Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the Israeli military to "go to war" in the occupied West Bank, advocating for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.

Smotrich, speaking in an interview published Sunday, stated that Israel needs to "do there what we did in Gaza," referring to operations against Hamas. He used the biblical term "Judea and Samaria" for the occupied West Bank and asserted that the Palestinian Authority is a "terror authority" that should be dismantled.

The minister's remarks were in response to a question about combating escalating "security tensions" in the occupied West Bank. He urged Israeli forces to ensure "no terror infrastructure" exists in the region, echoing the objective of dismantling Hamas in Gaza. Smotrich emphasized the need to eliminate "terrorists, weapons, and tunnels."

These comments emerge as Israeli authorities announced a week-long comprehensive military closure across the occupied West Bank, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The closure is cited as a measure to address increasing security concerns.

Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates a significant rise in settler-related violence against Palestinians. From January to late July, OCHA recorded over 1,330 such attacks, averaging six per day, marking the highest rate in approximately two decades. Reports suggest that settlers, often accompanied or protected by Israeli soldiers, have engaged in actions described by experts as "pogroms," including shootings and besieging homes.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about settlers increasingly being armed with military-issued weapons and wearing military uniforms during attacks, which they argue blurs the distinction between civilian settlers and state forces. This trend contributes to the growing violence and instability in the region.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a statement on Sunday, contextualizing Smotrich's remarks within broader Israeli government policies. They cited policies that include the killing and displacement of Palestinians, the expansion of illegal settlements, land confiscation, and attempts at forceful annexation.

The ministry warned that persistent international silence regarding inflammatory Israeli statements and policies emboldens the Israeli government to continue its agenda, thereby increasing regional tensions and instability. The call for military action by a senior minister highlights deep divisions and escalating rhetoric surrounding the conflict in the occupied West Bank.