Israel Intensifies Manhunt Following Qalqilya Attack
Escalating operations in the West Bank amid heightened tensions; Shin Bet chief calls for broader military actions
In response to a deadly attack near Qalqilya that resulted in the death of three Israelis, Israel has expanded its military operations across multiple regions of the West Bank.
These efforts have primarily focused on the town of Qabatiya in Jenin, northern West Bank, in a bid to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.
On Friday, Israeli forces conducted large-scale raids in Qabatiya, clashing with armed individuals and carrying out numerous arrests.
Israeli Army Radio reported that the military operation in Qabatiya is directly linked to the Qalqilya shooting earlier in the week.
In a swift operation, Israeli forces detained 15 Palestinians, including a woman, raising the total number of arrests in the West Bank to approximately 100 since Monday.
The Israeli military remains committed to tracking down those responsible for the attack, having launched a major operation following the killings and pledging to apprehend both the attackers and their orchestrators.
The Qalqilya attack has led Israel to designate the West Bank as a key area on its threat map, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for increased defensive and offensive maneuvers in the region.
However, the head of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, has argued that these measures alone are insufficient.
He advocated for a more extensive military operation in the West Bank, stating that broader actions are necessary to alter the current realities and dismantle armed groups.
Bar’s comments, made during a meeting of the Cabinet, reflect a growing concern over an alleged deceptive drop in incidents that he claims does not accurately represent the evolution of terrorism on the ground.
Responsibility for the Qalqilya attack was claimed by Al-Qassam Brigades, in collaboration with Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, affiliated with the Fatah movement.
Meanwhile, Israel has alleged that Iran is attempting to establish a new frontier in the northern West Bank, a charge echoed by the Palestinian Authority amid their ongoing conflicts with outlaws in Jenin camp reportedly following regional directives.
Israeli media have suggested that the military is bracing for extreme scenarios in the West Bank, including potential breaches of the separation barrier and attempts to seize settlements in contact areas, reminiscent of the October 7, 2023, assault scenario.
Israel's security agencies contend that after encountering setbacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, Iran is increasingly focusing its attention on the West Bank.
As of Friday, it remains unclear if Israel has succeeded in apprehending the Qalqilya attackers, although the intensive operation in Qabatiya was ongoing into the late hours.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has reported approximately 850 Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank, arrested thousands, and significantly restricted Palestinian movement, amid threats to annex the West Bank in light of Donald Trump's ascendancy to the U.S. presidency.
These efforts have primarily focused on the town of Qabatiya in Jenin, northern West Bank, in a bid to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.
On Friday, Israeli forces conducted large-scale raids in Qabatiya, clashing with armed individuals and carrying out numerous arrests.
Israeli Army Radio reported that the military operation in Qabatiya is directly linked to the Qalqilya shooting earlier in the week.
In a swift operation, Israeli forces detained 15 Palestinians, including a woman, raising the total number of arrests in the West Bank to approximately 100 since Monday.
The Israeli military remains committed to tracking down those responsible for the attack, having launched a major operation following the killings and pledging to apprehend both the attackers and their orchestrators.
The Qalqilya attack has led Israel to designate the West Bank as a key area on its threat map, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for increased defensive and offensive maneuvers in the region.
However, the head of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, has argued that these measures alone are insufficient.
He advocated for a more extensive military operation in the West Bank, stating that broader actions are necessary to alter the current realities and dismantle armed groups.
Bar’s comments, made during a meeting of the Cabinet, reflect a growing concern over an alleged deceptive drop in incidents that he claims does not accurately represent the evolution of terrorism on the ground.
Responsibility for the Qalqilya attack was claimed by Al-Qassam Brigades, in collaboration with Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, affiliated with the Fatah movement.
Meanwhile, Israel has alleged that Iran is attempting to establish a new frontier in the northern West Bank, a charge echoed by the Palestinian Authority amid their ongoing conflicts with outlaws in Jenin camp reportedly following regional directives.
Israeli media have suggested that the military is bracing for extreme scenarios in the West Bank, including potential breaches of the separation barrier and attempts to seize settlements in contact areas, reminiscent of the October 7, 2023, assault scenario.
Israel's security agencies contend that after encountering setbacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, Iran is increasingly focusing its attention on the West Bank.
As of Friday, it remains unclear if Israel has succeeded in apprehending the Qalqilya attackers, although the intensive operation in Qabatiya was ongoing into the late hours.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has reported approximately 850 Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank, arrested thousands, and significantly restricted Palestinian movement, amid threats to annex the West Bank in light of Donald Trump's ascendancy to the U.S. presidency.
