Israeli tanks deployed in occupied West Bank, United States seek ceasefire extension as tensions build

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Israeli tanks deployed in occupied West Bank, United States seek ceasefire extension as tensions build

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deployed IDF tanks in the occupied West Bank, a move described as a “dangerous escalation” by ************ authorities.

It marks the first time that IDF tanks have entered the region since 2002 when Israel battled ************ uprising.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Mr Netanyahu ordered the military action to “increase the intensity of the activity to thwart terrorism” in camps in the occupied West Bank.

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

Tanks have been seen moving in Jenin, a city with over 330,000 residents.

The ************ foreign ministry called the Israeli moves “a dangerous escalation of the situation in the West Bank,” and urged the international community in a statement to intervene in what it termed Israel’s ******** “aggression.”

“Even if they stay, we will return to the camp at the end,” said Mohamed al-Sadi, one of those displaced from Jenin.

“This camp is ours. We have no other place to go.”

Israel is deepening its crackdown on the ************ territory and has said it is determined to stamp out militancy amid a rise in attacks.

It launched the offensive in the northern West Bank on January 21 — two days after the current ceasefire in Gaza took hold — and expanded it to nearby areas.

Palestinians view such raids as part of an effort to cement Israeli control over the territory, where three million Palestinians live under military rule. The deadly raids have caused destruction in urban areas.

US working to secure ceasefire extension

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to the Middle East this week to push for the extension of a fragile Gaza ceasefire between Israel and ******.

The three-stage ceasefire which came into effect on January 19 is now nearing the end of its first phase.

It has largely held despite accusations of violations by both sides and a series of setbacks, the latest of which came over the weekend.

“We have to get an extension of phase one. I’ll be going to the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that and we are hopeful that we have the proper time to begin phase two and finish it off and get more hostages released,” Mr Witkoff told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.

The first phase of the ceasefire included a deal to exchange 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza for almost 2000 ************ detainees and prisoners held by Israel.

The second phase would include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of around 60 remaining hostages.

The ceasefire agreement hit a new hurdle on Saturday when Israel delayed the release of 602 Palestinians from its jails in exchange for six Israeli hostages who were led by armed militants onto a stage in front of a crowd in Gaza before being handed to the Red Cross.

******-staged public handover ceremonies which have included the display of living hostages and of coffins carrying hostages’ remains, have drawn increasing criticism over the past few weeks, including from the United Nations.

Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel was waiting to deliver the ************ prisoners and detainees “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies”.

****** said the ceremonies were dignified and Israel was using them as a pretext to evade its obligations agreed to under the ceasefire. The bodies of four more hostages are supposed to be released by the group this week.

– With CNBC, Reuters, AP

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