Ankara: Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has announced an increased state of alert and reinforcement of troops in the occupied West Bank as the region braces for several Jewish holidays in September. This decision was made during a strategic assessment of Israel's multiple military fronts.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zamir emphasized the various challenges faced by Israel, highlighting the need for enhanced operational readiness across all fronts, including Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. The chief of staff stressed the importance of maintaining a high state of alert due to the sensitive multi-front situation.

The escalation comes as Israel continues its military activities, including actions in Gaza, conflicts with Lebanon and Iran, and strikes on Yemen and Qatar. The Israeli army has also been conducting frequent ground incursions into Syria since October 8, 2023.

Zamir ordered the readiness of additional division headquarters to bolster forces in the West Bank, particularly in light of the upcoming Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. The army is set to maintain full multi-front readiness throughout this period, without any reduction in operational forces.

Earlier reports from Israel's Channel 12 indicated that troop numbers in the West Bank have increased to 26 military battalions, although specific details regarding the nature and reasons for this reinforcement were not disclosed.

In a related development, the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported the seizure of approximately 15 dunams of land in Al-Bireh in the West Bank. The land is intended for a security route around an illegal settlement, creating a new buffer zone and restricting Palestinian access to surrounding lands.

Preliminary map assessments reveal that the military order not only confiscates land but also limits Palestinian access to an additional 380 dunams. The commission criticized the move as part of a broader policy by Israeli authorities to expand settlement control over Palestinian territories without formal land ownership changes.

The commission noted that since October 7, 2023, 46 military orders have been issued to establish buffer zones around settlements, suggesting a shift from their use as exceptional security measures to a routine mechanism for expanding settlement control.