News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 17-11, 2021)

Palestinian apprehended wearing IDF uniform

  On August 16, 2021, the Israeli security forces detained a Palestinian wearing an IDF uniform. He was near the village of Sinjil, south of Nablus. He was spotted by civilians at the side of the road, wearing an IDF uniform. The civilians informed the Israeli security forces, who detained him. He was found with several weapons, including a rifle, a knife and tear gas. Also found in his possession were Hamas and PIJ headbands. He was taken for interrogation (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, August 16, 2021). His detention may have prevented a terrorist attack.

   
Right: The Palestinian disguised as an IDF soldier (al-Quds, August 16, 2021). Left: The equipment found in the Palestinian’s possession (IDF spokesman, August 16, 2021).

Four Palestinians killed who shot a IDF forces leaving Jenin

• On the night of August 15, 2021, four Palestinians were killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli security forces in Jenin. The security forces went to Jenin to detain Muhammad Samir Saleh Abu Zina, 26, from the Jenin refugee camp, wanted for terrorist activities. In the past he was imprisoned in Israel for terrorist activities. According to the IDF, he had recently been in contact with Hamas terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip and detaining him prevented a terrorist attack. As the Israeli forces left the refugee camp Palestinians shot at them at close range. They returned fire and killed four Palestinians (Border Police spokesman’s unit, August 16, 2021). It was the second incident of Palestinians’ shooting at Israeli security forces in Jenin in the past two weeks.
•  The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the four Palestinians who were killed were Saleh Amer, 19, and Ra’ed Abu Seif, 21, whose bodies were taken to the Palestinian government hospital in Jenin; Nur al-Din Jarrar, 19, and Amjad Husseiniya, 20, whose bodies were taken by the Israeli security forces (Safa Facebook page, August 16, 2021). The PIJ’s military-terrorist wing issued a formal mourning notice for Nur al-Din Jarrar, claiming him as one of its operatives (Jerusalem Brigades website, August 16, 2021). Funerals were held in Jenin for Saleh Amer and Ra’ed Abu Seif. Their bodies were wrapped for burial in Palestinian flags and they wore yellow Fatah headbands (Palinfo Twitter account, August 16, 2021).

• Palestinians condemned the deaths of the four and warned Israel that the situation would “explode.” Fatah and the other terrorist organizations called a general strike in Jenin (Wafa, August 16, 2021). Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, said the continuation of Israel’s policy [of killing Palestinians who shoot at Israeli security forces] would lead to an “explosion,” cause instability and increase tension. He assigned complete responsibility to Israel for the “escalation” and its consequences, and called on the American administration and the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop its activities “against the Palestinian people” (Wafa, August 16, 2021). The Palestinian foreign ministry said it was monitoring the situation and planned to turn details of the event over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for investigation (Ma’an, August 16, 2021).
• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh posted a mourning notice for the four Palestinians to his Facebook page and offered his condolences to their families (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, August 16, 2021). He condemned the incident and said all the criminals had to be tried by the ICC (Wafa, August 16, 2021). Hussein al-Sheikh, chairman of the authority of civilian affairs, said what had happened was a “crime” which showed the extreme rightist tendencies of the new Israeli government. He appealed to the international community to protect the Palestinian people (Sawa, August 16, 2021).
• Hamas called on Palestinians to go to every friction point with Israel. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the blood of those killed promised that the fight for liberation would continue (Hamas website, August 16, 2021). Another Hamas spokesman, Abd al-Latif al-Qanua said that what had happened in Jenin proved the “resistance” [i.e., the terrorist organizations] was continuing and escalating, and that the Palestinians had renewed the intifada in Jenin. He called for a stop to be put to [Palestinian] security coordination with Israel. PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami said the “pure blood” [of the Palestinians who had been killed] was fuel for the “revolution” which would only end with the destruction of the “occupation” [i.e., Israel] (Filastin al-Yawm, August 16, 2021).
• On August 11, 2021, Dhiyaa al-Sabareini, 25, from Jenin, died after having been wounded by IDF fire on August 3, 2021. Hundreds of Palestinian gathered at a demonstration after his death, waving Fatah, Hamas and PIJ flags. They called for a general strike in Jenin (qudsnet.com Twitter account, August 11, 2021).

