IDF soldiers are preparing for “significant operations” in the West Bank, its Chief of Staff has said.
Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi said troops will have to ‘preempt and catch terrorists’ in the territory over the coming days.
He told the Times of Israel: “Along with the intense defence preparations in the Gaza Strip, we must be prepared for significant operations in [the West Bank] in the coming days in order to preempt and catch the terrorists before they reach our civilians.”
Halevi, who has commanded Israel’s military since last year, was speaking amid the first wave of releases of Palestinian prisoners under the new ceasefire agreement, including some held for terror offences.
Among those due to be let out are Zakaria Zubeidi, who is accused of involvement in the Beit She’an bombing in 2002, and Mahmud Abu Warda, currently serving 48 life sentences for alleged involvement for attacks including a pair of 1996 bus bombings in Jerusalem.
It is unknown whether those accused of involvement in terrorism will be allowed to return to Gaza and the West Bank if they are released.
Alternative proposals have included exiling them to foreign states like Qatar or Iran.
Even more concering for the stability of the ceasefire was Halevi’s revelation that he has also instructed top generals to “formulate plans for the continuation of the fighting, both in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon”.
Fighting has paused for at least 42 days from Sunday (barring violations of the deal) between Israel and both Hamas in Gaza and Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.
But senior politicians in Israel, notably far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send troops back into Gaza to recover all of the remaining hostages and completely dismantle Hamas.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has also demanded that Hezbollah withdraw to at least north of the Litani River for any peace deal to hold between the two sides.
And even Netanyahu himself has referred to the unfolding ceasefire as “temporary”, while members of the incoming Trump administration in the US have indicated that Washington would support Israel resuming the war if Hamas violates any part of the agreement.