Israeli Forces Begin Nablus Counterterror Operation

Israeli troops, Border Police forces in Judea and Samaria, and the Shin Bet began a counterterror operation in the Nablus area overnight into Tuesday, October 27. The reported activity forms part of a wider operation planned in the region over the coming days. The operation’s reported objectives include dismantling monuments that glorify terrorists and incite terrorism, arresting wanted people involved in weapons and terrorist activity, and questioning suspects. Forces are also to search buildings identified through intelligence as possible locations of weapons. These are the stated aims of the activity, rather than a tally of completed arrests or seizures. Palestinians reported that troops had begun dismantling a monument bearing terrorists’ names in Rujeib, east of Nablus. The new operation follows counterterror activity described by the IDF on October 24. In that earlier account, the military said troops, Border Police and Shin Bet operated across approximately 40 areas and 400 locations in Judea and Samaria over the weekend, focusing on places associated with Hamas. It reported approximately 40 suspects detained, including people affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The IDF said forces would act to “prevent the entrenchment of terrorism in the area.”