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

Counterterrorism activities

•  On March 15, 2022, the Israeli security forces operated in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus to detain a Palestinian wanted for terrorist activities. An M-16 assault rifle was found in his possession. As the forces left the refugee camp they were attacked by Palestinians who had gathered to threw rocks, IEDs and various objects. In the middle of the riot two Palestinians arrived on a motor scooter. One got off and shot at the forces; the forces returned fire, killing him (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, March 15, 2022).

• The Palestinian media reported the death of Nader Hitham Rian, 17, from the Balata refugee camp. He was reported as killed during a riot near the home of Amer Arafat, a wanted Palestinian, who was later detained (Ma’an, March 15, 2022). The Fatah movement in Nablus issued a mourning notice for him (Muneir al-Jaghob’s Twitter account, March 15, 2022).

  
Right: The mourning notice issued by Fatah in Nablus (Muneir al-Jaghob’s Twitter account, March 15, 2022). Left: The funeral held for Nader Hitham Rian in the Balata refugee camp (QudsN Twitter account, March 15, 2022).

• On March 15, 2022, the Israeli security forces detained two Palestinians wanted for terrorist activities in the Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Local Palestinians rioted, throwing heavy objects from rooftops. During the riot a Palestinian was killed; no Israeli casualties were reported. The two wanted terrorists were taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, March 15, 2022).
•   The Palestinian media reported the death of Alaa Sheham, 22, from the Qalandia refugee camp. According to the ministry of health in Ramallah, he was shot in the head (Ma’an, March 15, 2022).

   
Right: Alaa Sheham (al-Quds, March 15, 2022). Left: Armed Palestinians during the funeral held for Alaa Sheham in the Qalandia refugee camp (QudsN Twitter account, March 15, 2022).

• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh posted a condemnation of the killing of the two Palestinians on his Facebook page. He claimed the Israeli security forces attacked young Palestinians and children and broke international law. He called on the international community to bring the “perpetrators of crimes” against the Palestinian people to trial, and sent his condolences to the families (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, March 15, 2022). Taysir Nasrallah, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, said the response to the “crimes of the occupation” was [national] unity and “resistance” [i.e., violence and terrorism] (Shehab Twitter account, March 15, 2022).
• Hamas issued a mourning notice with condolences for the families, noting that “the blood of the shaheeds will serve as fuel to ignite an intifada everywhere,” and called for Palestinians to confront Israel (Hamas website, March 15, 2022).
•   On March 9, 2022, Fatah operative Ahmed Hakmet Sayif died. He was 23 years old and from the village of Burqa, northwest of Nablus. He was shot by IDF forces near Nablus on March 1, 2022, after throwing a Molotov cocktail. Hundreds of Palestinians attended his military-style funeral. His body was wrapped for burial in Palestinian and Fatah flags and carried on the shoulders of operatives from the Palestinian security forces (Wafa and Ma’an, March 9, 2022). Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) condemned his death and called for the “resistance” to be escalated (al-Aqsa Telegram channel, March 9, 2022).

   
Right: Ahmed Hakmet Sayif. Left: The military-style funeral held for Ahmed Hakmet Sayif (Shehab Twitter account, March 9, 2022).

Violence near the Homesh outpost

• According to the IDF spokesman, there were two violent incidents near the Homesh outpost, northwest of Nablus. On March 12, 2022, an Israeli vehicle drove to the roadblock near the outpost. Several Israelis got out and threw rocks at Palestinian vehicles. An IDF force at the site initiated procedure to detain them. During the detention an Israeli civilian attacked an IDF fighter. On the evening of March 14, 2022, an Israeli vehicle broke through the roadblock and hit an IDF officer and soldier who were securing the site (IDF spokesman, March 15, 2022).

