Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning on Monday, declaring that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would open a “full-scale war” against the Palestinian Authority if its security apparatus initiates or is known to be preparing for an attack resembling the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas.
Katz stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military to prepare for such an operation, which would target the senior leadership and infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah. The defense minister outlined that the campaign could involve targeted killings of senior figures and the evacuation of residents from areas deemed sources of terrorist activity, followed by a permanent Israeli military presence similar to the “security zones” established in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
The announcement followed a stabbing incident in the northern West Bank that injured an Israeli settler. Israeli forces shot and killed the attacker, identified by civil affairs authorities as Mahmoud Mohammed Arabi Mohsen, 34. His uncle, Nizar Arabi Mohsen, told reporters that the assailant had been battling mental illness for approximately four years.
Palestinian officials quickly condemned Katz’s remarks. Rawhi Fattouh, president of the Palestinian National Council, characterized the statement as evidence of the “aggressive and racist nature of the Israeli government.” He asserted that Israel was not seeking a peace partner but rather aiming to perpetuate conflict and instability. The Palestinian Authority has maintained that it does not participate in militant activities and has cooperated with Israel on security matters in the West Bank.
Violence in the occupied territory has escalated significantly since the outbreak of the Gaza war. According to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry data, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,106 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023. In the same period, Israeli figures report that 48 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during military operations.
In a separate development, the Israeli military reported continuing air strikes in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah infrastructure following the launch of explosive drones toward IDF troops. The military stated that 12 people, including two children, were killed overnight, with 11 dying in a single strike on a building in Kfar Rumman. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun urged Washington and the international community to intervene to halt the attacks ahead of upcoming talks between Lebanon and Israel.
The recent stabbing incident makes these tensions feel incredibly fragile and unpredictable right now.
Is this really about security, or political maneuvering ahead of domestic elections?
1,106 dead in the West Bank is a staggering number. How do we get back from this?
Threatening dismantlement? The PA says it fights terror too, but does anyone believe them?
This sounds like a recipe for disaster, not deterrence. Escalation seems inevitable.