Israeli army leaders warn of ‘West Bank eruption’ over settler attacks

Israeli army leaders on Thursday warned Defence Minister Israel Katz of the possibility of a “widespread eruption” in the occupied West Bank amid a sharp rise in settler attacks against Palestinians.

Israel Hayom newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing military sources, that senior army commanders had issued a “strategic warning that the West Bank faces the risk of a major escalation amid a sharp increase in Jewish terrorism”, referring to settler attacks.

According to the sources, the warning was issued during a recent closed-door meeting with Katz, where the army leaders, who were not named by the newspaper, said settler attacks were a “major factor in fuelling tensions”.

They warned that attacks targeting Palestinian villages “drive Palestinian residents out of a state of calm, provide fertile ground for incitement against Israelis and security forces, and could lead to a gradual escalation with far-reaching implications for the security situation”.

They added, “If immediate and joint measures are not taken between the various Israeli agencies to contain the phenomenon, there is great fear of an imminent escalation of the situation.”

According to figures presented by the army leaders during the meeting, Israel recorded 682 incidents classified as “Jewish terrorism” in 2024. The figure rose to 867 incidents in 2025, while 636 incidents were recorded in the first half of this year alone.