Riots and clashes in the village of Bayta

• This past week clashes continued as Palestinians rioted in the village of Bayta (Jabal Sabih, south of Nablus) against Israeli security forces, protesting the [largely evacuated] outpost of Eviatar. On August 15, 2021, Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, noted that 100 days had based since the beginning of the riots in Bayta. He said the “intifada of the Palestinian people” clearly showed their adherence to the “homeland” and their rejection of arrangements indicating recognition of the occupied territories (Hamas website, August 15, 2021).

    
Palestinians riot in Jabal Sabih, slinging rocks at Israeli security forces
(Palinfo Twitter account, August 13, 2021).

 During a night harassment unit activity, operatives used kerosene-soaked burlap bags to form a Magen David with a swastika inside, and set fire to it. The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) issued a strong condemnation of the use of a Nazi symbol by the Palestinians, calling it crossing a red line and violating basic principles of morality and humanity, adding that equating Zionism with Nazism in any way exposed historical and moral ignorance (al-Munsaq, August 14, 2021).

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads. There were also instances of Molotov cocktails thrown at Israeli communities. The more prominent events were the following:^[1]
  • August 14, 2021: Tires were burned and Molotov cocktails were thrown at the southern gate of the Israeli community of Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion. No casualties or damage were reported. On August 11, 2021, three Molotov cocktails were thrown at a guard post at the entrance to the community. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • August 12, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle south of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 12, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle northeast of Ramallah. A man was injured by flying glass. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 11, 2021: A Molotov cocktail was thrown from a passing car at a resort south of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • August 10, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[2]

Sha’ar Ephraim Crossing reopened

• On August 12, 2021, the COGAT announced the reopening of the Sha’ar Ephraim Crossing, making it possible for Israeli Arabs to enter Tulkarm. The crossing had been closed for several weeks and its reopening will make a significant contribution to Tulkarm’s economy. Every day thousands of vehicles pass through the crossing (al-Munsaq, August 12, 2021).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

•  On the afternoon of August 16, 2021, a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel. It was intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system (IDF spokesman, August 16, 2021). No casualties or damage were reported. It was the first rocket fired from the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire that ended Operation Guardian of the Walls on May 22, 2021. No terrorist organization claimed responsibility. The rocket was fired a few hours after the deaths of the four Palestinians in Jenin had been announced and after the Palestinian organizations issued threats to renew hostilities in the wake of what they call Israel’s “delaying tactics” regarding easing daily life in the Gaza Strip. The rocket may have been in response to the incident in Jenin.
• Regarding rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch recently issued a report indicating that during Operation Guardian of the Walls rockets fired by Palestinians from the Gaza Strip killed and wounded Israeli civilians, violated laws governing warfare and constituted war crimes. According to the organization, its research showed that the military wings of Hamas and other “armed groups” fired rockets and mortar shells at Israeli population centers, killing 12 Israeli civilians and wounding scores more. It also showed that rockets which fell “by mistake” on Palestinians in the Jabalia area killed local residents. Human Rights Watch said it would present the results of its research to the UN, the ICC and other judicial institutions for their examination (Human Rights Watch website, August 12, 2021).

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

IDF intercepts Hamas quadcopter

• On August 11, 2021, IDF forces identified a Hamas quadcopter which had crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. The UAV had been under surveillance from the moment was launched and was intercepted by IDF forces (IDF spokesman, August 13, 2021). No information was given about its potential mission.

Threats of arson terrorism

• The incendiary balloon-launching units in the Gaza Strip continue threatening to resume their activities. This past week all the units of the terrorist organizations issued a joint statement claiming that the balloons launched so far were only the beginning and constituted a warning to Israel to lift the [so-called Israeli] “siege” of the Gaza Strip (Amad, August 15, 2021).

Twenty-three tons of chocolate candy bars confiscated, to be sold to finance Hamas and its military-terrorist wing

• Israel recently confiscated 23 tons of chocolate candy bars at the Nitzana Crossing on their way from Egypt to Israel, from where they would have been exported to the Gaza Strip. Their sale was intended to finance Hamas and its military-terrorist wing, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades. The candy was confiscated because of the suspicion that Hamas was planning to sell them to generate funds to finance the organization and its military-terrorist wing. Israel suspected Hamas and the candy importers were dealing with outlawed foreign exchange companies. Their suspicions led Israeli security and tax authorities to increase their oversight of the Gazan importers working with al-Mutahidun Currency Exchange and Arab al-Sin, two foreign-exchange companies belonging to the Shamlakh family. Both companies have been designated as terrorist organizations because of their dealings with Hamas (Israeli ministry of defense Facebook page, Ynet, August 16, 2021).

