News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (November 26 – December 3, 2019)

The return marches

• On November 27, 2019, the Supreme National Authority of the Great Return March announced the postponement of the return march scheduled for November 29, 2019, claiming as reasons the “security situation in the Gaza Strip” and “Israel’s [so-called] threats.” The announcement stressed that the decision to postpone the march was in no way connected to any understandings, and that the [so-called] non-violent, popular return marches and the campaign against Israel would continue (Ma’an, November 27, 2019). It was the third consecutive week that the Friday march had not been held. Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, interviewed by al-Mayadeen TV, said the postponement of the marches was an internal Palestinian decision based on the desire to act for the sake of national interests. He said he believed that on the following Friday (December 6, 2019) return march activities would be renewed (al-Mayadeen, November 29, 2019).
• However, despite the announcement postponing the march events, several dozen young Palestinian rioters gathered at the site of the return camp in eastern Khan Yunis. They threw Molotov cocktails and IEDs, burned tires, threw stones and tried to hang flags on the security fence. During an IDF response one of the rioters was killed and several were wounded. The spokesman for the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported the death of Fahed Muhammad Walid al-Astal, 16, and the wounding of five others (Ashraf al-Qidra’s Twitter account, November 29, 2019).
• The Fatah movement in Khan Yunis issued a mourning notice for “its son, the heroic shaheed” (Facebook page of Fahed al-Astal’s uncle, Mustafa al-Astal, November 29, 2019). The Supreme National Authority claimed Israel was responsible for his death, and that Israel had deliberately and knowingly used live ammunition (Filastin al-Yawm, November 29, 2019). Maher Muzher, a member of the Supreme National Authority, said Israel’s aggression against the demonstrators in Khan Yunis was proof that by postponing the march the Supreme National Authority had made a responsible decision (Dunia al-Watan, November 29, 2019).

   
Right: Mourning notice issued by Fatah – Central Khan Yunis Branch, for the death of its “son” Fahed Muhammad al-Astal (Facebook page of his uncle, Mustafa al-Astal, November 29, 2019). Left: Hamas and Fatah flags at the funeral held for Fahed al-Astal (al-Quds TV Twitter account, November 30, 2019).

• The Supreme National Authority held its weekly meeting on December 2, 2019 at the headquarters of the Popular Front in Gaza City. They called on the Palestinians to participate in the [return march] activities on this coming Friday, December 6, 2019, whose theme would be “The march continues,” and called on the media to cover the activities. They warned Israel not to harm the marchers, calling on participants not to give Israel an opportunity to harm them (Filastin al-A’an, December 2, 2019).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• This past week there were two instances of rocket fire into Israeli territory. No casualties or damage were reported. So far no organization has claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.
• On the evening of November 26, 2019 rockets were fired at the Jewish communities near the Gaza Strip. The Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted one of the rockets. Another fell in an open area. No casualties or damage were reported. In response Israeli aircraft attacked Hamas targets in the northern Gaza Strip. Among the targets hit were a site for the manufacture of weapons and an underground infrastructure (IDF spokesman, November 27, 2019). The Palestinian media reported attacks on a military base in Khan Yunis, “resistance” posts between Rafah and Khan Yunis, and agricultural fields (Dunia al-Watan Twitter account, November 27, 2019).
• On November 29, 2019 rockets were fired at Israeli territory. In response Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hamas targets in the northern Gaza Strip (IDF spokesman, November 30, 2019). The following targets were attacked: a post of the restraint force in the eastern Gaza Strip (Dunia al-Watan Twitter account, November 29. 2019); an observation post in eastern Sajaiya (Palinfo Twitter account, November 29, 2019); a post of the restraint force in the Khan Yunis area (Shehab Twitter account, November 29, 2019); and a post of Hamas’ military wing in eastern Beit Lahia (Shehab Twitter account, November 30, 2019). One Palestinian was reportedly wounded (Paldf Twitter account, November 29, 2019).

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2018

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Smuggling of dual use items into the Gaza Strip prevented

• On November 28, 2019, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported the prevention of the smuggling of 325 packages into the Gaza Strip through the Erez Crossing. The packages contained double-purpose items that had been purchased abroad on the Internet. The items included weapons, knives, cameras, quadcopters, diving equipment, communications equipment. Those items could be used for terrorist purposes (COGAT, November 28, 2019). The most recent prevention of smuggling dual use items into the Gaza Strip through the Erez Crossing was on July 12, 2019.

   
Some of the dual use items seized at the Erez Crossing
(COGAT, November 28, 2019).

