Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the IDF to prepare for a full-scale war against the Palestinian Authority and all terror infrastructure in Judea and Samaria, should PA security forces launch an October 7-style attack. Katz spoke after a stabbing attack in Samaria that wounded an Israeli civilian; the suspect also attempted to stab a soldier during the pursuit, according to reports. Katz outlined measures including targeted eliminations, evacuation of towns used for terror activity, destruction of infrastructure, and IDF remaining in cleared areas.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Monday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the IDF to prepare for a full-scale war against the Palestinian Authority and all terror infrastructure in Judea and Samaria, should PA security forces launch an October 7-style attack. The directive was issued following a stabbing attack in Samaria that wounded an Israeli civilian; the suspect also attempted to stab an IDF soldier during the pursuit, according to reports.
Katz outlined a series of measures intended to achieve a decisive victory: targeted eliminations of senior figures, evacuation of Palestinian cities and villages from which terror activity is launched, systematic destruction of terror infrastructure, and the IDF remaining in cleared areas. He compared this approach to the security zones established in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as operations in Jenin and northern Samaria refugee camps.
The directive marks the latest in a series of escalatory instructions from Katz regarding Judea and Samaria. As The Zioneer reported in July, Katz previously ordered the IDF to expand offensive operations and apply the 'Jenin model' to additional areas. In August, Katz and Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot reportedly clashed over the operational need to capture another refugee camp. The current directive raises the stakes by threatening an all-out war against the PA itself, a scenario Katz termed a 'reversal of fronts.'
The directive remains conditional. Katz stated that the IDF has been instructed to prepare, but no immediate change in operations was announced. The stabbing attack that triggered the statement is under investigation; the wounded civilian's condition and the suspect's status have not been detailed.
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