   
The candy bars confiscated at the Nitzana Crossing (Nitzana Crossing Customs, August 16, 2021).

Measures to ease daily life in the Gaza Strip

• On August 13, 2021, the COGAT authorized a number of measures to ease daily life in the Gaza Strip. The entrance of about 1,350 Gazan businessmen was authorized to enter Israeli territory. The export of goods from the Gaza Strip was resumed to the pre-Operation Guardian of the Walls level and imports to the Gaza Strip were increased. The continuation of the measures is dependent on continued quiet and stability in the Gaza Strip (al-Munsaq, August 13, 2021).

Foreign aid for the Gaza Strip

• The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization send humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, including 14 trucks of food and medical equipment for the departments of health and welfare in Gaza, and for the Jordanian Army hospital in the Gaza Strip (Sawa, August 11, 2021).

Delivering money from Qatar

• Efforts are being made to reach an agreement for transferring money from Qatar to the Gaza Strip. A “Palestinian source” denied reports in the Israeli media that the PA might retreat from the memorandum of understandings it signed with Qatar. According to the source, the agreement is still in force and negotiations with the banks continue (Sawa, August 11, 2021).
• On August 15, 2021, Louay al-Madhoun, head of the minister of development’s office, said the ministry of welfare had signed a memorandum of understandings with the directorates of banks through which the money from Qatar would pass. He said the ministry of welfare was now waiting for confirmation from Qatar. The memorandum relates to technical details and not with lists of beneficiary names. Al-Madhoun said no final date for distributing the funds had been set (Sawa, August 15, 2021).
• Interviewed by al-Aqsa TV, Usama Hamdan, in charge of Hamas’ foreign relations, claimed that not allowing the money to be delivered to the Gaza Strip was an attempt by Israel to withdraw from the understandings reached at the end of Operation Guardian of the Walls. He added that Hamas would not remain silent in the face of Israel’s attempts to determine a new “equation.” He said Hamas adhered to “equations” established after the operation and if there were no understandings, the “resistance” [i.e., the terrorist organizations] had “a number of ways of responding,” including by escalating the situation [i.e., by renewing hostilities]. Regarding Iran, Hamdan claimed that the fact that Raisi, the new Iranian president, had held his first post-inauguration political meeting with the Hamas delegation had great political significance. It indicated, he claimed, Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause and showed the depth of relations between Iran and Hamas. He claimed more members of the Hamas leadership would visit Iran in the near future (al-Aqsa TV, August 13, 2021).

Contacts for an arrangement with Israel

• Given the reports, some of them contradictory, about indirect contacts between Israel and Hamas, and the activity of various intermediaries regarding Gaza Strip issues, the Palestinian and Arab media reported the dissatisfaction of Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip at Israel’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands regarding the lifting of the [so-called Israeli] “siege” and the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip. “A source in one of the organizations” claimed they were examining the possibility of escalating their activities along the border with Israel beyond launching incendiary balloons similar to what had recently occurred on the Lebanese border [i.e., the renewal of rocket fire] (al-Ayam, August 11, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the Hamas leadership was in contact with Egypt, Qatar and the UN to exert pressure on Israel to meet its demands (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2021).
• The Hamas spokesman-affiliated Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar reported that Israel and Egypt had renewed deliberations about the situation in the Gaza Strip. According to the report, Hamas sent a message through Egypt to Israel expressing anger at Israel’s refusal to allow the delivery of building materials to the Gaza Strip and at the deterioration of humanitarian conditions. The Egyptians asked Hamas to give the new Israeli government time to discuss issues pertaining to the Gaza Strip. However, there is still no common ground between the sides, especially since Israel wants to link an improvement in conditions in the Gaza Strip to the issue of the Israeli prisoners and MIAs (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2021).
• “Sources” reported that the Palestinian terrorist organizations agreed to take steps to gradually escalate the situation in response to Israel’s policies regarding the Gaza Strip. The sources added that the decision had been reached following the failure to advance efforts that would lead to a lull. According to the sources, the terrorist organizations had agreed to renew the marches along the border and incendiary balloon launchings, and to reactivate the night harassment units (Sawa, August 16, 2021). “A Palestinian source” was quoted as saying that the “Palestinian organizations” had given the mediators and Israel until August 16 to “lift the siege.” The organizations are allegedly now planning to hold a large protest march along the border at the locations of the former return marches (Filastin al-Yawm, August 15, 2021).

