Israeli Foreign Minister Hints at Several Days of Counterterror Operations in Judea and Samaria

Jerusalem, 28 August, 2024 (TPS) -- Foreign Minister Israel Katz hinted at several days of fighting when he said on social media that Israel should consider ordering Palestinian civilians to temporarily evacuate those areas. The tweet came as ten Palestinian terrorists were killed in what the Israel Defense Forces called a “broad operation” in northern Samaria and Jordan Valley, the army said on Wednesday morning.

“The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is working intensively from tonight in the Jenin and Tulkarm refugee camps to thwart Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures that have been established there. Iran is working to establish an eastern terrorist front against Israel in Judea and Samaria, according to the Gaza and Lebanon model, by financing and arming terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons from Jordan,” Katz tweeted.

“We must deal with the threat just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and whatever steps are required. This is a war for everything and we must win it.”

The IDF said forces were operating in three refugee camps: Jenin, Nur al-Shams in Tulkarm, and the El Fara camp in northwestern Samaria in the Jordan Valley.

Most of the 10 terrorists killed were eliminated in two airstrikes. One strike killed four terrorists in a vehicle south of Qabatiya in the Jenin area. At least two terrorists were killed in a second strike on a squad firing on soldiers.

The army said fighting is expected to continue for an “extended” period of time.

On Aug. 21, Israel assassinated Khalil Hussein Khalil Al-Maqdah in Lebanon, who, along with his brother, Mounir, directed terror activity in Judea and Samaria on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

“The two collaborate on behalf of the IRGC and are involved in the direction of terror attacks as well as the smuggling of weapons and funds designated for terrorist activities into Judea and Samaria,” the Israeli army said.

Following the assassination analyst Beni Sabti told The Press Service of Israel that Iranian weapons smuggling through Jordan has been going on for years but increased sharply after October 7. Sabti is a researcher on Iran for the Institute for National Security Studies, which is affiliated with Tel Aviv University.

“It’s reached dangerous levels. The Iranians have hubris. They see October 7 as a victory and they will continue smuggling weapons,” Sabti told TPS-IL.

Recent terror attacks in the Jordan Valley, including a deadly drive-by shooting, have residents on edge.

Israeli security forces have arrested more than 4,400 Palestinian terror suspects in Judea and Samaria since October 7, of whom around 1,850 are affiliated with Hamas.