Lessons Learned from October 7? IDF Practices Response to Mass Terrorist Events in Judea and Samaria

IDF soldiers. Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90 Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90

During the surprise drill, forces will practice response to a variety of scenarios, including infiltration of terrorists into communities, attacks on highways and at mass gatherings, and attacks across multiple regions simultaneously.

By Ben Rappaport, United with Israel and Pesach Benson, TPS

The IDF on Sunday began, at the instruction of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, a surprise drill to test the military’s preparedness for terror events in Israel’s Central Command region, Channel 14 reported.

During the drill, forces are to practice response to a variety of scenarios including the infiltration of terrorists into communities, attacks on highways and at mass gatherings, and attacks across multiple regions simultaneously.

According to the report, the drill comes amid “lessons learned from the war and an assessment of the situation.”

The drill is taking place in several areas across the country, including Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Golan Heights.

On Saturday, Israel released 183 imprisoned Palestinian Arab terrorists in exchange for hostages Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami. The list includes 18 terrorists who were serving life sentences and 111 Palestinian Arabs from Gaza who were detained during the war.

Among the terrorists who were freed:

-Falah Ratib Shahadeh, a Fatah figure who was serving a 27-year sentence for carrying out shooting attacks, planting bombs, and recruiting terror cells during the Second Intifada. Shahadeh will be deported.

-Iyad Abu-Shkheidem, a member of Hamas who masterminded a double suicide bombing in Be’er Sheva in 2004 in which 16 people were killed and more than 100 injured. He was also accused of preparing a bomb belt for a terrorist in 2004 who was caught on his way to a Jerusalem restaurant.

-Yousef al-Mabhouh of Gaza was serving a 15-year term for firing rockets, planting bombs, and working in Hamas tunnels. Mabhouh had an additional 15 years added to his sentence for stabbing a guard at the Nafha Prison.

-Hatem al-Jayousi, a founding member of Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades serving multiple life sentences for the murder of six Israelis.

-Ali Haroub, a Hamas bombmaker. In 2013, Israeli prison authorities thwarted a kidnapping plot that Haroub had planned from his cell.

-Jamal Tawil, a Hamas figure who had been working to extend the terror group’s influence in Judea and Samaria. Arrested in 2021, Tawil was convicted of inciting violence, organizing riots, and trying to set up Hamas headquarters in Ramallah.

-Shadi Barghouti, who was serving 27 years for numerous shooting and bombing attacks.

The ongoing first phase of the ceasefire should see a total of 33 Israeli hostages freed over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian Arab terrorists imprisoned in Israel. The exact number will depend on how many hostages are alive. Since the ceasefire went into effect, 583 Palestinian Arab terrorists have been released.

The fate of the remaining 65 hostages is to be determined by negotiations during the ceasefire’s second phase. Critics say the phased approach condemns hostages not freed in the beginning to open-ended captivity and undermines Israel’s war gains.

At least 1,200 people were murdered and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 76 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed to be dead.