The Israeli military is expanding its operation in the occupied West Bank cities of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nour Shams, forcing thousands of Palestinians from their homes in what some fear could lead to the de facto annexation of the territory.

According to Israeli authorities, the goal of Operation Iron Wall, which was launched on Jan. 21, is to dismantle militant infrastructure that has allegedly grown with Iranian support in recent months. Using the biblical term for the West Bank, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Jan. 21, “We are operating in a systematic and decisive way against the Iranian axis wherever it sends its arms, in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Judea and Samaria.”

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and has built settlements that are illegal under international law. More than 700,000 Israeli settlers now live in the Palestinian territory, according to Peace Now.

In the first offensive of its kind in the area since the second intifada in 2002, Israel deployed tanks into Jenin on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that "so far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nour Shams, which are now empty of residents." Human rights groups warn that the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians risks creating new refugee camps and facilitating ongoing calls by the Israeli far right for the annexation of the West Bank.