IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi conducted a situational assessment today (Monday) regarding the situation on various fronts, especially Gaza and in Judea and Samaria.
Halevi said that "alongside the intense preparations for defense in the Gaza Strip, we need to be prepared for significant operations in Judea and Samaria already in the coming days in order to preempt and catch the terrorists before they reach our citizens."
The Chief of Staff also ordered the drafting of plans for continued fighting - not just in Judea and Samaria but also the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, in the event the ceasefire on either front collapses.
Both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have insisted that Israel withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon by January 26, the end of the 60-day ceasefire period, during which the Lebanese Army is supposed to take complete control over southern Lebanon and ensure it is otherwise demilitarized.
Meanwhile, celebrations broke out in Judea and Samaria with the return of the bulk of the prisoners released in exchange for the three hostages Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari yesterday, as part of the first phase of the hostage deal.
Terrorist attacks in this area have increased, and the IDF has been operating intensively in and around the city of Jenin to root out terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, sometimes taking serious casualties.
In an interview for Army Radio, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that his constituency in Judea and Samaria would be the first to "pay a price" for the hostage deal due to all the terrorists being freed into the area in accordance with the deal.
Smotrich said that he's staying in the government to ensure that Israel renews the war rather than go through with the entire hostage deal, which includes a permanent end to the fighting in exchange for all the rest of the hostages.
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