Palestinian militants claim that the deployment of Israeli tanks in the West Bank is a step towards annexation. The tanks have been part of a major offensive that has displaced tens of thousands of people. The militant group Islamic Jihad believes that the mass evacuations and tank deployment confirm Israel's plans to annex the West Bank by force. The violence in the West Bank has increased during the recent Gaza war, with military raids and settler attacks. UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern about the rising violence and called for an end to annexation.