Judea and Samaria is burning, there is no dispute about this, but even those who know what is happening in Palestinian villages and cities are shocked by the weapons discovered in recent days in the village of Tarqumiya, near Hebron. About 100 IEDs ready to be detonated were discovered last Wednesday in an area considered relatively quiet and deterred until the war. The achievement of seizing weapons before they are used is significant, but the IDF is well aware that if this is what is seized, there may be similar IEDs and weapons that have not yet been found.
The terrorist organizations do not stop trying to arm themselves in order to harm IDF forces and civilians in Judea, Samaria and Israeli cities, and against them IDF fighters, the Border Police, the Shin Bet and other forces operate intensively. Israel Hayom has received the latest data on the army's activity since the outbreak of the war. This is an order of magnitude significant to what existed before – 65 terrorists were killed in airstrikes, an astronomical number considering the fact that until the war there were almost no such assassinations in Judea and Samaria.
A fighter in Nur ash Shams camp, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Most of the activity takes place in the refugee camps in northern Samaria and their environs. Over 160 such operations have been carried out so far in the war, some of which have become routine. On Thursday, a wanted senior Islamic Jihad operative was killed in the village of Jaba', near Jenin. Earlier this week, three terrorists were killed in a SWAT operation in the village of Iktaba. A total of 290 Palestinians have been killed in the area since the beginning of the war, over 95% of them terrorists involved in terrorism, of whom 140 were in the fighting in the refugee camps. Thousands of suspects were arrested in Judea and Samaria, 500 of them in refugee camps.
Degree of control over the territory
During the week, senior officials published quotes warning of the outbreak of an armed intifada in Judea and Samaria. Military sources say that although there is certainly an intention to set the area on fire: "The escalation is much farther from what they thought it would be." The army is well aware of the threat and is taking significant actions to prevent it. These include operations against Hamas, which include confiscating terrorist funds and activities against organizations that define themselves as charitable organizations, with the aim of drying up the terrorists' budgetary sources.
IEDs seized in IDF activity in Judea and Samaria,
Alongside the achievements, it should be noted that control of the territory is not perfect. This past week an Israeli Arab was murdered in a shooting attack by terrorists who turned out to be doctors, and a Border Police soldier was killed by an IED on the way to the Jenin refugee camp. The vast seizure of weapons, including 50 weapons seized in the Jordan Valley on Thursday, also prove that there is an intention to carry out severe attacks against the IDF and civilians. The fact that 100 IEDs, for example, were discovered in the Hamas-affiliated Judea area, alongside attacks launched in recent weeks from that area, indicates that we may be at the beginning of an escalation in an area that until now has been considered calm and quiet.
"It is clear that we prefer to reach a person in his bed than on the axis with a knife in his hand," says an IDF source. "We identify the impact of what is happening in Gaza on what is happening in the West Bank at the level of desire to launch an attack and are inspired, and are working intensively to eliminate the terrorists before they leave, in contractions before carrying out an attack, or to close the circle as quickly as possible after an attack that happened in order to block inspiration."
"There will be no quick change"
Alongside the urgent challenges, the Central Command and the Judea and Samaria Division are working on the day after in Judea and Samaria as well. At the moment, there are large forces in the area, including thousands of fighters stationed in every locality, but after almost 100 days of Order 8, the IDF knows that it is necessary to make decisions about what to do the day after in terms of force orders.
Arrest of wanted persons in Judea and Samaria, photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Office
"There will be no change in the boom," says a military source regarding the intention to withdraw reserve forces from the communities. The Central Command is working on a broad plan that will be implemented throughout Judea and Samaria in the near future in order to protect the communities and roads in the best possible way in light of what happened on 7 October.
The IDF has assembled a ladder that includes the hierarchy of threatened localities, according to which they defend and equip them with advanced means. Among other things, improved infrastructure, obstacles and entrances were built to prevent an attempt by terrorists to carry out a significant attack against residents.
For the first time in many years, it is also planned to establish outposts within some of the communities, something the army has so far refrained from doing, in order to ensure available manpower in the event of a complex attack. The introduction of advanced means is also on the agenda, including armored vehicles into communities so that they can optimally protect the residents, a measure that has not been provided to the vast majority of communities since the second intifada.
Exceptionally: Lahav police officers worked in Judea and Samaria with the IDF and ISA to confiscate terror funds // Photo: IDF Spokesperson, ISA Spokesperson's Office and Police Spokesperson's Office
In the meantime, the IDF clarifies, the forces securing the communities and roads will remain intact, not only because of the threat posed by terrorists but also in order to restore the sense of security that has been lost. But at the same time, they add, there will be a stage at which they will have to spend their share.
"We want to be strong in the communities, because it creates quiet and strength – a response from within the community," the source explains. "There could be a situation in which dozens of terrorists with hundreds of Palestinians will be sent towards a community, and we are ready for such an event. For this reason, we insist that the fighters stay. At the same time, every resident wants a tank and a combat helicopter outside the community, which is understandable, but unfortunately it is not possible."
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