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 defense minister said troops will remain in parts of the territory for a year and tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled cannot return.

Hamas hands over the bodies of four Israelis held in Gaza to the Red Cross as part of the last scheduled exchange in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Simultaneously, the first bus carrying dozens of freed Palestinians prisoners from the Ofer Prison arrives in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli forces fired at a vehicle in Ramallah, injuring four Palestinians, while the army continued to demolish homes across the West Bank.

Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP

Simultaneously, the first bus carrying dozens of freed Palestinians prisoners from the Ofer Prison arrives in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The exchange comes after Hamas announced reaching a deal with mediators on the handover of the 620 Palestinian prisoners who had been due to be freed by Israel last week,

Israeli forces shot five Palestinians, including two children, three near Ramallah in the central West Bank, and two others near Nablus in the no

Palestinians take cover from the rain while they try to cross from the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah to Jerusalem, to participate in the

Hamas hands over the bodies of four Israelis held in Gaza to the Red Cross as part of the last swap in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Simultaneously, the first bus carrying dozens of freed Palestinians prisoners from the Ofer Prison arrives in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Tension has been running high across the West Bank, where at least 930 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the onslaught on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Hamas’s key demands for the second phase include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the Israeli blockade, the reconstruction of the Palestinian territory and financial support

As the first phase of the truce in Gaza ends, the two sides are continuing negotiations but also preparing for a possible return to war.

Israeli tanks have moved into the occupied West Bank for the first time in decades in what Palestinian authorities call a "dangerous escalation."