The Israeli military chief issued a warning on Monday about the potential for 'significant operations' in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, chief of the general staff, emphasized the need for heightened defensive preparations in the Gaza Strip and readiness for operations in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) to prevent terrorists from targeting Israeli civilians.
Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the sentiment during a recent visit to the West Bank, stating that those involved in terrorist activities would face consequences similar to those in Gaza.
Israeli security forces have been actively combating militants in the West Bank for over a year, with conflicts escalating in areas like the Jenin refugee camp. Tactics such as airstrikes, previously uncommon in the region, have been deployed to address security threats.
According to the United Nations, more than 500 Palestinian civilians lost their lives in the West Bank in 2024. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces and Jewish settlers have been responsible for the deaths of at least 169 children in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Furthermore, 2024 marked the third-deadliest year for Israelis in the West Bank since data collection began in 2008. The UN documented the deaths of 34 Israelis, including 15 soldiers and 19 civilians. Among the civilian casualties, seven were settlers.
