Israel’s Merkava Tanks Are Back In The West Bank
The West Bank has seen a marked increase in violence since the Iranian-backed Hamas carried out its terrorist attack into southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) deployed tanks to the occupied West Bank on Sunday as part of its expanded counter-terrorism efforts. Images posted online showed at least three Merkava main battle tanks (MBTs) near the city of Jenin. It marks the first time in more than two decades that tanks have been sent to the territory.
According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the IDF will maintain a presence for at least a year, and will not allow upwards of 40,000 displaced Palestinians to return as part of the efforts to root out terror operatives.
“We will not return to the reality that was in the past. We will continue to clear refugee camps and other terror centers to dismantle the battalions and terror infrastructure of the extreme Islam that was built, armed, funded, and supported by the Iranian evil axis, in an attempt to establish an eastern terror front,” Katz added.
IDF tanks last deployed to the West Bank during 2002’s Operation Defensive Shield—a military incursion launched in response to the “Second Intifada” uprising from 2000 to 2005.
“Operation Iron Wall” is Underway
The IDF launched its offensive into the northern West Bank on January 21 as part of an effort to thwart terrorist activity. The Israeli military has said it is proactively seeking to avoid another October 7-style attack that could be launched from refugee camps in Jenin, Tubas, or Tulkarm. This weekend, a “tank division” was deployed to the area of operations, and will remain throughout 2025.
Dubbed “Operation Iron Wall,” the military offensive has required that the nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been evacuated from at least three refugee camps—all of “which are now empty of residents,” Katz said in a media statement.
“I have instructed [troops] to prepare for a prolonged presence in the cleared camps for the coming year and to prevent the return of residents and the resurgence of terrorism,” Katz added.
Will the West Bank Become Another Gaza?
The West Bank has seen a marked increase in violence since the Iranian-backed Hamas carried out its terrorist attack into southern Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Al Jazeera, as many as 900 Palestinians—including militants—have been killed by Israeli soldiers or civilian settlers. The IDF has also acknowledged, however, that it mistakenly killed civilians in the recent fighting.
Around three million Palestinians are reported to live in the West Bank, which was captured by the IDF during the Six Day War in 1967. The West Bank and Gaza are seen as the core of any future Palestinian state, but there have been calls from some Israeli hardliners who support expanded settlements for annexation of “Judea and Samaria,” the Biblical term for the lands included in the West Bank.
The deployment of the armored vehicles to the Palestinian territory came after a series of bus explosions near Tel Aviv last week. The bombs appeared to have detonated prematurely and resulted in no casualties. Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, a branch of the military wing of Hamas, “praised the attacks but stopped short of taking responsibility,” The Guardian newspaper reported.
The IDF’s Chariots Await
It is unclear how many Merkava MBTs have been deployed to the West Bank, but the tanks—named after the Hebrew word for “chariot”—remain the backbone of the IDF’s armored forces. The first Merkava model entered service in 1979.
The tanks have long been noted for their compromise of firepower, protection, and mobility. Far from the fastest MBTs in service today, the tanks were optimized for operations in the rough terrain of northern Israel and the Golan Heights, while significant emphasis was placed on the crew’s survivability. Israel could afford to lose a few tanks, but not tank crews.
Over the course of 40 years, the homegrown Israeli tanks have been steadily upgraded and improved. The Merkava Mk IV Barak variant first entered service in 2023 and is widely considered among the absolute best MBTs in the world today.
However, being the “best” doesn’t mean it is unstoppable or indestructible. At least one of the vaunted tanks has been lost in the fighting in Gaza, destroyed by a massive IED. While the commander and gunner were killed, the driver survived. Several older Merkava models have also been lost in Gaza and in southern Lebanon in battles with the Tehran-backed Hezbollah. The Merkava MBTs sent to the West Bank were meant to be part of a show of force, but the crews likely know the tanks could still make inviting targets.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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