The Israeli army has begun preparing for a broad escalation in the occupied West Bank that could include seizing more Palestinian refugee camps and launching large-scale military aggression.
Israeli security officials believe Defence Minister Israel Katz could push for wider aggression in the coming days, particularly in the northern occupied West Bank, Israeli news outlet Walla reported on Sunday.
The officials cited growing friction on the ground amid the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and occupier outposts as one of their main concerns.
Increase in Israeli raids, attacks
Israel launched a massive military aggression in the northern occupied West Bank in January 2025, taking control of the Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps.
The attacks forced around 32,000 Palestinians from their homes, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
Israeli military raids and attacks by illegal settlers have intensified across the occupied West Bank since the launch of its genocidal war in Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Under international law, the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, is considered part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and a core part of the territory of the State of Palestine. The transfer of an occupying power’s population into occupied territory is considered illegal under international law.
Despite this, Israel has accelerated the expansion of existing settlements and the construction of new ones in the occupied West Bank in recent years.
