Israel’s military said on Friday that it had begun preparing a large-scale operation across the occupied West Bank. 

The announcement followed a deadly confrontation near the Palestinian village of Tell, southwest of Nablus, in which four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed. Early reports put the Israeli toll at one before a second death was confirmed. The army recalled soldiers’ leave nationwide and sent extra troops to the area.

According to the military, a group of Israeli settlers, including children, took an unauthorised and uncoordinated hike into parts of the West Bank that are off-limits to Israeli civilians. As the group neared Tell, clashes broke out with residents and escalated into gunfire. The Palestinian Health Ministry said four Palestinians were killed and four others wounded, three of them critically. Video of the incident shows an altercation that escalated, and the Israeli military acknowledged that the killing of the Israelis was not planned in advance. It is nonetheless treating the incident as a terror attack and says it will pursue dozens of Palestinians it links to it.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security consultation with Defence Minister Israel Katz, army chief Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet head David Zini. He vowed to act with force against those behind the attack and those who support them. He and Katz also ordered a wide-scale operation in Palestinian villages and told the army to demolish the home of the Palestinian accused of carrying out the shooting.

Netanyahu further announced plans to legalise existing settlement outposts and set up new ones.

Israeli forces then raided Nablus, where two Palestinians were reportedly arrested inside a hospital. Settlers attacked the nearby villages of Sarra and Urif, setting homes on fire, and violence was also reported in Faraata, Jit and Masafer Yatta.

The escalation comes as violence in the West Bank has surged since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Israel has also run a long military campaign in the northern part of the territory since early 2025. Settlements are widely regarded as illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.