News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (March 9 – 15, 2016)

Terrorist Attacks and Attempted Attacks

• March 14, 2016 – combined shooting and vehicular attack:

• Two Palestinian terrorists tried to run over Israeli civilians standing at a bus stop near the junction at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, shooting at them at the same time. An Israeli soldier was wounded by gunfire. An IDF force securing the junction shot and killed the terrorists. An improvised Karl Gustav machinegun and pistol were found in their possession. While post-attack events were in progress at the junction, another Palestinian drove up and ran into an IDF officer. The officer and another soldier were wounded. Another terrorist was shot and killed.
• The Palestinian media reported the terrorists who carried out the first attack were Qassem Farid Abd al-Aziz Jabber (Abu O'da), 31 from Hebron, a former prisoner affiliated with Hamas who was imprisoned in Israel for seven years (Dunia al-Watan, March 14, 2016); and Amir Fouad Na'im al-Juneidi, 22, from Hebron (Facebook page of Paldf, March 14, 2016). According to feedback on the Internet, the two were friends and co-owned a fruit and vegetable store in Hebron called Al-Shaheed (Fatah al-Yawm, March 14, 2016).
• The Palestinian terrorist who carried out the second attack was Yusuf Walid Mustafa Tarayra, 18, from Bani Na'im (south of Hebron) (Facebook page of Paldf, March 14, 2016). He was a high school student and belonged to Fatah's Shabiba youth movement. Fatah and Hamas each issued an official death notice for him (Twitter accounts of Palinfo and Fatah, date, 2016).

Left: Hamas death notice for its "son, the jihad-fighting hero," Yusuf Walid Tarayra (Twitter account of Palinfo, March 14, 2016). Right: Death notice issued by Fatah in Bani Na'im for Yusuf Walid Tarayra (Alresala.net, March 14, 2016).

• March 11, 2016 – IED attack: A masked Palestinian threw an IED at an Israeli vehicle near the village of Otniel, south of Mt. Hebron. The IED exploded near the vehicle. There were no casualties, the vehicle was damaged. The terrorist escaped.
• March 11, 2016 – shooting attack: Palestinians shot at IDF soldiers in a drive-by shooting on Route 443 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Two soldiers were wounded. The terrorists drove away.
• March 11, 2016 – stabbing attack: A Palestinian stabbed a young Jewish man near the Western Wall and fled. He was later apprehended hiding in one of the alleys in the Old City of Jerusalem and taken for questioning. The Palestinian media reported he was Anas Qassem Falah Aqra, 19, from the village of Qabalan, south of Nablus (Ma'an, March 11, 2016).
• March 9, 2016 – shooting attack: Civilians reported two Palestinian terrorists in a car had shot at a bus in a drive-by shooting at the Ramot Junction north of Jerusalem. The bus was not hit but shell casings were found at the scene. An extensive search was carried out to locate the vehicle. A vehicle matching its description was found near the Nablus Gate in Jerusalem. The Palestinians in the car shot at police and civilians, and the police returned fire, killing them. A passerby was seriously injured by police gunfire. Two rifles were found in the car. The Palestinian media reported the terrorists who carried out the attack were Abd al-Malik Abu Kharoub, 19, and Muhammad Jamal al-Kalouti, 21, from the village of Aqab, north of Jerusalem (Facebook page of Paldf, March 9, 2016), both of whom had blue Israeli identity cards.
• March 9, 2016 – stabbing attack: A Palestinian terrorist armed with a knife went to an IDF post at the Al-Zawiya roadblock, south of Al-Qana and tried to stab a soldier. The soldiers at the roadblock shot and seriously wounded him; he later died. He was Sami Ahmed Ismail A'mar, 17, from the village of Mascha, west of Ariel (Facebook page of Paldf, March 9, 2016). A suicide note was found on his body; in it he said goodbye to his parents. He claimed he carried out the attack because he owed money to several restaurants. He was a friend of Palestinian terrorist Abd al-Rahman Radad, killed while carrying out a stabbing attack in Petah Tikva (See below). The two attended the same high school in the village of Deir Balut (Facebook page of Bethlehem al-Hadath, March 9, 2016).

Left: The governmental funeral held for Sami Ahmed A'mar by the Palestinian Authority (Facebook page of Bethlehem al-Hadath, March 9, 2016). Right: The suicide note left by the Palestinian terrorists, asking his parents for forgiveness (Ma'an, March 9, 2016).

• March 9, 2016 – stabbing attack: A Palestinian woman terrorist armed with a knife infiltrated the village of Qedoumim. She approached a woman, who escaped and alerted the security forces. The Palestinian was caught and detained.
• March 8, 2016 – stabbing attack: A Palestinian terrorist stabbed a man in a liquor store in Petah Tikva. The victim and the owner of the store overcame the terrorist, took his knife and stabbed him to death. The Palestinian media reported he was Abd al-Rahman Mahmoud Radad, 17, from the village of Al-Zawiya, near Qalqilya (Ma'an, March 9, 2016).
• March 8, 2016 – shooting attack: A Palestinian terrorist opened fire at Israeli security forces near Herod's Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. He continued firing as he ran away. Two policemen were seriously wounded. Israeli security forces pursued and killed him. They found an improvised Karl Gustav machine gun. The Palestinian media reported the terrorist was Fouad Kazaf Abdallah Abu Rajab al-Tamimi, 22, from the village of Issawiya in east Jerusalem (Silwanik.net, March 9, 2016).

