News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (January 13 – 19, 2021)

Hussein al-Sheikh meets in Moscow with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister (Hussein al-Sheikh's Facebook page, January 19, 2021).

Hussein al-Sheikh meets in Moscow with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister (Hussein al-Sheikh's Facebook page, January 19, 2021).

Hamas and PIJ delegations meet in Qatar (Hamas Telegram channel, January 12, 2021).

Hamas and PIJ delegations meet in Qatar (Hamas Telegram channel, January 12, 2021).

Mahmoud Abbas (right) with Hana Nasser, chairman of the central elections committee, after the announcement had been issued (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, January 15, 2021).

Mahmoud Abbas (right) with Hana Nasser, chairman of the central elections committee, after the announcement had been issued (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, January 15, 2021).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with the heads of Egyptian General Intelligence (second from the right) and of Jordanian General Intelligence (far left) (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, January 17, 2021).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with the heads of Egyptian General Intelligence (second from the right) and of Jordanian General Intelligence (far left) (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, January 17, 2021).

  • In the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria the decrease in coronavirus infection continues, although the number of active cases remains high (6,170 in the Gaza Strip, 4,292 in Judea and Samaria). The first delivery of 5,000 doses of vaccine from Russia is expected to arrive in the Palestinian Authority (PA) at the end of the week. The PA signed an agreement for the purchase of 100,000 doses of the Russian vaccine, which are expected to arrive towards the middle of February 2021.
  • There were two incidents from the Gaza Strip this past week: Palestinians shot at a bulldozer operating near the border security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. In response the IDF attacked three Hamas posts. Two rockets were fired at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip; both rockets fell into the sea. Palestinian sources claimed the rocket fire was triggered by lightning. In response to the rocket fire the Israeli Air Force attacked Hamas military targets.
  • In Judea and Samaria a Palestinian tried to stab a security guard at the Qalqilya Crossing at the entrance to Jerusalem. An attempt was made to stab an IDF soldier at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Throughout Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and bottles of paint at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads.
  • This past week Mahmoud Abbas issued an order stating PA elections will be held in three stages: first for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) (May 22, 2021), then for the “presidency” (July 31, 2021), and finally for the Palestinian National Council (when the opportunity presents itself). Hamas rushed to praise the decision. There are still many obstacles to holding elections, most significantly the deep schism and lack of trust between Fatah and Hamas. The heads of the Palestinian organizations are expected to meet in Cairo in the near future to discuss the obstacles.
  • While various organizations would prefer to minimize the importance of the internal arguments, they were, however, vocal about the issue of voting in east Jerusalem. The PA is worried that Israel will not permit east Jerusalem residents to vote and expects EU election oversight support. In ITIC assessment, the PA will also appeal to the new Biden administration.
The Gaza Strip

The decrease in the extent of Covid-19 infection continues. On January 19, 2021, 313 new cases were reported in the Gaza Strip; during the past 24 hours 1,430 tests were administered. The rate of positive results was 21.8%. The number of active cases in the Gaza Strip currently stands at 6,170. There are 143 patients in ICUs, 74 of them on ventilators. So far there have been 493 coronavirus-related deaths in the Gaza Strip.

Judea and Samaria

The decrease in the extent of Covid-19 infection continues. During the past 24 hours, 225 new cases were detected and 1,909 tests were administered, with positive results of 11.7%. The number of active cases stands at 4,282, there are 81 patients in ICUs, 22 of them on ventilators. Nine Palestinians died during the past 24 hours, bringing the number of coronavirus-related deaths to 1,248 (Facebook page of the PA ministry of health, January 19, 2021).

