WhatsappMany assume Israel’s next focus after Gaza is Hezbollah which has been shooting missiles at Israel since October 8th, Israel is actually far more worried about first destroying Hamas’ infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.
It is no secret that while most of Judea and Samaria is under `israeli control, the large “palestinian” arab population centers like Ramalla, Jenin, Shchem, and Hebron are under controlled by the Palestinian Authority or are supposed to be. If that is not enough of a problem, Hamas now as the overwhelming support of the residents in these areas. Over the past few years, with Iranian help, Hamas has built a serious terror infrastructure in Jenin, Shchem, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Hebron as well as other places.
Since October 7th, this terror infrastructure has begun to strike at Israelis on both sides of the green line. For Israelis along the coast it became clear early on that Tulkarm, and Qalqilya are positioned to be the most strategically dangerous to the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Israel’s coast is only 9km from Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. An October 7th type of attack from those cities, would be able to cripple the country.
In some ways, the terror center that lies at the heart of Samaria, and provides backing to Hamas in Tulkarm, and Qalqilya is Jenin. For years it has been a hotbed of terror, but as Hamas’ power has grown in Judea and Samaria, Jenin has turned into its capital and central hub.
The IDF has been working on and off in these three cities for years and especially since October 7th, but mainly using pinpoint raids. All of that changed nine days ago when the IDF decided to charge into Jenin before Hamas was able to launch an October 7th style attack from Samaria. The IDF has successfully taken control of Jenin’s transportation hub by destroying the thoroughfares in order to cut down on terrorists’ movements as well as laying siege to Jenin’s hospital where terrorists are often taken into hiding. 80% of the cities water and electrical infrastructure has been destroyed in a matter of days. This has caused an exodus of “civilians” similar to that in Gaza.
In response, Hamas tried a double car bomb in Gush Etzion and then the day after a terrorist affiliated with both Hamas and the PA killed three police officers on the main East-West highway between Kiryat Gat and Hebron. Like Jenin and Tuklkarm which are in the process of being flattened, the IDF has now encircled cities like Hebron, Bani Nayim, Halhoul, and more in preparation for similar activities in the coming weeks.
The IDF is prepared to take down Hamas’ and Fatah’s terror network once and for all. This week, the IDF raised the status of the Arab occupied areas in Judea and Samaria to that of an active war zone - the same level as Gaza.
All of this must happen now; well before an invasion Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah happens. If not, Hamas and others in Judea and Samaria will take advantage of Israel’s northern war to strike a death blow at Israel’s center.
