In the early hours of a Monday, Ahmed al-Amouri, a 56-year-old resident of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, witnessed a scene he hadn’t seen in over two decades. Three Israeli tanks rolled into his hometown, reminiscent of the second Intifada in 2002, when Israel launched a crackdown on Palestinian resistance. This time, however, the situation was met with a mix of humor and defiance rather than fear. Al-Amouri joined others who took selfies with the tanks and even threw rocks at them. “There’s no point bringing those tanks all the way here. The city’s empty!” he remarked, pointing out that he and thousands of others, including 14 members of his family, had already been forced to leave their homes in Jenin camp since January 26.
The West Bank’s refugee camps, like Jenin, are home to thousands of Palestinians whose families were displaced during the creation of Israel in 1948. Over the years, these camps have become symbols of resilience and resistance, with many of their residents engaged in armed struggle against Israeli occupation. In 2002, when Israeli tanks last entered Jenin, they were met with fierce resistance, including booby traps and ambushes. This time, however, the tanks were stationed in the Al-Jabriyat neighborhood without encountering any resistance. Analysts suggest that the current deployment is less about security and more about political maneuvering. The operation, dubbed “Operation Iron Wall,” was launched by Israel just as a ceasefire in Gaza was taking hold. It has resulted in the deaths of at least 61 people and the displacement of over 40,000 Palestinians since late January.
According to Palestinian leaders, Israel’s actions are part of a broader strategy of collective punishment aimed at tightening its grip on the occupied territories. Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, describes the destruction of Palestinian cities and the displacement of residents as political maneuvers designed to pave the way for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. Analysts believe that the recent developments in Jenin are a test of Israel’s long-term vision for the West Bank. Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that those displaced from the refugee camps will not be allowed to return, effectively dismantling the camps. Palestinian political analyst Ahmad Abu al-Hija explains that this is part of a strategy to redefine Israeli control over the West Bank and potentially integrate elements of the Palestinian Authority’s security forces into an Israeli-dominated framework.
The situation in Jenin also reflects the pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing from his far-right coalition partners, who have long advocated for the annexation of the West Bank and the expulsion of Palestinians. Netanyahu’s government, which includes far-right figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is using military escalation as a political tool to appease its base. Deploying tanks in Jenin serves as a spectacle to send a message to Israeli voters that the government is taking decisive action, while also aiming to shock Palestinians into submission. This strategy, however, risks reigniting widespread Palestinian resistance. Analysts warn that the excessive use of force, including mass arrests, home demolitions, and continuous raids, could push Palestinians toward another uprising, similar to the first and second Intifadas.
Israeli actions in the West Bank are part of a broader effort to erase the concept of Palestinian refugees and their right of return, which has been central to the Palestinian cause since 1948. The dismantling of refugee camps like Jenin would set a precedent for other camps across the West Bank, turning them into regular urban neighborhoods under Israeli-controlled municipal systems. This would effectively erase the Palestinian refugee identity and further entrench Israeli occupation. In the absence of significant international pressure, Netanyahu and his far-right allies are likely to continue expanding settlements, erasing refugee camps, and deepening the occupation under the guise of security.
For Palestinians like Ahmed al-Amouri, the presence of Israeli tanks in Jenin is a grim reminder that the occupation is not only continuing but also intensifying. “We’ve lived under their occupation all our lives. This is nothing new. In fact, this is all too familiar,” he said. The situation in Jenin highlights the ongoing struggle for Palestinian self-determination and the challenges posed by Israel’s deepening occupation. As Israel continues to expand its control over the West Bank, Palestinians are left to confront an increasingly uncertain future, with their rights and identity under constant threat.
