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Israel has placed dozens of IDF battalions on high alert ahead of the Jewish High Holidays and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s upcoming speech at the UN General Assembly, amid fears of a surge in terror attacks.
Following a comprehensive multi-front security assessment, the IDF reinforced combat forces across the country, with heightened readiness on land, at sea, and in the air.
Authorities confirmed that counterterrorism units are deployed at sensitive locations, including shopping centers, roads, bus stops, junctions, hitchhiking posts, and communities vulnerable to attacks.
Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, chief of the IDF’s Central Command, stressed the complex security landscape during a ceremony marking 35 years of the West Bank Yamam counterterrorism unit.
“The many challenges before us, the fighting in Gaza City, defense in the north, and the constant battle against terrorism in Judea and Samaria, have recently converged with political statements, the holidays, and the olive harvest, foreign incitement, and lone-wolf inspiration,” Bluth said. “All these are not reasons for optimism, but I am full of hope.”
Meanwhile, ongoing IDF operations in Gaza have intensified. Air and ground strikes, supported by armored engineering vehicles, continue to target Hamas infrastructure. Despite Hamas’s efforts to block evacuations, thousands more residents have moved south toward the designated humanitarian zone.
Defense officials estimate that more than 560,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City, creating what they describe as a “critical mass” unlikely to return. This shift has placed Hamas under growing pressure, with reports suggesting that the group has executed Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel.
According to intelligence assessments, Hamas is attempting to project strength by preventing mass civilian movement while cracking down on perceived dissent. Recent reports indicate that the group has forced doctors and senior officials attempting to leave Gaza back into the north, underscoring its determination to maintain control.
The IDF’s Southern Command views the mass displacement as a significant blow to Hamas’s ability to sustain authority in Gaza City. Officials believe that as pressure mounts, Hamas may escalate its attacks to project defiance and retain influence.
As Abbas prepares to address the United Nations, Israeli officials remain wary that his statements could fuel further unrest in the West Bank and beyond. Combined with the religious holiday period, the annual olive harvest, and ongoing regional instability, security services are bracing for heightened threats.
With Israel reinforcing its defenses on multiple fronts, the coming days are expected to be a crucial test of stability amid volatile political and military developments.