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The Palestinian Authority (PA)

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. 
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (December 10 – 17, 2024)

IDF forces continued operating in the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip, and eliminated terrorist operatives hiding in civilian buildings. An IDF officer and soldier were killed in the southern Gaza Strip; Contacts continued in an effort to formulate an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Hamas claimed they had agreed to significant concessions, including demands for a complete cessation of the war and the full withdrawal of IDF forces; Fatah and Hamas exchanged accusations over the deadlock in the establishment of a committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war; Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out three attacks; an Israeli teenager was killed. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian Authority's security forces continued operations against armed terrorists in the Jenin refugee camp. According to claims, the terrorists had pledged allegiance to Iran.
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PA Security Forces Operate Against Armed Terrorists in the Jenin Refugee Camp

On December 14, 2024, the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces launched a large-scale operation against armed terrorist operatives in the Jenin refugee camp, following orders from PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The forces clashed with the operatives, and the commander of a local Palestinian Islamic Jihad brigade was killed; A spokesperson for the security forces stated that the operation's goal was to liberate the refugee camp from the grip of criminals. He asserted that control over the camp had been achieved and that a car bomb meant for an attack on the forces had been neutralized. According to reports, some of the wanted terrorists surrendered to IDF forces; The operation followed a rise in tensions between the terrorist operatives and the PA security forces, the result of Israeli security force activities in Judea and Samaria since the beginning of the Gaza Strip War; The operation was also part of the PA's attempts to demonstrate governance and position itself as a ruling authority in the Gaza Strip in preparation for "the day after" the war. It was also an attempt to prevent an armed uprising similar to what overthrew the regime in Syria; Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) accused the PA of collaborating with Israel, and called on the security forces to cease their "persecutions" and join the "resistance" fighters; Despite the change in PA security forces' approach and their willingness to confront armed terrorist operatives, it is a complex challenge which will require long-term efforts. Since the beginning of the war, Iran has been attempting to ignite the Judea and Samaria front against Israel. In light of the blows sustained by the "resistance axis" in recent weeks, Tehran may intensify its efforts to encourage armed factions to escalate their activities against Israel and the PA, thus there is concern that the violence may spill over into other areas in Judea and Samaria.
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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. 
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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.
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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. 
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The Palestinian Authority (PA)

The Palestinian Authority is a semi-autonomous entity which controls most of the Palestinian population in Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian Authority was established in 1994 by virtue of agreements signed as part of the Oslo process between Israel and the PLO. Formally, the Palestinian Authority also controls the Gaza Strip, but in reality it lost control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 when Hamas violently took control. Since Yasser Arafat’s death, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has headed the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian Authority’s status under Yasser Arafat was severely damaged by the Palestinian terrorist campaign (the Al-Aqsa, or Second Intifada, 2000 until 2005). Israel asserted that it failed to function since it did not fight against terrorism and even played an active role in organizing and funding terrorist attacks against Israelis. Israel ended cooperation with it and most Palestinian Authority activities came to a standstill.

After the end of the Second Intifada, Arafat’s death and his succession by Abu Mazen, Israel changed its policy towards the Palestinian Authority and the relations between them improved. Today, the Palestinian Authority controls area A in Judea and Samaria and enjoys partial cooperation with Israel, mainly in terms of security and administration. In the territories under its control, the Palestinian Authority operates through its security services, in coordination with Israel, to maintain internal order and prevent terrorist attacks. At the same time, the Palestinian Authority supports “popular resistance” (popular terrorism), providing political and even practical backing to acts of violence taking place as part of this kind of terrorism.

Many countries around the world give the Palestinian Authority some sort of recognition as a political entity, although most of them do not recognize it as a sovereign state. Some of them formalized their diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority and promoted their representatives to the status of ambassadors. On November 29, 2012, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 67/19 by a large majority. The resolution granted the Palestinian Authority a status of an observer state, which is not a full member.