Israel launches army operation in northern West Bank
Israeli security forces deployed in the West Bank city of Tubas and ordered some Palestinian residents to leave their homes; this was the last offensive of a months-long campaign in cities in the northern West Bank.
Tubas governor Ahmed al-Asaad told Reuters that Israeli forces, backed by a helicopter that opened fire, had surrounded the city and set up positions in many neighbourhoods.
“The attack looks set to last a long time; occupation (Israeli) forces have driven people from their homes, seized the roofs of buildings and are making arrests,” he said.
The Israeli military said the operation, carried out with police and intelligence forces, began early Wednesday following “preliminary intelligence detection of attempts to establish” militants’ strongholds and infrastructure.
The army said it found an “observational control room” while searching dozens of homes in the occupied West Bank.
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Israeli vehicles were seen passing through the city, while troops were seen patrolling the streets with rifles and rocket launchers.
Soldiers were also seen in the nearby town of Tammun.
Al-Asaad said Israeli forces had ordered those they forced out of their homes not to return until the operation was over, which he estimated could take several days.
“They continue to complete control of the city,” he told Reuters, as Israeli forces set up roadblocks and detained at least 22 Palestinians so far.
The West Bank is home to 2.7 million Palestinians who have limited self-government under Israeli military occupation.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis settled there.
Wednesday’s attack expanded military operations launched by Israeli forces in northern parts of the West Bank this year, starting in the city of Jenin in January after US President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Thousands of Palestinians have been forced from their homes as Israeli forces clear refugee camps, marking their longest presence in some West Bank cities in decades.
Human Rights Watch this month accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity for the forced deportation.
Israel denies committing such crimes.
Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has also increased in recent months.
Although the wave of attacks has sparked criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, settlers are rarely arrested or prosecuted.
Hamas, which agreed on a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip last month, condemned the latest operation in the West Bank and called on the international community to intervene to stop the operation.
Since Hamas carried out its October 7 attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip two years ago, Israel has sharply restricted movement in the West Bank, building new checkpoints and effectively sealing off some Palestinian communities with gates and barricades.
