IDF chief says 1,500 Palestinians have been arrested in monthslong West Bank operation

IDF chief Aviv Kohavi says troops have arrested over 1,500 Palestinians in near-nightly raids in the West Bank, since an operation was launched earlier this year following a wave of deadly terror attacks.

“As part of the operation so far, about 1,500 wanted persons have been arrested and hundreds of terror attacks have been thwarted,” Kohavi says at a military conference, in remarks provided by the Israel Defense Forces.

Between mid-March and early May, 19 people were killed in a series of terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank, prompting the IDF to launch an operation dubbed Breakwater.

“Part of the increase in terrorism stems from the helplessness of the Palestinian Authority security forces, leading to a lack of governance in certain areas of Judea and Samaria, and these are fertile ground for the growth of terrorism,” Kohavi says.

“As always, even in face of this development, our test is protecting the citizens of Israel, and our mission is to thwart terrorism. We will reach every city, neighborhood, alley, house or basement for that purpose,” he says.

“Our activity will continue and we are prepared to increase it as needed,” Kohavi adds.