Arrival of vaccines from Russia delayed
  • Abd al-Hafez Nofal, PA representative in Moscow, said a technical problem of the loading and transport of the Russian vaccines kept the first delivery of 5,000 doses from reaching the PA. He said efforts were being made to solve the problem and he estimated the vaccines would arrive by this coming Friday (January 22, 2021) (Ma’an, January 19, 2021). The Ma’an News Agency reported that the PA would pay Russia $18 million for the vaccines, and that the vaccines would arrive in Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, and not be delivered through Jordan (Ma’an, January 19, 2021).
  • Hussein al-Sheikh, chairman of the authority for civilian affairs, who is currently visiting Russia, reported he had signed an agreement with Russia for 100,000 additional doses of the Russian vaccine, and the PA expected them to arrive in Ramallah in the near future (Ma’an, January 19, 2021). He said the Russians could not produce so large a quantity immediately and therefore the vaccines would be delivered towards the middle of February 2021 (Ma’an, January 19, 2018).
Hussein al-Sheikh meets in Moscow with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister (Hussein al-Sheikh's Facebook page, January 19, 2021).
Hussein al-Sheikh meets in Moscow with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister
(Hussein al-Sheikh’s Facebook page, January 19, 2021).
Shots fired from the Gaza Strip
  • On January 13, 2021, an IDF engineering force operating in the buffer zone near the border security fence in the Khan Yunis region reported a number of shots fired from the Gaza Strip at a bulldozer on the western side of the security fence. A short time later the force reported hearing more shots. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the bulldozer’s cabin was damaged. In response an IDF tank attacked three nearby Hamas posts (IDF spokesman and the Israeli media, January 13, 2021). The Palestinian media reported that [Hamas] restraint force observation posts had been shelled, as well as a “resistance” post in eastern Khan Yunis (Palestine Online Twitter account, January 13, 2021).
IDF engineering equipment operating east of Khan Yunis (Palestine Online Twitter account, January 13, 2021).
IDF engineering equipment operating east of Khan Yunis
(Palestine Online Twitter account, January 13, 2021).
Results of the IDF response (Facebook page of journalist Hani al-She'ar, January 13, 2021).    Holes in the front windshield of the cabin of the bulldozer (Palestine Online Twitter account, January 13, 2021).
Right: Holes in the front windshield of the cabin of the bulldozer (Palestine Online Twitter account, January 13, 2021). Left: Results of the IDF response (Facebook page of journalist Hani al-She’ar, January 13, 2021).
Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel
  • On January 18, 2021 two rockets were fired at Israel from the region of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. They fell into the sea in near the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashdod. Palestinian sources reported that the rocket fire was not deliberate and had been triggered when lightning struck near a rocket launching post. In response to the rocket fire Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hamas targets used as workshops for digging tunnels (IDF spokesman, January 18, 2021). The Palestinian media reported attacks on agricultural fields in the eastern Khan Yunis district and in eastern Rafah, resulting in property damage (Shabakat Quds Twitter account, January 18, 2021).
 IDF attack in the eastern Khan Yunis district in response to the rocket attack (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, January 18, 2021).     IDF attack in the eastern Khan Yunis district in response to the rocket attack (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, January 18, 2021).
IDF attack in the eastern Khan Yunis district in response to the rocket attack
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, January 18, 2021).
Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Attempted stabbing attacks
  • On January 12, 2021, a Palestinian tried to stab a security guard with a screwdriver at the Qalqilya Crossing at the entrance to Jerusalem. The guard was scratched. The Palestinian, who arrived on foot without an entrance permit, roused the guard’s suspicions, and he called on the Palestinian to halt. An argument developed, during which the Palestinian attempted to stab the guard. He was neutralized without the use of gunfire. The circumstances of the event are under investigation (Israeli media, January 12, 2021).
  • On January 13, 2021, a Palestinian arrived at one of the checkpoints at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. He drew a knife and tried to stab the soldiers manning the post. No casualties were reported. The Palestinian was wounded and neutralized (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, January 13, 2021).
Two Palestinians detained on suspicion of shooting at a Border Police jeep
  • Two Palestinians were detained on suspicion of shooting at a Border Police jeep in Jenin on December 19, 2020. Border Police fighters stormed their houses and found large quantities of ammunition. The two suspects were taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, January 15, 2021).
The throwing of stones, Molotov cocktails, bottles of paint and other events
  • In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles. The more prominent events were the following:[2]
    • January 18, 2021: Stones were thrown at vehicles southwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported. One of the vehicles was damaged.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones were thrown at a bus west of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones were thrown at a bus northeast of Hebron. No casualties were reported.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones and a bottle of paint were thrown at a vehicle southeast of Nablus. No casualties were reported.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones were thrown at a vehicle northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
    • January 17, 2021: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a bus south of Nablus. No casualties were reported.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones were thrown at a bus northeast of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones were thrown at a vehicle southwest of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported.
    • January 17, 2021: Stones were thrown at a bus southwest of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged.
    • January 15, 2021: Stones were thrown during a riot northeast of Nablus. A Border Police fighter was slightly wounded.
    • January 15, 2021: Stones were thrown at a vehicle southeast of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
    • January 15, 2021: Stones were thrown at a bus southwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the bus was damaged.
    • January 14, 2021: Stones were thrown at vehicles south of Nablus. No casualties were reported. One of the vehicles as damaged.
    • January 14, 2021: Stones were thrown at vehicles northeast of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of one of the vehicles was damaged.
    • January 14, 2021: Stones were thrown at vehicles southwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported. One of the vehicles was damaged.
    • January 13, 2021: Stones were thrown at a bus northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
    • January 13, 2021: Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the community of Karmei Tsur in Gush Etzion.
    • January 13, 2021: Stones were thrown at a vehicle northeast of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
    • January 13, 2021: Bottles of paint was thrown at a vehicle in Gush Etzion. No casualties were reported.
    • January 13, 2021: Stones were thrown at vehicles south of Nablus. No casualties were reported. One of the vehicles was damaged.
Significant terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2019[3]

