Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (February 8-13, 2023)

Vehicular ramming attack in Jerusalem

•   On the afternoon of February 10, 2023, a Palestinian carried out a vehicular ramming attack at a bus stop at the northern entrance to the Ramot neighborhood in Jerusalem. The terrorist was driving towards Ramot from Givat Ze’ev when he sped up and deliberately rammed into a crowded bus stop. A police detective, who was passing by at the time, shot and killed him. Initially he killed two people, a six year-old boy and a 20 year-old man, and critically wounded five others, most of them members of the same family. The following day an eight year-old boy died, the six year-old’s brother. Eye witnesses reported that before the attack the terrorist waited at the traffic light for people to gather at the bus stop (Israeli media, February 11, 2023).

   
Right: The scene of the vehicular ramming attack. Left: The terrorist is neutralized
(Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, February 10, 2023).

• The terrorist was Hussein Khaled Qaraqa, 32 years old, from the Issawiya neighborhood of east Jerusalem, married and father of five. His father came from the Dheisheh refugee camp, near Bethlehem, and his mother’s family is from the a-Tor neighborhood of east Jerusalem (Bawabat al-Hadaf, February 10, 2023). Qaraqa’s uncles erected a mourning tent in the Dheisheh refugee camp (Ultra Palestine website, February 10, 2023). The Palestinian prisoners’ club reported he had been imprisoned in Israel and detained a number of times (prisoners’ club website, February 10, 2023). The Israeli media reported he had been released from the psychiatric hospital in Tamra the previous day. The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military-terrorist wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), issued a mourning notice for the Hussein Qaraqa, “the eagle of Jerusalem” (PFLP website, February 10, 2023).

     
Right: The PFLP mourning notice for Hussein Qaraqa (PFLP website, February 10, 2023). Left: Hussein Qaraqa with a PFLP flag on the Temple Mount (Bawabat al-Hadaf, February 10, 2023).

•   Qaraqa was active on the social networks. During Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022 he posted praise for the “resistance” [terrorist networks] in general and the PIJ in particular (Twitter account of Muhammad Fares Jaradat, February 11, 2023). He posted support for “avenging” the deaths of the Palestinian shaheeds and called for the end of the PA’s security coordination with Israel (@mproject772, February 10, 2023). Other pictures posted to the social networks showed him at funerals held for Palestinian terrorists.

     
Hussein Qaraqa at the terrorists’ funerals. Right: Carrying the body of Ibrahim Da’ud Mudeir Ghassaneh, in 2015 (Watan News Agency, February 10, 2023). Left: At the funeral of Bassel al-Araj in March 2017 (Ghassan Farhat’s Twitter account, February 11, 2023).

Reactions

• The Palestinian news agency Wafa represented Qaraqa as a victim, and based on stories told by the family reported that he had been “fatally wounded by settler gunfire northwest of occupied Jerusalem,” while driving his car through a crossing (Wafa, February 10, 2023).
• Hamas issued a mourning notice for him claiming he had rebelled against Israel (“the occupation”) in response to its “ongoing crimes in occupied Jerusalem and continuing aggression against the Palestinians in Jericho, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron and all the cities, villages and refugee camps.” According to Hamas, Israel (“the Zionist entity”) was fully responsible for the continuation of the “occupation” of the Palestinian land, the “slaughter” [sic] of the Palestinians and the “deliberate escalation” against the prisoners, and had to expect the Palestinians would not sit idly by but would defend themselves (Hamas website, February 10, 2023).
• The PIJ in Judea and Samaria issued a announcement calling “the blessed activity…the natural and legitimate [sic] reaction to the crimes of the occupation,” the most recent of which was the death of prisoner Ahmed Abu Ali [who died on February 10, 2023]. The PIJ promised the Palestinian people that the “resistance” [violence and terrorism] would continue as the only way to “liberate” the land and holy places, and to teach Israel (“the enemy”) a lesson in revenge (Daffa_media Telegram channel, February 10, 2023).

     
March in Jenin celebrating the terrorist attack in Jerusalem (@qudsfeed Telegram channel, February 10, 2023). Left: PFLP operatives in the central Gaza Strip hand out pastries to celebrate (Bawabat al-Hadaf, February 10, 2023).

   
Right: Sign hung at the al-Saraya Junction in the center of Gaza City with a picture of Hussein Qaraqa, the Palestinian terrorists killed in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp and prisoner Ahmad Abu Ali. The Arabic reads, “The heroic shaheed Qaraqa avenged the blood of the shaheeds in Jericho and answered the call of Jerusalem and the prisoners (Izzat Jamal’s Twitter account, February 11, 2023). Left: Alaa’ al-Laqta cartoon. The Arabic reads, “Palestinian earthquake in Jerusalem” (@AbuZiad 486 Twitter account, February 10, 2023).