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads, IDF posts and Israeli communities. The more prominent events were the following:^[1]
  • March 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Azun and Karnei Shomron, east of Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • March 14, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown from a passing car at the fence of the Israeli community of Ofra, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
  • March 14, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a guard post in the Nabi Saleh region near the Israeli community of Naveh Tzuf, northwest or Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
  • March 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown on the Tekoa-Har Homa road south of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported.
  •  March 14, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown at Israeli vehicles on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road. No casualties were reported.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Neguhot road near Hebron. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • March 13, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli vehicle south of Karmei Tzur, north of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an ambulance and other vehicles near the Hagai Junction, south of Hebron. No casualties were reported; one of the vehicles was damaged.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Beit El, north of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus and other vehicles near Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported; the vehicles were damaged.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus in Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • March 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus in the village of Tuku, southeast of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • March 10, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown near Halhul, north of Hebron, No casualties or damage were reported.
  • March 10, 2022: Bottles of paint were thrown on the road to Jerusalem between the al-Khader Junction and the Tunnel roadblock, west of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • March 10, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus on the road to Ma’aleh Lavona from the direction of Sinjil, north of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • March 10, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the village of Azun. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • March 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near the al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • March 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near al-Aroub, north of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • March 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus between Azun and the Ma’aleh Shomron Junction, east of Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • March 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Anatot and Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • March 9, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Hawwara. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • March 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown from a passing car at a vehicle on the Abud bypass road, northeast of Modi’in. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • March 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Birzeit, north of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged..
  • March 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus on the Tekoa-Har Homa road, southeast of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • March 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Jaba Surif, northwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.

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

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

Increase in the number of Gazans given permits to work in Israel

• On March 10, 2022, the COGAT announced an increase of 2,000 in the number of entrance permits for Gazans to work and conduct commercial activities in Israel, bringing the number of permits to 12,000. An agreement was also concluded for coordinating between the PA, the UN and the fishermen’s union to allow equipment for fixing fishing boats to be imported into the Gaza Strip (al-Munsaq, March 10, 2022).

Establishment of a “national authority” for the support of Israeli Arabs

• The Palestinian Islamist and terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip declared the establishment of a “national authority for the support of Palestinians living in arab al-dahel” [i.e., Israeli Arabs] (Sawa, March 12, 2022). It will be responsible for protests and propaganda activities, including the social media, to strengthen the ties with Israeli Arabs and support them. At a press conference held to launch the “authority,” senior PIJ figure Khaled al-Batash said the path to restoring Palestinian rights was through “resistance” [i.e., violence and terrorism] and establishing the “authority” was a continuation of the return marches. It would, he claimed, stress the unity of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people, and the unity of the “struggle” against Israel. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called it a historic meeting proving the cohesion of the Palestinian people (Shehab, March 12, 2022). On another occasion Hazem Qassem said the “authority” was headed by Muhsan Abu Ramadan and represented all Palestinians. He added that the “authority” would begin operations at the main event held for Land Day, and that its message would be that the Palestinians could not be divided (al-Aqsa, March 14, 2022).
• Muhsan Abu Ramadan, ^[3] said that establishing the new “authority” reflected the agreement of all streams of Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip and was also a victory for justice and the “struggle project” of the Palestinians in the 1948 territories. He claimed the Palestinians living the 1948 territories had proved the depth of their belonging [to the Palestinian people] by Land Day in 1976, Operation Guardian of the Walls in Jerusalem and their defense of Jerusalem and the holy sites (al-Quds al-Arabi, March 12, 2022).
• At the press conference it was also noted that the “authority’s” activity would be “popular and peaceful” [sic] and two events would be held, one on March 26, 2022 at the same time as the event in the Negev, and the other on March 30, 2022, Land Day (alresala.net, March 14, 2022).

• The establishment of the “authority” was announced two weeks before Land Day, which is held on March 30 every year to mark the demonstrations and general strike held by Israeli Arabs in 1976 to protest Israel’s expropriation of land. Every year protest demonstrations are held in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, and by Israeli Arabs. The return marches also began as a mass Land Day march. Apparently the “authority” is being established as an attempt to continue what the Palestinians regard as one of the achievements of Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, when Israeli Arabs rioted in Israel’s mixed cities. The riots were regarded by the Palestinians as a turning point in relations between Israeli Arabs and Palestinians.

Reactions to Israel’s citizenship law

• On March 10, 2022, the Knesset passed a law freezing the granting of Israeli citizenship to residents of Judea and Samaria who marry Israeli citizens. In response Hamas spokesman Jihad Tahe called the law an ongoing “racist crime” based on separating Palestinian families [sic], and claimed it exposed Israel’s “true face.” He said Hamas rejected the law, which he claimed violated international norms and conventions, and called on the UN to take responsibility and examine Israel’s new law (Sawa, March 12, 2022). Muhammad Shtayyeh also condemned the law at the weekly PA government meeting, saying it would prevent family reunions (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, March 14, 2022).

