Israeli forces completed a counter-terrorism operation in the northern West Bank early Wednesday, arresting 23 Palestinians suspected of affiliation with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and confiscating funds intended for militant activities. The operation spanned 12 villages within the Menashe Brigade area, according to an IDF spokesperson.
The arrests come amid a sustained Israeli security campaign targeting militant groups in the West Bank. Operation Iron Wall, launched in January 2025, has focused on degrading the infrastructure of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other organizations, the IDF stated last August during a raid on a financial institution in Ramallah. That operation resulted in the seizure of “hundreds of thousands of shekels” linked to terrorism and the arrest of five suspects.
In a separate, parallel operation conducted in the village of Bartaa, Civil Administration forces demolished three structures deemed illegally constructed and confiscated dozens of vehicles alleged to have been stolen. The IDF did not specify the nature of the connection, if any, between the vehicle seizures and the counter-terrorism efforts.
Recent IDF activity in the West Bank has included broader arrest sweeps. Earlier this month, the IDF arrested 60 suspects and seized firearms in counterterrorism operations across the region. In November 2025, the IDF announced the dismantling of a Hamas terrorist network in the Bethlehem area, following 15 separate operations. That announcement followed the arrest of 50 Hamas members suspected of planning imminent attacks against Israel.
The ongoing operations follow a period of heightened tensions and security concerns. In early February 2026, an IDF soldier operating in the West Bank reported gunfire from Gaza near the Yellow Line, prompting scans in the Karmei Tzur area. The IDF has not released further details regarding that incident.
The IDF has not commented on the specific plans or targets of the individuals arrested Wednesday, nor has it disclosed the total value of the “tens of thousands of shekels” confiscated. No further arrests or operations were announced as of Wednesday afternoon.