• The ministry of prisoners and released prisoners in the Gaza Strip related to statements made by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security, regarding the planned extensive detentions of Palestinians in Jerusalem in response to the attack. According to the ministry, the threats were “empty and worthless,” would not undermine the Palestinian “resistance” [terrorist campaign], and Jerusalem led the Palestinian cities, all of whose residents were in detention. In 2022, claimed the ministry, almost 3,000 Palestinians had been detained, and the detentions had continued into the new year (Shehab, February 12, 2023).

Attempted stabbing attack near al-Fawwar

• On the afternoon of February 9, 2023, a Palestinian tried to stab an IDF soldier at the al-Fawwar Junction roadblock, south of Hebron. The Palestinian went to the roadblock armed with a knife and refused to identify himself. He was shot and wounded by an IDF force at the site and taken to a hospital in Jerusalem for medical treatment, where he later died (Israeli media, February 2023).
• The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Sharif Hassan Raba, 22 years old, from al-Zahariya (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, February 9, 2023). His Facebook profile picture was of Lion’s Den network operatives (Sharif Raga’s Facebook page, November 28, 2022, and February 8, 2023). Fatah in al-Zahariya declared a general strike to mourn his death but did not claim him as an activist or operative (Facebook page of the Fatah sub-branch in al-Zahariya, February 9, 2023).

   
Right: The knife Sharif Raba brought with him to the roadblock (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, February 9, 2023). Left: Sharif Hassan Raba (Facebook page of the Fatah sub-branch in al-Zahariya, February 9, 2023).

• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh warned that the continuation of “Israel’s crimes” heralded an escalation and their dangers should not be underrated. He demanded the UN, international human rights organizations and other groups intervene urgently to stop the increasing number of Palestinian killings. PA government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said that while the Palestinian rescue teams were working against time to extract people from under the rubble caused by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, the “soldiers of the occupation” continued their crimes against the Palestinian people by executing them [sic], most recently the killing of Sharif Hassan Raba (Ibrahim Melhem’s Facebook page, February 9, 2023).
• Hamas issued a mourning notice for the death of Sharif Raba, warning that revolutionary Palestinians were waiting in ambush for Israel everywhere and they were determined to escalate all forms of “resistance” [terrorist attacks] to avenge the blood of the shaheeds and defend the Palestinians, Palestinian land, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque (Hamas website, February 9, 2023).
• The PIJ in Judea and Samaria issued a mourning notice claiming the deliberate killing carried out under the aegis of the “fascist government of Israel” would only increase the Palestinians’ determination and adherence to their “principles,” and that the “resistance fighters” [terrorist operatives] would continue attacking Israel (Daffa_media Telegram channel, February 9, 2023).

Critical Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since November 2020^[1]

Counterterrorism Activities

• This past week the Israeli security forces continued intensive counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining Palestinians suspected of involvement in terrorist activities and confiscating large quantities of weapons. The main areas of their activity were Nablus (the night of February 12, 2023) and the Jenin refugee camp (February 12, 2023).

The activity in Nablus

• After months of monitoring the situation, on the night of February 12, 2023, Israeli security forces detained Abd al-Kamal Jori and Usama Tawil, residents of Nablus suspected of shooting an IDF soldier to death near Shavei Shomron on October 11, 2022. The two were hiding in a house in Nablus. Three other suspects were detained with them. During the activity one Palestinian was killed and several were wounded, there were exchanges of fire between the Israeli security forces and the wanted Palestinians, and the two suspects were wounded and detained. A search of the building revealed two M-16 assault rifles which were suspected of having been used by the terrorists (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, February 13, 2023).
• The Lion’s Den network and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB) said in separate statements that their operatives had revealed the entrance of the [IDF] forces into Nablus and confronted them with operatives from other armed networks (Lion’s Den Telegram channel and the AAMB Telegram channel, February 13, 2023).
• One of the detainees, Usama Tawil, is a Hamas military-terrorist wing operative and high-ranking figure in the Lion’s Den network. He was seen in a march held in Nablus in support of the networks on October 28, 2022 (al-Araby al-Jadeed and the Twitter accounts of Dr. Fayiz Abu Shamala and Ra’ed Abu Jarad, October 29, 2022).
•  The Palestinian media reported that during the activity in Nablus a Palestinian was killed and several were wounded. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported the death of Amir Alaa Bustami, 22 years old, from Nablus (Shehab, February 13, 2023). The Lion’s Den network issued a mourning notice for the “jihad fighter” Amir al-Bustami, without mentioning an organizational affiliation (Nablus al-Hadath Telegram channel, February 13, 2023). Hamas issued an announcement claiming him as an operative (Hamas website, February 13, 2023).

