conflict, Palestinians greeted the armored vehicles with selfies and rocks, highlighting a complex situation analysts describe as a performative display of Israeli power rather than a genuine security operation.

The deployment, part of Israel’s ongoing “Operation Iron Wall” in the West Bank, follows a ceasefire in Gaza and has been widely condemned by analysts as a politically motivated maneuver to appease Israel’s far-right coalition. The operation, which began in late January, has already resulted in at least 61 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of over 40,000 people.

Ahmed al-Amouri, a 56-year-old resident forced from his home in January, observed the tanks with wry amusement. He noted the camp’s emptiness, due to the displacement of thousands, as evidence of the operation’s futility. Similar sentiments were echoed by other residents.

Analysts believe the tank deployment serves multiple purposes for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure. It is seen as a show of force for his right-wing base, a tactic to potentially quell their dissatisfaction following the Gaza ceasefire. Furthermore, experts like Ahmad Abu al-Hija suggest the deployment is part of a broader Israeli strategy to reshape the West Bank’s governance and security structures, potentially integrating elements of the Palestinian Authority’s security forces into an Israeli-dominated framework.

The operation is also linked to Israel’s efforts to dismantle refugee camps and challenge the concept of Palestinian refugees, as evidenced by apparent actions targeting UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. This, analysts argue, is aimed at eliminating the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

While Israel frames these operations as necessary security measures, the excessive force employed is raising concerns of a renewed Palestinian uprising. The lack of strong international condemnation fuels fears that the Israeli government, emboldened by a muted global response, will continue its aggressive policies, expanding settlements and further entrenching the occupation. The muted Palestinian response in Jenin, however, suggests a weariness and a different kind of resistance than that witnessed during previous Intifadas.

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