Prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza, the IDF operated under constraints, fearing retaliation from terrorist organizations, particularly the Islamic Jihad.
However, with the onset of the Gaza conflict, these apprehensions diminished, allowing for a more proactive response.
In retrospect, adopting this strategy earlier, during the tenures of Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, might have curtailed the current surge in terrorism in northern Samaria.
Concerns then centered around potential reactions from the Biden administration and Gaza-based escalation.
Presently, the IDF and the Shin Bet are fully engaged in Judea and Samaria, aiming to prevent potential acts of terrorism.
Fears persist that armed groups may attempt to replicate the October 7 massacre in Gaza within settlements or military outposts in Judea and Samaria, presenting a challenge to intelligence efforts.
Fatah movement sources suggest that retaliation against Israelis in Judea and Samaria is imminent, aligning with Hamas’s cause in Gaza.
Consequently, security measures have been heightened across IDF bases and settlements in the region.
The epicenter of terrorism in Judea and Samaria lies in the Jenin refugee camp, influencing nearby camps in Samaria.
The IDF has deployed thousands of reserve soldiers, led by Central Command General Yehuda Fox, to counteract these influences effectively.
In a recent three-day operation in the Jenin camp, the IDF arrested over 600 suspects involved in terrorist activities.
Tunnels were discovered, serving as hiding places and weapon storage.
The Air Force supported the ground forces, resembling IDF operations in Gaza’s refugee camps.
The Shin Bet is actively interrogating detainees for crucial intelligence, essential for future IDF operations.
The IDF’s unrestrained actions during the Gaza conflict will persist into the upcoming year, affording an opportunity to dismantle the core of terrorism in northern Samaria and dismantle the Iranian-Palestinian terrorist networks.
Approximately 2,500 suspects linked to terrorism have been apprehended in Judea and Samaria since the conflict’s onset.
While global attention remains focused on Gaza, there exists a crucial opportunity to eradicate terrorist networks in Judea and Samaria.
