By Hezy Laing

Israeli security officials have expressed growing concern that terror groups in Judea and Samaria may be planning attacks reminiscent of the October 7 massacre, with potential targets including the Greater Tel Aviv region.

Several developments suggest heightened risk:

Defense Minister Israel Katz recently confirmed that Hamas files were seized detailing coordinated assaults on towns along the Seam Line and deeper into Israel’s heartland.

A survey conducted on Sep. 1-7th, 2025, for INSS found that 54% of Judea and Samaria Arabs believe the State of Israel has no right to exist (75% of those aged 18-34), 69% think Israel will not endure over time, and 50% believe Israel can be destroyed following the events of Oct. 7.

Foiled Terror Plots: In recent months, Israeli police and the Shin Bet have arrested multiple Arab in Tel Aviv suspected of planning a terror attack.

One operation near the Tel Aviv Port involved suspects from the Nablus area and was described as a serious threat.

Iranian Involvement: Israeli intelligence reports indicate that Iran has increased its support for Arab terrorist in Judea and Samaria, supplying money and weapons.

Officials warn that Iran is attempting to turn the region into a “real battlefield,” similar to its role in Gaza.

It is believed there are currently over 300,000 illegal weapons in the region.

Security Prisoner Releases: As part of hostage negotiations, Israel has released thousands of terrorists, including individuals convicted of multiple attacks.

Most of these have returned to Judea and Samaria, raising fears of renewed terror activity.

Military Operations and Intelligence: The IDF has launched extensive operations in Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm refugee camps, citing intelligence about planned attacks.

These areas are now under full military control due to persistent threats from groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas.

In October 2025, the Israeli Knesset held an emergency session focused on escalating Arab threats from Judea and Samaria, particularly the growing phenomenon of weapons smuggling and militant buildup that some lawmakers warned could lead to an October 7-style massacre in central Israel.

The session, convened by the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on October 15, was prompted by alarming intelligence reports about drones being used to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israeli territory.

MK Tzvi Succot, chairman of the Subcommittee on Judea and Samaria Affairs, described the situation as an “existential threat,” warning that hostile actors were “arming themselves from within” and that Judea and Samaria was becoming a launchpad for future attacks.

This emergency meeting followed a series of IDF operations in northern Samarian cities like Jenin and Tulkarm, where Israeli forces uncovered weapons caches and disrupted planned terror activities.

The debate reflects a growing sense among Israeli lawmakers that the threat from Judea and Samaria is no longer theoretical, and that decisive measures may be needed to prevent another national trauma.

Head of Hamas in the Judea and Samaria and Head of the Prisoners and Martyrs Office in the movement, Zaher Jabarin recently insinuated that it was up to the Arabs of the region to carry out an attack on the Greater Tel Aviv region in order to free the remaining imprisoned terrorists.

Samaria Council Chairman Yossi Dagan responded to Jabarin, “The incredible and shocking revelation proves that Hamas, with the assistance of the Palestinian Authority, is planning attacks here in Judea and Samaria and from there to all the cities of the center, the Sharon and the Dan Bloc.”

“I call on the Israeli government, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense and the IDF’s senior command to order a determined ground maneuver to sever the head of the snake.”

“To completely eliminate Hamas in Judea and Samaria and to eliminate the terror infrastructures that come from the Palestinian Authority.”

“Everyone knows that the Authority incites, finances and directs it. It is in our hands to prevent the transition of Azatization to Judea and Samaria, to maneuver and eliminate the option that endangers the existence of the State of Israel.”