Katz Signals Expansion of Camps Evacuation Model to Other Areas in the West Bank

SadaNews - Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz threatened to expand the operations of the occupying army in the occupied West Bank, claiming that his government's policies have led to a decrease in Palestinian operations by more than 80%.

Katz stated during the weekly Israeli government session on Sunday that his government's policy in the West Bank is "clear, firm, and offensive," claiming that it has achieved an "over 80% drop in terrorist operations," as he put it.

He added that each Palestinian operation has resulted, according to his claims, in "heavy costs," asserting that Israel needs to work to prevent what he described as an attempt by "terrorism to raise its head again."

Katz claimed that one of the central steps taken by his government was to instruct the army to invade the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm camps, which he referred to as "terror camps," noting that occupying forces have been deployed inside them for over a year and a half.

He asserted that the residents who were forced to leave the camps were "displaced for their protection," ignoring the widespread displacement and destruction caused by the occupying forces in homes and infrastructure, as well as preventing residents from returning to their areas.

He said that the army carries out its operations from within the camps to outside them, and that the security establishment is seeking similar steps in other areas by identifying sites from which it claims Palestinian operations are organized, preparing for their evacuation, attack, and long-term incursion.

Since January 21, 2025, the Israeli army has maintained a wide-scale military aggression in the northern West Bank that began in Jenin camp before extending to Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps.

According to official data, the aggression has resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians and injuries to hundreds, as well as the destruction of hundreds of homes and residential buildings and the displacement of tens of thousands of residents from camps and cities in northern West Bank.

Katz added that Israel will work to "determine where terrorism is organized and where it should be attacked," claiming that these measures are aimed at preventing the continuation of Palestinian operations.

Katz also attacked Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army and one of the opposition leaders, accusing him of "insulting" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Security Minister, and blaming settlers in the West Bank for the Palestinian operations.

Katz claimed that Golan's statements would provide an "additional incentive for attackers to target settlers and soldiers," without addressing the repeated attacks by settlers on Palestinian villages, or testimonies issued by Israeli military officials regarding the role of these attacks in triggering confrontations.

He also recalled Golan's previous statements in which he accused the Israeli army of killing Palestinian children in Gaza, claiming they represented a "blood libel" against soldiers, before alleging that Golan is currently repeating the same regarding the settlers.

Katz said that Golan pledged, if he comes to power, to "destroy and evacuate the settlements," claiming that settlers "protect all population centers in Israel," in a direct justification for the settlement project and the spread of settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Katz concluded by threatening to continue and expand the operations of the occupation, saying that the government must "suppress terrorism," and that it will take steps to ensure that what he described as "the terrorism attempting to raise its head will lose its head again."