Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 18-23, 2022)

Shooting attacks

• This past week two shooting attacks targeted Israeli buses.
  •  On August 20, 2022, shots were fired at an armored Israeli bus full of passengers driving from Jerusalem to Ariel. The attack was carried out near Silwad. At least eight bullet holes were found. No casualties were reported. The shooters escaped and Israeli security forces searched the area for them (IDF spokesman, spokesman for the Benjamin regional council, August 20, 2022).

• On August 18, 2022, shots were fired at an armored bus of Israelis en route to pray at the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged. The Nablus Battalion and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack (Telegram channels of the Nablus Battalion and al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, August 18, 2022).

Terrorist attack prevented

• The vehicle of three Palestinian women aroused the suspicion of a security guard at the Eliahu Crossing, south of Qalqilya. He ordered the vehicle to halt and detained the women. A search revealed an improvised Carlo machine gun and suicide notes. The women, all from Nablus, who had no permit to enter Israel, apparently planned to shoot at the guards securing the Crossing (Israeli defense ministry spokesman’s unit, August 20, 2022).

Counterterrorism activities

• This past week the Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities in a number of locations in Jerusalem, detaining Palestinians suspected of involvement in terrorist activities and confiscating weapons:
  • During an Israeli security force activity in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus on August 17, 2022, Palestinians opened fire. The forces returned fire; no Israeli casualties were reported (IDF spokesman, August 17, 2022).
  • Palestinians opened fire at IDF forces securing the coordinated/IDF-approved entrance of worshippers at the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus. The forces returned fire; some of the shooters were hit (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, August 18, 2022).
  •   Israeli security forces operating in Hebron confiscated a large quantity of weapons, explosives and ammunition (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, August 18, 2022).

   
The weapons confiscated in Hebron (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, August 18, 2022).

• On August 22, 2022, IDF forces and surveillance units identified two Palestinians throwing Molotov cocktails near the settlement of Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion. One of the Palestinians was apprehended and detained. A search of the area revealed an improvised weapon (IDF spokesman, August 23, 2022).
• Border Police fighters operating in a small village near Jerusalem on August 22, 2022, confiscated weapons, including ammunition magazines, bullets, a handgun, and parts of an M-16 assault rifle (Border Police spokesman’s unit, August 23, 2022).

   
IDF activities in the villages of Harmala and Rafida, southeast of Bethlehem
(IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, August 22, 2022).

Palestinian fatalities

• On the night of August 19, 2022, Israeli security forces operating in the villages of Tamun and Tubas, northeast of Nablus, detained five Palestinians wanted for involvement in terrorist activities and planning a terrorist attack. In Tubas armed Palestinians opened fire, threw Molotov cocktails and shot at the forces, who returned fire (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, August 19, 2022).
• The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Salah Tawfiq Sawafta, 58, from Tubas (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, August 19, 2022). Husam Daraghma, head of the Tubas municipality, claimed Sawafta was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper from one of the rooftops (Ma’an, August 19, 2022). “Eyewitnesses” claimed Sawafta was on his way home after the morning prayers at the local mosque and was shot by an Israeli sniper (al-Ghad, August 19, 2022). A funeral was held for him in Tubas and his body was wrapped for burial in a Palestinian flag (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, August 19, 2022). Slogans were chanted at his funeral against Israel and against PA security coordination with Israel. People called on the military-terrorist wings of Hamas and the PIJ to avenge his death (al-Araby al-Jadeed, August 19, 2022).

   
Right: Salah Tawfiq Sawafta (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, August 19, 2022). Left: The funeral held in Tubas for Sawafta (Wafa, August 19, 2022).

•  The Palestinian media reported that a riot between Palestinians and Israel security forces broke out in Nablus while Jews were praying in the Tomb of Joseph. During the riot, which was described as particularly violent, one Palestinian was killed and 30 were wounded (Roya News channel, August 19, 2022). The Palestinian was Wasim Nasser Abu Khalifa, 18, from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. During his funeral in Nablus slogans were chanted in support of the “resistance” [the destruction of the State of Israel] (Quds Press, August 18, 2022). The Fatah movement in Nablus issued a mourning notice for him (Twitter account of Muneir al-Jaghob, August 18, 2022).

