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The Israeli Minister of Defense said that tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians will not be allowed to return to their homes in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli army expands its operations against armed militants in the region.
The military attack, the “Iron Wall”, which was launched late last month, was considered the most expansionist operation in the West Bank for more than two decades.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that it ordered the army “to prepare for an extended residence in the camps that were purified for the next year, and not to allow residents to return.”
“We will not return to the reality that existed in the past. We will continue to remove refugee camps and other terrorist centers to dismantle [militant] “The brigades and the terrorist infrastructure of the extremist Islam that was built,” Katz added.
The Israeli forces have targeted Palestinian militant groups so far in the northern refugee camps in Jinin, Toulkarim, Nour Shams and Farah. The Israeli Defense Army said on Sunday that a tank family had been deployed in Jenin and that operations had been expanded to the neighboring town of Qusanbatia.
More than 50 Palestinians were killed during the military operation, including a 13 -year -old girl in Jenin on Friday, according to the forms of the United Nations, as well as three Israeli soldiers. The United Nations estimates that about 40,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to fighting.
Israeli officials had previously indicated that evacuation of the camps was voluntary and that the local population would be free to return.
During a visit to the Jenin camp last week with the Israeli army, the Financial Times confirmed that the area had been completely emptied more than 15,000 people. According to Israeli estimates, only about 1,000 people remain, with large parts of the camp destroyed – including major roads, schools, mosques and at least twenty buildings – due to fighting.
Israeli military officials said that they were targeting the local Jenin Brigade, a loose union for young armed men from the factions such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic jihad who joined the forces to increase their effectiveness.
The local brigade, or CatpelThe model was repeated in other parts of the northern West Bank, including in the Tulkarem camp, which Israel claims to originate the bus bombing on Thursday.
Three explosive devices were detonated on buses on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, while the fourth apparatus was neutralized by the security forces. No one was hurt because the buses were empty at the time of the explosions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Tolkram refugee camp on Friday and pledged to expand the West Bank attack.
He said: “We are entering the strongholds of terrorism, and we fall into complete streets used by terrorists and their homes, as well as the elimination of terrorists and leaders.”
Separately, a fragile ceasefire in the United States between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was suspected after Netanyahu delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners late on Saturday night, although the militant group that released six Israeli families in Earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Hamas was accused of “repeated violations” of the agreement that was reached last month, including “the satirical exploitation of our hostages for advertising purposes.”
“It was decided to delay the release of the terrorists who were planned yesterday until the arriving hostages are guaranteed, and without insulting celebrations,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The remains of Israeli hostages were expected to be issued by Hamas on Thursday.
The 42-day initial truce between Israel and Hamas is scheduled to end at the end of next week, with talks on the second stage of the agreement-which can witness the launch of dozens of remaining Israeli hostages and the end of the war permanently-until now until it begins seriously.
Hamas issued a statement on Sunday “a strong condemnation” of Israel’s decision to delay the release of the prisoner, describing it as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire and a “deliberate attempt” by Netanyahu to undermine the agreement.
“We ask that [international] Bridals. . . Assume their responsibilities and pressure on the occupation to implement the agreement and to release the prisoners without any delay. “