Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prepare for wider operations and seize another Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, as escalating raids, settler attacks, and new settlement approvals draw international condemnation and deep diplomatic friction.
What began as a security assessment following a deadly clash near Nablus has quickly widened into a broad escalation across the West Bank. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to expand its operations against Palestinian militant groups and prepare for the capture of another refugee camp. The planned incursions follow military campaigns in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams.
According to the Defense Ministry, the strategy implemented by Katz with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s backing has reduced militant activity by 80% in 2025. Defense officials expect that downward trend to persist through 2026. Yet on the ground, the military campaign intersects with a sharp surge in regional violence, home demolitions, and sweeping political decisions.
Operational Directive Follows Deadly West Bank Clashes
The military directive followed a week of severe violence around the village of Tal, located southwest of Nablus. Four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed on a Friday after armed Israeli settlers attacked residents on their land. The Israeli military increasingly believes one of its own soldiers was killed by friendly fire during the confrontation.
In the wake of those deaths, Katz ordered the military to prepare for wider raids. At the same time, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded aggressive punitive actions, declaring that Palestinian towns tied to attacks must face severe retribution.
Amid these orders, Israeli forces carried out overnight raids across multiple governorates, arresting individuals in Tulkarm, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Qalqilya, and Bethlehem. Concurrently, home demolitions targeted properties citing a lack of Israeli-issued permits in Area C. In the village of Shuqba, west of Ramallah, a single-storey occupied home belonging to Mahmoud Bilal Hassan was demolished. Khalaf Qadah, head of the Shuqba village council, reported that roughly 90 homes in the village have received demolition or stop-work orders. Additional demolitions occurred in Deir Razeh, east of Dura, while settler assaults and arrests were reported in al-Minya and Khillet al-Hummus.
Smotrich Confirms Settlement Expansion With Full US Backing
While military operations intensify, the Israeli security cabinet has moved forward on the political front by approving 19 new settlements. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that authorities had legalized eight existing outposts and established 11 new ones, explicitly stating the policy is aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. Roughly half of the outposts sit deep inside the West Bank, while others run along the Green Line.
Speaking on Independence Day, Smotrich told reporters that the sweeping expansion is proceeding with full coordination and full backing from the government and the current US administration. Smotrich, who leads the Settlements Administration within the Defense Ministry, stated that his actions have been coordinated with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Smotrich noted that while President Trump has not yet endorsed the full application of Israeli sovereignty over the entire West Bank, he hopes we will also succeed in that.
According to Smotrich’s office, over 51,000 housing units have been approved for deposit and final authorization in the West Bank since the current government took power in 2022.
Fourteen Nations Issue Joint Condemnation Over New Settlements
The settlement authorizations have triggered a sharp diplomatic backlash from international allies. Fourteen countries — including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom — released a joint statement condemning the security cabinet’s decision.
The signatory nations stressed that such unilateral steps violate international law and threaten to destabilize the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. They urged the Israeli government to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements, while reaffirming an unwavering commitment to a two-state solution.
Settlement Growth Reaches Record Highs Amid International Alarm
The latest approvals arrive against a backdrop of historic expansion across the territory. United Nations figures indicate that the growth of Israeli settlements has reached its highest level since tracking began in 2017. The total number of settlements has climbed by nearly 50 percent, rising from 141 in 2022 to 210 following the latest authorizations, according to data from the Israeli watchdog Peace Now.
Excluding East Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis now reside in West Bank settlements alongside approximately three million Palestinian residents. Smotrich dismissed international criticism regarding the expansion, arguing that global pushback has diminished compared to past decades and asserting that opposing nations are influenced by regional political pressures.
What Lies Ahead for West Bank Security and Governance
As the IDF prepares for new refugee camp incursions and further territorial enforcement, the disconnect between Israel’s governing coalition and international law enforcement bodies continues to widen. With Washington offering open support for regulatory and security actions in the West Bank, the path forward points toward accelerated outpost integration, continued military raids, and mounting diplomatic isolation from European and international partners.
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