Palestinian terrorists from the Gaza Strip continue attempting to penetrate into Israeli territory. Such attempts are not part of official Hamas policy but are publicly praised and encouraged after the fact.

Overview

On August 17, 2019, IDF observation posts identified five suspects approaching the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. At least one of them was armed. IDF forces were rushed to the site. An IDF tank and helicopter shot at the suspects before they could cross the security fence (IDF spokesman, August 17, 2019). The attempted penetration came two days after four rockets were launched at Israel in two separate incidents (August 16 and 17, 2019). The Palestinian ministry of health reported that IDF forces had killed three Palestinians and critically wounded another. The five belonged variously to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Fatah. Some of them had participated in the return marches and were Night Harassment Unit operatives in the northern Gaza Strip. Senior figures in Hamas and the other terrorist organizations publicly praised the operatives who were killed and blamed Israel for their deaths. Senior Hamas figure Isma’il Haniyeh paid visits, well-covered by the media, to the families of the dead operatives.

    
Death notices issued for the Palestinian terrorists killed in the clash (Hamas’ Palinfo Twitter account, August 18, 2019).

• The attempt on August 17, 2019, was the fourth attempt to penetrate into Israeli territory made by terrorists (individuals and squads) since the beginning of August 2019. In ITIC assessment their objective has been to attack IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians. All the attempts were identified by IDF forces and the terrorists were prevented from entering. Since the beginning of August 2019 nine terrorists have been killed while attempting to enter Israeli territory (See Appendix).
• An examination of the identities of the terrorists revealed the following:
  • Most of them belonged or had belonged to the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip (primarily Hamas but the PIJ and Fatah as well). According to reports, some of them become more extreme in their views and left the organizations.
  • Some of them belonged to the military wings of the various organizations and had undergone military training. Most of them were found with military-grade weapons in their possession, in one instance an RPG launcher.
  • Many of them regularly participated in the return marches and their accompanying violent activities. Three of the terrorists killed on August 17, 2019 routinely participated in the return marches and were known operatives of the Night Harassment Units.

As in the previous penetration events (and the recent rocket launches), no organization claimed responsibility. The IDF put responsibility on Hamas because it controls Gaza Strip. Spokesmen for Hamas and the other terrorist organizations called the perpetrators “angry young men” or “rebels.” However, Hamas continues to be ambivalent regarding the penetration attempts. Despite the fact that they are not acting within Hamas policy, Hamas continues to praise and support them after the fact and threaten Israel with escalation. In ITIC assessment, at the present time Hamas is not overly motivated to carry out effective measures to prevent the attempted penetrations, because they are popular among the public. Moreover, Hamas considers them as a tool for exerting pressure for the lull agreement. Thus Hamas is apparently employing a policy of brinksmanship and taking risks: harm done to IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians might drag the Gaza Strip into a new escalation, and that it is doubtful if Hamas is interested in one.

Identities of the terrorists who were killed

• The spokesman for the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that three Palestinians were killed and one wounded in the clash on August 17, 2019. All four were taken to the Indonesian hospital in the northern Gaza Strip (Ashraf al-Qidra’s Twitter account, August 18, 2019). The three Palestinians who were killed belonged to different terrorist organizations, and each body was wrapped for burial in the flag of the terrorist’s organization (Shehab Twitter account, August 18, 2019). The tire-burning unit posted a picture of the three on its Facebook page, writing that they were “revolutionaries of the return marches and heroes of the Night Harassment Unit” (Facebook page of the tire-burning unit, August 18, 2019). Pictures show that at least two of them were killed while wearing military vests (Facebook page of journalist Anas al-Sharif, August 18, 2019).
• According to the social networks, the members of the squad were from the Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia and were friends (Twitter account of Ahmed Abu Salameh from Gaza, August 18, 2019; Twitter account of Ahmed Kahlout, August 18, 2019; Facebook page of Hamza Abed, August 18, 2019). There were also allegedly outstanding operatives in the Night Harassment Units in the northern Gaza Strip (Facebook page of Ahed Almenawy, August 18, 2019.(

Information about the terrorists who were killed:

• Muhammad ‘Adel al-Walaydah (aka Khatab): 24 (22 according to the social networks) (Facebook page of photojournalist Anas al-Sharif, August 18, 2019), from the Jabalia refugee camp. He was an operative in the PIJ’s military wing. His body was wrapped for burial in a PIJ flag.

