Renewed Israeli Invasion of the West Bank Sparks Fierce Palestinian Resistance
As Israeli tanks besiege Jenin and other cities, Palestinians stand defiant, echoing the resistance of the 2002 invasion.
Watan-A new military escalation in the northern West Bank brings back memories of the 2002 invasion, as Israeli occupation tanks have imposed a siege on Jenin refugee camp. However, Palestinians continue to resist with unwavering bravery, reaffirming that the land is theirs and that the revolution has not subsided.
Since January 21, the Israeli army has expanded its military operations in the northern West Bank under the name “Iron Wall,” targeting the cities of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas. This military campaign comes 22 years after Operation “Defensive Shield,” in which the occupation forces invaded the West Bank. Now, Merkava tanks have once again returned to the scene, but Palestinian resistance remains steadfast.
In the face of Israeli military power, young Palestinians continue to challenge the occupation with stones. In footage captured by cameras, an unarmed Palestinian youth was seen confronting a Merkava tank, as if rewriting history—just like the fighters who stood against the 2002 Jenin invasion.
Escalation in the West Bank
The confrontations have resulted in the deaths of 61 Palestinians, along with widespread destruction of infrastructure and property in an Israeli attempt to alter the landscape of targeted areas. The military operations have also led to the displacement of tens of thousands of residents from refugee camps and Palestinian cities, in a clear continuation of the occupation’s policy of depopulating the West Bank of its native inhabitants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed the continuation of military operations in the West Bank, echoing calls from his government officials who advocate for its full annexation. Meanwhile, the Israeli army claims its operations are aimed at “thwarting terrorism in northern Samaria”—a term the occupation uses to refer to the West Bank—reflecting its expansionist ambitions in the region.
History is repeating itself, and resistance persists. While Israeli tanks attempt to impose control, Palestinians stand in their way with unwavering courage, proving that the struggle is far from over and that the land still belongs to its rightful owners, regardless of the occupier’s power.