Hamas use of UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip

• UNRWA said in an statement that examinations it had conducted of its school buildings in the Gaza Strip indicated the existence of underground structures that could cause damage. The agency said it strongly condemned the existence of the structures and their potential use. Letters of protest were sent to the authorities in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA also criticized the takeover by the authorities of one of its schools, which undermined the agency’s defense and neutrality. The activities are liable to have a negative impact on the return of children to school and sabotage UNRWA’s efforts to open its schools and begin the new school year (UNRWA, August 11, 2021).

Interview with Isma’il Haniyeh

• On August 10, 2021, while in Iran Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, was interviewed by Iran’s al-Alam TV, and related to the following topics:
  • Ties with Iran: Hamas has strategic ties with Iran, Hezbollah and many other regional actors. Iran plays an important role in constructing Hamas’ military force, which was demonstrated in Operation Guardian of the Walls.
  • Operation Guardian of the Walls: Hamas’ conditions for a ceasefire during the operation, which centered around Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque, were a message meant to restore Jerusalem to the “equation.” Israel was warned not to enter into an “adventure” in the Gaza Strip and not to touch Jerusalem or al-Aqsa mosque.
  • The PA’s negotiations with Israel: PA talks about reviving the course of negotiations with Israel are “the sale of renewed illusions.” Today after the most recent operation, there is only one option open, resistance and the path of resistance [i.e., violence and terrorism].
  • The new Israeli government: There are not many differences between the former and present Israeli governments.

Hamas and the PIJ congratulate the Taliban on its takeover of Afghanistan

• Hamas and the PIJ congratulated the Taliban on its takeover of Afghanistan. Hamas issued a formal announcement congratulating the Afghan Muslim people on its defeat of the American occupation, and the Taliban and its leaders on their victory, which was achieved after efforts exerted over 20 years. The announcement stressed that the “resistance” of various groups, especially the Palestinian people, proved it brought victory and achieved objectives (Hamas website, August 16, 2021). Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the Taliban had been victorious after having been accused of being primitive and terrorist, and now people were talking about it as a wise and realistic [sic] organization that had stood up to the United States and refused to accept the solutions of American negotiation.
• The Hamas website issued pictures of a meeting held by Isma’il Haniyeh and Taliban leaders, including its “political” leader, the Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha, Qatar, apparently in May 2021, when the Taliban leadership had come to congratulate Hamas after Operation Guardian of the Walls (Hamas website in Arabic, August 17, 2021). Isma’il Haniyeh was accompanied by senior Hamas figures Saleh al-‘Arouri, Zaher al-Jabarin and Taher al-Nunu.

The financial situation in the PA

• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh told the weekly government meeting he had called on Israel to return all the money it had [allegedly] “stolen” from the PA, including the funds Israel deducted from the taxes it collected for the PA (Wafa, August 9, 2021).

Mahmoud Abbas visits Jordan

• On August 15, 2021, Mahmoud Abbas headed a PA delegation to Amman where he met with King Abdallah of Jordan, who had returned from a visit to the United States. They discussed PA-Jordan relations and recent political developments. Mahmoud Abbas thanked Abdallah for his support of the PA (Wafa, Dunia al-Watan, August 15, 2021).

Palestinian reactions to Israel’s increasing accessibility to the Cave of the Patriarchs

• Israel has begun increasing accessibility to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron for the physically challenged, a project which is expected to last about half a year and which has led to a wave of Palestinian reactions. The Wafa News Agency reported that Israel had begun a project to “Judaize” the facility and that it would be appropriate 300 square meters of the Muslim part of the site. It would include the installation of an elevator, according to Wafa, which would make it easier for the “settlers to invade” the facility (Wafa, August 10, 2021).
• Reportedly, a general mobilization of the Palestinians has been called and they are being asked to reinforce their presence at the site to foil the “Israeli conspiracy” (al-Mayadeen, August 10, 2021). Mahmoud al-Batash, advisor to Mahmoud Abbas for religious affairs, said the Palestinians had no choice but to wage a “popular resistance” [i.e., popular terrorism] to counteract Israel’s activities.
• The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned Israel’s actions and claimed it had committed “regional crimes” (Wafa, August 11, 2021). Husam Abu al-Rabb, deputy PA minister of endowments, warned against “Israel’s conspiracy,” its ongoing violations of the “Ibrahim mosque” (the Muslim part of the Cave of the Patriarchs), and its attempt to install an elevator to change its “religious nature and legacy” (al-Andalou News, August 13, 2021).
• Taysir Abu Sneineh, the mayor of Hebron, called on the international community and UNESCO, which designed the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Old City of Hebron as World Heritage sites, to act immediately to protect the cave. He claimed Israel had violated all the international agreements and conventions. He claimed Israel’s objective was to take control of “historical sites” near the Cave of the Patriarchs and to steal responsibility for building and planning from the Hebron municipality (Wafa, August 12, 2021).
• Activists in Hebron called on residents of the district and the Old City of Hebron to arrive en masse at the Cave of the Patriarchs for the morning prayer on Friday, August 13, 2021. Their objective was to stress Muslim sovereignty and protest attempts to Judaize the site (Dunia al-Watan, August 11, 2021). A spokesman for Jabarin al-Bakri, the governor of the Hebron district, speaking for the governor, called for a general mobilization of all the district residents, asking them to increase their permanent presence at the Cave of the Patriarchs to object to work carried out by Israel whose intention was to change to the Islamic and historical nature of the site (Facebook page of the governor of the Hebron district, August 10, 2018). There was no particularly significant response to the call.