    
The body of Muhammad al-Walaydah wrapped for burial in a PIJ flag (Facebook page of journalist Hassan Aslih, August 18, 2019)

• Muhammad Farid Abu Namus (aka al-Ghadhab [“rage”]): 27 (23 according to the social networks), from the Jabalia refugee camp. He was an operative in Hamas’ military wing (Facebook pages of Ahed Almenawy and Rola Ibrahim Hussein, August 18, 2019). His body was wrapped for burial in a Hamas flag.

   
The funeral held for Muhammad Abu Namus. His body was wrapped for burial in a Hamas flag (Right: Facebook page of photojournalist Abd al-Rahman al-Kahlut, August 18, 2019. Left: QudsN Facebook page, August 18, 2019)

• Muhammad Samir al-Turasmi (aka Sinbal): 26 (21 according to the social networks), from Beit Lahia. The Fatah branch in the northern Gaza Strip issued a mourning notice for him, stating he was a Fatah operative (Facebook page of the Fatah branch in the northern Gaza Strip, August 18, 2019). His body was wrapped for burial in a Fatah flag.

• According to reports the wounded terrorist was Isham al-Khatib, an operative in Hamas’ military wing (Facebook page of Ahed Almenawy, August 18, 2019; SahemPress Facebook page, August 18, 2019).

• The name of the fifth terrorist was apparently Eid or Abd al-Karim Shubaki, who returned unharmed to the Gaza Strip (Facebook pages of Ahed Almenawy and of Ihab al-Nuhal, August 18, 2019). According to reports he is an operative in Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades/the al-‘Asifa Army (Facebook page of Ahed Almenawy, August 18, 2019; Twitter account of Abd al-Rahman al-Hajj Daoud, August 18, 2019). A sixth operative was reported, Ahmed al-Taluli, but he did not participate in the attempted penetration, he was in Rafah at the time. According to a report he is a PIJ operative (Facebook page of Awad Nahed Abu Yazzan, August 18, 2019).

   
Right: Eid al-Karim Ibrahim Shubaki. Left: Muhammad al-Taluli (Facebook page of Rawan al-Dahduh, August 18, 2019).

Responses to the event and its significance

As in the previous instances, no organization claimed responsibility for the attempted penetration. However, senior figures in Hamas and the other terrorist organizations were quick to praise the operatives and blame Israel for their deaths. Moreover, Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, paid visits, covered by the media, to the families of the Palestinians who had been killed (al-Aqsa, August 18, 2019). In ITIC assessment, by visiting the families he publicly sent the message that Hamas gave backing to the action, even if it was not part of its policy. That may inspire other terrorists to attempt to penetrate into Israeli territory and/or fire rockets at Israel without coordinating with Hamas.

• Senior Hamas and PIJ figures blamed Israel for shooting at the Gaza Strip [i.e., at the terrorist squad], without mentioning the attempted penetration, which was the reason for Israel’s fire. Several responses referred to “angry young men” or “rebels”. Some even warned Israel that given the difficult situation in the Gaza Strip, such events will occur again and be more serious. Following are the main responses:
  • Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that the Israeli attacks sent a message of escalation and aggression to deflect attention from the two recent attacks in the West Bank. He said the “resistance” would not allow the Gaza Strip to turn into “a stage for the export of Israel’s internal crises” and Hamas’ response would be determined by the situation on the ground (Dunia al-Watan, August 17, 2019). On another occasion Fawzi Barhoum said that the killing of the “young Palestinians” in the northern Gaza Strip was another crime carried out by the Israeli “occupation,” added to its “black record” against the Palestinians, their land and holy sites. He stressed that the continuation of Israel’s [alleged] crimes, the siege and oppression would ignite the Gaza Strip and cause an escalation (Palinfo, augh 18, 2019).
  • Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua said the “Zionist occupation” continued using excessive force and carrying out organized crimes against the Palestinian people. The occupation, he said, had carried out a “new despicable crime,” killing and wounding “four young rebels.” It was a reflection of the “occupation’s barbaric conduct towards the Palestinian people and proof of its crimes.” He also threatened that if Israel did not life the “siege” of the Gaza Strip the Palestinians’ rage and the pressure of their lives would explode in Israel’s face (Abd al-Latif al-Qanua’s Facebook page, August 18, 2019).
  • The Fatah branch in the northern Gaza Strip said the shaheeds had proved that the road to Palestine passed only through unity, consistency and the integrity of a national front. Fatah called on the Palestinian people to fulfill the “testaments” of the shaheeds and complete national unity “so that we can stand together as one against the despicable Zionist occupation and its crimes” (Facebook page of the Fatah branch in the northern Gaza Strip, August 18, 2019).

