General Information

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (May 17-23, 2023)

This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out three attacks: two shooting attacks without casualties and one vehicular ramming attack in Hawwara in which an IDF soldier was injured. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, focusing on Nablus, Jenin and Hebron. Three Palestinians were killed in an exchange of fire with the forces. The Flag March held on Israel's Jerusalem Day passed without exceptional incident. Palestinians launched a media campaign calling for Palestinian flags to be waved and hung on houses. The visit of Israeli minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Temple Mount was widely condemned. The Gaza Strip has been relatively quiet. Efforts are being made to estimate the damage. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which regards the operation as a Palestinian success story, held rallies in the Gaza Strip, Jenin, Lebanon and Syria to commemorate its shaheeds.
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Palestinians Killed during Operation Shield and Arrow in the Gaza Strip – Findings and Analysis

On May 13, 2023, after five days of Operation Shield and Arrow, a ceasefire was reached. The ministry of health in Gaza published final data about the number of Palestinians killed and wounded in Operation Shield and Arrow; according to the data 33 Palestinians were killed, 22 fighting men, six children, three women and two non-combatant elderly men. Reportedly, 190 people were wounded, 64 of them children. The ITIC examination of the identities of the 33 fatalities and found the following: Twenty were military-terrorist operatives, 13 from the PIJ. Five were from the PFLP. Two were affiliated with terrorist organizations. Three women and six children were killed.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (May 10-16, 2023)

This past week there a Palestinian tried to carry out a stabbing attack at the Shaked Crossing. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, focusing on Nablus and Tulkarm. In preparation for Israel's Jerusalem Day and the Flag March on May 18, 2023, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) warned Israel not to cross "red lines" in al-Aqsa mosque, threatening that the next battle would be larger and not confined to the Gaza Strip. Between May 9 and 13, 2023, Israel waged Operation Shield and Arrow in the Gaza Strip, which ended with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. On May 15, 2023, Palestinians marked Nakba Day with various events in the Gaza Strip and Ramallah.
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Operation “Shield and Arrow” In the Gaza Strip – Summary

After five days of fighting, at 10 p.m. on May 13, 2023, Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) declared a ceasefire. During the five days of fighting six PIJ high-ranking operatives died in targeted killings and 422 terrorist targets were attacked. Over the five days of the operation, terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip, primarily from the PIJ, fired 1,469 rockets and mortar shells at Israel, 1,131 of which landed inside Israeli territory. Despite the destruction and loss of life, according to the narrative of the terrorist organizations, especially the PIJ and Hamas, the round of fighting was a Palestinian success. In reality, it was another round of IDF-PIJ fighting in which Hamas did not activate its military capabilities.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (May 3 – 9, 2023)

This past week there was a stabbing attack near Hawwara in which an IDF soldier was wounded. Two other stabbing attacks, one near Hawwara and the other in the Old City of Jerusalem, were prevented. Israeli security forces' counterterrorism activities focused on Nablus and Tulkarm. In the early morning hours of May 9, 2023, Israel began Operation Shield and Arrow with the targeted killing of three senior PIJ terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip. The smuggling of loaded handguns and ammunition was prevented at the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with members of the leaderships of the various Palestinian terrorist organizations during a visit to Damascus.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (April 24 – May 2, 2023)

This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out four attacks: a shooting attack near the settlement of Avnei Hefetz (southeast of Tulkarm), a combined stabbing and vehicular ramming attack at the Gitai Avishar Junction (northwest of Salfit), a vehicular ramming attack in Jerusalem and a shooting attack at a junction northeast of Ramallah. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, focusing on Jericho, Jenin and Hebron. Uday al-Azizi, commander of the Lion's Den network, and 11 operatives surrendered to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security services. On May 2, 2023, Khader Adnan, a high-ranking Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist operative who was on a hunger strike, died while in administrative detention. Consequently, about 25 rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, the PIJ's military-terrorist wing in the Gaza Strip raised its level of alert and threatened revenge. A general strike was declared in the PA territories, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The PA accused Israel of killing him and called for Israel to be prosecuted. The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip continue developing and testing anti-aircraft weapons. Israel's intention to renew the targeted killings of terrorist organization leaders has prompted threats of attacks on more than one front. Hamas' military-terrorist wing, concern about the welfare of the donors, announced it would no longer accepts bitcoin donations. The PA's foreign minister participated in a Security Council session devoted to the Middle East and attended by foreign ministers. Mahmoud Abbas hosted the children of shaheeds in Ramallah.
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