For the first time since the Oslo peace accords in the mid-1990s, Israel is constructing a military base in a section of the West Bank that was designated under Palestinian Authority control. Critics argue the move may facilitate Israeli military protection of expanding settlement activities near Palestinian areas.

The Israeli military has occupied a portion of Jenin, located in the West Bank, since early 2025. A primary justification for the new base is to ensure Jenin, once known as a hub for Palestinian militant activities, remains secured.

Critics, however, believe the base could enable the expansion of Israeli settlements in areas adjacent to one of the most densely populated Palestinian regions. Israel has been increasing its settlement activities, which the majority of the global community considers illegal.

Kamal Abu al-Rub, governor of Jenin under the Palestinian Authority, said, “They’re blowing up the Oslo accords. They’re acting as if there are no agreements between us.”

The base is being built on land seized just outside the urban locality called Jenin camp. The Israeli military entered the area in January 2025, causing over 10,000 Palestinians to evacuate, marking the most substantial displacement in the West Bank since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

The operation occurred after the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to control militant groups in Jenin. These groups were linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and had challenged the authority by attacking Israelis and disregarding its control.