The Escalation in the Gaza Strip (An overview updated to 15:00, November 13, 2019)

Overview^[1]

Massive rocket fire at Israel from the Gaza Strip continues. Since the beginning of the events, between 300 and 350 rockets have been fired (as of noon, November 13, 2019). Most of the rockets were fired at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip and at Israel’s south. According to the IDF spokesman, 90% of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system. About 60% fell in open areas. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is almost the only the terrorist organization firing rockets. The IDF continues to attack PIJ terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including rocket launching squads.

• On November 13, 2019, the Palestinian ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported 21 fatalities. An initial and partial examination conducted by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center of the names of ten of the Palestinians killed found that six were operatives of the PIJ’s military wing; three were operatives of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade (an organization that splintered from Fatah and is apparently participating in the rocket fire at Israel); and one was a Fatah operative.
• In the meantime, mediation efforts are being made by Egypt and Nikolay Mladenov, the UN envoy to the Middle East. So far the efforts have been unsuccessful. PIJ spokesmen continue warning Israel that the organization’s response to the killing of its operatives is not over (Filastin al-Yawm, November 12, 2019). Note: On the night of November 13, 2019, the PIJ fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel’s southern communities. On the morning of November 14, 2019, the Arab and Israeli media reported that in the wake of Egyptian pressure, a ceasefire had gone into effect. The Israeli Home Front announced (07:00) that all the regions with the exception of the communities near the Gaza Strip could resume their routine daily lives.
• The key question is if Hamas will join the current round of escalation. The situation is as follows:
  • On the ground during the second day of the escalation, Hamas (and other organizations) are still standing on the sidelines of the attack. At the same time, Hamas does not prevent the PIJ from continuing to fire rockets. The PIJ is waging the attacks almost alone, with the participation of a few insignificant organizations.
  • In the realm of rhetoric, Hamas (and other organizations) claims the rocket fire attacking Israel is being carried out by the joint operations room of all the organizations, coordinated and in cooperation with their military wings. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum claimed Hamas would never leave the PIJ to fight against Israel by itself (al-Aqsa TV, November 12, 2019). However, Hamas’ rhetoric is in contradiction with the events on the ground.
  • The PIJ leadership and spokesmen are trying to represent the front as including all Palestinians. PIJ spokesman Musab al-Brim said the PIJ is not alone in the current confrontation, rather, it is a confrontation of the entire Palestinian “resistance” and therefore includes all the Palestinian groups that support it (Filastin al-Yawm, November 12, 2019).
  • In the meantime, Hamas is sending indirect messages of deterrence to Israel by threatening to join the confrontation. A senior Hamas figure told a Fox News correspondent who visited the Gaza Strip, that “If air strikes and aggression continue, Hamas and the resistance [sic] groups will have to morally respond to and protest the Palestinian people.”

Trey Yingst’s tweet (November 13, 2019).

The Rocket Fire against Israel: an Overview

• On the afternoon of November 12, 2019 rocket fire into Israel continued. After a relative pause of about seven hours during the night, the rocket fire resumed on the morning of November 13, 2019. At around 06:30 a barrage of rockets was fired at the southern cities of Ashqelon and Ashdod, Sderot and Netivot, and at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip (which have taken the brunt of the rocket fire).
• So far between 300 and 350 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel (as of the afternoon of November 13, 2019). According to the IDF spokesman, 90% of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system and about 60% fell in open areas (IDF spokesman, November 13, 2019).
• The rockets are being fired by the PIJ’s military wing, which has officially claimed responsibility for dozens of barrages of rockets targeting the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip and a number of Israeli cities. According to the claim, rockets have been fired at Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Hadera, Ashqelon and Netivot (Note: No rockets have been fired at Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Hadera).
• According to the Israeli Magen David Adom, its medical teams have treated several dozen people, most of them suffering from shock. Property was damaged. On November 13, 2019, a rocket hit a factory in Ashdod, damaging it. Another rocket hit a main water pipeline in the western Negev.

Monthly distribution of rocket fire since January 2018^[2]

Annual distribution of rocket fire

Israel’s Response

Israeli Air Force aircraft continue to attack PIJ terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. Most of the targets were PIJ operatives who were preparing to fire rockets or had fired rockets at Israel. Israeli Navy vessels attacked PIJ vessels used for training purposes in preparation for naval attacks. The IDF is operating in the Gaza Strip against PIJ terrorist targets and is careful not to hit the civilian infrastructure or the infrastructures of Hamas and other terrorist organizations, so far successfully.