Other events on the ground

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli security forces and civilian targets (mainly vehicles). Israeli security forces carried out counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria, detaining Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity, confiscating funds used to finance terrorist activities, and seizing military grade and improvised weapons.
• During counterterrorism activities near Beit Awa (southwest of Hebron) three Palestinians were identified throwing Molotov cocktails at an Israeli vehicle. The forces shot at them, killing one. The other two were taken for interrogation (IDF spokesman, November 30, 2019). The Palestinian ministry of health in Ramallah said the fatality was Badawi Khaled Badawi al-Masalma, 18, from Beit Awa (Facebook page of the ministry of health in Ramallah, November 30, 2019) The Fatah branch in Dura announced he had been one of its operatives (Facebook page of the Fatah branch in Dura, November 30, 2019). The Fatah movement in Beit Awa announced a day of mourning (Facebook page of the association of the al-Masalma clan, December 1, 2019).

• The more prominent events were the following:
  • December 3, 2019 – During searches carried out by Israeli security forces money worth tens of thousands of shekels was seized which was apparently intended to fund terrorist activities. An illegal weapon was found during a search in the Hebron area (IDF spokesman, December 3, 2018).
  • December 2, 2019 – Stones were thrown at a bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near al-Aroub. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the bus was damaged (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, December 2. 2019).
  • December 2, 2019 – Molotov cocktails were thrown at a vehicle north of Givat Asaf (north of Fatah). No casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, December 2, 2019)
  • December 2, 2019 – Stones were thrown at a vehicle in Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The front windshield was damaged (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, December 2, 2019).
  • December 1, 2019 – During a routine IDF activity two Palestinians were taken for interrogation after an improvised machine gun (Carlo) was found in their vehicle.
  • November 28, 2019 – During an IDF security activity near the Tapuah Junction in Samaria two Palestinian suspects were taken for interrogation after a handgun was found in their vehicle (IDF spokesman, November 28, 2019).
  • November 28, 2019 – A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the security fence in the community of Psagot (east of Ramallah). No casualties or damage were reported (Rescue Without Borders, November 28, 2019).
  • November 28, 2019 – Stones were thrown at a bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near Bayt Umar. No casualties were reported. The windshield of the bus was damaged (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 28, 2019).
  • November 28, 2019 – Israeli police detained six Palestinians on suspicion of involvement in several episodes of throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting fireworks at a house where a number of Jewish families live in Silwan in east Jerusalem (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, November 28, 2019).
  • November 27, 2019 – When IDF forces entered Nablus to enable Jewish worshippers to pray at the Tomb of Joseph an IED was found. It was neutralized by the IDF (IDF spokesman, November 27, 2019).
  • November 27, 2019 – Molotov cocktails were thrown at a vehicle at the southern exit of the Tunnel Road (Gush Etzion-Jerusalem). No casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, November 27, 2019).

Significant terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria since June 2017^[1]

Razing terrorists’ houses

• On the night of November 28, 2019, Israeli security forces razed the houses of four terrorists in Bayt Kahil (west of Hebron). They four were operatives of a terrorist squad that carried out a stabbing attack that killed Dvir Shorek.^[2] The houses were razed after appeals to prevent the activity were rejected by the Israeli Supreme Court. During the activity Palestinians rioted, throwing stones at the Israeli security forces and burning tires (IDF spokesman, November 28, 2019).

• The destruction of the houses was widely criticized by the Palestinian:
  • Hamas issued a statement saying that the destruction of houses would not affect the resolve of the Palestinians or prevent the Palestinians and the “resistance” from continuing their path until the “liberation and removal of the settlements from Palestinian land” (Hamas website, November 28, 2019).
  • Saleh Rafat, a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, condemned Israel’s policy of razing houses, saying that it was part of Israel’s [so-called] collective punishment of the Palestinians (Dunia al-Watan, November 28, 2019).
  • Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the razing of houses reflects Israel’s [so-called] “terrorist, violent conduct” and “crimes” against the Palestinian people. He said razing houses would not stop the struggle of the Palestinian people (Hazem Qassem’s Twitter account, November 28, 2019).

Qatari aid to needy families in the Gaza Strip

• On November 27, 2019, payment of Qatari financial aid to 70,000 needy families in the Gaza Strip began through the branches of the post office bank. Each family was given $100. Khaled al-Hardan, deputy chairman of the Qatari commission for the reconstruction of Gaza, visited the distribution centers to follow the payment of the funds (website of the Qatari commission for the reconstruction of Gaza, November 27, 2019). The distribution of the funds for November 2019 is supposed to be completed by December 4 (Facebook page of the ministry of media and IT in the Gaza Strip, November 26, 2018).

