News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (February 9-15, 2022)

Ongoing reactions to the killing of three terrorist operatives in Nablus

• The killing of three al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terrorist operatives by the Israeli security forces in Nablus on February 8, 2022, continues at the forefront of Palestinian discourse and activity. Protest rallies and marches were held throughout Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Hamas flags were present at the funeral held for the three and participants chanted their solidarity with Hamas and Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing. A general strike was declared in Nablus and signs were attached to shuttered stores reading, “There is nothing more precious than the blood of the shaheeds” (Shehab, February 9, 2022). At a display of armed operatives in Nablus, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades called for general mobilization and for the PA to withdraw from the Oslo Accords, claiming they had made it possible for Israel to kill the three (al-Aqsa, February 10, 2022).
•  An Israeli taxi that entered Nablus was pelted with rocks. The driver was wounded but managed to reach a military roadblock where he received medical attention. He said he had gone to Nablus to get his taxi repaired. When the local residents realized he was Israeli they started throwing rocks and other objects at him, wounded him and damaged his taxi (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, February 8, 2022).

• Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah figures embraced the terrorists and declared “heroes of the Palestinian people” and their statements were extreme in both number and content. Mahmoud Abbas’ response, which was read aloud at the mourning tent erected in Nablus, called the killing “a deliberate crime” committed by Israel (“the oppressive Zionist occupation”), claiming it would not be passed over in silence (Quds, February 10, 2022). PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh and Majdi Faraj, head of Palestinian general intelligence, paid condolence calls to the families of the three slain terrorists (Wafa, February 11, 2022)^[1].
• Hamas and the PIJ praised the terrorists and their actions and accused the PA of collaborating with Israel. Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, praised their actions, saying their deaths again revealed Israel’s [alleged] “cruelty to the Palestinian people” and [the terrorist organizations’] determination to continue the “resistance” until “liberation” (Shehab, February 11, 2022). Khaled Mashaal, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, spoke with the families of the terrorists and told them that “the fire of resistance in the West Bank will not be extinguished” (Shehab, February 9, 2022).
• Jasser al-Barghouti, who holds the Hamas international relations portfolio for the West Bank, attacked the PA leadership and security forces, blaming them for what happened in Nablus. He said in an interview that Israel did not enter any territory under Palestinian control without full coordination with the PA security forces. In the case in question, he said, the PA security forces did nothing to prevent the attack and therefore were responsible for it. “Security coordination gives the occupation more power and allows it to kill young fighters in the center of Nablus,” he said (Sawt al-Aqsa, February 9, 2022).
• PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah also spoke with the families of the three slain terrorists, telling them that the blood of the “shaheeds of Nablus” would fuel the confrontation and ongoing “struggle” with Israel, which would continue in every location. He said PIJ activities in the West Bank would not stop because of the killings (Filastin al-Yawm, February 10, 2022).
• During the funeral in Nablus Fatah flags were hung, as were some Hamas flags. The PA security forces removed the Hamas flags, and during the funeral Hamas-affiliated sources criticized the PA security force leadership. They claimed that while the PA was busy taking down Hamas flags, Israel was committing crimes against the Palestinian people (Shehab, al-Risalah, February 8, 2022).

Terrorist attacks in response to the killing of the three terrorist operatives in Nablus

