IOF soldiers on the site of an attack in Huwara February 26, 2023 (AFP)

Reserve Brigade Gadi Shamni, a former IOF commander of the Central District, warned that the citizens of Huwara, a town South of Nablus, hold "very strong feelings of retaliation, and this is quite clear."

"[Huwara] has become a symbol for the Palestinians... it has become a symbol of resistance and struggle," he said.

The former commander also predicted that escalations would continue, describing the current events as being only a "rehearsal".

The official also noted that the Israeli army is operating in a very hostile administrative framework (the occupation government), adding that many parties fan the flames by waging rhetorical attacks against IOF officials and the Central District commander.

Shamni also said Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah "is very well aware of what is going on."

"They [Hezbollah] are [the ones] pulling the rope [to their side] all the time. They understand that there is a weakness here with a government that is afraid of its own shadow."

Yesterday, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Palestine reported that on Saturday that two Israeli settlers were killed in a shooting attack near Huwara, south of Nablus.

Israeli media had confirmed, before confirming their death, that "the two injured in the Huwara operation are Israelis, and their condition is hopeless."

Israeli media Walla!'s military correspondent, Amir Bohbot, quoted an Israeli security official as saying that the shooting "was very precise."

Preliminary investigations showed that the shooting attack in Huwara was carried out by Palestinians in a speeding car, Israeli media said.