Information has spread on WhatsApp groups regarding an announcement by the Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, about expanding the “Iron Grip” operation around the city of Nablus. The claim stated: “Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich announced that the Iron Grip operation will extend to the Old City of Nablus tonight.”
Information has been circulating on WhatsApp groups about Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announcing the expansion of Operation Iron Fist around the city of Nablus. The claim read: “Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich will expand Operation Iron Fist to the Old City of Nablus tonight.”
Kashif verified the claim and found it to be fabricated. Israeli-Hebrew affairs team at Kashif searched and found no mention of Smotrich’s announcement about expanding the military operation in Nablus. In his most recent statement regarding the renewed aggression on the Gaza Strip, Smotrich said, “Up until this moment, we have remained in the government despite our opposition to the deal, and we are more determined than ever to complete the mission and destroy Hamas.”
Kashif also clarifies that the authority to make decisions and expand military operations lies with the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yisrael Katz, not the Minister of Finance in the occupation government, Bezalel Smotrich. Furthermore, the ongoing military operation in the West Bank since January 2025 has been dubbed “Operation Iron Wall” by the occupation army , not “Operation Iron Fist.”
The Israeli occupation army announced on 18/3/2025, that it had begun intensive activity in the city of Nablus as part of the “Thwarting Terrorism” operation in the West Bank. It added: “During the operation, its forces were able to arrest three wanted persons, kill one wanted person, and injure others.” However, it did not announce an expansion of Operation Iron Wall in the city of Nablus.
The Israeli occupation forces stormed the Al-Ain refugee camp, west of Nablus, at dawn on Wednesday, 19/3/2025, and forced dozens of families to flee their homes. They withdrew after 14 hours.
| Sources of verification | Sources of claim |
| BBC Arabic 0404 srugim Palestinian News and Information Agency “Wafa” | WhatsApp groups |