The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (December 17 – 24 , 2024)

IDF forces continued operations in the northern (the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia), central and southern Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist operatives hiding in civilian structures, including senior Hamas figures. An IDF officer and two IDF soldiers were killed in the northern Gaza Strip; Hamas and other "Palestinian faction" delegations held meetings in Egypt to advance an agreement on a ceasefire and exchange of "prisoners". Hamas reiterated its insistence on a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip at the end of the process and accused Israel of presenting new demands; Egyptian efforts continued to persuade Mahmoud Abbas to approve the establishment of a community support committee to manage the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian "factions" presented names of candidates to represent them on the committee; A new study cast doubt on the data provided by Hamas' ministry of health in Gaza regarding the number of fatalities since the beginning of the war. Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinians carried out two terrorist attacks. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, eliminating a wanted Palestinian who was operating with Iranian funding; The Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces continued operations against "gunmen" in the Jenin refugee camp. Two security operatives were killed and the "gunmen" threatened to escalate the fighting. Read more...

Summary of Terrorist Events, November 2024

During November 2024, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, and south Lebanon, as did attacks on Israel from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Yemen. On November 27 a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect; Lebanon: The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued until the ceasefire went effect. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 682 attacks on IDF forces maneuvering in south Lebanon and on military, security and civilian targets in Israel, extending as far as the Greater Tel Aviv area, compared to 806 attacks in the previous month. Hezbollah continued to conceal the names of senior figures and operatives killed, announcing only the deaths of the organization's spokesperson, Muhammad Afif, and four members of its media network; The Gaza Strip: Eleven rockets were launched at Israeli territory, compared to 28 rockets in the previous month. Targeted killings of senior and prominent terrorist operatives in Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued; Israel, Judea and Samaria: Four terrorist attacks were carried out in Judea and Samaria, with no fatalities, compared to nine attacks the previous month. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations, focusing on northern Samaria. Terror operatives were eliminated in exchanges of fire and airstrikes, including commanders of terrorist organizations. A large shipment of Iranian weapons destined for terrorist operatives in Judea and Samaria was intercepted; Shi'ite militias: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued 69 claims of responsibility for attacks on 55 targets in Israeli territory, compared to 72 claims for 76 attacks the previous month. The Saraya Awliyaa al-Dam militia issued seven claims of responsibility for attacks on 11 targets in Israel, compared to 17 claims the previous month. On November 24 the militias ceased issuing claims of responsibility because of pressure from the Iraqi government and fear of an Israeli strike. Most of the launches by Iraqi militias lacked actual verification; some were intercepted, and others landed in Israeli territory without causing casualties. The Houthis claimed responsibility for five attacks on Israeli targets, compared to eight the previous month; Terrorist attacks on Israelis abroad: A Chabad emissary in the UAE was kidnapped and murdered. Three suspects, citizens of Uzbekistan, were arrested. Read more...

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (December 3 – 10 , 2024)

IDF forces continued operating in the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia, as well as in the central and southern parts of the Strip. One IDF officer and three soldiers were killed in the fighting; A ceasefire and relations for a hostage release deal: Qatar returned to the mediations amid reports of significant progress in talks based on the Egyptian plan. According to reports, Hamas submitted a list of Israeli hostages who would be released as part of the first phase in exchange for Palestinian prisoners; The World Central Kitchen dismissed more than 60 employees in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli security check identified them as security risks; Hamas claimed it supported the Egyptian initiative to establish a committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war. Fatah claimed that forming the committee would create a division between the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria; A Gaza activist who criticized Hamas was killed; Hamas denied involvement in his death. Members of the Hamas ministry of the interior's Sahem Unit continued operations against "lawbreakers."; Israel, Judea, and Samaria: Two Israelis were injured in a vehicle attack at the al-Fawwar Junction. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; Violent clashes broke out between PA security forces and gunmen in Jenin and the Jenin refugee camp. Read more...