• In the days following the killing of the Palestinian terrorists, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for several shooting and other attacks targeting Israeli security forces. The Jerusalem Brigades in the Jenin region, the PIJ’s military terrorist wing, also claimed responsibility for shooting at IDF forces. Somewhat later some of the claims of responsibility were issued by the joint operations room of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the Jerusalem Brigades in Jenin. Some of the claim of responsibilities were the following:
  • On February 9, 2022, the joint operations room issued a claim of responsibility for attacking an IDF jeep near Silat al-Harithiya, near Jenin. Previously it claimed responsibility for attacking an IDF force at the Jalame Crossing, north of Jenin (joint operations room Telegram channel, February 9, 2022). The Israeli media reported a drive-by shooting at the Jalame Crossing. No casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, February 9, 2022).
  • On February 11, 2022, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades reported they had shot at IDF soldiers at the Hawwara roadblock, south of Nablus (al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades Telegram channel, February 11, 2022).
  • On February 13, 2022, the joint operations room issued a claim of responsibility for shooting at IDF soldiers and attacking them with IEDs in Silat al-Harithiya (joint operations room Telegram channel, February 14, 2022).
  • On February 14, 2022, the joint operations room claimed responsibility for shooting at Israeli security forces near the Jalame Crossing (joint operations room Telegram channel, February 14, 2022). The Israeli media reported a drive-by shooting at the Jalame Crossing. The vehicle drove off in the direction of Jenin. No casualties or damage were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, February 14, 2022).

Tension in Sheikh Jarrah

• During the past few days tensions have mounted between Jewish and Arab residents in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of east Jerusalem. The tension began when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a Jewish house. Following the attack Israeli Knesset Member Itamar Ben Gvir, arrived accompanied by right-wing activists and announced he was moving his office to the neighborhood in solidarity with the Jewish residents. The Palestinians regarded it as provocation and his arrival caused violent clashes. Israeli police arrived to separate the two sides (Israeli media and the Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, February 13, 2022).
• The Palestinian and Arab media following events in Sheikh Jarrah reported on the violence and tension. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, blamed Israel for the situation. He said the continuation of “Jewish terrorism” in Sheikh Jarrah and other cities and towns represented a Israeli political decision and reflected the truth about Israel, which challenged international law and especially the American administration, which had declared its objection to evacuating Sheikh Jarrah’s Palestinian residents. He also said that the violence of the settlers, protected by the IDF, had reached an unprecedented level and he demanded immediate international intervention. He claimed the “non-violent popular resistance” would remain the most important and effective weapon for restoring Palestinian rights (Wafa, February 14, 2022).
• Mahmoud Abbas used his Facebook page to condemn Israel’s activities in Sheikh Jarrah and warned of the consequences. He said the issue would be deliberated at the upcoming meeting of the PLO’s Executive Committee in Ramallah, set for February 17, 2022 (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, February 13, 2022). On February 13, 2022, Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone with Sheikh Jarrah resident Fatma Salem, who is scheduled for eviction. He said he supported her struggle against Israel (Wafa, February 13, 2022).
• Muhammad Shtayyeh alleged the events in Sheikh Jarrah “war crimes, oppression and ethnic cleansing,” and demanded the international community intervene to stop Israel’s “killing, harassment, destruction of buildings and actions terrifying the innocent” (Wafa, February 14, 2022). The PA foreign ministry accused Israel of full responsibility for the events. The ministry issued an announcement alleging that Israel’s “crimes” against Jerusalem, its citizens and holy places were increasing. The ministry warned that Israel’s actions in east Jerusalem would prevent any possibility of a political solution to the conflict. Ahmed al-Ruweidi, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor for Jerusalem, called on the international community to protect the residents of Jerusalem from “Israel’s maltreatment.” He also noted that Mahmoud Abbas was closely monitoring the events (Dunia al-Watan, February 14, 2022). Hussein al-Sheikh, chairman of the authority of civilian affairs and a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, said Israel used force to evict Palestinian residents from the neighborhood and claimed Israel was emptying the east Jerusalem neighborhoods of their original inhabitants. He said the Palestinian leadership was maintaining intensive contact with countries around the world to exert pressure on Israel (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, February 13, 2022).

