Smotrich urges Gaza-style war in West Bank amid closures

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the military to wage war in the occupied West Bank. He urged forces to repeat actions taken in Gaza while authorities announced a comprehensive week-long military closure across the territory citing the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

Smotrich said that Israel must dismantle the Palestinian Authority which he labeled a terror authority. He stated that forces should eliminate terror infrastructure including weapons and tunnels in Judea and Samaria. These remarks address rising security tensions as violence against Palestinians has grown significantly since October 2023.

The United Nations recorded over 1,330 settler attacks on Palestinians from January to late July. This averages six incidents daily representing the highest rate in two decades. Rights groups warn that settlers increasingly wear military uniforms and use issued weaponry during assaults that experts describe as pogroms against local communities.

Amid these heightened restrictions Israeli soldiers shot and wounded a Palestinian girl at the Qalandia checkpoint. The incident occurred north of occupied East Jerusalem in the central West Bank on Sunday. Local sources reported live ammunition was used but details regarding her identity or injury severity remain unavailable at this time.

Since the war on Gaza began Israeli forces have killed over 1,206 Palestinians in the West Bank. More than 13,300 were injured and nearly 26,000 arrested according to Palestinian figures. Meanwhile hundreds of Israelis stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards under heavy police protection performing rituals as movement restrictions remained tight until October 3.