Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has warned that while the focus of the world was on Gaza, there was a real danger of escalation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters reports.

“The West Bank is a powder keg that could explode,” Safadi said.

Israel, viewing the West Bank as part of a multi-front war against Iran-backed groups established around its borders, launched an operation after reaching a ceasefire in its war in Gaza against Hamas.

Thousands of Palestinians have fled West Bank homes in the wake of the military campaign and widespread destruction.