• According to reports, following the events in Sheikh Jarrah the Hamas leadership contacted the Egyptian mediators and told them that the Israeli government was again playing with fire, and that what was happening in Sheikh Jarrah was an “unendurable, dangerous escalation” (al-Mayadeen, February 14, 2022). Hamas claimed its practical response would be to escalate all forms of the “resistance” [i.e., Palestinian violence and terrorism]. The [alleged] rise in aggression, the theft of land, attacking buildings and evicting families from the homes in Sheikh Jarrah and the Negev would be “the fuel that would ignite the revolution,” according to Hamas.
• Hamas spokesmen issued anti-Israeli propaganda and threats:
  • Muhammad Hamada, Hamas spokesman for Jerusalem affairs, called the events in Sheikh Jarrah “crude aggression” and said settlers should not be enabled to attack the Palestinian people. He said the Palestinian public in the West Bank and east Jerusalem was prepared to confront the Israeli security forces and escalate confrontations with IDF soldiers at the friction points. In addition, if the [alleged Israeli] attacks continued the “organizations in the Gaza Strip” would not hesitate to respond. Hamas’ response to every [alleged Israel] escalation was clear, he said, and Jerusalem was a red line (Hamas website, February 14, 2022).
  • Isma’il Radwan, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said Hamas would not sit by without response. He accused Israel of playing with fire, and said it would be worth Israel’s while to learn from what happened in May 2021 [Operation Guardian of the Walls]. He called on the negotiators and the international community to intervene to halt the [alleged] aggression, and ended by saying that all options were open to defend the holy sites and the Palestinian people (Hamas website, February 14, 2022).
• The PIJ claimed Israel was responsible for what happened in Sheikh Jarrah, and warned of an “explosion.” They called on the Palestinians to take practical steps, to enlist, go out into the streets on days of rage, to go to Sheikh Jarrah to defend it and to struggle against the “terrorism of the settlers and soldiers” (Filastin al-Yawm, February 14, 2022). Khaled al-Batash, a member of the PIJ’s political bureau, threatened that if Israel did not stop its “aggression” in Sheikh Jarrah, the “resistance” [i.e., terrorist organizations] would begin Operation Guardian of the Walls 2 to defend Sheikh Jarrah. He also said they were talking to senior Egyptian officials regarding the situation (Voice of Palestine, February 14, 2022).

Counterterrorism activities

•  On February 10, 2022, Israeli security forces operating in the Kafr Qud, near Jenin, detained a wanted Palestinian who was in possession of weapons. A search of his house revealed an M-16, a pair of military binoculars and three ammunition magazines. He was taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, February 10, 2022). The Palestinian media reported the detainee was Sa’ad Abu Abid, an operative in the PIJ’s military terrorist wing. In the past he was imprisoned in Israel for 12 years. According to reports, he managed to evade five other attempts to detain him (Filastin al-Yawm, February 10, 2022).

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• In Judea and Samaria, given the tension on the ground following the killing of three terrorist operatives in Nablus and the events in Sheikh Jarrah in east Jerusalem, there was an increase in the throwing of rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles, IDF posts and the fences of Israeli communities, especially on February 8, 2022. The more prominent events were the following:^[2]
  • February 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown from a passing vehicle at an Israeli car near Beit Arieh, north of Modi’in Illit. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 14, 2022: A tire was set on fire near the security fence of the settlement of Giv’on Hahadasha, north of Jerusalem, and when a Border Police force arrived Molotov cocktails were thrown at the fighters. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • February 14, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown on the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion road between the al-Khader and Efrat Junctions, west of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported.
  • February 14, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an IDF post near the security fence of the Israeli community of Psagot, east of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the fence was damaged.
  • February 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 14, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an IDF post near al-Fawwar, southwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported.
  • February 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus and vehicle near Givat Assaf, east of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle north of Ofra, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown from a passing vehicle at an Israeli car near Beit Arieh, north of Modi’in Illit. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown from a passing vehicle at an Israeli car near Rehelim, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Tekoa-Har Homa road, south of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 13, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown from a passing we at the southern gate of the settlement of Migdal Oz. No casualties or damage were reported. A similar attack was reported the previous day.
  • February 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus in the Arab village of Tuku’. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • February 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Azzun, east of Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 12, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Deir Sharaf, northwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 11, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown an IDF post near the fence of Psagot, east of Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
  • February 11, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an IDF post near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. It caught fire; no casualties were reported.
  • February 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Burkin and Alei Zahav, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged. A similar attack was reported the previous day.
  • February 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Mukhamas, east of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at Israeli vehicles at the Zif Junction in Hebron. No casualties were reported; a bus and several vehicles were damaged.
  • February 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • February 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Hizma and Anata, northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near the Halhul Bridge, north of Hebron. A paint bottle was thrown at an Israeli police patrol car. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at the gate of the settlement of Ma’aleh Lavona, south east of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the gate was damaged.
  • February 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Qadumim, east of Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at houses in the settlement of Sha’arei Tikva, near Ariel. No casualties were reported; the houses were damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road between Bayt Ummar and al-Aroub. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at Israeli vehicles near Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicles were damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus in al-Funduq, east of Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at a playground in Beit Hadassah, Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an IDF vehicle near Mevo Dotan, west of Jenin. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on route 60 between al-Sharqia and Ma’aleh Lavona, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in the Arab village of Tuku’. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli Fire and Rescue vehicle near Qiryat Arba. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Duma, southeast of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[3]