The targets attacked (IDF spokesman, November 13, 2019):

• Terrorist operatives preparing to launch rockets and squads that launched rockets at Israel, and underground launching sites.
• Operations rooms, observation posts and training compounds, including a training compound of the PIJ’s naval force.
• An underground weapons storage site, a workshop for long-range rockets, a terrorist tunnel shaft.

• The Palestinian media reported attacks on posts, observation posts and other PIJ facilities (Shehab Twitter account, alresala.net, Dunia al-Watan, November 12, 2019). The ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported 21 fatalities (including Bahaa Abu al-Atta and his wife) and 69 wounded to various degrees (Ashraf al-Qidra’s Twitter account, November 13, 2019).

The public atmosphere in the Gaza Strip

• A correspondent for the Jordanian al-Ghad TV channel in Gaza reported an atmosphere of tension, fear and uncertainty among local residents regarding the continuation of the current escalation. She said traffic is light and most of the residents are staying at home. The schools, universities and government offices are closed. Stores, commercial centers and banks are also closed (al-Ghad TV by YouTube, November 13, 2019).
• The Hamas ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip published instructions for local residents. They called on residents not to gather at places where the IDF carries out attacks but rather to keep away from them, for fear of more attacks. They were also told not to gather near hospitals and emergency rooms, to enable medical teams to perform their duties (Palinfo Twitter account, November 13, 2019). Hamas used its newspaper, al-Risalah, to publish guidelines which included advice for parents on how to cope and calm their children during the escalation (al-Risalah, November 13, 2019).

   
Right: Instructions from the ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip for residents during the escalation (Palinfo Twitter account, November 13, 2019). Left: Advice for parents on how to calm their children during the escalation (al-Risalah, November 13, 2019).

Mediation Attempts to End the Round of Escalation

• Almost from the inception of the escalation, mediation efforts were held to bring the escalation to an end. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Akhbar in Lebanon, in the early morning hours of November 12, 2019, Egyptian General Intelligence officials held talks with representatives from the terrorist organizations, especially Hamas and the PIJ. However, the organizations [i.e., the PIJ] claimed it was too early to talk about a lull and no lull would be achieved before there had been a “broad, large response” to the killing of Bahaa Abu al-Atta (al-Akhbar, November 13, 2019). PIJ spokesman Musab al-Brim said that although his organization respected every Arab effort, it was pointless to talk about mediation. He said that only after the organization’s “message of response” had ended would it be possible to talk about a lull (Shehab Twitter account, November 13, 2019).
• On the morning of November 13, 2019, Egyptian General Intelligence officials informed senior Palestinian Authority figures that their attempt to reach an understanding to end the rocket fire had failed (Anbaa Binaa Facebook page, November 13, 2019). However, the Egyptians’ efforts continue. Reportedly, Nikolay Mladenov, the UN envoy to the Middle East, arrived in Cairo for an urgent visit in an effort to achieve a lull along with the Egyptian mediators. Note: As noted above, a ceasefire was reportedly achieved as of the morning of November 14, 2019.

Appendix A

Palestinians killed in IDF attacks during the escalation (an initial and partial report)

An initial ITIC examination of the names of ten Palestinians who were killed during IDF attacks revealed the following: six were operatives in the PIJ’s military wing; three were operatives in the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade (a network that splintered from Fatah) who apparently participated in the rocket fire at Israel; and one was a Fatah operative (it is unclear if he was a military operative).

• The following are the interim and partial findings of the examination of the names of Palestinians killed and their organizational affiliation (the names of the others are still being investigated):
  • Muhammad Atiya Muslih Hamouda
    • • Personal information: 20 years old, lived in Jabalia
      • Circumstances of death: Killed in an IDF attack on November 12, 2019, against two operatives riding on a motorcycle in western Beit Lahia (Paltoday, November 12, 2019, i24News TV website, November 12, 2019).
      • Organizational affiliation: The Fatah branch in the northern Gaza Strip issued a mourning notice for him, saying he was an operative of the organization (Facebook page of fateh.m.n.nother.gaza, November 12, 2019).

