Israeli defense minister Katz orders expanded operations in West Bank

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday ordered Israeli forces to expand their offensive operations in the West Bank, according to a statement from his office. The move comes as military operations continue across the occupied Palestinian territories.

The statement noted that Palestinian attacks have decreased by 80% in 2025, with this decline continuing into 2026, according to figures cited by Bloomberg News from Katz's office.

This development follows an announcement last Friday by the Israeli military that it is preparing for a large-scale operation in the occupied Palestinian territories, alongside the imposition of a curfew.

On the ground, Israeli forces on Tuesday demolished three homes in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the total number of demolitions carried out by Israeli forces since Monday morning has risen to more than 13 homes, in addition to three structures, across the Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Jenin governorates.