 
Right: Palestinians riot against IDF forces near the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus (Roya News channel, August 19, 2022). Left: The mourning notice issued by Fatah in Nablus for Wasim Khalifa (Twitter account of Muneir al-Jaghob, August 18, 2022).

• On August 23, 2022, Palestinian medical sources in Nablus reported the death of Muhammad Arayisha, 25, from the Old City of Nablus. He was fatally wounded by IDF forces on August 9, 2022, in the same riot in which Ibrahim al-Nablusi^[1] and Islam Sabouh were killed (Ma’an, August 23, 2022). A full commercial strike was called in Nablus following his death. The PA held a military-style funeral for him (Shehab Twitter account, August 23, 2022).

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

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• Since August 8, 2022, the Operation Breaking Dawn ceasefire, no rocket or mortar shell hits have been 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 entrance permits

• After a security assessment, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz increased the number of work and business entrance permits for Gazans by 1,500, for a total of 15,500, as of August 21, 2022, depending on the continuation of quiet from the Gaza Strip (Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories website, August 19, 2022).

The PIJ leaves the joint operations room

• “Palestinian sources” reported that after Operation Breaking Dawn the PIJ decided to leave the joint operations room of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip because Hamas did not participate in the fighting. According to the sources, the PIJ was surprised by Hamas’ position, which they regarded as a stab in the back. The PIJ reportedly did not want an open confrontation with Hamas and announced it was leaving the joint operations room (al-Sharq al-Awsat, August 19, 2022). Ahmed al-Mudallal, a senior PIJ figure, claimed the PIJ had good relations with Hamas and the other Palestinian organizations, and coordination with them and Hamas would continue (Sabaq24, 2022).
• Given the reports about tensions, the senior figures of both organizations and of their military-terrorist wings, met on August 22, 2022. According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, they discussed the relations between the two organizations and agreed to work more closely in their political, military and security activities. They also agreed that the “path of resistance” [i.e., anti-Israeli violence and terrorist attacks] was their “strategic choice,” which would not be abandoned and which would continue with full coordination. In addition, the joint operations room would continue to include representatives of all the Gaza Strip organizations and conduct the confrontations with Israel, and the organizations would strengthen their support of the joint operations room (Shehab and Hamas’ Telegram channel, August 22, 2022).

Ongoing attempts to secure release of the PIJ’s detainees

• In the meantime, with Egyptian mediation, the PIJ continues its efforts to secure the release of Bassem al-Sa’adi, PIJ head in Jenin, whose detention was the excuse for the organization’s rocket attacks, and Khalil al-Awawdeh, a PIJ terrorist operative who has been on a long hunger strike to protest his administrative detention. On August 21, 2022, Israel announced it was detaining al-Sa’adi for six additional days and would bring him to trial for incitement. ON August 19, 2022, the IDF froze al-Awawdeh’s order of administrative detention until after his hospitalization. Israel’s Supreme Court rejected the plea for his release (Haaretz, August 22, 2022).
• According to PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami, they had received “serious promises” from Egypt that in the near future Israel would release the PIJ detainees. He said they had been in contact with Egypt regarding the issue since the end of Operation Breaking Dawn (al-Ayam, August 19, 2022). On August 18, 2022, PIJ spokesman Da’ud Shehab said there were two scenarios for the organization’s position on Egypt’s mediation with Israel: either Egypt would announce it had not convinced Israel to implement the “understandings” or al-Awawdeh’s condition would deteriorate and he would die. In either case, the organization would do what was necessary (al-Quds al-Arabi, August 18, 2022).
• Senior PIJ figure Muhammad al-Hindi said Israel’s unwillingness to implement the conditions of the ceasefire, which included the release of Khalil al-Awawdeh and Bassem al-Sa’adi, exposed Israel as avoiding the issue and making the Egyptian mediator responsible (PIJ website, August 17, 2022).

