Netanyahu Vows to Expand West Bank Military Operations, Plans Iran Talks with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened on Sunday to expand military operations in the occupied West Bank, asserting his intent to discuss the Iranian issue with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Netanyahu made these remarks at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting, held in a secret underground facility. He addressed the volatile situation in the northern occupied West Bank, marked by escalating settler violence and intensified Israeli army operations, including the arrest of dozens of Palestinians recently. Netanyahu stated: "We issued instructions to enter villages, sweep them, seize weapons, and arrest wanted individuals. These actions have been carried out and continue at this moment." He added that Israeli forces stormed a hospital in Nablus, alleging that two wanted individuals were hiding there and were subsequently apprehended. He further noted the sealing of the home of Palestinian Farouk Ramadan from Tal village near Nablus for demolition, and "measurements were taken of homes of other partners in preparation for actions against them." This follows the killing of Ramadan and three relatives, and injury of four others, on Friday, during their resistance to an attack by settlers backed by Israeli soldiers in Tal, after he disarmed a settlement guard, firing and killing two Israelis before his death. Netanyahu concluded by threatening: "We are ready to act on a broader scale against terrorist strongholds, and the Defense Minister will elaborate on this."