Left: The death notice issued by Hamas for Fouad Abdallah Abu Rajab al-Tamimi. Right: The death notice issued by Hamas for Abd al-Rahman Mahmoud Radad (Facebook page of Paldf, March 9, 2016).

• March 8, 2016 – stabbing spree:

• A Palestinian in Israeli illegally carried out a stabbing spree on the seaside promenade between Jaffa and Tel Aviv. He began by stabbing four people near the Jaffa Clock Tower and from there ran along the Herbert Samuel Promenade towards Tel Aviv, continuing to stab passersby along the way. Police shot and killed him. An American tourist was stabbed to death and 11 other people were wounded.
• The Palestinian media reported the terrorist wasBashar Muhammad Masalha, 22, from the village of Hajja, west of Nablus. He had gone to school at the boys' high school in his village. On March 6, 2016, he returned home from Saudi Arabia after a pilgrimage to Mecca (Facebook page of Bashar Masalha, March 6, 2016).

• Hamas welcomed the terrorist attacks. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the shooting attack and stabbing spree carried out on March 8, 2016, claiming they showed the intifada would continue until its objectives had been realized and that Israel had failed to suppress it (Hamas website, March 8, 2016). Hamas spokesman Husam Badran claimed that the attacks were a "natural response" and the "right" of the Palestinians to defend themselves against Israel with every means at their disposal (Alresala.net, March 8, 2016).

Riots, Clashes and Popular Terrorism

• In the meantime, demonstrations, protest marches, riots, and the throwing of stones, Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs continue in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. The Israeli security forces prevented a number of attempted terrorist attacks.
• The more prominent events were the following (including terrorist attacks that were prevented):

• March 15, 2016 – Border Policemen detained a Palestinian girl at the Tapuah Junction (west of Nablus) following information that a 17 year-old had left her house in Jenin to carry out a terrorist attack. The girl, who carried no identification, took a taxi and aroused the suspicions of the policemen. A search revealed she had a knife. She was detained and taken for questioning.
• March 14, 2016 – Two Palestinian women from Abu Dis, aged 24 and 29, were detained at the Zeitim crossing at the entrance to Jerusalem. They were carrying knives. During questioning they admitted they had intended to carry out a [stabbing] attack.

• March 13, 2016 – Fifteen improvised rifles were seized during an Israeli security force activity in the village of Yabed, near Jenin, (Facebook page of Red Alert, March 13, 2016).
• March 12, 2016 – Palestinians threw stones at the light railway in Jerusalem on the Shuafat line. There were no casualties; a railway car was damaged (Facebook page of Red Alert, March 12, 2016).
• March 10, 2016 – The Israeli security forces stopped a Palestinian vehicle near the Patzel Junction in the Jordan Valley. There were two weapons in the car. The passengers were detained (Facebook page of Red Alert, March 10, 2016).
• March 9, 2016 – Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli police force near Abu Tor in Jerusalem, injuring one policeman (Facebook page of Red Alert, March 9, 2016).

Israel Takes Action against Incitement in Palestinian Television Broadcasts

• The Palestinian media reported that the Israeli security forces raided the headquarters of the Filastin al-Yawm TV station in Al-Bireh (near Ramallah). They confiscated equipment and detained two employees. In addition, Farouq Aliat, the director of Filastin al-Yawm in Judea and Samaria, was detained at his home in Bir Zeit (Paltoday, March 11, 2016). The station continued broadcasting from its main offices in the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the current Palestinian terrorist campaign Filastin al-Yawm, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), has been inciting its viewers to carry out terrorist attacks and clash with the Israeli security forces.
• Saeb Erekat, chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee, condemned the closing of the station and called on the international community to intervene (Wafa, March 11, 2016). A demonstration was held in front of the offices of PalToday in solidarity and to protest the Israeli raid on the offices of Filastin al-Yawm (Facebook page of Shabakat al-Quds, March 12, 2016). PIJ spokesman Daoud Shihab claimed Israel's attempts to put an end to the intifada would not succeed. He said the Palestinian media would continue to encourage the Palestinian public to resist the enemy (Paltoday, March 11, 2016).
• In the meantime, the Palestinian and Arab media reported that Israel disrupted the broadcasts of Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station. They also reported that Israel appealed to the French satellite company Eutelsat not to allow Al-Aqsa TV to use its services because its broadcasts contained incitement (Al-Mayadeen, March 11, 2016). The company granted Israel's request. Al-Aqsa TV said in an announcement that it would return to broadcasting with a different logo and on a different frequency (Facebook page of Palinfo, date, 2016). Reportedly, Al-Aqsa TV now broadcasts via Norsat, a Jordanian company, and via the Arab satellite company Arabsat.
• Hamas condemned Israel's disruption of Al-Aqsa TV's broadcasts. Senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Haya said it was a manifestation of the "occupation's" fear and its weakness in the face of the Palestinian people's determination to have their demands fulfilled (Facebook page of Shabakat al-Quds, March 11, 2016). Al-Aqsa TV employees held a demonstration in front of the French Cultural Center in Gaza City to protest Eutelsat's decision to stop Al-Aqsa's broadcasts. Senior Hamas figure Salah al-Bardawil attended the demonstration (Al-Aqsa, March 14, 2016).