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander relates to the operations in the Gaza Strip

• IRGC commander Hossein Salami, interviewed by the website of Iranian leader Khamenei, related at length to Operation Guardian of the Walls, Operation Breaking Dawn and the Palestinian “resistance” [the desire to obliterate the State of Israel]. He said the missiles and rockets were deterrents but they could not “liberate” the occupied territories, and therefore ground warfare was necessary. He said Hezbollah had amassed a great deal of experience by fighting ISIS in Syria, adding that Israel’s technological superiority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip had limitations. He said he had told PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah as much when he met him. He also said [the IRGC/Iran] had begun arming the West Bank, which could be armed the same way as the Gaza Strip had been armed (website of Iranian leader Khamenei, August 19, 2022).

Hamas celebrates the Palestinian shaheeds

•   On August 20, 2022, Hamas and other Palestinian organizations held a rally in Gaza City’s Palestine Stadium with the participation of various groups to tell “The stories of a thousand shaheeds.” A video was also shown in which Ibrahim al-Nablusi’s mother praised the Gazans, said they would soon meet in al-Aqsa mosque and called on them to continue the “last wills and testaments” of the Palestinian shaheeds. Senior Hamas figure Iyad al-Dajani said the event had been held to honor the families of the Palestinian shaheeds who had been killed since the second intifada and showed the Palestinian public that Hamas had not forgotten them (Felesteen, August 20, 2022).

   
The rally held by Hamas to celebrate the Palestinians shaheeds
(Shehab Twitter account, August 20, 2022).

Reactions to Mahmoud Abbas’ statement during his visit to Germany

• Mahmoud Abbas’ remark during his visit to Germany about Israel’s “fifty holocausts” of the Palestinian people continues to provoke reactions. According to Hussein al-Sheikh, general secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee, certain circles continue their incitement against Mahmoud Abbas. According to al-Sheikh, the PA condemns the events of the Holocaust and does not deny them, but the Palestinian people “also” suffers from “Israel’s crimes” (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, August 19, 2022).
•  PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh related to the topic during a ceremony in Ramallah honoring memorizers of the Qur’an. He said they did not deny the slaughter of the Jews during the Holocaust and they did not deny the Holocaust, but no one can deny the “slaughters” carried out in “Palestine.” He repeated that Mahmoud Abbas had been clear and had not denied the Holocaust of the Jews, but wanted to tell the world not to turn a blind eye to the “slaughter” of the Palestinian people (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, August 17, 2022).

   
Reception held for Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah when he returned from Germany
(Wafa, August 18, 2022).

• Following a formal criminal complaint, the Berlin police department said it had begun an investigation of Mahmoud Abbas for incitement to hatred. The German foreign ministry said that Mahmoud Abbas, as a representative of the PA, would enjoy immunity from prosecution because he was visiting the country in an official capacity. (AP, August 19, 2022).
• Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said Hamas condemned the decision of the German police, adding that the international powers had again proved their bias towards Israel, denied the Palestinian people their rights and ignored their suffering. He said it did not matter how the powers tried to distort the “truth,” they could not avoid the Palestinian narrative (Hamas website, August 20, 2022). Senior PIJ figure Khaled al-Batash said his organization strongly condemned the decision of the German police. He said the police’s position represented a double standard, hypocrisy, bias towards Israel and denial of the suffering of the Palestinian people, who were paying the price of the consequences of the Second World War because of a lack of international justice. He added that Mahmoud Abbas’ statement was “part of the Palestinian national narrative” whose objective was to “expose the crimes of the Israeli occupation” (PIJ Telegram channel, August 20, 2022).
• The Arab League called [the German police decision] “gangsterism.” An official source in the Arab League secretariat claimed some of the announcements condemning Mahmoud Abbas went so far as to make light of the suffering of the Palestinian people. According to the source, the Arab League understood the sensitivity of the current and previous German governments to the term “holocaust” and the crimes connected to it. However, that could not erase the daily suffering “Israel’s crimes” caused the Palestinian people, and an end had to be put to the verbal exchanges and politicizing of the issue (Arab League website, August 19, 2022).
• Muhammad Shtayyeh asked the Palestinian research center to translate all the documents related to the “slaughter” of the Palestinian people and to distribute the material to all the embassies, countries and international organizations [sic] to strengthen the Palestinian cause in international courts (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, August 22, 2022).

