News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (November 14 – November 20, 2018)

The “return marches” ^[1]

• The Friday “return march” of November 16, 2018, was held under the shadow of the ceasefire that ended the most recent round of escalation. Before the march, senior Hamas figures they would prevent violence in the coming march. About 9,000 demonstrators and rioters participated, burning tires and throwing stones, but did not approach the border fence, following demands from Hamas and the march organizers. Incendiary kites and balloons were not identified.
• The events were attended by senior figures from Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other organizations. Speeches were given boasting about the achievements of the most recent round of escalation. Most of the speakers stressed that the marches would continue until the “lifting of the siege.” Some of them expressed objection to the Arab states’ normalization with Israel, which was the slogan of the march.

The mini-flotilla in the northern Gaza Strip

• On November 19, 2018, the 16^th mini-flotilla was held to lift the “siege” on the Gaza Strip. Its slogan was “By means of the flotilla we oppose humiliating normalization.” About 30 small craft participated. At the same time, a demonstration was held in the northern Gaza Strip. The demonstrators approached the border fence but there were no exceptional incidents. Senior figures from Hamas and the other Palestinian organizations attended the event (Palinfo Twitter account and Safa, November 19, 2018).
• Iyad Awadallah, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (PFLP) Central Committee, gave a speech in the name of the Supreme National Authority of the Great Return March. He stressed the “return marches” would continue in their current popular format, adhering to the objectives for which they were begun. Senior Hamas figure Hamad al-Raqab said the “return marches” would continue in every possible format, adding that “one time we fight with popular marches and another time we clutch our rifles to our chests” (Palestine Online, November 20, 2018).

   
Right: Senior Hamas figure Hamad al-Raqab gives a speech at the demonstration that accompanied the mini-flotilla. Left: Palestinian demonstrators approach the border fence with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip (Facebook page of the PFLP’s media unit in the northern Gaza Strip, November 19, 2018).

• This past week no rockets or mortar shells were fired at Israel. According to the IDF spokesman, during the most recent round of escalation, which took place on November 12-13, approximately 460 rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel. The Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted about 100 rockets. Most of the rockets and mortar shells were launched by Hamas and the PIJ. The Israeli Air Force, Navy and land forces attacked more than 160 Hamas and PIJ terrorist targets, including four targets considered important assets by Hamas. Seven Palestinians were reported killed in the IDF attacks.

Rocket and mortar shell fire during and between the recent rounds of escalation^[2]

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 20181,130 rockets and mortar shells since May 2018

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Other events

• On November 14, 2018, about 24 hours after the ceasefire that ended the round of escalation, IDF forces identified a Palestinian approaching the security force in the northern Gaza Strip. The Palestinian threw a hand grenade that did not explode. He was shot and killed. A wire cutter and knife were found on his body (IDF spokesman, November 14, 2018).

Stabbing attack in Jerusalem

• On November 14, 2018, four Border Policemen incurred minor wounds in a stabbing attack. It took place inside the police station in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Armon Hanatziv. A Palestinian armed with a knife entered the police station in the evening though the rear area of the building. A Border Policeman struggled with him and was wounded. Other Border Policemen overcame the stabber, who was critically wounded (Border Police spokesman, November 14, 2018). The stabber later died. The Palestinian media reported he was Abd al-Rahman Ali Abu Jaml, 17, from Jabel Mukaber in east Jerusalem (Ma’an, November 14, 2018).

Israeli civilian stabbed at the entrance to Beit Jala (south of Jerusalem)

• On November 20, 2018 an Israeli civilian was stabbed by a young Palestinian at the entrance to Beit Jala (south of Jerusalem). He was slightly wounded. The stabber escaped, but later turned himself in to the police. Security forces are investigating the attacker’s motive, but the suspicion is that it was a stabbing attack.

