Israel has begun constructing a new military base in Jenin, a move that directly violates the 1995 Oslo accords that placed the area under Palestinian Authority control. The construction follows a January 2025 incursion that displaced over 10,000 Palestinians and sparked international condemnation in the heavily contested West Bank, raising alarms among human rights groups.

Critics argue the base paves the way for new settlements near densely populated Palestinian zones, a strategy the Israeli government has pursued at record pace. The army claims the site will curb militant activity that made Jenin a stronghold, citing a recent incident where an officer lost limbs after detonating an explosive during a disarm attempt.

The base sits on confiscated land just outside the urban Jenin camp, a site Israel seized after Palestinian Authority forces failed to quell groups linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Local residents fear the post will push them into a security vacuum, with the army promising to replace forces stationed in homes with a permanent installation.

Israel’s right‑wing government recently reestablished two Jewish settlements—Ganim and Kadim—outside Jenin, a move the army says creates a security need for the new base. Analysts view the construction as part of a plan to shrink Palestinian territory while expanding Israeli presence, further eroding the Oslo framework and undermining international efforts to restore the 1995 accords.