House of Palestinian terrorist destroyed in Silat al-Harithiya

• IDF forces destroyed the floor of the house in the village of Silat al-Harithiya, near Jenin, where Palestinian terrorist Mahmoud Jaradat lived. Jaradat was an operative in the squad that carried out the shooting attack on December 16, 2021, killing Yehuda Dimantman and wounding two others. When the Israeli forces entered the village Palestinians rioted, throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails and IEDs at them. Shots were fired and the forces returned fire. During preparations to destroy the house an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded (IDF spokesman, February 14, 2022).
• Palestinian medical sources reported 20 wounded. One Palestinian was mortally wounded and later died. The Palestinian media reported he was Muhammad Ikram Ali Taher Abu Salah, 17, from the village of Yamun. He was an al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades operative who came from his village to participate in the riot in Silat al-Harithiya (Ma’an, Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, February 14, 2022).

   
Right: The house of the Palestinian terrorist after the IDF activity (Wafa, February 14, 2022). Left: Muhammad Abu Salah, killed during the clashes with IDF forces (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, February 14, 2022)

• Before the house was destroyed, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and Jerusalem Brigades in Jenin issued a warning to Israel not to damage or destroy the houses of the Palestinians who carried out shooting attacks. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, claimed destroying the houses was a “crime against humanity” that would only increase the Palestinian people’s rage. He praised the “heroes who are fighting in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem and Silat al-Harithiya.” PIJ spokesman Tareq Izz al-Din said his organization saluted the “resistance” fighters in Silat al-Harithiya who stood firm against the forces of the “occupation” (Filastin al-Yawm, February 14, 2022). PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah spoke with Mahmoud Jaradat’s family, praising them (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel, February 10, 2022).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• This past week no rocket or mortar shell hits were identified in Israeli territory.

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Empty truck set on fire

• IDF forces identified two Gazans who crossed the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip and reached the barrier area. Another was identified approaching the fence. They progressed towards an empty truck used for fence maintenance, set it on fire and returned to the Gaza Strip without crossing the barrier (IDF spokesman, February 9, 2022).
• One of the Incendiary balloon-launching units claimed responsibility for setting fire to an IDF bulldozer on the Gaza Strip border, calling it revenge for the killing of the three Palestinians in Nablus. They claimed they had set fire to the bulldozer and returned safely to the Gaza Strip (Shehab Telegram channel, February 9, 2022).

Disruption of IDF activities

•   The Israeli media reported that during a military activity in eastern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip a number of Palestinians wearing orange vests approached the IDF forces, touched their engineering equipment and tried to disrupt their activity. The forces drove them off with tear gas. No Israeli casualties were reported (Galatz, the IDF radio station, February 14, 2022).