The activity in the Jenin refugee camp

• On the afternoon of February 12, 2023, IDF forces entered the Jenin refugee camp and detained Jibril al-Zubeidi, a Fatah terrorist operative from Jenin, who was involved in terrorist activities and planned attacks. He was suspected of involvement in the abduction of the body of Tiran Fero.^[2] Al-Zubeidi surrendered to the Israeli forces. During the activity armed Palestinians shot at the forces and threw rocks and IEDs (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, February 12, 2023).
•   The prisoners club in Jenin reported that the Israeli security forces surrounded the al-Zubeidi family home and detained released prisoner Jibril Muhammad al-Zubeidi, 34 years old, brother of shaheed Da’ud al-Zubeidi and prisoners Zakaria al-Zubeidi (a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council) and Yahya al-Zubeidi. Their mother and brother Taha were killed in a gunfight in Jenin in 2002 (Facebook page of the Palestinian prisoners’ club in the Jenin district, February 12, 2023). al-Zubeidi was released from a prison in Israel on June 16, 2021, after 15 months in administrative detention. Between 2004 and 2016 he was imprisoned in Israel as an AAMB terrorist operative and for terrorist activities (asramedia website, June 17, 2021).

   
Right: Israeli security forces in Jenin (Facebook page of the Palestinian prisoners’ club in the Jenin district, February 12, 2023). Left: Ammunition seized during the activity (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, February 12, 2023).

    
Jibril al-Zubeidi (Right: Jenin al-Qassam Telegram channel, February 12, 2023. Left: (Facebook page of the Palestinian prisoners’ club in the Jenin district, February 12, 2023).

•  The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Qusay Radwan Yusuf Wakad, 14 years old, who died in a hospital after being shot during the IDF activity in Jenin (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, February 12, 2023). He came from the village of al-Araqa, west of Jenin (al-Araqa Online Facebook page, February 12, 2023).

Palestinian killed in a clash with Jewish settlers

• On February 11, 2023, Jewish settlers and Palestinians clashed near the Havat Yair outpost in Samaria (northwest of Ariel). During the clash a Palestinian was shot and killed. According to the preliminary investigation, several Jewish families walking in the area were attacked by Palestinians, who threw stones and shot fireworks at them. One of the settlers was wounded. In response a settler shot and wounded one of the Palestinians, who later died (Israeli media, February 11, 2023).
• The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Methqal Suleiman Abd al-Halim Riyan, 27 years old, from the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, west of Salfit. Fatah’s media information and cultural commission issued a death notice claiming him as a Fatah operative (Fatah’s media information and cultural commission Facebook page, February 11, 2023). The Qarawat Bani Hassan municipality and Fatah in the Salfit district declared a general strike (Ma’an, February 11, 2023). The PA held a military funeral for him (Wafa, February 12, 2023).

• PA government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem condemned Riyan’s killing. He said Muhammad Shtayyeh placed full responsibility for his death on Israel, and the “ongoing aggression of the Israeli security forces” (“occupation soldiers”) and settlers against Palestinian houses and property. He called on the UN to protect the Palestinians and not allow the “criminals to avoid punishment” (Ibrahim Melhem’s Facebook page, February 11, 2023).
• The PA foreign ministry claimed the security forces and the “settler militias” had exchanged roles, causing the “heinous crime.” It placed full and direct responsibility for his death on Israel, demanded the International Criminal Court complete its investigations as quickly as possible, and that the international community designate the settlers as a “terrorist organization” (Wafa, February 11, 2023).
• Hamas warned Israel and its “fascist government” that escalating its crimes and ignoring Palestinian bloodshed would cause anger and “resistance” [terrorist attacks] against Israeli soldiers and settlers. Hamas said it supported the Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, and called on them to continue “resisting” [attacking] in every way possible (Hamas website, February 11, 2023). The PIJ called on the Palestinians to make efforts to join forces to deal with the settler aggression (Safa, February 22, 2023).

