Israeli Defense Minister: Hamas Seeks to Create Chaos in the West Bank

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense Minister, warned on Sunday, January 14, that Hamas is attempting to create chaos in the West Bank and stated that Israel can prevent this by strengthening the Palestinian Authority. According to the Times of Israel, Gallant, in remarks published by his office, also referred to the issue of workers wanting to go to Israel for work, saying, "We must do everything possible to prevent Hamas's attempts to incite chaos in the West Bank and address the issue of workers and money, as it could harm our ability to achieve military objectives." Gallant mentioned proposals allowing Palestinian workers from the West Bank to work in Israel and also for Israel to pay the Palestinian Authority the blocked tax revenues; topics that have been heavily debated in the Israeli cabinet since the war began. According to the Times of Israel, he added, "I hope the government will accept the position of the Israeli army and Shin Bet regarding anything related to workers and money. I say this as clearly as possible: a strong Palestinian Authority is in Israel's security interest." The U.S. State Department on Wednesday, January 10, issued a statement regarding Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah, emphasizing U.S. efforts to combat extremist violence in the West Bank and reiterating the U.S. position that all Palestinian tax revenues collected by Israel should be continuously transferred to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with previous agreements. The U.S. Secretary of State also reiterated the Biden administration's stance that the United States supports concrete steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the Israeli government, living in peace and security. U.S. officials, including Blinken, have recently stated that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank should be considered for managing Gaza. The Israeli army's attack on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon; Gallant: Residents of 76 settlements are being prepared for return. Blinken's visit to the World Food Program warehouse in Jordan: The U.S. is focused on the "very difficult" conditions in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister: Operations in Gaza continue with the ongoing "pursuit of Hamas leaders" in the south. The Israeli Defense Minister: Thousands of terrorists are still in northern Gaza; the war in the south continues. Saudi media: 11 commanders and members of the IRGC were killed in an Israeli attack in Syria. The Israeli Defense Minister referred to retaliatory attacks in Iran and Iraq. The U.S. ambassador to the UN: We oppose the request to settle Palestinians anywhere other than Gaza.