Responses to the construction of the American field hospital in the Gaza Strip

• A field hospital is currently being constructed in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip near the Erez Crossing. The work is being done by an NGO from Louisiana called Friend Ships (Facebook page of Friend Ships – Project – Camp Gaza, November 21, 2019).

   
Constructing the field hospital
(Facebook page of Friend Ships – Project – Camp Gaza, November 23 and 25, 2019).

• Reports that Americans were constructing a field hospital in the Gaza Strip near the Erez Crossing caused a wave of criticism and angry responses. Fatah’s commission of information and culture claimed Hamas had given its agreement to the construction of an American military base in the northern Gaza Strip, camouflaged as a hospital (Fatah’s official Facebook page, November 30, 2019). Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, the mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority (PA), issued a call to the residents of the Gaza Strip not to cooperate with the hospital (Dunia al-Watan, December 2, 2018).

• Fatah spokesman Usama al-Qawasmeh wondered how the United States, which had stopped all medial support to east Jerusalem, was constructing a humanitarian project to help the residents of the Gaza Strip. He also said Hamas’ collaboration with the United States and Israel explained why Hamas had not joined the recent round of escalation and had pressured the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to end it (Dunia al-Watan, November 30, 2019).
• On the other hand, Hamas representatives justified the construction of the hospital claiming it was expected to ease the distress of the residents of the Gaza Strip:
  • Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip, said the objective of the American field hospital was to provide the residents with medical services based on American NGOs. He stressed that the security services in the Gaza Strip had taken upon themselves to secure all the institutions (Dunia al-Watan, November 28, 2018).
  • Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said the Gaza Strip suffers from a severe medical crisis and that was why Hamas had agreed to the construction of an American hospital which would help resolve it. He said it was Hamas that had determined the location of the hospital hundreds of yards from the security fence. He said patients would be referred to the hospital only after the receipt of medical authorization (al-Mayadeen, November 29, 2018).
  • Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the construction of the hospital was part of recent understandings between the Palestinians and Israel under Egyptian and UN aegis because of the severe public health situation in the Gaza Strip. He stressed that the work of the hospital would be carried out in full coordination with the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, and that anyone who opposed the construction of the hospital was participating in the “siege” and contributing to the difficult humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip (Dunia al-Watan, November 28, 2019).
  • Senior PIJ figure Ahmed al-Mudallal said his organization opposed the construction of the hospital as part of a “political deal” and said the issue of the hospital and how it would function had not yet been discussed with the Palestinian organizations (al-Najah News website, November 28, 2019). The Popular and Democratic Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP and DFLP) also made it clear they were not part of the understandings for the construction of the field hospital (Bawabat al-Hadaf, Dunia al-Watan, December 1, 2019).

Hamas delegation visits Lebanon

• A delegation of the Hamas leadership visited Lebanon this past week, headed by Saleh al-‘Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas’ political bureau. Other members included Khalil al-Haya and Izzat al-Rishq, both members of the political bureau, Hamas spokesman Husam Badran, and Ahmed Abd al-Hadi, the Hamas representative in Lebanon. The members of the delegation held a number of meetings, including one with PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah, and with representatives of the PFLP and DFLP. After the meeting the Hamas representatives stressed their close relations with the PIJ and the full coordination which [they claimed] existed among all the organizations, both on the political level and on the ground (Hamas website, November 28, 2019). During the delegation’s visit to Lebanon Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, was interviewed by the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen TV channel. Asked if he had met with Hezbollah representatives, al-Haya answered in the affirmative (al-Mayadeen TV, November 29, 2019).

   
Right: The delegation meets with representatives of the Palestinian organizations in Beirut (Hamas website, November 28, 2019). Left: Khalil al-Haya interviewed by al-Mayadeen TV (al-Mayadeen TV website, November 29, 2019)

• During the visit to Lebanon the delegation visited the Sabra, Shatila and Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut. The delegation was accompanied by Ayman Shana’a, responsible for Lebanese relations with Hamas, and Ali Qassem, Hamas political representative in the Beirut area (Hamas website, November 29, 2019).

    
The delegation visits the refugee camps in Beirut
(Hamas website, November 29, 2019).

