Unlock the publisher’s digest free
Roula Khalaf, editor -in -chief of the FT, selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
The Israeli Minister of Defense said that tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians would not be authorized to return home to the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli army widens its operations against armed activists on the territory.
The military offensive “Iron Wall”, which was launched at the end of last month, was considered the largest Israeli operation in the West Bank for more than two decades.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that he had asked soldiers “to prepare for an extended stay in the camps that have been authorized for the coming year and not to allow residents to come back “.
“We will not return to the reality that existed in the past. We will continue to eliminate refugee camps and other terrorist centers in order to dismantle [militant] Terrorist battalions and infrastructures of extremist Islam that have been built, “added Katz.
Israeli forces have so far targeted Palestinian militant groups mainly in refugee camps in the north of Jenin, Tulkarem, Nur Shams and Far’a. The FDI said on Sunday that a tanker was deployed in Jenin and that the operations had been extended to the neighboring city of Qabatiya.
Friday, more than 50 Palestinians were killed during the military operation, including a 13 -year -old girl in Jenin, as well as three Israeli soldiers. The UN estimates that around 40,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the fighting.
Israeli officials had previously indicated that the evacuations of the camps had been volunteer 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 region had been almost completely emptied of more than 15,000 people. According to Israeli estimates, there are only 1,000 people left, with large parts of the camp – including the main roads, schools, mosques and at least two dozen buildings – destroyed due to the fighting.
Israeli military officials said they were targeting the local Jenin brigade, a loose confederation of young men armed with factions such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic jihad who have joined their forces to increase their effectiveness.
The local brigade, or kataibThe model was reproduced in other parts of the Northern West Bank, including in the Tulkarem camp, which, according to Israel, was behind the bus bombing plot on Thursday.
Three improvised explosive devices exploded on the buses in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, while a fourth device was neutralized by the security forces. No one was injured because the buses were empty at the time of the explosions.
Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Tulkarem refugee camp and undertook to extend the West Bank offensive.
“We are entering the bastions of terrorism, leveling entire streets used by terrorists and their houses, as well as to eliminate terrorists and commanders,” he said.
Separately, the ceasefire of the fragiles in the United States between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was questioned after Netanyahu delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners late Saturday evening, despite the militant group that published Six Israeli hostages in captivity earlier during the day.
The Prime Minister’s office accused Hamas of “repeated violations” of the agreement concluded last month, in particular “the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes”.
“It was decided to delay the release of terrorists which was scheduled for yesterday until the release of the next hostages was ensured, and without humiliating ceremonies,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The remains of four Israeli hostages are expected to be published Thursday by Hamas.
The 42 -day initial truce between Israel and Hamas should end next weekend, with talks on the second phase of the agreement – which could see the release of dozens of remaining Israeli hostages and permanently end the War – But starting seriously.
Hamas published on Sunday a statement “strongly condemning” the decision of Israel to delay the prisoner’s liberation, describing it as a “clear violation” of the cease-fire agreement and a “deliberate attempt” of Netanyahu to undermine the agreement.
“We demand that the [international] Mediators. . . Assume their responsibilities and put pressure on the occupation to implement the agreement and release prisoners without any delay, ”added the press release.