   
Right: The mourning notice issued by Fatah for the death of Muhammad Hamouda (Facebook page of Usama al-Shawish, November 12, 2019). Left: The body of Muhammad Hamouda wrapped for burial in the Fatah flag. His funeral was held in Jabalia (Facebook page of Ahmed bin Mahmoud, November 12, 2019).

• Ibrahim Ahmed Abd al-Latif al-Dhabous
  • • Personal information: 26 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Died of wounds incurred during an IDF attack on November 12, 2019, that targeted two operatives riding on a motorcycle in western Beit Lahia.
    • Organizational affiliation: The Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military wing, announced that Ibrahim al-Dhabous was an operative in its rocket unit in the northern Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

• Zaki Muhammad Adnan Ghanam
  • • Personal information: 25 years old
    • Circumstances of death: On November 12, 2019, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a number of operatives of the PIJ’s rocket unit in the northern Gaza Strip. The operatives were preparing to fire rockets (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media reported that the attack was directed against a group of “resistance” operatives in Beit Lahia (Ma’an, November 12, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The PIJ’s military wing announced that Zaki Muhammad Adnan Ghanam was an operative in the rocket unit of the northern Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

• Abdallah Awadh Sakab al-Balbisi
  • • Personal information: 26 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked two operatives of the PIJ’s rocket unit in the northern Gaza Strip. The operatives were preparing to fire rockets (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian ministry of health reported he died in a drone attack in Beit Hanoun (QudsN, November 12, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The PIJ’s military wing announced that Abdallah al-Balbisi was an operative in the rocket unit of the northern Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

• Abd al-Salem Ramadan Ahmed Ahmed
  • • Personal information: 28 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked two operatives of the PIJ’s rocket unit in the northern Gaza Strip. The operatives were preparing to fire rockets (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media reported he died in a drone attack in Beit Hanoun (QudsN, November 12, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The PIJ’s military wing announced that Abd al-Salem Ramadan Ahmed Ahmed was an operative in the rocket unit of the northern Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

• Wa’el Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Nabi (Abu al-Abd)
  • • Personal information: 43 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Killed in an Israeli Air Force aircraft attack in the northern Gaza Strip. He was an operative in a squad that launched rockets at Israeli territory (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media reported that he was killed in an attack on a “resistance” post in northern Beit Lahia (Dunia al-Watan, November 12, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade (a network that splintered from Fatah) announced he was the commander of a rocket launching unit (website of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade, November 12, 2019).
• Rani Bayiz Rajub Abu al-Nasr (Abu Usama)
  • • Personal information: 35 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Killed in an Israeli Air Force aircraft attack in the northern Gaza Strip. He was an operative in a squad that launched rockets into Israeli territory (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media reported that he was killed in an attack on a “resistance” post in northern Beit Lahia (Dunia al-Watan, November 12, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade announced he was an operative in a rocket launching unit (website of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade, November 12, 2019).
• Jihad Ayman Ahmed Abu Khater (Abu Elias)
  • • Personal information: 22 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Killed in an Israeli Air Force aircraft attack in the northern Gaza Strip. He was an operative in a squad that launched rockets into Israeli territory (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media reported that he was killed in an attack on a “resistance” post in northern Beit Lahia (Dunia al-Watan, November 12, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade announced he was an operative in a rocket launching unit (website of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade, November 12, 2019).

• Khaled Muawad Salem Faraj
  • • Personal information: 38 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Killed in an attack on November 13, 2019 in the al-Mughraqa region, south of Gaza City (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: The PIJ’s military wing announced he was a commander in the central Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13, 2019).

• Alaa Jabr Ashtiwi
  • • Personal information: 32 years old
    • Circumstances of death: Killed on November 13, 2019, in an attack in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13, 2019).
    • Organizational affiliation: Was an operative in the Gaza brigade of the PIJ’s military wing (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13, 2019).

^[1] This bulletin replaces the ITIC's weekly update. It is a continuation of the November 12, 2019, report on the latest round of escalation from the Gaza Strip. ↑
^[2] The graph is based on the launching of 250 rockets during the most recent round of escalation. During November 13, 2019 dozens of rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel, thus the number can be expected to rise . ↑

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