Katz urges IDF readiness for Oct. 7-style attack on West Bank communities

Defense Minister Israel Katz warns that the IDF must be prepared for a potential attack on Israeli communities in the West Bank “in the style of October 7,” during a visit to the West Bank.

According to a statement from Katz’s office, he received a security briefing and situational assessment alongside senior commanders, including Central Command head Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth — who made similar comments earlier today.

Katz praises IDF, Border Police and other security forces for what he describes as determined operations that have led to a sharp decline in terrorist activity and a significant improvement in the West Bank’s security situation.

Katz says operations carried out over the past year in the Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps – including evacuations, counterterrorism operations and the continued presence of IDF troops – had reduced terrorist activity in the territory by more than 80 percent. He calls for studying the model and potentially expanding it to additional camps.

The defense minister stresses that, as in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, the IDF would remain on the ground in the West Bank to act as a buffer between civilians and terror groups. He also instructs officials to advance plans to relocate IDF bases to the northern West Bank, describing the move as a “historic correction” with both security and settlement significance – remarks that come in the wake of a terror attack last week in which two Israelis were killed, and whose assailant was later identified as being from the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya.

“You must prepare to respond to a possible attack on communities in the West Bank and along the seam line, in the style of October 7, by jihadist elements,” Katz says, concluding his visit.