Terrorist attacks in the West Bank have declined over the last two years. This continues a trend from 2024 to 2025. Data from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Foreign Ministry show a 70% decline in major terror attacks between 2024 and 2025 and nearly a 60% decline from 2025 to 2026. Overall, including stone throwing and other incidents, attacks fell 20% this year, according to data through August. Nevertheless, hundreds of incidents of threats and attacks still occur every month.
The Foreign Ministry noted that “nine major terror attacks took place in July. Of these, four were carried out in the West Bank and five in Israel. In July, the Shin Bet foiled a total of 532 terror attempts; of these, 528 were in the West Bank region and four in Israel.”
The Jerusalem Post compared the data that has been compiled by the Shin Bet over the last years, most of which has also been published by the Foreign Ministry. The 2026 data is documented only through August. However, comparisons can be made with similar periods in previous years.
Major attacks decreased by 71% between 2024, 2025
Based on our comparison, there were 218 major attacks in 2024 and 62 in 2025. Overall, there were 5,663 terrorist incidents in 2024, compared to 4,744 in 2025. This meant there was a 71% decrease in major attacks and a 16% decrease in overall attacks. When we compare the period January-August 2024-2026, we find similar declines.
For instance, in overall attacks in the same period, there was a 30% decline between 2024 and 2026. This represents 1,000 fewer attacks between January and July 2024 and January and July 2026.
For major attacks, the trend was even larger, with more than an 86% decrease between 2024 and 2026. Trends can change suddenly, and data can sometimes be wrong. Overall, the picture shows a decline over the past years.
The details appear to speak for themselves. In January, one major attack occurred in the West Bank. Israel’s security services foiled 89 major attacks that month, Shin Bet noted. In March, there were four attacks in the West Bank, and in April there were five.
By May, there were two, and then four in July and two recorded in August. Meanwhile, in August, there were 288 other attacks, including 254 stone-throwing incidents. Twelve Molotov cocktail attacks were also recorded.
Wave of West Bank terror began before October 7
Israel has suffered a wave of terror attacks over the last four years in the West Bank. This wave had begun before the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.
In 2022, the IDF launched Operation Break the Wave. Forty-five Israelis had been killed between 2022 and March 2023. In July 2023, the IDF launched Operation Home and Garden in Jenin to reduce the threats.
After the Hamas attack on October 7, the IDF also began major operations in the West Bank. This has included rooting out terrorist groups in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, and other areas.
Recent IDF data on three years of war since October 2023 illustrate the level of operations in the West Bank. “More than 3,800 weapons were located and confiscated,” the IDF recently said.
“Approximately 45,000 wanted individuals were apprehended and detained for questioning, including: Weapons traffickers, individuals in possession of a weapon, wanted individuals who planned to carry out imminent attacks, terrorist operatives and facilitators, individuals involved in terrorist activity, and stone and Molotov cocktail throwers.”
The results of the IDF operations appear clear. In May 2025, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted in a brief that “The West Bank has seen a sharp decline in terrorist attacks in 2025, as the IDF’s Operation ‘Iron Wall’ continues to dismantle terror infrastructure across the territory.”
The brief added that “according to a new report from the Israeli security establishment, just 46 attacks were recorded in April 2025, only three of which were considered significant, marking the lowest monthly total in five years. By comparison, the West Bank averaged 214 terrorist attacks per month in 2023, dropping to 115 in 2024, and further declining to just 57 in 2025.”
Recent attacks bring West Bank violence back into spotlight
There has been recent focus on the West Bank due to several incidents involving Jewish rioters attacking people. Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was attacked on Friday, and diplomats were attacked near the Christian Arab village of Taybeh on Saturday. On Monday, in the early morning, a number of suspects in the attacks were detained.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that “addressing the severe violence committed by a handful of Jewish rioters in Judea and Samaria must fall entirely under the purview of the Israel Police’s Judea and Samaria District, encompassing prevention, investigation, and prosecution. The IDF should not, and cannot, engage in civilian law enforcement; its role is to combat Palestinian terrorism and to defend the state’s borders, as well as the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and along the 'seam zone.'”