Netanyahu vows expanded operations against West Bank ‘terrorist strongholds’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an expansion of operations against Palestinian "terrorist strongholds" in the West Bank following a deadly shootout on Friday. The incident occurred after settlers illegally entered a Nablus-area village, resulting in the deaths of an IDF soldier, a civilian defense squad member, and four Palestinians. Netanyahu stated, "the instructions we gave were to enter villages, search them, seize weapons, and make arrests."

• Defense Minister Katz criticized Democrats party chief Yair Golan for blaming the gunfight on settler extremists and the government, calling it a "blood libel."
• The cabinet meeting was held in a secure underground location amid concerns of escalation in the war with Iran.
• Netanyahu also addressed the International Criminal Court, accusing it of "trying to subordinate [democratic states'] security to the decisions of corrupt bureaucrats in The Hague" after it issued an arrest warrant for him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
• Ministers called for a harsher response against Palestinians and for the IDF to grant troops greater leeway to open fire.