Appendix

Attempts made by armed terrorists to penetrate into Israel since August 1, 2019

Attempt No. 1: Prevention of penetration of armed terrorist from the southern Gaza Strip (August 1, 2019).

• On August 1, 2019, at 0200, IDF soldiers identified a suspicious figure approaching the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. An alert was issued and forces were rushed to the site. IDF forces identified a Palestinian crossing the security fence east of Khan Yunis. He shot and wounded three IDF soldiers, one of them seriously. He was shot and killed. During the incident an IDF tank fired at a Hamas post (IDF spokesman, August 1, 2019).
• The Palestinian media reported that the Palestinian fatality was Hani Hassan Abu Salah, 20, an operative in Hamas’ military wing (Sawa, August 1, 2019). He was apparently an operative in Hamas’ restrain force (al-Monitor, August 8, 2019). His brother, Fadi Abu Salah, disabled and on crutches, routinely participated in the return marches and was killed during a return march on May 14, 2019 (Shehab Facebook page, August 1, 2019).

Attempt No. 2: Prevention of penetration of four armed terrorists (August 10, 2019)

• Before dawn on August 10, 2019 an IDF observation post identified four armed figures approaching the security fence in the central Gaza Strip (east of the Deir al-Balah refugee camp). After one of them crossed the fence IDF forces were rushed to the site. They opened fire, killing the four terrorists. During the clash a hand grenade was thrown at the IDF soldiers. No casualties were reported. The Palestinian media reported that [in response] the IDF attacked two posts of the “defenders of the borders” east of Deir al-Balah and shot flares (Palinfo Twitter account, August 10, 2019).
• The four terrorists wore improvised uniforms and were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, an RPG launcher and grenades. They had equipment for cutting through the security fence and food which included energy bars and dates. They also came equipped with a first aid kit (IDF spokesman, August 10, 2019). Their weapons and equipment indicated they were planning a major attack against either IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians and were planning to spend an extended period of time on the ground.
•  There were contradictory media reports about the terrorists’ identities and places of origin. According to the initial version (in ITIC assessment, unreliable), reported by the Amad website, they were Hamas operatives following a Palestinian Salafist who carried IEDs and tried to break through the security fence east of Deir al-Balah. The version later issued was updated to claim that all four terrorists were Salafists who had been expelled from Hamas’ military wing three months previously. Their names were also given (Amad, August 10, 2019).

Attempt No. 3: Prevention of penetration of armed terrorist (August 11, 2019)

• Before dawn on August 11, 2019, IDF observation posts identified an armed terrorist approaching the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. He shot at the IDF force rushed to the site. The soldiers returned fire, killing him. During the event IDF tanks fired at Hamas posts in the area (IDF spokesman, August 11, 2019). The Palestinian media reported that “resistance” observation posts were attacked east of Beit Hanoun (Shabakat Quds Twitter account, August 11, 2019).
•  The Palestinian media reported that the operative killed was Marwan Khaled Abd al-Ghani Nasser, 26, from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip (Gaza al-A’an, August 11, 2019). Reportedly, he was an operative in the Hamas restraint force (arabi21, August 11, 2019). The social networks reported he was an operative in Hamas military wing and that his father, Khaled Nasser, until his death, was an operative in Hamas’ military wing. Marwan Nasser’s body was buried with a green headband of Hamas’ military wing (Facebook page of journalist Hassan Aslih, August 11, 2019; Ghaza al-A’an Twitter account, August 11, 2019).
• On August 17, 2019 IDF observation posts identified five suspicious figures approaching the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. At least one was armed. IDF forces were rushed to the site and shot at the suspects before they could cross the security fence (IDF spokesman, August 17, 2019). Three of the terrorists were killed and one was critically wounded. The fifth terrorist escaped without being wounded. According to the social networks the five were friends, operatives of Hamas, the PIJ and Fatah. Some had participated in the return marches and were operatives in the Night Harassment Units in the northern Gaza Strip.

         

    
Pictures of the terrorist squad near the security fence in the northern Gaza

Related Articles