CAMPAIGNERS are demanding that Britain stops arming Israel’s genocide against Palestinians amid Tel Aviv’s largest military assault on the West Bank in more than two decades.

Hundreds of ground troops, supported by fighter planes and drones, began targeting Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus, and Tubas early on Wednesday.

Soldiers have besieged hospitals in Jenin and Tulkarm, while bulldozers have destroyed roads and razed critical infrastructure, including water and electricity networks.

Several refugee camps have also been targeted. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the operation was staged to “dismantle Iranian-Islamic terror infrastructures” and called for Palestinians to be “evacuated” and removed from their homes.

Last month it was reported that Israel had approved the the single largest seizure of West Bank land in 30 years.

According to anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now, 4.9 square miles in the Jordan Valley has been declared “state land.” 

Israel has killed at least 18 people since it began its attack on Wednesday, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. The Israeli army claims it has killed over a dozen militants.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians said that Israel’s escalation “sends a clear message of its lack of commitment towards achieving a ceasefire.” 

Erika Guevara-Rosas from Amnesty International warned that the operations will likely result in “an increase in forced displacement, destruction of critical infrastructure and measures of collective punishment, which have been key pillars of Israel’s system of apartheid against Palestinians and of its unlawful occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Over 40,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israel’s genocidal attacks since October 7, as well as 628 in the West Bank — deaths partly enabled by British arms exports. 

According to Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Britain’s military exports to Israel since 2015 have been worth £489 million.

Ministers have so far rejected calls to suspend arms, instead issuing 108 licences to Israel since it escalated its attacks in October.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has refrained from publishing legal advice on whether the exports are being used to facilitate international war crimes.

Deputy director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign Simon Foster said: “This is the largest Israeli invasion of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank since 2002.

“Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has openly called for the forcible displacement of Palestinians. 

“Israel is waging war on an occupied land and its people, which is a flagrant violation of international law.

“It is an utter disgrace that the UK continues to allow arms exports to Israel whilst also giving its government political and diplomatic support.”

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Kate Hudson said: “Why is our government complicit in these atrocities?

“It should be suspending arms sales and imposing economic sanctions on Israel while it continues to commit war crimes and break international law. 

“The Attorney General must confirm a ban on weapons sales to Israel now and stop pretending that these arms will be used for anything other than killing.”

Meanwhile, the co-founder of Palestine Action, which regularly targets firms in Britain that supply Israel with arms components, faces three charges over two speeches. 

Richard Barnard is accused of supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act and two counts of encouraging criminal activity, namely criminal damage against weapons manufacturers. 

Counter-terrorism police also arrested prominent human rights activist and Palestine Action supporter Sarah Wilkinson over online posts. 

A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “The British state is deliberately abusing counter-terrorism laws to target Palestine Action and the wider movement in order to protect the interests of a foreign genocidal entity over the freedom of its own citizens. 

“As a movement we will only become stronger in the face of increased repression.”

On September 7, organisations including Stop the War Coalition and PSC will stage a national march for Palestine in London. 

StWC vice chair Chris Nineham said: “Israel’s murderous oppression is rapidly escalating in the West Bank and despite Netanyahu’s clear sabotage of the peace negotiations, the Western powers continue to back Israel’s genocide. 

“That is why we are marching on September 7 to the Israeli embassy to demand that the political class in this country ends the genocide [and] stops arming Israel — and to say no to a Middle East war.”