Other events on the ground

• Israeli security forces carried out counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria, detaining Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity. During searches conducted in Hebron an M-16 assault rifle and an improvised rifle were seized (IDF spokesman, November 15, 2018). In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles, especially along the Gush Etzion-Hebron road. The more prominent events were the following:
  • November 20, 2018 – A Palestinian from Hebron in his 20s was detained before dawn at one of the entrances to the Cave of the Patriarchs. He was carrying a box cutter (Israel Police Force, November 20, 2018).
  • November 19, 2018 – A 25-year-old Palestinian woman went to the Qalandia Crossing (north of Jerusalem). A knife was found in a cardboard food container she was carrying. She was taken for interrogation (Jerusalem Police Force spokesman’s unit, November 19, 2018).
  • November 19, 2018 – Stones were thrown at a vehicle on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road, near the al-Aroub refugee camp. No casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 19, 2018).
  • November 18, 2018 – Stones were thrown at a vehicle on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road between Bayt Umar and the al-‘Aroub refugee camp. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. Earlier, stones were thrown at a bus (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 18, 2018).
  • November 18, 2018 – Five Molotov cocktails were thrown at an IDF post on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road. No casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 18, 2018).
  • November 18, 2018 – Stones were thrown at a vehicle between the village of Jama’in and the community of Tapuah (south of Nablus). No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 16, 2018).
  • November 16, 2018 – Stones were thrown at a bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road between Bayt Umar and the Karmei Tzur Junction. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 16, 2018).
  • November 15, 2018 – A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a bus on the road to the community of Talmon (northwest of Ramallah). No casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 15, 2018).

Significant terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria during the past year ^[3]

Security activity in the Khan Yunis area to located collaborators with Israel

• It was reported that during the most recent round of escalation Hamas’s security forces in the Khan Yunis region carried out an operation to locate Palestinians who had collaborated with Israel (during the confrontation between Hamas operatives and IDF forces in the Khan Yunis area). According to reports, a number of suspects were detained (al-Akhbar, November 15, 2018).

Propaganda exploitation of the most recent round of escalation

• On the afternoon of November 13, 2018, the Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip announced a ceasefire with Israel. Immediately afterwards the organizations launched a propaganda campaign focusing on “the achievements of the resistance” and on establishing a victory narrative (while minimizing the damage Israel had inflicted). Spokesmen for the organizations stressed that they had determined the rules of the confrontation, and represented the resignation of Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman as one of their achievements. Spokesmen for Hamas and the other terrorist organizations stressed that they had imposed a “new equation” on Israel: “blood in return for blood and a building in return for a building.” Abu Mujahed, spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, thanked Iran and Hezbollah and all the supporters of the “resistance” (i.e., the terrorist organizations], saying they were partners in the victory (Paltoday, November 16, 2018).

   
Pictures from a video issued by the PIJ’s military wing showing its operatives launching rockets at Israel during the most recent round of escalation (Jerusalem Brigades website,November 17, 2018).

• Some of their comments were the following:
  • Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, said the “resistance” had imposed the equation on Israel and determined the rules of the confrontation. He said that “resistance” [i.e., terrorism] was the correct path to lead the Palestinian people to Jerusalem and all the Palestinian territories (al-Mayadeen, November 13, 2018).
  • Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas political bureau, said Israel had been vanquished and that the events would influence the decisions made by the Israeli leadership in the next campaign. He added that the threats to hit Tel Aviv had led to concern within the Israeli leadership and caused it to stop attacking the Gaza Strip (Paltoday, November 13, 2018).
  • Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said Israel had attempted to gain a security achievement while the ceasefire was in force, thereby violating it. He said the “return marches” had united all the organizations in the Gaza Strip, which had operated from a joint operations room to defend the marchers. He added that the ” ‘return marches’ will continue until the siege is lifted from the Gaza Strip” (al-Aqsa, November 17, 2018).
  • PIJ spokesman Da’ud Shehab said the new round of escalation complemented the “return march.” He claimed the PIJ had cooperated with Egypt’s attempts to restore the lull and had declared the organization was committed to the lull if Israel ended its aggression. He added that the organizations had established “new equations and means of confrontation” with Israel, among them those that could turn the area near the Gaza Strip into a place where no one could live (Paltoday, November 13, 2018).