Another PIJ fatality from the recent round of escalation

• On November 29, 2019, the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military wing, announced the death of Ra’ed Rafiq al-Sarsawi, 30, an operative in the Gaza Brigade, who was wounded during the recent round of escalation in the Gaza Strip and later died (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 29, 2019). Al-Sarsawi was wounded in an attack on November 13, 2019, while he was riding a motorcycle in the Sajaiya neighborhood of eastern Gaza City. With him was Ma’man Qadoum, also a Jerusalem Brigades operative, who was killed in the attack. Thus the number of Palestinians killed in the recent round of escalation rose to 36, among them 27 terrorist operatives, 15 of whom were operatives in the PIJ’s military wing, and nine civilians.

Terrorist operative killed in “work accident” in the northern Gaza Strip

• On November 28, 2019, it was reported that three or four terrorist operatives were wounded in an explosion that took place in a house in the western part of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip (al-Quds, November 28, 2019; Ma’an, not 28 and 29, 2019). According to a lone report, the explosion took place in an al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades post near the al-Khansaa mosque in Beit Lahia (al-Mishraq News, November 28, 2019). Thayir al-Abd Hamad, 29, later died (Ma’an, November 29, 2019). His relatives wrote on the social networks that he was an operative in a network calling itself the al-‘Asfa Forces of the Abd al-Qader al-Husseini Brigades and that he was killed while making weapons (Facebook page of his uncle, Muhammad ‘Ashur, November 29, 2019; Facebook page of his uncle Ali Taisir Ellouga, November 29, 2019).

Preparations for elections

• After the visit of Hana Nasser, the chairman of the central elections commission, to the Gaza Strip, Hamas presented its response to the commission. Hamas said it regarded holding general elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, the national Palestinian Council and the presidency as very important. Hamas also said it did not oppose holding presidential elections, followed by elections to the PLC. However, Hamas again stressed its conditions, which in ITIC assessment, are liable to undermine the elections. According to Hamas’ conditions, after a presidential edict had been issued regarding the elections, a national conference would be held to discuss the mechanisms used. Hamas also demanded that elections be held in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip (Sawa, November 27, 2019).

The PA foreign minister meets with the ICC general attorney in The Hague

• On the sidelines of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Eighteenth Session of the Assembly of States Parties in the Hague, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki met with Fatou Bensouda, the ICC’s attorney general. They discussed her initial examination after the American secretary of state’s announcement regarding the legality of the settlements in Judea and Samaria. Al-Maliki demanded that Bensouda begin a criminal investigation into Israel’s activities, including what he called “the medical negligence of Palestinian prisoners” (Facebook page of the Palestinian foreign ministry, December 2, 2018).

Reactions to the Israeli announcement regarding construction in Hebron

• According to the Israeli media, the Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett ordered a new Jewish neighborhood to be planned in the region of the wholesale market in Hebron. Today it is an empty space between the Jews and Palestinians in Hebron. The construction would create a territorial continuum between the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Avraham Avinu neighborhood and double the number of Jewish residents in the city. According to Bennet the construction is only in the planning stage.
• Bennett’s statement infuriated the Palestinians. During the weekly PA government meeting, PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh condemned the planned Israeli construction in Jerusalem and Hebron. He said his government would do everything in its power to put a stop to the plan (Ma’an, December 2, 2019). The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the Israeli decision to build in Hebron and reported that it would begin diplomatic activities to prevent Israel’s [so-called] plan to “Judaize the Old City of Hebron” (Ma’an, December 2, 2019).

Construction of the house of terrorist Omar Abu Layla

• Abd al-Satar Awad, secretary of the Fatah branch in Salfit, paid a visit to the construction site (in Zawiya, west of Salfit). On March 17, 2019, Omar Abu Layla carried out a combined shooting and stabbing attack at a traffic circle in Ariel and at the Gitai Avisar Junction, killing an Israeli civilian and an IDF soldier (IDF spokesman, April 24, 2019). The house in which Omar Abu Layla lived in al-Zawiya was destroyed by the Israeli security forces on April 23, 2019.
• According to Abd al-Satar Awad, Fatah members and the residents of the Salfit district will continue the construction of the house until it has been completed. The head of the Salfit local council also announced that they were continuing, with Fatah, to build the house (Facebook page of the Salfit branch of Fatah, November 27, 2019). Note: On April 24, 2019, the Fatah movement in Salfit announced the initiative to construct the house of Omar Abu Layla within four months (Wafa, April 24, 2019).

   
Abd al-Satar Awad, secretary of the Fatah branch in Salfit (at the right in both pictures) visits the construction site of the house being built for the family of Omar Abu Layla in al-Zawiya (Facebook page of the Fatah branch in Salfit, November 27, 2019).