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,

Israel 's minister of defence announced on Wednesday that Israeli forces will remain in the Jenin refugee camp in occupied West Bank and in Syrian territory that it recently seized bordering the occupied Golan Heights.

The Israeli army has reportedly said that its 'Iron Wall' operation in Jenin which has left 17 Palestinians dead, may last several months.

IDF fighters on the ground in Jenin reported to the defense minister that they found a lot of arms stashed away by terrorists, 'just like in Gaza'

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.”

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

Generally, since the Second Intifada of 2000-2005, the IDF has not stationed troops for any extended period within major Palestinian cities like Jenin.