The Israeli army has launched a surprise military drill in the occupied West Bank, mobilising all battalions of its division operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In a statement on Friday, the army said the drill was launched to test the preparedness and operational readiness of its forces.
It added that all battalions of the West Bank Division had been mobilised to respond to “various surprise scenarios.”
The exercise comes amid ongoing Israeli attacks against Palestinians and ahead of the Jewish holiday season.
The army claimed the exercise was part of its preparations for the upcoming Jewish holidays.
The holiday period begins on Friday with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, followed by Yom Kippur on September 20 and Sukkot on September 25.
Israel routinely tightens its military measures and restrictions on Palestinian movement across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem during Jewish holidays.
Drill will continue until Friday afternoon
According to the army, the drill will continue until Friday afternoon and involve the deployment and intensified movement of Israeli forces throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
The occupied West Bank has witnessed increased Israeli attacks, including raids on Palestinian cities, towns and refugee camps, as well as arrests, demolitions and land bulldozing.
Raids by security forces and illegal Israeli settler violence, meanwhile, have particularly increased since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023.
Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967 and has established settlements there that are considered illegal under international law.
