The Invasion of the West Bank (2002) — Modern History Summarized
Amid a major Palestinian uprising, commonly known as the Second Intifada, Israel launched an invasion of the West Bank, codenamed Operation Defensive Shield, one of the two internationally recognized Palestinian regions, with the goal to catch and arrest terrorists, arrest terrorist financers, and to destroy any terrorist facilities used to make explosives, weapons and laboratories.
The invasion began on 29 March when the Israeli military moved into the city of Ramallah, the de facto capital of the State of Palestine, where the compound of Yasser Arafat, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, was surrounded and placed under siege. Between 1–3 April, the Israeli military, in quick succession, quickly moved into and captured the six largest cities in the West Bank: Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron.
Between 3–21 April, the West Bank was effectively under military occupation, with the Israeli military setting up strict curfews and limiting civilian movement throughout the West Bank.
Between 3–11 April, a large battle occurred in the city of Jenin, which resulted in a combined Israeli/Palestinian death toll of at least 75. The battle became a source of controversy, with Palestinian claims of an Israel conducting a massacre in the city. However, investigations found no evidence of a massacre having occurred and later, both Israeli and Palestinian sources confirmed around 50 Palestinian had been killed during the battle.
In late April, Israel began withdrawing their military and by 10 May, the Israeli military had completely withdrawn from the West Bank, ending the operation and invasion.
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