The Mood in Gaza on the First Anniversary of the Gaza Strip War

A year after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and massacre, and the outbreak of the Gaza Strip War, the Gazans' euphoria has been replaced by despair over the heavy destruction, the displacement from homes and the high death toll; The main criticism on Palestinian social networks in Gaza focuses on the hardships of life amid the ongoing war, uncertainty about the future, hunger, high food prices and difficulties in finding shelter and food; Considerable criticism is also directed at Hamas, particularly its "external" leaders who do not live in Gaza and are perceived as disconnected from the growing suffering of the residents. Since the death of Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, who was seen as the "architect" of the October 7, 2023 attack, Khaled Mashal, head of the "external" Hamas leadership, has become the primary target of Gazan anger; In addition to the criticism on social media, feelings of despair and anger toward Hamas are reflected in public opinion polls, which show low support for the possibility of Hamas' continuing to rule Gaza after the war, as well as low approval for the October 7 attack and the continuation of "armed resistance" against Israel; Despite criticism and frustration, there has not yet been a broad public protest against Hamas in Gaza, most probably because of fear of retaliation, especially in light of Hamas efforts to maintain its power on the ground, including through the Interior Ministry's Sahem Unit, which theoretically operates against looters and disorderly conduct. Despite internal criticism of the leadership in Gaza, Israel is still perceived as the primary enemy and is described as "cruel and genocidal." Read more...

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (November 26 – December 3 , 2024)

The southern arena: IDF forces continued extensive operations in the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as in central and southern Gaza. Two IDF soldiers were killed in northern Gaza; Senior Hamas figures expressed willingness to reach a ceasefire agreement in light of the agreement in Lebanon. According to reports, Hamas agreed to concessions in the negotiations, including a gradual withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip; According to reports, Hamas and Fatah representatives met in Cairo and agreed to establish a "community support committee" to manage the Gaza Strip under the authority of the Palestinian Authority government; Gazans accused Hamas authorities of ignoring public suffering after two girls and a woman were killed in a heavy crowd during bread distribution; Nine Israelis were injured in a shooting attack on a bus near Ariel. The attacker was killed, and Hamas claimed responsibility. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria and attacked terrorist operatives from the air. Israeli security forces prevented Iran from smuggling a large quantity of "balance overturning" weapons to terrorist operatives in Jenin; Mahmoud Abbas, PA chairman, issued a declaration to the effect that in the event of his incapacity, the chairman of the Palestinian National Council would temporarily assume the role of PA "president" until elections were held. Read more...

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (November 19 – 26 , 2024)

IDF forces continued extensive operations in the Jebalya refugee camp and in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as in the central and southern Gaza Strip. An IDF soldier was killed in the fighting; Senior Hamas figures said that discussions on the release of hostages would take place only after the war in the Gaza Strip had ended. They warned that attacking Hamas "fighters" guarding the hostages could endanger their lives; Hamas in the Gaza Strip called on the international community to provide winter equipment after thousands of tents of displaced persons were damaged by rain; The unit of Hamas' interior ministry which combats looting announced it had killed individuals involved in robberies and demanded merchants limit the price of bread; Senior Hamas figures said they were waiting for Fatah’s response to the proposal of a joint committee to manage the Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed that Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, was delaying the implementation of the agreements; Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, killing nine terrorist operatives in an operation in Jenin and Qabatiya; Palestinians welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. An arrest warrant was also issued for the head of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, who was killed in July 2024; Three Jordanian security personnel were injured in a shooting attack near the Israeli embassy in Amman; Charges were brought in Germany against four Hamas-affiliated suspects for planning to attack Israeli and Western targets. Read more...

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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a nationalist conflict between two peoples living in the Land of Israel: the Jewish people and the Palestinian people. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is more than 100 years old and has been given worldwide prominence. The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict go back to the 19th century, when nationalist movements gained momentum around the world, among them the Zionist movement and the call to emigrate to the Land of Israel to build a national home for the Jewish People. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict took a nationalist turn and grew after the First World War.

The issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict include the permanent borders, security arrangements, Israel’s demand for Palestinian recognition of the existence of the Jewish People, the status of the Palestinian refugees, the control of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, the distribution of water resources and the distribution of additional resources in Judea and Samaria.

A prominent feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the severe manifestations of violence and terrorism in the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria that have accompanied it throughout the years of its existence. The fighting is carried out by terror squads and individuals. These manifestations of violence have led to many losses and property damage on both sides.

Over the years, many attempts have been made to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most of the proposals attempted to promote a permanent solution that would involve the creation of Palestinian autonomy or an independent Palestinian state to be established alongside the State of Israel. This is known as the “two-state solution.” Another proposed solution for resolving the conflict is a “one-state solution” whereby all of the western Land of Israel, including the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria, would become a binational state. The attempts were unsuccessful due to disagreements over the nature of the solution and due to a basic lack of trust between the sides.