Al-Duwairi: These signs were indicative of an invasion of the northern West Bank | News
Military and strategic expert, Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, believes that the Israeli occupation’s launch of a large-scale military operation in the northern West Bank was expected due to a series of events, decisions, and signs that foreshadowed this.
Al-Duwairi explained – during his analysis of the military scene in the occupied Palestinian territories – that preparations for this operation had been underway for months, amid indications that it was about to be implemented, such as the increase in the number of raids on Palestinian camps and towns, especially Jenin, Nour Shams, and Tubas.
Among these indicators is the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant’s permission to re-use the air force (drones, vertical, winged) in the West Bank, according to Al-Duwairi.
In addition, recent months have witnessed an increase in the frequency of settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has spoken about the need to begin building a Jewish temple (synagogue) inside it.
The military expert pointed out that the commander of the Central Military District of the Israeli army, Avi Blot, is a graduate of the same school as the extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, noting that the former was calling for the necessity of conducting a military maneuver in the northern West Bank, similar to what happened in Gaza.
Al-Duwairi pointed out that the tasks of the Central Military Region are different from those of the Northern and Southern Regions, as it assumes the executive, judicial and legislative roles, but what it does contradicts those tasks.
Israel is promoting the idea that this military operation aims to eliminate the resistance structure, while Al-Duwairi said that what is happening aims to eliminate the structure of the necessities of life, warning at the same time against the army targeting those camps.
The strategic expert concluded that “Israel wants to control the West Bank, and this is the beginning of the forced displacement plan there.”
Regarding the difference between the resistance capabilities in Gaza and the West Bank, the military expert said that the field data in the West Bank is different, indicating that a group of young fighters organized themselves there into small battalions with limited capabilities, noting that it is out of the question to engage in fierce battles like what happened in the Gaza Strip.
Although Gaza was under siege, according to Al-Duwairi, it was devoid of any Israeli presence, which allowed the Al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) – to establish its various regional brigades, in addition to other units specializing in monitoring, surveillance, media, and other things.
He added that Gaza began its battle on October 7, and the resistance there is still cohesive and capable of successfully managing the defensive battle despite the military strikes it has suffered.