Israeli security officials say Iran is intensifying efforts to rebuild terror infrastructure in the West Bank, taking advantage of the ceasefire. Before October 7, most external direction for attacks in the area came from Gaza, through Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with Iranian backing. Since the war began, Israeli operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and inside Iran, including the operations named "With the Strength of a Lion" and "Roar of the Lion," have made it harder for Tehran to move money and weapons into the arena.
The main concern now is that after the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and with the Lebanon front apparently winding down, the West Bank has become Tehran’s primary target. Security officials say much of the guidance is being run from Turkey. Earlier this week, the Shin Bet said it had foiled dozens of attacks over the past year directed by Hamas operatives in Turkey, and said those operatives have used Turkish territory to recruit militants, hold meetings with West Bank activists, and transfer money and weapons.
Israeli officials describe three main Iranian methods, digital financing through cryptocurrencies, smuggling weapons across Israel’s eastern border, sometimes with couriers, and remote instruction that includes technological know-how. Central Command and the West Bank Division are focusing on terror funding and on stopping dual-use materials, including civilian goods that can be turned into weapons components. In recent raids, large amounts of agricultural fertilizer were seized.
Another concern is the possible spread of explosive drones from Lebanon to the West Bank. Officials say there are no active explosive drones there yet, but the army is confiscating any drone found in the area as a preventive measure. The main local drivers of violence are former security prisoners, including hundreds released in recent hostage deals, some after nearly 30 years in prison. The Shin Bet and the IDF are monitoring them closely, making warning visits and seeking to stop new cells from forming, especially in Nablus, Tulkarm, Hebron, and Ramallah.
The army and Shin Bet are also using asset seizures as part of the financial campaign. One official said that if a former Hamas activist under surveillance suddenly buys a luxury car worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, investigators immediately check the source of funds and confiscate the car. Although a broad uprising has not yet materialized, senior officers view the West Bank as highly volatile and fear a targeted infiltration through the security barrier could trigger a wider escalation. Because of this, most of the West Bank Division’s operational and engineering effort is now focused on protecting the seam zone, and the IDF plans to add two more battalions in the coming month to deploy in northern Samaria, following the settlers’ move to reestablish the evacuated settlement of Homesh.
