JERUSALEM / AA

The commander of the Israeli army's Central District, Avi Bluth, revealed to settlement leaders in the northern occupied West Bank on Friday that the army is preparing to launch a large-scale military operation in the area.

These developments come amid rising tensions between Palestinians and settlers in the occupied West Bank, with increased friction and settlement outposts.

This announcement comes in implementation of a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, following the events in the village of Tel in the Nablus governorate.

The Israeli army said in a statement that Bluth held a conversation with heads of settlement councils in the northern West Bank, following the events in Tel.

The army statement quoted Bluth as saying that the forces of the West Bank Division 'are preparing to carry out a wide operation to thwart terrorism,' and are working to arrest all those whom Israel accuses of involvement in the shooting that led to the killing of two Israelis.

On Friday morning, Israeli settlers, under army protection, attacked the village of Tel, southwest of Nablus, killing 4 Palestinians and wounding the same number, while two Israelis were killed during the residents' confrontation of the attack.

Bluth added: 'To this end, we deployed additional units to the area. A big mission awaits us, and we are about to conduct a wide operation in the area of responsibility of the Central Command.'

He indicated that the army intends to carry out further arrests in the West Bank, saying: 'We still have additional arrests that must be carried out.'

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli army announced the start of a military operation inside the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

For its part, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said the army decided to deploy the Paratroopers Brigade to the West Bank, raising the number of battalions operating there over the next two weeks to 24 battalions.

It added that the reinforcements come amid what the Israeli military establishment describes as increased friction between settlers and Palestinians, and the expansion of settlement outposts and agricultural lands controlled by settlers in recent years.

For its part, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned against Israeli officials exploiting the 'genocide and incitement rhetoric' for electoral gains, against the backdrop of the events in Tel.

On July 17, the Israeli Knesset dissolved, opening the way for general elections on October 27.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is running in the elections seeking to stay in power, while Israeli opposition parties, despite their differing positions, agree on the goal of removing him and his allies from power.

The potential military operation comes by a decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, after the events in Tel. The army decided to deploy the Paratroopers Brigade to the West Bank, raising the number of active battalions to 24. The Israeli military establishment describes the situation as witnessing increased friction between settlers and Palestinians, and the expansion of settlement outposts and agricultural lands controlled by settlers. It is noted that this operation is part of Israeli efforts to enhance security control in the West Bank, where the region has been witnessing escalating tension for months.