Israel sends tanks into West Bank for first time in decades

Israeli tanks drive towards the occupied West Bank of Jenin camp (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

Israeli tanks moved into the occupied West Bank on Sunday for the first time in decades in what Palestinian authorities called a “dangerous escalation”, after the defence minister said troops will remain in parts of the territory for a year and tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled cannot return.

Associated Press journalists saw several tanks move along unpaved tracks into Jenin, long a bastion of armed struggle against Israel.