What prompts Israel to intensify its operations in the West Bank following the Gaza truce?

In the aftermath of a delicate ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Israel has initiated a significant military operation in the occupied West Bank, while suspected Jewish settlers have engaged in violent rampages across two Palestinian towns. This surge in violence comes at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure from his far-right coalition partners following his commitment to the truce and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners with Hamas. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen to lift the Biden administration’s sanctions against Israelis accused of violent actions in the area.

This complex situation could jeopardize the ceasefire, which is intended to last for a minimum of six weeks, facilitating the release of numerous hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees—most of whom will be sent to the West Bank. Since the 1967 Mideast war, Israel has maintained control over the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, all of which Palestinians aspire to include in their future state. Escalation in violence in one region often exacerbates tensions in another, raising fears that the more challenging second phase of the Gaza ceasefire—yet to be negotiated—may not materialize.

The recent developments include a violent incident where groups of masked individuals attacked two Palestinian villages in the northern West Bank late Monday, throwing stones and setting property ablaze. Palestinian officials reported that the Red Crescent emergency service treated 12 injured individuals. Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted a raid in a different area of the West Bank, responding to reports of firebombs targeting Israeli vehicles. As a result, several suspects were arrested, and disturbing footage of detainees being marched through streets emerged.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military launched another operation in Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank known for frequent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least nine individuals, including a 16-year-old, were killed, with around 40 others injured during the military activities involving airstrikes and the dismantling of roadside explosives. Reports also indicate a significant increase in the number of Israeli checkpoints throughout the territory, which has led to extended delays for Palestinians.

Israeli officials maintain that threats against their citizens from the West Bank are escalating. Earlier this month, a shooting incident carried out by Palestinian gunmen claimed the lives of three Israelis, including two elderly women. This violence has prompted settler leaders to demand a tougher stance in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the operation in Jenin as a part of Israel’s broader struggle against Iranian influence and its affiliates, asserting that “we will strike the octopus’ arms until they snap.”

From the Palestinian perspective, such military actions and the expansion of Israeli settlements reinforce an ongoing assertion of control over a territory where approximately 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military governance, with the Palestinian Authority managing certain areas. Prominent human rights organizations have labeled this situation as a form of apartheid, considering that over 500,000 Jewish settlers enjoy the rights granted by Israeli citizenship, a characterization that Israel disputes.

Internally, Netanyahu is grappling with discord among his ultranationalist coalition partners following the implementation of the ceasefire, which mandates a withdrawal of Israeli forces from most of Gaza and the release of a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of violent offenses. One coalition member, Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned in disapproval the same day the ceasefire took effect, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has indicated a willingness to exit the coalition if military operations do not resume after the preliminary ceasefire phase concludes in early March.

Both figures are advocating for the annexation of the West Bank and the rebuilding of settlements in Gaza, along with policies to facilitate what they term “voluntary migration” of significant numbers of Palestinians. Although Netanyahu retains a parliamentary majority despite Ben-Gvir’s exit, the potential departure of Smotrich, who serves as the de facto governor of the West Bank, would critically weaken his coalition and could trigger early elections. This outcome could jeopardize Netanyahu’s long-standing leadership of nearly 16 years and expose him more to lingering corruption allegations and an anticipated public inquiry into Israel’s failures to prevent the initial Hamas attack.

Trump’s return to the presidency may provide Netanyahu with a strategic advantage. The newly inaugurated president, known for his robust support of Israel during his previous term, has assembled a team sympathetic to Israeli settlers, some of whom assert historical claims to the West Bank based on the existence of ancient Jewish kingdoms. Conversely, the international community largely deems these settlements illegal. Among the executive orders Trump enacted on his first day back was the repeal of sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on settlers accused of violence against Palestinians. Although these sanctions had minimal impact, they stood as one of the few concrete measures by the Biden administration opposing actions by a close U.S. ally while simultaneously providing substantial military aid to Israel amidst its campaigns in Gaza.

Trump has taken credit for facilitating the Gaza ceasefire agreement during the final days of the Biden administration; however, he has expressed skepticism about its durability and has indicated a willingness to allow Israel greater freedom of action, stating, “It’s not our war; it’s their war.”