The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

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...

According to an initial report, on the evening of January 11, 2022, a Palestinian carried out a vehicular ramming attack near the community of Halamish, north of Ramallah. An IDF soldier was. wounded.Shots were fired at Israeli security forces operating in the Balata refugee camp. The agreement which ended terrorist prisoner's Hashem Abu Hawwash hunger strike was perceived by the Palestinians as a "victory" which could potentially be exploited to secure the release of other prisoners. The Palestinian terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip continue their threats of escalating violence if Israel does not meet their demands for rebuilding the Gaza Strip and lifting the so-called "siege." Mahmoud Abbas went to Sharm el-Sheikh at the invitation of the Egyptian president. A Fatah delegation headed by Jibril al-Rajoub is visiting Syria. Read more...