°®Âþµº

Israeli forces have demolished 120 buildings in the city of Jenin as part of an expanded assault on the occupied West Bank that has seen the deployment of tanks for the first time since the Second Intifada.

The demolition of houses comes alongside the destruction of other infrastructure in the city, including roads.

A platoon of tanks was also deployed to Jenin, which on Sunday stormed the city from its western entrance reaching Jenin camp, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA. The Israeli military announced the platoon had come from the 188th armored brigade.

It is the first time Israeli tanks have been deployed to the occupied Palestinian territory since 2002, during Israel's 'Operation Defensive Shield' which also saw the Battle of Jenin.

Israel also announced the deployment of soldiers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade, which had participated in Israel's war on Gaza, and the Duvdevan Commando Unit to villages surrounding Jenin, according to the Times of Israel.

Israel's offensive on the city and its adjacent refugee camp, ongoing since 21 January under an offensive titled 'Operation Iron Wall', has caused the displacement of 40,000 Palestinians across Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nour Shams refugee camps.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that he had instructed the military to stay in the camps "for the coming year and not allow residents to return and the terror to return and grow".

Refugee camps in the occupied West Bank have been strongholds of Palestinian resistance against Israel's occupation.

Alongside the deepening assault around Jenin, which included raids on the town of Qabatiya, Israeli forces continued their raids on Tulkarm and its refugee camps.

Israeli forces also raided the Shuafat refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem as well as the nearby town of Issawiya and Silwan, according to WAFA.

Meanwhile, the agency reported settler attacks against the village of Abu Shabban in Masafer Yatta south of Hebron.

More than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since 7 October 2023.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he is "gravely concerned by the rising violence in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers and other violations, as well as calls for annexation".

In Gaza, the US has backed an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire amid Israel's refusal to release 602 Palestinian prisoners that were set to be exchanged for six Israeli captives released on Saturday. The White House said it backed the delay.

Amid the standoff, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said he plans to travel to the region this week, likely Wednesday, in a bid to push for negotiations on phase two of the agreement.

The Israeli military also announced an increase in its readiness along the border with Gaza on Sunday following the uncertainty over the extension of the ceasefire.