• Jabarin al-Bakri, the governor of the Hebron district, met with Walid Assaf, the head of the PLO-affiliated National Committee to Resist the Wall and Settlements, and Imad Kharwat, Fatah secretary for the Hebron district, to discuss Israel’s activity at the Cave of the Patriarchs (Facebook page of the governor of the Hebron district, August 12, 2021.

   
Right: Protest prayer of Hebron residents near the Cave of the Patriarchs. Left: Hebron residents clash with Israeli security forces (Wafa, August 13, 2021).

Report lodged with the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Al-Haq, which claims it is “an independent Palestinian human rights organization based in Ramallah,” reported that after the state of “Palestine” had lodged a report with the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in November 2020, the organization was preparing another report for the committee’s 69^th session. It will deal with promoting Palestinian human rights, which Israel is allegedly limiting. The report will have examples of alleged “economic and health damages” inflicted on the Palestinians by Israel’s alleged “siege” of the Gaza Strip, the illegal [sic] settlements and the restrictions Israel allegedly imposes on the Palestinian population. The organization recommends increasing awareness of the damage to human rights and ensuring the enforcing of international law in the [Palestinian] territories (al-Haq’s Facebook page, August 10, 2021).

Palestinian activity against Israel’s inclusion in the African Union

• Palestinians continue their activity to ensure Israel is not admitted to the African Union, where it currently has observer status. A meeting was held on August 11, 2021, at the demand of Salim al-Zaanun, chairman of the PLO’s Palestinian National Council, at the office of the Council’s political committee in Amman. It was reported that the committee had appealed to the African countries to prevent Israel’s admittance to the African Union, which would show support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people (Wafa, August 11, 2021).

The PA joins the effort to put out the fires in the Jerusalem region

• Four Palestinian teams of firefighters are expected to join Israel’s efforts to put of the fires in the Jerusalem region. The PA offered its help and Israel accepted. The Palestinians said they would send four firetrucks and 20 firefighters to join the Israeli teams. Their participation was coordinated with the COGAT, members of whose office will accompany the Palestinians on the ground (Ynet, August 17, 2021).

Judea and Samaria

• Covid-19 continues spreading in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. On August 17, 2021, the ministry of health in Ramallah reported there were currently 1,747 active cases in Jerusalem, 24 of whom were in ICUs and two of whom were on ventilators. So far, 2,513 Palestinians have died and 536,056 have been vaccinated (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, August 17, 2021).
• Wisam Sabihat, responsible for the coronavirus portfolio in Judea and Samaria, reported that more than 70% of the active coronavirus cases in the PA territories were infected with the delta variant and that the fourth wave had already begun in the various PA districts (Ma’an, August 15, 2021).
• On August 12, 2021, the ministry of health in Ramallah reported that 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine had arrived. The ministry expects to receive an additional one million doses before September 2021 (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, August 12, 2021).

The Gaza Strip

• On August 17, 2021, the ministry of health in Gaza reported that during the 24 hours between August 16 and 17, 2021, 522 new active cases had been diagnosed. It was the largest number of cases reported so far recently, indicating a rise in the extent of the infection.
• According to the ministry of health in Gaza, there are currently 2,966 active cases, 108 hospitalized and 61 in serious or critical condition. So far 1,112 Gazans have died of coronavirus-related causes, and 122,126 Gazans have been vaccinated, of the 226,300 doses of vaccine that were delivered to the Gaza Strip (Ma’an, August 17, 2021).