   
Palestinians approach IDF forces in the southern Gaza Strip
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, February 14, 2022)

Renewal of Hamas threats

• According to reports, following the events in Nablus and Sheikh Jarrah, Hamas sent a strongly-worded message to the Egyptian mediator claiming that the events in Sheikh Jarrah could lead to escalation. According to Hamas, Israel’s “escalation” towards the Palestinians, including the recent activity in Nablus, could lead Hamas to change its approach and “force” it to renewed all forms of “popular resistance” [i.e., popular terrorism] along the Gaza Strip border, especially the activities of the night harassment units, which stopped a number of months ago following the understandings with Egypt (al-Ra’i al-Yawm, February 12, 2022

Hamas-Iran

• A Hamas delegation headed by Isma’il Haniyeh attended a reception organized by Iran in its embassy in Doha, Qatar, to celebrate Iran’s national holiday. Khaled Mashaal and Musa Abu Marzouq, members of Hamas’ political bureau, also attended (Hamas website, February 9, 2022).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with the German foreign minister.

•  Mahmoud Abbas met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. They discussed the situation in the Palestinian territories and the resolutions passed by the PLO’s Central Council most recent meeting, including the demand to suspend security coordination with Israel. Mahmoud Abbas told her that the Palestinian people would not accept the continuation of the current situation and would not agree to suffer Israel’s “racist conduct” in the territories occupied in 1967. He thanked her for the aid Germany gave the Palestinians by building institutions and repairing the Palestinian territories’ infrastructure (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, February 10, 2022). The German foreign minister also met with Muhammad Shtayyeh, who demanded she exert pressure on Israel to fulfill the agreements it had signed (Wafa, February 10, 2022).

   
Right: Mahmoud Abbas meets with the German foreign minister (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, February 10, 2022). Left: Muhammad Shtayyeh meets with the German foreign minister (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, February 10, 2022)

Muhammad Shtayyeh visits Libya

• On February 13, 2022, Muhammad Shtayyeh arrived in Libya for a two-day visit. He met with Libyan Prime Minister Abd al-Hamid al-Dbeibeh and senior government officials. He also met with members of the Palestinian dispersal living in Libya. According to reports, while he was in Libya he signed a number of agreements for bilateral cooperation (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, February 13; Wafa, February 14, 2022).

    
Right: Muhammad Shtayyeh arrives in Tripoli. Left: Muhammad Shtayyeh meets with the Libyan prime minister (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, February 13 and 14, 2022).

Resolutions passed by the PLO’s Central Council

• On February 13, 2022, the PLO’s three-day Central Council meeting ended. The meeting was described by Rawhi Fatouh, chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council, as a success (Wafa, February 13, 2022). Several resolutions were passed during the meeting, including the withdrawal of the PA’s recognition of Israel until Israel recognizes a Palestinian state and the suspension of security coordination. The resolutions need authorization from Mahmoud Abbas, and past experience has shown the resolutions are symbolic. Previous Central Council meetings passed similar hawk-like resolutions but they were never implemented.
• Among the resolutions passed were the following (Wafa. February 9, 2022):
  • Ending the PLO’s commitments to the State of Israel, the most important of which is withdrawing recognition of the State of Israel until Israel recognizes a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders and east Jerusalem as its capital, and stops construction in the settlements
  • Suspending every level of security coordination with Israel.
  • Drawing a road map for continuing the process from authority to sovereign state.
  • Objection to the economic peace plan and the trust-building steps proposed by Israel as an alternative to a just, permanent peace.
  • Calling on the American administration to keep President Biden’s promises regarding the administration’s commitment to the two-state solution, halting [construction in] the settlements and stopping Israel from evicting Palestinians from Jerusalem; in addition, calling for the reopening of the American legation in east Jerusalem and the PLO legation in Washington.
  • Issuing a demand to the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop its measures to destroy the Palestinian economy, take control of Palestinian land and natural resources, retain Palestinian money and to stop Israel’s actions to change Jerusalem’s identity.
  • Calling for an international peace conference in accordance with international law and international resolutions, with a comprehensive international aegis.
  • Objection to the normalization of relations with Israel by Arab and Islamic states, and conditioning such normalization of relations exclusively on the end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
• In response to the resolutions, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that as usual, summary announcements are issued and the resolutions remain on paper and no way to implement them is ever found (Hamas website, February 9, 2022).
• On February 17, 2022, the PLO’s Executive Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss the resolutions agreed on at the most recent Central Council meeting (Wafa, February 13, 2022).

