RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - 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,

Israel has pounded Jenin refugee camp and destroyed residential buildings as part of its ongoing large-scale operations in the occupied West Bank. Footage released by locals on social media appeared to show a large swathe of the camp being destroyed.

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.

Israeli troops will remain in the Palestinians' Jenin refugee camp once the large-scale raid they launched last week is complete, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday as a crackdown in the occupied West Bank extended into a second week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the assault on Jenin would be “extensive and significant,” as the military erected new checkpoints across the West Bank.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the army will maintain a presence in Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank after its ongoing military operation there.

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.

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.