Rocket Fire Attacking Israel

• This past week five rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory in the western Negev.

• On March 11, 2016, four rocket hits were identified in the western Negev, including near the town of Sderot. They fell in open areas; there were no casualties and no damage was reported. It was the heaviest rocket barrage to hit Israel in recent months. The most recent rocket was fired from the Judea and Samaria on January 24, 2016. The identity of the terrorists who fired the rockets is unknown.
• On March 14, 2016, a rocket hit was identified in an open area in the western Negev. There were no casualties and no damage was reported.

• In response to the four rockets Israeli Air Force aircraft struck Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian media reported strikes on Hamas posts in the northern and central Gaza Strip (Paldf, March 12, 2016). A brother and sister, aged six and ten, who lived in a house located near one of the posts in the northern Gaza Strip, were reported killed in the strike (Gaza al-A'an, March 2, 2016).
• In response to the death of the two children Hamas' military-terrorist wing issued a statement saying their blood had not been shed in vain and that Israel had to know that the military wing's patience was limited, as was the patience of the other organizations (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades website, March 12, 2016). Senior Hamas figure Ismail Radwan condemned the Israeli strike and claimed Israel was fully responsible for the current escalation and its consequences. He called on the international community to curb Israel's aggression (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades website, March 12, 2016).

Tunnel Collapses

• Hamas's military-terrorist wing formally announced the death of Abd al-Salam al-Batinji, 36, from Sajaiya, in a tunnel collapse. According to the announcement he was a commander in Hamas' military wing and also an officer in the Hamas police force.

Support for the Current Palestinian Terrorist Campaign

• The PIJ held a march in Khan Yunis in support of the current terrorist campaign in Judea and Samaria. Its slogan was "The intifada of stones and knives continues." Senior PIJ figures attended the march and called for the continuation of the intifada (Paltoday, March 11, 2016).

Hamas-Egypt Relations

• A delegation of 12 senior Hamas figures, among them Mahmoud al-Zahar and Musa Abu Marzouq, members of Hamas' political bureau, and Khalil al-Haya, arrived in Cairo on March 12, 2016. The objective of the delegation, which left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, was to regulate relations between Hamas and Egypt. Relations between the two had deteriorated, especially after the Egyptian minister of the interior accused Hamas of involvement in the assassination of the Egyptian attorney general (Paltoday, March 12, 2016).

Senior Hamas figures wait in the VIP lounge at the Rafah crossing en route to a meeting in Cairo (Twitter account of Palinfo, March 12, 2016).

• The delegation met with the head of Egyptian General Intelligence and requested that Egypt open the Rafah crossing and support the construction of a port in the Gaza Strip. They also requested that Egypt stop flooding the tunnels on the Egyptian-Gazan border. Egyptian sources reported that the meetings were unsuccessful because the Egyptians adhered to their position that Hamas had been involved in training the Egyptian attorney general's assassins (Ma'an, March 15, 2016).

Interview with Khaled Mashaal

• Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas' political bureau, was interviewed by France24 TV on March 12, 2016. He claimed Hamas had no interest in a war in the Gaza Strip and was investing efforts to avoid one. He claimed it was Israel that threatened war from time to time. He also mentioned the following:

• The current Palestinian terrorist campaign – According to Khaled Mashaal, without a doubt, it was " self defense." There were a number of reasons the intifada had begun, he claimed, among them Israel's attempt to change the status quo on the Temple Mount, Israel's "aggression" in the the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, and the stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
• Security coordination between the Palestinian Authority security forces and Israel – Khaled Mashaal claimed the security coordination contradicted Palestinian national interests. It gave Israel a "free ride" and the boldness to continue the occupation.
• Hamas' external relations – Khaled Mashaal denied Egypt's accusations about Hamas involvement in the assassination of the Egyptian attorney general. He claimed Hamas would never intervene in the internal affairs of any country. Iran, he claimed, has stopped its support of the Palestinians in the wake of Hamas' position regarding the Syrian regime. However, he added, the ties with Iran had been hurt but not cut off, and the two sides were still in contact.

• ISIS infiltration into the Gaza Strip – Khaled Mashaal claimed ISIS had not succeeded in infiltrating the Gaza Strip because Hamas and the other Palestinian organizations would not allow it. Hamas supported moderate Islam which resisted the Israeli occupation, but was open to all Arabs, Muslim and Christian.