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Katz: Prepare For a 7.10 Attack in Samaria
Speaking during a visit to the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Division on Wednesday, Katz told senior officers that the military must prepare for scenarios involving coordinated assaults on Israeli communities by jihadist groups. He said the threat environment requires readiness for surprise attacks “in the style of October 7,” stressing that complacency would be dangerous.
Israel has been placed on heightened alert following warnings from Defense Minister Israel Katz that large-scale attacks modeled on October 7 could be attempted in Judea and Samaria and along the seam line.
Speaking during a visit to the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Division on Wednesday, Katz told senior officers that the military must prepare for scenarios involving coordinated assaults on Israeli communities by jihadist groups. He said the threat environment requires readiness for surprise attacks “in the style of October 7,” stressing that complacency would be dangerous.
According to briefings presented during the visit, recent IDF operations in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur al-Shams have led to a significant reduction in terrorist activity in the area. Security officials cited a drop of more than 80 percent in attacks, attributing the decline to sustained military presence, arrests, and the dismantling of terror infrastructure.
Alongside the operational assessment, Katz instructed the IDF to continue advancing plans to relocate and reestablish military bases in northern Samaria. Defense officials say the move is intended to strengthen Israel’s permanent security footprint in the region and improve response times to emerging threats. Katz described the plan as both a security necessity and a “historic correction,” arguing that a reinforced IDF presence would stabilize the area and prevent terrorist regrouping.
The defense minister emphasized that the IDF would maintain freedom of action in Judea and Samaria, similar to its posture in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. “The army will remain on the ground and serve as a clear buffer between the civilian population and terrorist elements,” he said, adding that this approach is essential to preventing the buildup of future attack capabilities.
Katz’s remarks came amid renewed scrutiny of Israel’s preparedness following the October 7 Hamas attack. Earlier this month, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman warned in a critical report that the government and defense establishment had failed to sufficiently internalize lessons from that assault, particularly regarding the protection of vulnerable areas and the seam line around Jerusalem.
Security officials have also pointed to Iranian involvement in recent months, alleging that Tehran, through Unit 840, has sought to smuggle advanced weapons into northern Samaria, including RPGs and mortars, for use against Israeli targets.
Senior commanders present at the visit said the IDF is conducting ongoing reviews of readiness, logistics and force deployment to ensure it can respond rapidly to any attempt at a mass-casualty attack. The underlying message from the defense minister was blunt: Israel cannot assume the next surprise will look different from the last one.