In the occupied West Bank, tensions are set to remain high. On Sunday, Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, declared in a tweet that Israeli forces will maintain their presence in areas such as Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams “until the end of the year.” The statement signals a prolonged military posture in regions that have already seen frequent raids, arrests, and clashes in recent months.

The announcement follows a pattern of expanding Israeli military activity in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began. Palestinian towns and refugee camps in the northern West Bank have borne the brunt of intensified operations, prompting concerns among rights groups over extrajudicial killings, home demolitions, and collective punishment.

With violence escalating on multiple fronts—Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank—the likelihood of a wider regional conflagration remains uncomfortably high. Meanwhile, the indefinite nature of Israel’s military presence in the West Bank raises fresh questions about the already dim prospects for Palestinian sovereignty.