ALWAGHT- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directs troops to brace for a potential large-scale escalation in the West Bank as settlement activity intensifies and tensions continue to mount.
Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz said he ordered the occupation army to prepare for a potential “full-scale war” against the Palestinian Authority’s leadership, security forces, affiliated bodies, and alleged offensive infrastructure in the West Bank.
Katz said the preparations were intended to ensure any confrontation could be dealt with rapidly and decisively if Israel believes preparations are underway for an attack resembling the October 7 operation. He also reaffirmed policies focused on combating Palestinian resistance, expanding Jewish settlements, and maintaining security control.
The remarks came after an Israeli settler was seriously wounded in a stabbing incident near the Palestinian village of Osrin, southeast of Nablus. They also followed warnings from Israeli officials that newly established settlement outposts lack adequate infrastructure and could be difficult for the army to protect.
Israeli officials have increasingly warned of possible resistance operations in the West Bank amid rising tensions, military raids, and settlement expansion. Critics point to a growing contradiction between Israel’s stated security concerns and policies that expand settlements and contribute to escalating confrontation across the occupied territory.
