The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

This past week the Israeli security forces carried out counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria. In view of the decision by Palestinian terrorist prisoners in Israeli jails to go on a hunger strike to protest "recent events," March 1, 2022 was declared a "day of rage." The Israeli defense minister signed an order for the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars worth digital currency. Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) figures have almost completely abstained from publicly relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and have not taken a position on the events, despite the extensive media coverage. French Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a speech that Jerusalem was the eternal capital of the Jewish people, earning him a series of condemnations from Hamas and the PIJ. Coronavirus infection: In Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip the number of active coronavirus cases continues to decline. Read more...

The killing of three al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terrorist operatives in Nablus by Israeli security forces on February 8, 2022 continued at the forefront of Palestinian discourse and activity this past week. IDF forces destroyed the floor of the house of Palestinian terrorist Mahmoud Jaradat in the village of Silat al-Harithiya, near Jenin. In the wake of the current tensions there was a sharp increase in the number of rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown in Judea and Samaria. PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh paid an official visit to Libya. The PLO Central Council's three-day conference ended. Read more...

This past week in Judea and Samaria Palestinian terrorists carried out two shooting attacks targeting Israeli security forces, one near Nablus and the other near Jenin. No Israeli casualties were reported. On February 8, 2022 in Nablus, Israeli security forces killed three Palestinian terrorists who belonged to Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, were responsible for a recent series of shooting attacks targeting IDF forces and Israeli civilians, and were planning more. On February 7, 2022, security inspectors at the Kerem Shalom Crossing prevented the smuggling of more than 10,000 rifle and hand-gun bullets. At a demonstration held in the Gaza Strip in support of Syrian refugees, pictures of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Qassem Soleimani, late Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Qods Force commander, were burned. In Judea, Samaria there was a slight decrease in the number of active coronavirus cases, although the hospitals are operating at almost 100% capacity. In the Gaza Strip the number of active cases continued rising. Read more...

On the night of January 29, 2022, shots were fired at an IDF vehicle. No casualties were reported. The Gaza Strip has been relatively quiet. On January 26, 2022, IDF forces detained two Gazans attempting to cross the barrier in the southern Gaza Strip and enter Israeli territory. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) condemned Israeli President Herzog's visit to the UAE. Hamas claimed such visits encouraged Israel to continue its [alleged] "crimes." On January 31, 2022, Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone with Antony Blinken, the American secretary of state. The PLO's Revolutionary Council conference, planned for February 22, 2022, may not be held. The Palestinians welcomed the Amnesty report claiming Israel operated an apartheid system against the Palestinians. Read more...