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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (May 15-21, 2024)

IDF forces continued expanding their activities in the Gaza Strip. The focal points were east Rafah and the Jebalya refugee camp. Meanwhile, the terrorist organizations continued firing rockets at the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip. Following intelligence information, the IDF returned the bodies of four Israeli civilians who were murdered on October 7, 2023, and taken to the Gaza Strip. Nine soldiers died fighting in the Gaza Strip. The negotiations are at a dead end and Hamas continues blaming Israel for the failure of the talks on the hostages' release. The floating pier constructed by the United States military off the coast of the Gaza Strip for the delivery of humanitarian aid was activated for the first time. Significant discrepancies between the reports of the Hamas ministries of health and information in the data regarding the number of dead in the Gaza Strip. There were three stabbing attacks in Judea and Samaria. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria. The focal point was the Jenin refugee camp. where an extensive operation began and aircrafts attacked a terrorist operations room. Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech at the Arab League summit meeting in Bahrain attacking Hamas and stating that its unilateral action on October 7, 2023 gave Israel excuses to attack the Gaza Strip and displace its residents. The prosecutor general of the International Criminal Court in The Hague requested arrest warrants for suspicion of war crimes for head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, the commander of Hamas' military-terrorist wing, and the head of Hamas' political bureau, in addition to the Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (May 7-15, 2024)

The IDF expanded its activities in the Gaza Strip and is currently focusing on eastern Rafah and the Jebalya refugee camp. The activity in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City ended on the morning of May 15, 2024. Meanwhile, the Palestinian terrorist organizations continue firing rockets at the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip and in Southern Israel. For the first time in five months, Beersheba was attacked by rocket fire. Five IDF soldiers were killed and several others injured in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The negotiations for the release of the hostages in Cairo stalled even after Egyptian efforts for a breakthrough. The Hamas delegation left Cairo and returned to Qatar. Hamas accused Israel of not taking the negotiations seriously and claimed the Israeli delegation's participation was meant as a cover for its action in Rafah. With the closure of the Gazan side of the Rafah Crossing following the IDF takeover, international and Palestinian figures warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip would deteriorate. Meanwhile, UNRWA distributes aid in its centers throughout the Gaza Strip. This past week no terrorist attacks were reported in Israel and in Judea and Samaria, and the intensity of IDF activities declined. A number of detentions and counterterrorism activities were carried out in the Hebron and Nablus areas. After a majority vote in the General Assembly, the PA's status was upgraded and its request to be accepted as a full member will be reexamined. The Palestinian prime minister continued his political activities to recruit support and financial aid for the PA and humanitarian aid for the Gazans. Senior Fatah member Jibril al-Rajoub, who denied the October 7th, 2023 attack and massacre, continued to promote Israel's delegitimization in FIFA, the international soccer association.
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The UN General Assembly Votes to Give the Palestinian Authority Additional Rights

On May 10, 2024, the UN General Assembly, with a majority vote of 143 countries, approved a resolution to grant the Palestinian Authority (PA) additional rights in the UN. It also allowed the PA to resubmit its request to the Security Council for full UN membership. The significance of the vote is that the representatives of the PA. The vote was a precedent-setting, controversial move, as it is not clear whether the General Assembly has the authority to grant the PA, defined as an observer, the rights of a full UN member state, as only the Security Council has that authority. Without a doubt, the vote in the General Assembly was a significant political achievement for the PA. Winning a majority vote in the General Assembly, with countries such as France voting in favor, indicated the broad consensus that currently exists around the globe for the recognition of the "State of Palestine." The step may also promote bilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, including by EU member states. It also challenges United States policy towards the Palestinian issue, after an attempt was made to bypass the American veto of the proposed resolution in the Security Council and the possibility that the issue would be deliberated again by the Security Council.
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The Palestinian Perspective on the IDF Operation in Rafah

IDF forces initiated a military operation in limited areas in east Rafah, targeting Hamas terrorist facilities. The forces took control of the Gazan side of the Rafah Crossing, which is situated in the east of the city. Prior to the operation, the IDF began evacuating the residents of east Rafah to an expanded humanitarian zone in Mawasi Khan Yunis in the central Gaza Strip. UNRWA and Palestinian media outlets reported tens of thousands of residents evacuated from the area, although Hamas claimed lower numbers. The IDF takeover and closing of the Rafah Crossing provoked reactions from Palestinian figures and international aid organizations. The Arab world also condemned the IDF's action and expressed concern regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah, the Houthis and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq threatened that if Israel entered Rafah they would escalate their attacks, and have in fact carried out their threats. Egypt prepared for the operation and raised the alert level of its forces in the border area, out of concern that Gazans would enter its territory. It is currently unclear how long the IDF operation in east Rafah will last and if it will expand to other areas. Meanwhile, the efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt to reach a deal to release the hostages continue. Contrary to the statements of senior Hamas members before the operation, its representatives continued the negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal even as IDF forces operate in Rafah.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (April 16 – May 7, 2024)

On the night of May 6, 2024, guided by intelligence, IDF forces began a targeted activity in limited areas of eastern Rafah, achieving operational control on the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing. Meanwhile, IDF forces continued attacking terrorist targets and rocket launchers in the central Gaza Strip and Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza Strip). Terrorists in the Gaza Strip continued firing rockets at the cities, towns and villages surrounding Gaza and in southern Israel. Four IDF soldiers were killed in a Hamas rocket and mortar shell attack on a concentration of forces in the Kerem Shalom area. In response, IDF forces attacked rocket launch centers in Rafah and closed the Kerem Shalom Crossing. After a series of meetings and the submission of proposals and counter-proposals, Isma'il Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau, informed that Hamas agreed to the outline proposed for a ceasefire with Israel as part of the negotiations for the release of the hostages. The delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip continues, especially to the north. During the past three weeks Palestinian terrorists carried out 11 attacks of various types. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities. Mahmoud Abbas continued his efforts with international parties to end the war in the Gaza Strip and prevent the IDF's operation in Rafah. A proposed resolution will be voted on by the General Assembly on May 10, 2024. Meanwhile, with Chinese support, an attempt was made to renew the Palestinian internal reconciliation, despite low expectations for its success.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (April 9-16, 2024)

IDF forces continued their activities in the Gaza Strip mainly in the central Gaza Strip and in the east of Gaza City. Three sons and four grandsons of Isma'il Haniyeh were killed in an airstrike; several Hamas senior terrorist operatives were killed in Jebalya and Rafah. Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip continued to attack Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked the launching areas. Hamas rejected the last offer made in Cairo and continues to insist Israel meet its previous conditions. The IDF spokesperson announced Israel's intention to increase the number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip with humanitarian. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) justified the Iranian attack, calling it Iran's "natural right. This past week there were two terrorist attacks. A 14 year-old Israeli boy was murdered near an outpost northeast of Ramallah. In response, Jewish settlers took revenge on Palestinian villages in the area. Mahmoud Abbas and Mohammad Mustafa, the new PA prime minister, continue "political" activity to end the war and introduce humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
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