Three Palestinian fishermen injured by Israeli gunfire off Gaza coast

Jerusalem - Israel has warned of launching a full-scale war against the Palestinian Authority if it is found preparing an attack akin to the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault that triggered the Gaza conflict. Defence Minister Israel Katz made the threat on Monday following a stabbing incident in the northern West Bank, where an assailant was killed by Israeli forces.

The surge in violence in the West Bank, a territory under Israeli occupation since 1967, has been attributed to a rise in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians with little legal repercussions. If the Palestinian security apparatus in Ramallah or elsewhere plans to launch a "terror attack in the style of October 7," Katz instructed the IDF to prepare for a full-scale war, targeting the Palestinian Authority's leadership, terror infrastructure, and anyone involved in carrying out terror activities.

The military campaign would resemble Israel's current "security zones" in Gaza and southern Lebanon, including targeted killings of senior figures and the evacuation of residents from terror hotspots. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eliminate terrorists and destroy terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria. Hamas responded to the stabbing attack by calling for an escalation of resistance and to engage with enemy soldiers and settler gangs.

The October 7 attack resulted in 1,221 deaths and 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures, while Israel's offensive in Gaza has reportedly killed at least 73,651 Palestinians.