Offices of civilian social organizations in Ramallah closed

• On August 18, 2022, the Israeli security forces raided the offices of seven Palestinian organizations in Ramallah accused of association with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) while operating under the guise of civilian social humanitarian organizations. Documents and electronic equipment were confiscated, the offices were sealed, and orders for permanent closing were issued. The event was extensively covered by the media in the United States and Europe (IDF spokesman, Israel media, August 18, 2022).

• The Palestinian media reported that the seven offices which had been closed belonged to al-Dameer, the Association for Prisoners and Human Rights Support, al-Haq, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Women’s Committees, the Medical Action Committees, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and the Defense for Children International – “Palestine” Section (Ma’an, August 20, 2022).
• On October 22, 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz declared six or the organizations as terrorist organizations.^[3]
• In the wake of the closing of the offices, Mahmoud Abbas met with a delegation of representatives from the organizations, calling Israel’s action “unacceptable.” He said the ministries/offices would continue operating in accordance with Palestinian law to expose the “crimes of the occupation” against the Palestinian people. He added that intensive contacts were being held with the relevant groups to put an end to the “Israeli provocations” against Palestinian institutions legally operating for human rights. He also expressed his esteem for international support and the condemnations of Israel’s activities, adding that practical international measures were necessary to stop Israel’s “aggressive acts” (Wafa, August 20, 2022).
•   Muhammad Shtayyeh met with the heads of the organizations to inform them that the PA had appealed to the international community, the EU and the UN. He called the institutions “legitimate,” claiming they operated in accordance with Palestinian law and called on them to open their offices despite the Israeli decision. He said the PA did not accept Israel’s methods and would not cooperate (Quds, August 18, 2022).

   
Muhammad Shtayyeh visits the offices of al-Haq in Ramallah, accompanied by Shawan Jabarin, al-Haq’s director (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, August 18, 2022).

• Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said that in response the PA was preparing a long list of Israel organizations to be added to the list of international terrorist organizations. He claimed they were doing it as a response to Israel’s “ongoing crimes” against the Palestinian people and Israel’s denial [sic] of international resolutions. He added that they were currently investing effort to complete legal processes that would make it possible to include Jewish organizations on the list of international terrorist organizations and at the same time trying to enlist international support for such a move (PA foreign ministry website, August 18, 2022).
• Hussein al-Sheikh claimed the ” occupation forces’ invasion” of the civilian social organizations, their closing and the confiscation of their property was a dangerous escalation and an attempt to silence the “voice of truth and justice.” He said they would appeal to all official international bodies and human rights institutions for their immediate intervention to condemn Israel’s actions and exert pressure for reopening the offices (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, August 18, 2022).
• The PLO’s department of human rights and civilian society held an emergency meeting with representatives of the organizations to discuss how to respond. They decided to open the department’s offices as temporary sites for the organizations whose offices had been closed (Wafa, August 21, 2022).
• Other groups criticized Israel:
  • The UN claimed in an official announcement that despite offers to review the allegations to determine if funds had been diverted[to terrorist activities, Israeli authorities had not given “compelling evidence” to the United Nations agencies nor its NGO partners working in the Palestinian territories to support the designations. Several member states recently announced that the evidence which was shared with them did not justify the designations. According to the UN, the attempted closures of the organization offices represented the latest in a series of actions by Israel that further limited the ability of human rights, humanitarian and development work in Palestinian territories, which affect all institutions working to promote human rights, development and delivering assistance (UN website, August 18, 2022).
  • The British consulate in Jerusalem said in a statement that Britain would continue supporting the social organizations and their role in preserving human rights (Twitter account of the British consulate in Jerusalem, August 19, 2022).
  • The EU delegation in Judea and Samaria said in a statement that a meeting had been held of EU representatives and representatives of the Palestinian organizations, and that previous accusations that they had exploited EU funds for negative purposes had not been proved. They said the EU would continue to support organizations that promoted international law, human rights and democratic values (Twitter account of the EU delegation in Judea and Samaria, August 19, 2022). An EU representative met with Mahmoud Abbas and told him the EU opposed Israel’s actions against the organizations (Ma’an, August 21, 2022). The spokesperson for Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said the EU would continue to support the organizations, and Borrell shared the international concerns regarding the actions taken against them (Wafa, August 20, 2022).
  • Sayid Abu Ali, aide to the secretary general for Palestinian affairs in the Arab League, condemned the “brutish attack” of the IDF forces on the institutions. He claimed the attack on the institutions, confiscating their documents and closing them was part of Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people and its disregard for Palestinian blood, land and holy sites (Sabaq24, August 18, 2022).
  • The United States also expressed concern and demanded Israel immediately transfer information designating the organizations as terrorist organizations. Israel said it would provide the information (Reuters, August 18, 2022). It was also reported that the CIA was unable to verify Israel’s claims (The Guardian, August 22, 2022).

