The Israeli military blew up several buildings in the occupied West Bank on Sunday in a series of simultaneous explosions that the Palestinian state news agency said had leveled around 20 buildings in the Jenin refugee camp.

The Israeli military said it had destroyed "several buildings" on Sunday in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, where it has been conducting a major offensive. The Israeli military launched a major offensive in the West Bank last month dubbed "Iron Wall" aimed at rooting out Palestinian armed groups from the Jenin area,

By Raneen Sawafta and James Mackenzie JENIN, West Bank/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli troops will remain in the Palestinians' Jenin refugee camp once the large-scale raid they launched last week is complete,

The Israel Defense Forces insisted it was “not forcing the Palestinians to evacuate,” but said it had “allowed residents of the camp to evacuate … through an organized and secured point.”

As Israel withdraws some of its troops from Gaza during a cease-fire there, it has turned attention to another Palestinian territory — in particular a city with a history of militant activity.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi by phone on Friday, China's foreign ministry said, the first call between the two top diplomats since President Donald Trump's administration took office on Monday.

Israeli forces will maintain their presence in the Jenin refugee camp following a large-scale raid launched last week, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday. The crackdown in the West Bank has now entered its second week.

At least 10 people have been killed in the raids, and more than 40 wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Dozens have been arrested, Palestinian officials told the Wafa news agency.

The Israeli military will keep a presence in Jenin following the current military operation in the northern West Bank city considered a stronghold of Palestinian militants, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.