The operations come amid growing tensions in the wake of a Gaza ceasefire, drawing regional and international condemnation.
Israeli forces intensified their violent operations in the West Bank this week, storming Jenin with military bulldozers and armored vehicles. Palestinian channels and Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, Sanad, verified videos showing Israeli troops advancing into Jenin's refugee camp and Jabal Street.
Political analyst Mohamad Elmasry described the escalation as an attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to distract from the Gaza ceasefire. "The ceasefire in Gaza was kind of a defeat for Netanyahu,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera.
“Now, the Israeli government is overcompensating by escalating in the West Bank."
Since the ceasefire began, Israeli forces have arrested dozens in the West Bank, offsetting the release of 90 prisoners under the truce, Elmasry noted.
On Tuesday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi labeled Israeli actions on his country’s borders a threat to regional stability, warning the military operations could destabilize the region further.
Human rights concerns have mounted internationally, with UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese stating that unchecked violence risks expanding into a broader crisis. "Israel’s death machinery escalated its firing in the West Bank, killing 10 people in Jenin,” Albanese posted on X, warning of potential genocide.
Israeli raids this week have led to the arrests of dozens, particularly in the Bethlehem and Jenin governorates, according to the Wafa news agency. Those detained include at least 18 Palestinians from Bethlehem and surrounding areas, including young men in their 20s and 30s.
Senior political analyst Marwan Bishara suggested the surge in West Bank violence serves dual purposes: deflecting public dissatisfaction in Israel following high-profile military resignations and catering to ultra-nationalist factions opposing the Gaza ceasefire. He speculated that Netanyahu's government may aim to annex West Bank territories in 2025, undermining any remaining prospects for a two-state solution.