Israeli army prepares for large-scale operation in West Bank after killing of Israeli and four Palestinians

2026-07-24T16:43:57.452Z

The Israeli army announced on Friday its readiness to carry out a large-scale military operation in the West Bank following an attack near the Havat Gilad settlement and the village of Tel that resulted in the killing of an Israeli and four Palestinians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the demolition of the attacker's home, strict measures in Palestinian villages, and the establishment of new settlement outposts.

The Israeli army announced on Friday its readiness to carry out a large-scale operation to 'combat terrorism' in the occupied West Bank, following deadly violence that resulted in the killing of an Israeli and four Palestinians in the Tel area.

The army said in a statement: 'Following the terrorist attack that occurred earlier today in the Tel area, IDF soldiers are preparing to carry out a large-scale counterterrorism operation in this area,' noting that it postponed soldiers' leaves across the country and deployed forces in the region.

New settlement outposts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the establishment of new settlement outposts in the West Bank, and along with Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the army to demolish the attacker's home.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said the decision was made after consultations with cabinet members and the Defense Ministry leadership, and included 'taking firm action in villages considered hotbeds of terrorism, including confiscating weapons, canceling work permits, and reinforcing units throughout Judea and Samaria.'

Netanyahu had vowed a 'firm response,' stressing he would meet with security officials to discuss ways to respond to the attack. Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir also ordered the deployment of additional forces in the area and the arrest of those involved in the attack.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said: 'Terrorism will not prevail,' adding: 'In the face of deadly terrorism that seeks to harm our lives and security, we must stand united and firm.'

Incident details

The events took place near the Havat Gilad settlement and the adjacent Palestinian village of Tel, amid escalating violence in the West Bank since the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023.

The Palestinian Health Ministry announced the death of 4 Palestinians and injury of 4 others, 3 of them seriously, from gunfire in the village of Tel. An Israeli aged about 30 also died near Havat Gilad, and two others were shot and evacuated by helicopter, one in serious condition, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

The head of the Tel village council, Walid Zeidan, reported that about 20 Israeli settlers entered the village around 8:30 a.m., saying: 'The villagers came out to defend their homes and property, clashes broke out between residents and settlers, and Israeli soldiers were present and began firing along with the settlers.'

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as 'a massacre and terrorist crime committed by a group of settlers in partnership with the Israeli occupation forces.'

Attack on the village of Furata

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that its crews treated 8 injuries, 6 from live fire, during an attack by Israeli settlers on the village of Furata near Qalqilya, also adjacent to the Havat Gilad settlement.

The head of the Furata village council, Abdul Moneim Shana'a, said: 'Settlers accompanied by Israeli army forces attacked the eastern side of the village, burning olive groves and a commercial facility. When village youths tried to extinguish the fires, the army prevented them and opened fire at them.'

Broader context

The pace of violence in the West Bank has escalated since the start of the war on Gaza, with increased settler attacks on Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. About 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, along with more than 500,000 Israelis in settlements considered illegal under international law.

Official Israeli statistics indicate that at least 47 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during military operations since the start of the war. In contrast, the Israeli army or settlers have killed at least 1,094 Palestinians during the same period, according to an AFP count based on data from the Palestinian Health Ministry.