Reactions to the renewal of Israeli-Turkish diplomatic relations

• Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Turkish foreign minister, told a press conference that Israel and Turkey would appoint new ambassadors as part of the normalization of diplomatic relations. He added that the renewal of Turkey’s relations with Israel would not come at the expense of support for the Palestinians (TRT, August 17, 2022). A few days later Mahmoud Abbas went to Turkey for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Erdogan. Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said the renewal of Israeli-Turkish relations would benefit the Palestinian cause (name website, August 19, 2022).

• PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami strongly condemned Turkey’s measures to normalize relations with Israel, saying the exhange of ambassadors and the rehabilitation of relations with Israel (“the Zionist entity”), which carried out “slaughters” on a daily basis, would encourage it to increase its aggression. He added that the normalization or Arab and Islamic states with Israel was a knife in the back of the Palestinian people (PIJ Telegram channel, August 18, 2022).

Turkish IHH aid for the ministry of health in Ramallah

• On August 17, 2022, Mai al-Kayla, the PA minister of health, participated in a ceremony for the delivery of two ambulances donated by the Turkish IHH.^[4] She thanked King Abdallah of Jordan for helping to transport the ambulances from Jordan to the PA (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, August 17, 2022).

Concerns that the salaries of Palestinian workers will be taxed

• Following Israel’s decision to transfer the salaries of Palestinians working in Israel to Palestinian banks and not to pay them in cash as has been the custom until now, workers raised concerns that the PA would exploit the situation to tax their salaries. Workers held demonstrations at some of the crossings to protest the decision. At the weekly Palestinian government meeting, Muhammad Shtayyeh said the salaries would not be taxed and the banks would not take fees (Wafa, August 22, 2022).

Public opinion poll

• The Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre (JMCC) held a public opinion poll between July 14 and 19, 2022 with the participation of 1,200 Palestinians, 715 of them in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. The results were the following:
• 33% supported Fatah (28% in the last poll, taken in November 2021). 15% supported Hamas (10% in November 2021). There was a significant drop in the number of respondents who supported no party.
• 46% were of the opinion that the government’s functioning had not improved.
• 37% were happy with the functioning of Mahmoud Abbas’ government (34% in November 2021).
• 33% preferred an armed “struggle” to realize the objectives of the Palestinian people; 31% preferred negotiations; 24% a non-violent “struggle.” 49% believed attacks on Israeli targets harmed the Palestinian national interest

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other attacks

• In Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads. The more prominent events were the following:^[5]
  • August 21, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Dir Qadis, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • August 21, 2022: Movements were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Tekoa, south of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • August 21, 2022: Rocks were thrown from a passing car at an Israeli vehicle between Nabi Elias and Azun, east of Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 21, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus north of Issawiya, east Jerusalem. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • August 21, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near al-Mugheir, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 20, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle south of Givat Asaf, establish of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 18, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road, north of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 18, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Gitai Avishar, near Ariel. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 18, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Aqraba, southeast of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 18, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle hear Dir Nizam, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • August 17, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Reihan Crossing, west of Jenin. One person was injured. No damage was reported.
  • August 17, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near the ponds of al-Fawwar, southwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.