The Palestinian Authority (PA)

COVID-19 numbers continue to surge in the Palestinian Authority, while the number of cases in the Gaza Strip remains low (Updated to July 20, 2020)

The surge in active COVID-19 cases in Judea and Samaria continues, part of the second wave of the disease. According to reports from the Palestinian ministry of health, there are 6,650 active cases, up from 5,121 a week ago. The ministry of health reported that ten patients are in the ICU and four are on ventilators (as of July 19, 2020). There are 4,810 active cases in the Hebron district, 73% of the overall number. Sixty-five Palestinians have died, most of them in the Hebron district (as of July 20, 2020). The number of cases in east Jerusalem has also spiked, with 1,332 active cases, up from 632 last week, and up from 160 at the beginning of July.
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News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (July 15 – 21, 2020)

This past week the Gaza Strip was quiet. At the political level intensive Palestinian Authority (PA) diplomatic activity continued in the international and Arab arenas, even though Israel has not carried out its intention to annex territories in Judea and Samaria and the PA is mostly involved in fighting the coronavirus. This past week the number of COVID-19 cases in the PA territories surged. According to reports, Hamas prevents Gazans from watching the al-Arabiya and al-Hadath TV channels, both of which are supported by Saudi Arabia, and their offices in the Gaza Strip were closed.
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Increased violations of public health guidelines and protests against Palestinian Authority during the second coronavirus wave

Since early March the Palestinian Authority (PA) has struggled with the spread of coronavirus cases and the ensuing economic difficulties. The PA, which was satisfied with its response to the first wave of COVID-19, now finds itself unsuccessfully trying to halt the surge of new infections. In an attempt to halt the spread of the virus during the second wave the PA increased the severity of its preventive measures, both general and specific. Paradoxically, despite the surge in the number of active cases, seriously ill Palestinians and deaths, during the second wave there has been an increase in the violation of public health guidelines and preventive measures ordered by the prime minister and the public health system.
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Jibril Rajoub and other senior Fatah figures represent the strategy of “popular resistance” [i.e., popular terrorism] as their main course of action if Israel announces annexation of territory

Senior Fatah figures have recently often represented the "popular resistance" [i.e., popular terrorism] as an important response to an Israeli annexation of territories. Senior Fatah figure Jibril Rajoub was interviewed by the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese al-Mayadeen TV channel. According to Rajoub the "popular resistance" is carried out peacefully (a baseless allegation) and has gained international legitimacy.
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News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (July 8 – 14, 2020)

This past week the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria were relatively quiet. The Palestinians are apparently devoting most of their attention to fighting the coronavirus. Politically, the intensity of the Palestinian campaign against Israel's intention to annex territories has weakened, probably because of the Palestinian focus on the COVID-19 crisis.
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The number of COVID-19 cases continue to spike upward throughout Judea and Samaria, compared with the low number in the Gaza Strip (Updated to July 13, 2020)

The numbers of active coronavirus cases continue to spike upwards in Judea and Samaria, part of the second wave of COVID-19. According to reports from the Palestinian Authority (PA) ministry of health, the number of active cases now stands at 5,121, up from 3,758 last week (updated to the evening of July 12, 2020). Of the active cases, 4,140 are in the Hebron district (3,150 a week ago), 81% of the total number of active cases in Judea and Samaria. There are 16 ICU patients, seven on ventilators.
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