Tanks have moved into the occupied West Bank after Israel has ordered troops not to allow Palestinians to return there.

It is the first time Israel has sent tanks to the area in 20 years, since a major uprising by Palestinians known as the Second Intifada that took place from 2000 to 2005.

An Israeli tank drives towards the occupied West Bank of Jenin camp, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Middle East correspondent with Sky Alistair Bunkall told Newstalk Breakfast that this is an escalation of an Israeli counter-terrorist operation that has been taking place for a number of weeks.

“When I say there's a counter-terror operation going on at the moment, there is a specific operation, Operation Iron Wall I think it’s called,” he said.

“But really, the Israeli military has a rolling military operation in the West Bank every day of the year.

“There’s checkpoints across the West Bank, even at more peaceful times.

“Those have increased massively in the last couple of months, making it very, very hard for Palestinians to move around the West Bank.”

Up to 40,000 displaced

Mr Bunkall said that as far as he is aware, the tanks have not fired their weapons so far.

However, up to 40,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee the area that the tanks have gone into and are now being told they cannot return.

“Most of them have gone to live with relatives or friends, some of which live very close by,” Mr Bunkall said.

“Places like Tulkarm and Jenin, they have refugee camps within the wider towns and cities.

“So, a lot of them have just fled outside the confines of the refugee camps, where most of the military activity is.

“But, you know, they are displaced; I mean, it doesn’t matter whether they’ve gone to close relatives, they have had to leave their homes.”

Palestinians inspect shops demolished by Israeli army bulldozers in the town of Qabatiya, south of the West Bank city of Jenin. Credit: SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Live News. 23 February 2025

According to Mr Bunkall, the ongoing ceasefire is “precarious” and may not move into phase two for some time.

“Negotiations haven’t really ever stepped up to get us to phase two because Israel is withholding the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners they were supposed to release over the weekend,” he said.

“They say, of course, because of Hamas’ shenanigans during the hostage releases, the propaganda stunts et cetera.”

However, he said there will be “all sorts” of domestic ramifications for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is he doesn’t move into phase two.

Main image: Israeli tanks drive towards the occupied West Bank of Jenin camp, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)