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.

Israel is deepening its crackdown on the Palestinian territory of Jenin and has said it is determined to stamp out militancy amid a rise in attacks. It launched the offensive in the northern West Bank on January 21, two days after the current ceasefire in Gaza took hold, and has expanded it to nearby areas.