Pilgrims leave the Gaza Strip for Mecca for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic

•   On the morning of March 14, 2022, the first group of about 300 pilgrims left the Gaza Strip for Mecca for the umrah, a pilgrimage which is not carried out as part of the hajj. During the past two years no Gazan gone on a pilgrimage to Mecca because of the coronavirus epidemic. The pilgrims left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, March 14, 2022).

   
Gazans on their way to Mecca (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, March 14, 2022).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with a Chinese representative

•  On March 10, 2022, Mahmoud Abbas met in his office in Ramallah with the Chinese envoy to the Middle East. They discussed developments in the Palestinian arena, and Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of ignoring signed agreements and of carrying out unilateral actions that were destroying the chances for peace between Israel and the PA. He also expressed his appreciation for the economic aid China gave the PA and the important role it filled in Middle Eastern peace and stability (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, March 10, 2022).

PA-United States relations

• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh met with Hady Amr, deputy assistant secretary for Israeli and Palestinian affairs in the American State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. According to Palestinian reports, Mahmoud Abbas called on the United States to exert pressure on Israel to stop “attacking Palestinians.” Shtayyeh described the economic challenges facing the PA because of external influences, the deductions from the tax revenues collected by Israel for the PA and the decrease in international aid (Wafa, March 14, 2022). Hussein al-Sheikh, chairman of the authority of civilian affairs and a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, also met with Amr. Present at the meeting were Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, and Majdi al-Khaldi, advisor to Mahmoud Abbas for foreign affairs. Al-Sheikh said the reliability of the international community was being tested and a double standard should not be used in dealing with international legitimacy and implementing UN resolutions (Wafa, March 14, 2022).
• Meanwhile, Congress authorized $259 million worth of foreign aid for the Palestinians. Of the sum, $40 million is earmarked for help in law enforcement and for the PA’s security forces (al-Risalah, March 12, 2022).

Muhammad Shtayyeh meets with students from America

• Muhammad Shtayyeh met with a delegation of 300 students from Harvard University. He harshly criticized Israel, claiming that one of the Palestinians’ challenges was the ongoing Israeli “looting” of Palestinian money [i.e., Israel’s deductions of Palestinian tax revenues], which had led to mounting budget deficit and influenced the government’s ability to meet its commitments to the Palestinian public. It was all because, he complained, they “take care of the families of the Palestinian shaheeds who were killed by IDF gunfire.”
• He also said the Palestinians were not optimistic about the current Israeli government, whose prime minister had refused to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, negotiate or [accept] the establishment of a Palestinian state. He claimed the government of Israel was not interested in the two-state solution or a one-state solution but rather in a continuation of the existing deteriorating situation (Wafa, March 14, 2022).

   
Muhammad Shtayyeh and the delegation of students from America (Wafa, March 14, 2022).

The Palestinian foreign minister participates in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum

• Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, an international conference held in Turkey with the participation of leaders from around the world. Al-Maliki exploited the forum to meet with the foreign ministers of Turkey, South Africa, Poland, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, and with senior EU officials.
• Riyad al-Maliki gave a speech where he complained that the Palestinian cause did not receive the attention it deserved. He attacked the international community for its unwillingness to support a solution to the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict or to enforce international law. He claimed the Palestinian cause needed international intervention and the implementation of UN resolution to end the “Israeli occupation.” He also accused Israel of rejecting negotiating with the Palestinians, preferring construction in the settlements (PA foreign ministry Facebook page, March 12, 2022).

• Riyad al-Maliki met with Mrs. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, the foreign minister of Kosovo. He conditioned relations between the two countries on the relocating of the Kosovo embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. He claimed that the presence of Kosovo’s embassy in Jerusalem broke international law and violated UN Security Council resolutions and the position of the EU. Additionally, locating the embassy in Jerusalem did not, he claimed, help Kosovo achieve its goals for international recognition and membership in the international community (PA foreign ministry website, March 12, 2022).

Help for the PA from Belgium

• Muhammad Shtayyeh signed an agreement for cooperation for 2022-2026 with the Belgian consul. The agreement, for the sum of €70 million, will fund, according to Shtayyeh, several projects in the fields of education, vocational training, employment for young Palestinians, environment and climate (Wafa, March 9, 2022).