Media reports on the arrangement

• At the end of the most recent round of escalation Palestinian and diplomatic sources reported that the arrangement currently being formulated between Hamas and Israel is based on understandings achieved before the most recent round. According to the understandings, there will be quiet in return for easing the “siege,” in two stages. In the first stage, which will last for about two weeks, Israel will allow fuel for the power plant and financial aid to enter the Gaza Strip, and extend fishing waters to 12 miles. In the second stage, which will take about half a year, fishing waters will be extended to 20 miles, a new electric line will be laid from Israel to the Gaza Strip, and gas pipes will be laid for the power plant. In addition, Gazans will be allowed to export merchandise, especially to Judea and Samaria, and restrictions on movement will be eased. According to reports, as part of the understandings Israel will agree to advance the establishment of a sea lane to the Gaza Strip (it was reported Israel conditioned the sea lane on a prisoner exchange deal) (al-Hayat, November 14, 2018).
• Senior Hamas figure Isma’il Radwan said in an interview that the deliberations led by Egypt were advancing and positive. He said that the first stage would include an arrangement for extending the fishing waters to 20 miles, connecting an electric line from Israel to the Gaza Strip, increasing exports, connecting gas pipes to the power station, improving the infrastructure and creating new jobs to decrease unemployment in the Gaza Strip (Agence France-Presse, November 18 2018),

Hamas campaign to construct a new building for al-Aqsa TV

• On November 20, 2018, Hamas’ al-Aqsa TV, whose building was completely destroyed during the most recent round of escalation, launched a campaign to enlist donations for a new building. The damages (according to al-Aqsa’s claim) are estimated at about $4.5 million. The campaign was launched at a press conference held in front of the rubble of the old al-Aqsa building, attended by a Hamas delegation headed by Ahmed Bahar. The campaign hashtag is “with your support we will rebuild [the al-Aqsa building]” (al-Aqsa TV website, November 20, 2018).

    
Right: Hamas’ al-Aqsa TV holds a press conference held near the rubble of its old building to launch a campaign to raise money for the construction of a new building (Palinfo Twitter account, November 20, 2018). Left: $4,550,400, the extent of the damage done to al-Aqsa TV (al-Aqsa TV Facebook page, November 20, 2018).

The PA joins international institutions and protocols

• Mahmoud Abbas signed 11 accession papers to join international protocols and institutions.^[4] He gave a speech at a meeting of the high committee for monitoring the decisions made by the PLO’s Executive Committee, in which he said that the PA, by virtue of its membership in the UN, could join 520 international organizations. He said they had already joined 110 of them (Palestinian TV, November 15, 2018).

PA representatives at the INTERPOL conference

• For the first time since the PA joined in September 2017, PA representatives participated in an INTERPOL conference, held in Dubai between November 18 and 21, 2018. The Palestinian delegation is headed by Brigadier General Salah al-Din, head of the Palestinian police unit for liaison with Arab states and international cooperation. According to the spokesman for the Palestinian police, the conference is important because votes will be held for new countries to join and for members of INTERPOL’s Executive Committee (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, November 18, 2018).

Mahmoud Abbas continues honoring the families of terrorists who killed Israelis

• On November 18, 2018, Mahmoud Abbas met in his office in Ramallah with the mother of Karim Yunis, who in 1980 abducted and brutally murdered IDF soldier Avraham Bromberg. He and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Karim Yunis, who is an Israeli Arab, was appointed to Fatah’s Central Committee while in prison (where he remains. During the meeting Mahmoud Abbas said the issue of the Palestinian prisoners was at the top of the Palestinian leaders’ priorities. He said they were investing all their effort to achieve the release of the prisoners. Also present were senior Fatah figures Muhammad Ashtiya, Saeb Erekat, Hussein al-Sheikh and Muhammad al-Madani (Wafa, November 18, 2018).