General Information

Apparently for the first time since August 2018, significant progress was again made in contacts for an Egyptian-mediated arrangement. It also appears a minimalist arrangement was discussed, which will lead to a lessening of violence on the ground in return for opening the crossings and the entrance of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip (based on arrangements reached at the end of Operation Protective Edge). Read more...

On October 17, 2018, two rockets were launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip. One, with a large warhead, hit a house in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba and caused extensive damage. In response Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Despite the Israeli threat, the "return march" activities of Friday, October 19, 2018, were held as usual. About 10,000 Gazans participated, who were requested by the organizers not to approach the security fence. Israel responded to the decrease in the violence by opening the Erez and Kerem Shalom Crossings on the morning of October 21, 2018. Read more...

On Friday, October 12, 2018, Gazan rioters again held "return march" events at the Israel-Gaza border. It was the 29th consecutive Friday since the marches began on March 30, 2018. This past Friday about 15,000 Gazan participated (about 5,000 fewer than on October 5, 2018). They rioted, hurling dozens of hand grenades and IEDs at the Israeli security forces. About 20 rioters tried to cross the fence into Israeli territory. Four approached an IDF post and were shot and killed. Read more...