Israeli minister calls for Gaza-style military campaign in West Bank

Tel Aviv: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a Gaza-style military campaign in the occupied West Bank, urging the destruction of the Palestinian Authority and the seizure of weapons following a shooting attack that injured five people.

Smotrich, who also holds responsibilities within the Defence Ministry, argued that a sweeping military operation similar to those carried out in Gaza and Lebanon was necessary to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and eliminate militants. He said implementing such measures would be a major priority for his political camp in the next government.

The remarks came after Israeli citizens were wounded in a shooting in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces subsequently launched raids and imposed tighter restrictions in the affected area. Smotrich also announced orders to immediately demolish unauthorised structures near the site of the attack.

The minister has previously advocated an expansion of Israeli settlements across the West Bank. In an interview on Israeli news outlet Ynet's podcast, he had expressed satisfaction over the significant growth of Jewish settlements under the current government.

His latest call comes amid mounting tensions and violence in the occupied territory. Last week, Israeli settlers attacked European diplomats, a French mayor and an archbishop who had travelled to Taybeh to participate in the olive harvest. Three people were injured in that incident.

Smotrich's proposal to extend Gaza-style military operations to the West Bank has further intensified concerns over the prospect of a broader escalation in the territory, where Israeli military operations, settlement expansion and settler violence have fuelled persistent tensions.