Israel's foreign minister stated Wednesday that the army will instruct Palestinians to evacuate sections of the northern occupied West Bank amidst a major military incursion in the region. The Israeli army had earlier initiated raids in the northern West Bank, including the cities of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas, resulting in the deaths of 11 Palestinians so far. In a statement on X, Israel Katz said the army is operating in Jenin and Tulkarem to counter what he described as "terrorist infrastructure against Israel in the West Bank." He noted that the army's operation includes the "temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents" in certain areas of the northern West Bank, similar to measures taken in the Gaza Strip. During the ongoing offensive in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes and areas under evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army. In recent years, Israeli forces have conducted frequent raids in the West Bank, which have intensified since the Gaza conflict began last October, resulting in over 40,400 Palestinian deaths to date. Palestinians in the West Bank have also faced violent attacks from illegal Israeli settlers. The recent fatalities bring the death toll in the West Bank since October 7 to at least 662 Palestinians, with nearly 5,400 others injured by Israeli army fire, according to the Health Ministry. On July 19, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark opinion declaring Israel's long-standing occupation of Palestinian land unlawful and calling for the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. — Agencies