Significant terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2019

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) delegation visits Qatar
  • A PIJ delegation, headed by its leader, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, arrived in Qatar for a visit of several days. They met with the emir of Qatar and senior figures in the Qatari government (Filastin al-Yawm, January 16, 2021). While in Qatar they also met with a Hamas delegation headed by Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, who was visit Qatar at the same time (Filastin al-Yawm, January 12, 2021). Both sides agreed that the capabilities of the “resistance” [i.e., the terrorist organizations] had to be strengthened (PIJ website, January 16, 2021).
Hamas and PIJ delegations meet in Qatar (Hamas Telegram channel, January 12, 2021).   Hamas and PIJ delegations meet in Qatar (Hamas Telegram channel, January 12, 2021).
Hamas and PIJ delegations meet in Qatar (Hamas Telegram channel, January 12, 2021).
Renewal of deliveries of money from Qatar to the Gaza Strip
  • Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of the Hamas political bureau and responsible for international relations, reported the emir of Qatar told the Hamas delegation that Qatar would renew its donations to needy families in the Gaza Strip for the period of one year (and not six months, as in the past). According to Musa Abu Marzouq, Qatar will give the Gaza Strip $30 million per month. He also said that Mohammed al-Emadi, chairman of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, would arrive in the Gaza Strip at the end of January 2021 (Filastin al-Yawm, January 12, 2021).
Palestinian participation in virtual conference in Iran
  • Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Isma’il Haniyeh gave speeches at a virtual conference broadcast from Tehran. Ziyad al-Nakhalah said that after rounds of escalation with Israel the “resistance” continued developing its capabilities with Iranian aid until it had successfully created a “balance of terrorist” with Israel. He said the southern front was a genuine threat for Israel. Isma’il Haniyeh said that not only the Palestinians but the entire [Muslim] nation as well was in danger. He said the embargos placed on a number of regional countries, especially Iran, was intended to disrupt the “resistance’s” supply lines (Filastin al-Yawm, January 18, 2021).
Elections in the PA
Information issued about holding elections
  • On January 15, 2021, Mahmoud Abbas issued a “presidential order” regarding the general elections in the PA. They will be held in three stages: elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) will be held on May 22, 2021; elections for president will be held on July 31, 2021, and the results of the PLC elections will be considered the first stage of forming the Palestinian National Council (PNC), which will be completed on August 31, 2021. Elections for the PNC will be held when the opportunity presents itself. According to the order, elections will be held in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip (Wafa, January 15, 2021). The last time elections were held for the office of president was in 2005, and for the PLC, 2006. In recent years orders for elections have been issued several times but canceled for various reasons.
Mahmoud Abbas (right) with Hana Nasser, chairman of the central elections committee, after the announcement had been issued (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, January 15, 2021).
Mahmoud Abbas (right) with Hana Nasser, chairman of the central elections committee, after the announcement had been issued (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, January 15, 2021).
  • After the announcement about elections, Mahmoud Abbas met with Abbas Kamal, head of Egyptian General Intelligence, and Ahmad Husni, head of Jordanian General Intelligence; Majed Faraj, head of Palestinian Intelligence was also present. Mahmoud Abbas briefed them on recent developments, especially the future elections (Wafa, January 17, 2021). In the upcoming weeks the heads of all the Palestinian organizations will meet in Cairo to discuss the many obstacles facing holding elections.
Mahmoud Abbas meets with the heads of Egyptian General Intelligence (second from the right) and of Jordanian General Intelligence (far left) (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, January 17, 2021).
Mahmoud Abbas meets with the heads of Egyptian General Intelligence (second from the right) and of Jordanian General Intelligence (far left) (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, January 17, 2021).
Hamas reaction
  • Hamas welcomed the announcement and said it supported holding elections. Hamas stressed the importance of holding free elections in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Palestinian Dispersal (Hamas website, January 15, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Hamas was flexible regarding the process enabling elections to be held. He said the most important thing was to prevent Israel from influencing the election results (al-Aqsa, January 16, 2021).
Initial preparations
  • On January 17, 2021, the central election committee, headed by Hana Nasser, met in Ramallah with the leaders of the organizations and representatives of the political parties. Nasser briefed them on the election schedule and the preparations the committee would make. The organization representatives said they supported the process (Wafa, January 17, 2021). Nasser said that on February 10, 2021, they would begin registering voters, a process that would take five days (al-Quds, January 19, 2021).

