An armed Palestinian man seen on damaged roads from an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sept. 4, 2024. Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90
Israel Defense Forces has markedly increased the number of security operations in Judea and Samaria in recent weeks as it attempts to avoid the opening of another front in the region.
Recent calls by the Hamas terrorist organization and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) for a return to suicide bombings and terror attacks within Israeli territory have led the IDF and Shin Bet to launch a series of raids aimed at destroying the capability to launch large-scale attacks from the Judea and Samaria (West Bank).
A string of attacks and attempted attacks over the past few days has raised concerns among the security sector that Hamas and PIJ may be attempting to provoke a third intifada while the Gaza War is still ongoing.
Over the past 10 days, the IDF has carried out a broad counter-terror operation, named Operation Summer Camps, within several refugee camps in northern Samaria. During this operation, 64 terrorists were killed and dozens of weapons were seized. The Israeli military also destroyed several weapons laboratories used for producing improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
On Sunday, security chiefs, including Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, warned the Israeli Cabinet that it “must do everything to avoid another front in Judea and Samaria.”
A report in the Israeli site N12 News said that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar recommended the government take several steps to fight the growing tide of terror in the West Bank.
Among the recommendations were increasing the number of prison cells for terror prisoners; increasing the number of undercover units able to arrest suspects; increasing surveillance of roads and intersections in the territories; and building a wall along the Jordanian border.
The terrain along the northern Jordan Valley region makes the border between Jordan and Israel difficult to secure. As a result, it has become a conduit for the illicit smuggling of weapons and drugs.
On Monday, members of a terror cell were detained on Highway 6 after entering Israel illegally. During the incident, the Israel Police stopped a suspicious vehicle, which was found to contain a member of a terror cell from Hebron who was actively planning an attack.
After interrogating the suspect, security forces arrested two other members of the cell, also from Hebron, and discovered weapons and equipment intended to be used in the attack.
At the end of August, security forces thwarted an attempted car bombing in the Gush Etzion area of Judea, which was apparently coordinated with another attack at a nearby gas station.
Shortly after that, three Israel Police officers were killed in a shooting attack, also in the Gush Etzion area. The attacks were planned and carried out by terrorists from Hebron.
A recent bombing attack in Tel Aviv was foiled when the terrorist carrying the massive IED accidentally triggered the device before reaching the intended target.
Those attacks, along with increased tensions and weapons smuggling on the border with Jordan, have security officials concerned that growing unrest among young Palestinians in Judea and Samaria could lead to another intifada.
