Israel is intensifying its security efforts in the West Bank to counter a rise in attacks on settlers. An Israeli armored patrol was shot at Aug. 23 in Hebron, though no injuries were reported. Hamas predicts Israel's efforts will be ineffective and vows the attacks will continue.

The months of July and August saw an escalation in attacks against Israelis, including two shooting attacks in the cities of Ramallah and Qalqilya and a stabbing in Ramallah. Nine improvised explosive devices were set off, there were 66 attacks involving Molotov cocktails and explosives, and Israeli installations were set on fire, the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Dialogue Forum stated Aug. 9.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Walla website reported Aug. 11 that 111 operations were foiled by Israeli security forces in the past seven months and that the organizers of the operations were mostly Hamas members.

Yoram Cohen, head of the Israeli security agency Shin Bet, predicted July 1 an increase in what he called “popular violence” among Palestinians, although Israel already had thwarted attempted attacks by 60 armed cells affiliated with Hamas and other organizations since the beginning of 2015.