Israeli troops demolished houses and cleared a wide roadway through the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, in a weeks-long operation against militant groups that has forced tens of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians driven from their homes by Israel's month-long offensive in the West Bank have scattered across nearby villages and towns, trying to find shelter.

The move came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a stop to the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli tanks rolled into the occupied West Bank for the first time in 20 years. The move marks a major escalation in Israel’s military operation in the West Bank, home to more than 3 million Palestinians.

Israel on Monday demolished houses and cleared a wide roadway through the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. This is part of weeks of operation against militant groups that have forced tens of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.