Hana Nasser meets with representatives of the Palestinian organizations (website of the central elections committee, January 17, 2021).
Hana Nasser meets with representatives of the Palestinian organizations
(website of the central elections committee, January 17, 2021).

  • Hashem Kahal, general manager of the elections committee, said they were ready to begin the election process. He called on the Palestinians to register to vote on the committee’s website. He added that the issue of Jerusalem in the elections would have its own protocol. He assumed they would be met with obstacles from the Israeli authorities, and therefore would discuss the issue with international groups to exert pressure on Israel regarding voting in Jerusalem. He also noted they had an alternative plan (Sawa, January 16, 2018).
  • Kahal said that so far 2,200,000 Palestinians had registered and they hoped the number would rise. He said so far only 60,000 had registered on the website. He said the threshold for election to the PLC was 1.5% of the votes. Candidates for president had to be forty years old or older, committed to the PLO and recognizing it as the only legal representative of the Palestinian people, registered to vote and living in “Palestine” (Palestinian TV, January 17, 2021).
The issue of east Jerusalem voters
  • In accordance with interim agreements signed between Israel and the PLO on September 28, 1995 (following the Oslo Accords), Palestinians living in Jerusalem can participate in elections. In the past Palestinians living in Jerusalem voted in PLC elections. The PA raised the question of whether Israel would permit residents of east Jerusalem to vote. At the weekly government meeting, PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said Israel said it was committed to its agreements with the Palestinians, one of which was the participation of the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem in elections. He also called on the EU to appoint an oversight committee to supervise the elections and support them in Jerusalem (Wafa, January 18, 2021).
  • Asked whether there was an alternative plan if Israel should refuse to hold the elections in Jerusalem, Hana Nasser, head of the central elections committee, said there was such a plan and it had to be discussed with the organizations. He added that all the organizations agreed to participate in the campaign for Jerusalem. He also said that only the central elections committee would supervise the elections and that it had sole responsibility for them. However, he called on the EU, the United States and the Palestinian civilian social institutions to supervise the activity of the committee (Palestinian TV, January 16, 2021).
Formulating lists of candidates
  • A senior source in Hamas said the organization is considering participation in the PLC elections on a joint ticket with Fatah or with another organization interested in joining it. According to the source, the idea is not new, having been proposed in recent months. Hamas is supposed to formally discuss the idea during its internal elections, which will be held in the near future (al-Quds, January 17, 2021). Nasser al-Qudwa, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, said they refused to run on a joint ticket with Hamas. He called it an undemocratic move with no political feasibility. However, he said it was possible that Fatah and other PLO organizations would run on a united ticket (Dunia al-Watan, January 18, 2021).
Problems establishing the Bank of Independence[4]
  • Qudri Abu Bakr, head of the prisoners’ affairs authority, confirmed that the establishment of the Bank of Independence had hit a dead end because the banks in the PA refused to cooperate with it. That, he said, was because of threats from Israel and the fact that it had not received a license. He said efforts were being made to find alternatives. He also said they had begun integrating released prisoners into the public sector but that there were delays (Facebook page of Radio al-Rabaa, January 14, 2021).
  • Interviewed by the Safa website, Qudri Abu Bakr repeated that the plan to establish the Bank of Independence was not on the agenda. He said the bank would not be able to make payments to the prisoners because of Israel’s threats, and because other banks were not willing to cooperate. He said they were currently trying to find alternative ways to pay the prisoners (qudsnet.com, January 7, 2021). In the meantime, it was reported that in accordance with instructions from Mahmoud Abbas, the payments to the released prisoners were completed after they had recently received only 50% of their payments (Sawa, January 14, 2021).[5]

[1] For further information, see the January 18, 2021 bulletin, "The spread of Covid-19 in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip – Updated to January 18, 2021)."
[2] All information and reports are from Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria unless otherwise noted.

[3] A significant attack is defined by the ITIC as involving shooting, a vehicular attack, the use of IEDs, or a combination of the above. Stones and Molotov cocktails thrown by Palestinians are not included.

[4] On June 1, 2020, the PA government authorized the establishment of a government banking institution which would be called the Bank of Independence for Development and Investments. It is supposed to serve as a dedicated conduit for the transfer of funds to prisoners and the families of shaheeds.

[5] For further information, see June 4, 2020 bulletin, "The Palestinian Authority plans to establish a bank to enable it to transfer payments to Palestinian prisoners and the families of shaheeds;" and the June 28, 2020 bulletin, "The Palestinian Authority takes practical steps to set up a government bank to handle payments to prisoners and families of shaheeds."