Israeli military operations in the West Bank, including tank incursions and displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians, continue to escalate, while Palestinian resistance groups push back against the attacks.

Hamas criticized Israeli PM's Benjamin Netanyahu’s tour of the Tulkarm camp as a 'desperate display of political and military failure.'

Israeli forces continue to burn and destroy homes in Tulkarm camps for the 24th day, forcing 90% of residents to leave.

Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that "Forty thousand Palestinians have so far been evacuated from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur a-Shams refugee camps, which are now empty of residents."

By Raneen Sawafta and James Mackenzie JENIN, West Bank/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel sent tanks into the occupied West Bank for the first time in more than 20 years on Sunday as it ordered the military to prepare for an "extended stay" to fight Palestinian militant groups in the area's refugee camps.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Palestinian refugee camp of Tulkarm on Friday afternoon. While in Tulkarm, Netanyahu received a security briefing from Brig.-Gen. Yaki Dolf, Commander of the West Bank Division, Big.-Gen. Hisham Ibrahim, Head of the Civil Administration, and the Commander of the Ephraim Brigade.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled homes following recent Israeli military operations across the northern West Bank.

The Israeli military is expanding its operations in the occupied West Bank and will remain in some refugee camps for the “coming year,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered yet another escalation of Israel’s military assault of the occupied West Bank after a series of bus explosions in Israel. It is currently unclear who was responsible for the explosions.