Remarks from Hussein al-Sheikh

• In a series of interviews with the Palestinian and Arab media, Hussein al-Sheikh related to several topics. Regarding relations with the United States, he said the dialogue between the PA and United States which was recently renewed after it had been disrupted during the previous administration, had been intense and carried out at all levels of the American administration. He added that there was coordination between the Palestinians and Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. He called for the creation of a political horizon between Israel and the Palestinians, but felt there was no partner on the Israeli side. He also said he objected to an economic peace with Israel. Regarding internal Palestinian relations, he said Mahmoud Abbas’ successor would be chosen only by vote and not by Israeli pressure or an international decision. He called for an internal dialogue of all the “organizations” and claimed Israel aspired to perpetuate the Palestinian schism to destroy the idea of a Palestinian state (al-Sharq, Sabaq24, February 14, 2022).

Remarks from the PA ambassador to Iran

• The Palestinian media affiliated with Hamas and the PIJ reported on the ceremony held in Tehran on February 8, 2022, where Salam al-Zawawi, appointed by Mahmoud Abbas as the new PA ambassador to Tehran, presented her credentials to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Palestinian reports based on the Iranian News Agency, reported several remarks made by the new ambassador during the ceremony. For example, she was quoted as saying that the victory of the Islamic Revolution was a great victory for the Arab-Muslim nation; that some of the Arab and Islamic regimes which had normalized relations with Israel (“the Zionist entity”) ignored the rights of the Palestinian people and turned their backs on the Palestinian cause; and that she also told President Raisi she hoped that after the “final victory and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” they would be able to pray in al-Aqsa mosque led by Iranian supreme leader Khamenei. Her appointment by Mahmoud Abbas after the father’s retirement led to public criticism of perceived nepotism.

The World Bank accuses Israel of responsibility for the delay in developing Palestinian cellular networks

• The World Bank called on Israel to allot 4G and 5G frequencies to communications networks in the PA territories. The bank claimed that the limitations imposed by Israel on the Palestinians regarding the import of communications equipment and the allotment of 4G and 5G frequencies was the main factor delaying the development of a communications infrastructure in the PA and prevented them from communicating with other countries. Today the network in the PA is 3G and in the Gaza Strip 2G (al-Quds, February 9, 2022).

Judea and Samaria

• According to data from the ministry of health in Ramallah, on February 14, 2022, there was a decrease in the number of active cases, 10,835, down from 27,097 on February 7, 2022. Of the 10,686 tests administered during the 24 hours between February 13 and 14, 2022, 1,125 new cases were detected, a positive rate of 11%. There were 133 Palestinians in ICUs, 43 of them on ventilators. So far 3,194 Palestinians have died of coronavirus-related causes (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, February 14, 2022).
• Poland sent the PA 300,000 doses of Moderna coronavirus vaccines (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, February 10, 2022).

The Gaza Strip

• On February 15, 2022, the ministry of health in Gaza reported 36,031 active cases in the Gaza Strip, up from 30,794 on February 8, 2022. Of the 4,675 tests administered during the 24 hours between February 14 and 15, 2022, 1,640 new cases were detected, a 35% positive rate. So far 1,847 Gazans have died of coronavirus-related causes, up from 1,795 on February 8, 2022. There are 205hospitalized Gazans, 116 in serious or critical condition. So far 612,190 Gazans have been vaccinated, up from 594,737 on February 8, 2022 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, February 15, 2022).
• The ministry of health in Gaza opened a new field hospital for coronavirus patients, donated and funded by the UAE. The hospital, named after Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Dubai, is located within the precinct of the European Hospital in Gaza and has 272 beds, 56 of them ICU beds (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, February 9, 2022).
• `According to reports, Ziyad Shukri al-Zaza, a former member of Hamas’ political bureau, died of coronavirus-related causes. His funeral was attended by Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip (Palestine Online, February 9, 2022).