The Palestinians and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

• “Senior Palestinian sources” reported that the United States administration and various European countries were exerting pressure on Mahmoud Abbas to openly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The sources added that Mahmoud Abbas refused to condemn the invasion and ignored the political threats that had arrived at his office from European capitals. That was because he was afraid that a condemnation of the invasion would harm the PA’s relations with Russia. According to the report, Mahmoud Abbas decided to retain his current position so as not to harm his relations with either side involved in the “conflict” [sic]. Palestinian sources added that the Palestinian position was very flexible when compared to the position of all the Arab states and European countries. According to the sources, it was a position suitable for “silent rhetoric” while opposing any action that caused the killing of civilians in any location (Ra’i al-Yawm, March 9, 2022). The Russian RT TV channel also reported that the Palestinian leadership rejected American and European pressure to take sides against Russia.
• The Palestinian media reported published cartoons about the war complaining that the world was ignoring events in “Palestine” while instead focusing on the war in Ukraine. They also expressed Palestinian dissatisfaction with the waves of Ukrainians immigrating to Israel  [sic] and Israel’s exploitation of the situation to continue construction in the settlements.

Reaction to Israeli Prime Minister Isaac Herzog’s visit to Turkey

• On March 9, 2022, Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid a state visit to Turkey. A formal reception was held for him in the Turkish president’s palace in Ankara, after which he met with President Erdogan. The visit and reception were widely covered by the Palestinian media.
• Riyad al-Maliki said the Palestinians were not worried by the ties forming between Israel and Turkey because it could help support Israeli-Palestinian negotiations(CNN, March 12, 2022). Al-Maliki met with the Turkish foreign minister, who updated him about Erdogan’s meeting with Herzog and assured him that a renewal of relations between Turkey and Israel would not lead to a change in Turkish policy towards the Palestinian people (PA foreign ministry website, March 10, 2022).

• However, Herzog’s visit was criticized by Hamas and the PIJ. Hamas’ criticism was relatively cautious and only said they were “following with concern” the visits of Israeli leaders to Arab and Islamic countries which were the Palestinian people’s “strategic depth” (Hamas website, March 9, 2022). Note: Hamas’ announcement did not include the word “condemn” or mention Turkey by name. PIJ spokesmen strongly criticized the visit and said Turkey’s attempt to reconstruct relations with Israel was a “betrayal of the Palestinians” (PIJ Telegram channel, March 9, 2022).^[4]

The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron

• This past week construction began to facilitate entrance into the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron for both Jews and Arabs, and foundations were laid for installing an elevator (Israel’ Arutz 7 website, March 13, 2022). At the weekly government meeting Muhammad Shtayyeh condemned Israel’s construction work and called it “a takeover and the Judaizing of the Cave of the Patriarchs.” He called on UNESCO and other UN agencies to intervene to “protect” it as a historic and religious site (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, March 14, 2022).
• This past week former American vice president Mike Pence also visited the Cave of the Patriarchs. Muhammad Hussein, the mufti of Jerusalem and the PA, condemned the visit, calling it dangerous provocation and claiming Israel would be responsible for the consequences. He said the Cave of the Patriarchs was an Islamic mosque and only Muslims could pray there (Wafa Facebook page, March 10, 2022).

Judea and Samaria

• According to data from the ministry of health in Ramallah, on March 14, 2022, there was a decrease in the number of active cases, 560 down from 1,074 on March 7, 2022. Of the 1,804 tests administered during the 24 hours between March 13 and 14, 64 new cases were detected, a 3.5% positive rate. In Judea and Samaria, 62.5% of the population has been vaccinated, 33.9% in the Gaza Strip, an average of 50.4% (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, March 14, 2022).
• In light of the decline in the number of active cases, the ministry of health in Ramallah announced it would issue only two updates, on Sundays and Wednesdays. The COGAT announced that as of March 13, 2022, Green Passes would no longer be necessary at the crossings between Israel and Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, so that entrance into Israel would not be conditioned on a certificate of vaccination (al-Munsaq, March 11, 2022).

The Gaza Strip

• On March 15, 2022, the ministry of health in Gaza reported 3,047 active cases in the Gaza Strip, down from 5,432 on March 8, 2022. Of the 692 tests administered during the 24 hours between March 14 and 15, 2022, 96 new cases were detected, a 14% positive rate. So far 1,961 Gazans have died of coronavirus-related causes, up from 1,942 on March 8, 2022. There are 45 hospitalized Gazans, 343 in serious or critical condition. So far 672,965 Gazans have been vaccinated, up from 669,067 on March 8, 2022 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, March 15, 2022).