IOF begins military drills in West Bank, Palestinian Jordan Valley
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The Israeli occupation army began three-day military maneuvers in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian Jordan Valley, simulating scenarios of resistance operations targeting illegal settlements.
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Israeli occupation forces suppress Palestinian demonstrators during a protest against "Israel's" plan to annex parts of the West Bank at the village of Fasayil, in Jordan Valley, on June 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
The Israeli occupation army announced the launch of extensive military maneuvers on Monday morning across the West Bank and the Palestinian Jordan Valley, near the border with Jordan. The drills are expected to continue for three days.
In an official statement, the occupation army confirmed that the exercises will involve the intensive movement of forces and military vehicles throughout the designated operational areas.
Israeli media reported that the maneuvers are intended to simulate a range of scenarios, with a particular focus on "providing protection for Israeli settlements and dealing with any attack that may target them."
The military exercises will contribute to heightened activity in areas bordering Jordan, particularly in the Palestinian Jordan Valley, and are part of the occupation's ongoing efforts to reinforce its military occupation of the West Bank and surrounding areas under the pretext of "security".
In light of the military escalations, on Sunday, Israeli occupation forces killed a young Palestinian man during a raid on the al-Fara’a refugee camp in the northwestern occupied West Bank, as the ceasefire in Gaza, which "Israel" has repeatedly violated, brings little relief to Palestinians throughout the occupied territories.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, 26-year-old Abdel Rahman Darawsha succumbed to critical injuries sustained after being shot by Israeli troops who stormed the refugee camp south of Tubas and opened live fire.
The first moments after the martyr Abdul Rahman Darawsha was shot by Israeli occupation forces in Al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas. pic.twitter.com/PGQtoAR87N
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) November 8, 2025
Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces deployed infantry units at the entrance of the camp and fired directly at residents. Darawsha was evacuated by a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance to Tubas Governmental Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Israeli security minister declares closed military zone along Egypt border
On a related note, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz has declared the border area with Egypt a closed military zone, citing what he described as rising security threats. The statement, reported by local media on November 6, follows internal discussions among top Israeli officials.
"We are declaring war. Anyone who enters the restricted area will be harmed," Katz reportedly said during a meeting held late Wednesday, as quoted by the Israeli public broadcaster KAN.
According to Israeli Army Radio, the occupation’s security minister reached an agreement with Shin Bet chief David Zinni to classify alleged "weapons smuggling attempts" through the border with Egypt as a "terrorist threat." The designation allows Israeli security services to apply what officials referred to as "appropriate tools" in response.
The decision underscores the occupation's increasingly aggressive posture along the southern border, amid heightened regional tensions and claims of smuggling activity.
