Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for war in occupied West Bank

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1. 1h ago

   Israeli Minister Smotrich Calls For Gaza-Style War in West Bank

   Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a full-scale military campaign in the occupied West Bank, urging the government to replicate tactics used in Gaza. Smotrich also advocated for dismantling the Palestinian Authority and expanding Israeli territorial control across the region, alongside calls to annex parts of Gaza and southern Lebanon. The remarks arrive amid tighter restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank and a military closure announced by Israeli authorities citing the Jewish holiday Sukkot.

   Why it matters

   The statements from the far-right finance minister compound tensions in the occupied territories as the country approaches a general election. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the comments as an explicit call for dangerous escalation. Observers and regional actors are monitoring the situation to determine whether the rhetoric signals imminent policy changes or strategic posturing.

   What is confirmed

   • Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a full-scale war in the occupied West Bank.
   • Smotrich stated that Israel should do in the West Bank what was done in Gaza.
   • The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the remarks as an explicit call for escalation.
   • Israeli authorities announced a military closure across the occupied West Bank citing the Jewish holiday Sukkot.
   • Smotrich called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority and expanding Israeli territorial control.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The remarks are part of an intentional electoral strategy ahead of the country's upcoming general election.

   What to watch next

   • Official government adoption or rejection of Smotrich's annexation and military campaign proposals
   • Further escalations or adjustments to the military closure across the occupied West Bank
   • International diplomatic responses from regional and global actors
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. aljazeera.com — Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for war in occupied West Bank
   2. The Times of Israel — Smotrich: Israel must 'go to war' in West Bank as 'we did in Gaza,' annex most of Strip, south Lebanon
   3. Anadolu Ajansı — Israeli finance minister calls for Gaza-style war in occupied West Bank
   4. Breakingthenews.net — Smotrich calls for West Bank war like in Gaza
   5. Ynetnews — Smotrich: Israel should ‘go to war’ in West Bank, ‘do what we did in Gaza’
   6. Middle East Eye — 'Do there what we did in Gaza': Smotrich calls for full-scale war in occupied West Bank
   7. Breakingthenews.net — Palestine: Smotrich's remarks explicit call for escalation
   8. The Times of Israel — Smotrich: Israel must ‘go to war’ in West Bank, ‘do there what we did in Gaza’
   9. Al Jazeera — Israel’s Smotrich calls for ‘war’ in West Bank: Rhetoric or real threat?
   10. www.aljazeera.com — Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for war in occupied West Bank | Occupied West Bank News
   11. www.thenationalnews.com — Israel's Smotrich calls for war in West Bank and dismantling of Palestinian Authority | The National
   12. www.middleeasteye.net — 'Do there what we did in Gaza': Smotrich calls for full-scale war in occupied West Bank | Middle East Eye
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