On Monday, September 7, 2026, Israel threatened a “full-scale war” against the Palestinian Authority if its security forces prepare an attack on Israeli forces or settlements modeled after the Hamas assault from Gaza on October 7, 2023. The Palestinian leadership dismissed the statement as an attempt to inflame the conflict during Israel‘s election season. The warning came amid a sharp rise in violence in the occupied West Bank.
Minister of Defense Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the IDF to ready itself for a full‑scale war should Palestinian Authority security forces launch, or, based on credible intelligence, prepare to launch a terrorist attack following the October 7 scenario. According to Israel Katz, the campaign would target the “senior leadership and structures” of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, as well as all “terrorist infrastructure” in the West Bank.
Details of a potential military operation
According to Israel Katz, the operation would involve “targeted killings of senior officials” and the “evacuation of residents from towns and villages from which terrorist activity is carried out,” after which a permanent Israel military presence could be established in those areas. The minister noted that the plan would follow the model of so‑called “security zones” where the Israel military is currently operating in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
Chairman of the Palestinian National Council Rawhi Fattouh said the words of Israel Katz demonstrate the “aggressive and racist nature of the Israeli government.” He added that the statement confirms that Israel is not seeking a peace partner but instead aims to sustain conflict and spread chaos and instability.
The Palestinian Authority is not officially involved in militant activities, and its security forces work to suppress local armed groups in the West Bank. At the same time, there is no evidence that the September 7 attack on an Israeli settler was carried out with the knowledge or consent of the Palestinian Authority.
Situation in the West Bank
On Monday, the Israel military said it shot and killed a Palestinian who had stabbed an Israeli settler in the northern occupied West Bank. According to the Israel emergency service Magen David Adom, the wounded person was taken to a hospital in moderate to serious condition.
The civil administration identified the attacker as 34‑year‑old Mahmoud Mohamed Arabi Mohsen. His uncle, Nizar Arabi Mohsen, said he had been “suffering from a mental illness” for about four years.
Earlier that day, the Palestine Ministry of Health reported the death of a man during an attack by settlers in the village of Hajja in northern West Bank. The Israel military said it deployed units there after reports of clashes between Palestinians and settlers. It claimed Palestinians threw stones at soldiers, who fired warning shots into the air before opening fire on the key instigators. The military reported hits and said the incident is under review.
According to an AFP tally based on Palestine Ministry of Health data, at least 1,106 Palestinians have been killed by the Israel military or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, including militants and civilians. Israeli figures put the number of Israelis killed—civilians and security personnel alike—at a minimum of 48 during the same period, as a result of Palestinian attacks or Israeli operations.
