Violence escalates: Israel launches new West Bank operation to ‘counter terrorism’
Jerusalem: The Israeli military on Wednesday launched a new counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank, focusing on the area known as northern Samaria. The operation is being carried out in coordination with Israel’s internal security service.
The army clarified that this action is separate from its earlier counterterrorism campaign, initiated in January 2025, which primarily targeted Palestinian refugee camps.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the Gaza war. Despite a fragile truce in Gaza since October 10, hostilities in the West Bank have continued.
According to figures from the Palestinian health ministry and AFP tallies, more than 1,000 Palestinians—including militants and a notable number of civilians—have been killed since the start of the conflict. Meanwhile, official Israeli sources report that at least 44 Israelis, both soldiers and civilians, have died in attacks or military operations.
The Israeli military described the current operation as a targeted effort to counter specific threats in northern Samaria, emphasizing that it is distinct from previous campaigns and designed to address pressing security concerns.
Since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank in 1967, the region has remained a flashpoint for repeated clashes between Israeli forces, settlers, and Palestinians. Violence intensified sharply after the October 2023 Hamas offensive, and the recent truce in Gaza has had little effect on hostilities in the West Bank, where civilian casualties remain high.
Humanitarian groups and observers have highlighted the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths, while Israeli authorities continue to cite security concerns to justify military actions. The new operation comes amid international calls for restraint and renewed efforts to stabilise the region.
The situation in northern West Bank is expected to evolve as Israeli forces continue the operation and monitor emerging security threats in the area.
(With AFP inputs)