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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that the military is being prepared to remain in certain West Bank urban refugee camps for up to a year. This decision comes as Israel escalates its operations in Palestinian territories, even while a ceasefire that ended the Gaza conflict remains in effect.

The army also revealed that it is intensifying raids in other West Bank areas and deploying tanks into Jenin, a region known for militant activity.

In a related move, Israel declared that hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will not be released until conditions are met for the return of hostages held in Gaza. Officials also criticized Hamas for what they called a degrading method of exchanging hostages.

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