In light of the footage of the celebrations of the release of terrorists in Judea and Samaria: Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the Chief of Staff and the IDF this evening (Monday) to target any terrorist participating in these parades.
"All measures must be taken to prevent the recurrence of mass Palestinian celebrations and parades in honor of the release of Palestinian terrorists to Judea and Samaria – and to target any armed Palestinian terrorist participating in these parades," Katz instructed.
In his address to the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Defense emphasized that "according to the established policy, the struggle against Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria is now at the top of the priorities of the IDF and the State of Israel, due to the severity of the threats and the fact that this remains the central friction arena in the region where shooting and terrorism activities against the State of Israel currently exist."
Katz added that "the Iranian terror routes and extreme Sunni Islam primarily operate against Palestinian refugee camps to promote advanced terror means and funding and directing terrorist activities against IDF soldiers and Jewish settlers, and we must act against them and strike them with full force until the terror infrastructure is dismantled."
"It is forbidden that celebrations of victory for terrorists provide additional support to terrorism. It is our duty to provide full protection to the settlers and the communities of Judea and Samaria and the seam line," he concluded.
Earlier today, Minister of Settlement and National Missions Orit Strook sent a letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz, expressing her outrage that the cabinet's decision regarding the celebrations of the release of terrorists in Judea and Samaria was not implemented.
In a letter sent under the title: "Release of the terrorists to Judea and Samaria – Non-implementation of the Cabinet's decision," Struck wrote that "in the Cabinet decision made on the last holy Sabbath night, principles were established for the IDF's preparation in Judea and Samaria in anticipation of and during the arrival of the released terrorists to this sector, in order to prevent (or minimize as much as possible) a flare-up of terrorism."
"Last night, the first stage of the release of the terrorists was carried out, and unfortunately, it seems that the cabinet's decision was not implemented, and its objectives were not achieved. To my understanding, there is no choice but to provide concrete and clear instructions in preparation for the next expected release on the coming Saturday (something that IDF officers requested to avoid when drafting the decision)," added Minister Struck.
Last night, following the release of 78 terrorists to Judea and Samaria, armed marches took place in Tamun, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams, and mass celebrations of the release occurred in Beitunia, Aroub, Burqa, Ramallah, and Beit Omar (partial list only).
In the city of Tubas and the village of Tamun in northeastern Samaria, conferences were held to support Hamas with the participation of dozens of armed militants. In Ramallah, the stronghold of the Palestinian Authority, hundreds chanted hoarsely, "The people want the Al-Qassam Brigades," while PA police stood nearby. In Jenin, masked militants distributed sweets in broad daylight.
Mass processions in support of Hamas also took place in dozens of other villages in Samaria, Binyamin, and Gush Etzion, many of which are near Jewish settlements. Among the villages where parades, including firework displays and waving Hamas flags, were held are Burka, Odala, Beita, Einabus, and Qusra in Samaria, as well as the villages of Beitunia, Khirbet Abu Falah, and Burka in Binyamin.
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