Israeli Arabs detained on suspicion of selling weapons to terrorist

• In December 2022 the Israeli security forces detained two brothers, Israeli citizens from the Bedouin dispersal in Tel Sheva (east of Beersheba), and a Palestinian from the village of Ya’bad, on suspicion of extensive dealing in weapons and ammunition. According to the investigation, they acquired ammunition in Israel and sold it to a PIJ terrorist operative in the Jenin area: 150,000 bullets and hundreds of ammunition magazines for M-16 assault rifles, which the Palestinian from Ya’bad transferred to terrorist operatives in Jenin. In the past the two brothers sold spare parts for guns to terrorist operatives in the Jenin area and to criminal elements in the Negev (Israeli Security Agency spokesman’s unit, February 9, 2023).

Palestinian prisoner dies in Israel

• On February 10, 2023, the Israel Prison Service announced the death of a security prisoner in the Ktsiot Prison in the south of the country. According to the announcement, on the evening of February 9, 2023, the prisoner was found without a heartbeat and after efforts to resuscitate him he was declared dead. He was Ahmed Badr Abdallah Abu Ali, 48 years old, a Fatah terrorist operative from the village of Yatta sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter. He had been imprisoned since November 2012 (mivzaklive.com, February 10, 2023).
• The Palestinian prisoners club claimed his death had been caused by “criminal medical malfeasance.” It claimed that during his years in prison he had chronic health issues and the prison authorities had [allegedly] “deliberately delayed monitoring his condition and medical examinations, and had denied him the necessary treatment” (Palestinian prisoners’ club website, February 10, 2023).
• Muhammad Shtayyeh claimed “Israel’s systematic policy of medical malfeasance” towards Palestinian prisoners had been responsible for his death. He called on the International Red Cross to intervene urgently to secure the release of the prisoners, especially those who were ill, underage and women (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, February 10, 2023).
• Fatah’s media information and cultural commission issued a mourning notice saying the issue of the prisoners and their freedom was its first priority and Fatah would continue its “struggle” for their release. It called on the international community to do more than merely condemn Israel (Fatah’s media information and cultural commission’s Facebook page, February 10, 2023).
• Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua claimed his death was “a heinous Zionist crime” and a gross violation of all international norms and humanitarian laws. He called on all the human rights organizations and international humanitarian institutions to intervene to “save the lives of prisoners who could die at any minute because of Israel’s deliberate medical malfeasance” (Hamas website, February 10, 2023). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the issue of the prisoners was at the top of the “resistance’s” [terrorist organizations’] list of priorities (Hamas website, February 10, 2023).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• This past week one rocket was fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
  • On the evening of February 11, 2023, a rocket was fired at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip border and intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system in the central Gaza Strip region. No casualties were reported (IDF spokesman and Israel media, February 11, 2023).
  • In response to the rocket fire, before dawn on February 13, 2023, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas underground facility in the central Gaza Strip where raw materials used in rockets were manufactured. In response to the IDF attack four anti-aircraft missiles were fired at Israel. Three exploded in the air and the fourth fell in an open area. In response IDF tanks attacked Hamas military-terrorist positions along the border (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account and Israeli media, February 13, 2023).
• The National “Resistance” Battalions (the forces of shaheed Omar al-Qassam, the military-terrorist wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) issued an announcement claiming its operatives had fired rockets in response to “the escalating aggression in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip” (National “Resistance” Battalions Telegram channel, February 13, 2023).
• The Palestinian media reported that the target of Israel’s aerial attack was a Hamas’ military wing post and the area near the al-Sheikh Ajlin neighborhood in the southwestern part of Gaza City. According to reports, a fire broke out; no casualties were reported. The tank attack allegedly targeted observation posts, one in the eastern part of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip and the other in the al-Qarareh region in eastern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip (Shehab, Palinfo and the Roya TV News website, February 13, 2023).
•  Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed the attack on the Gaza Strip at the same time as the “aggression” against Nablus and Jerusalem “proved” they were facing “aggression against the Palestinians.” He said the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] would continue as the Palestinians’ “shield and sword” (Hamas website, February 13, 2023).

   
Right: Hamas underground facility attacked by the IDF (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, February 13, 2023). Left: Attack on the Hamas post (@the_refomists Twitter account, February 13, 2023).

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2021

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Hamas delegation visits Egypt

• On February 8, 2023, Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, arrived in Cairo heading a delegation of the Hamas leadership which included Saleh al-‘Arouri, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau; Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas’ political bureau abroad; Khalil al-Haya, head of Hamas bureau of Arab-Islamic relations; and Rawhi Mushtaha, a member of Hamas’ political bureau (Hamas website, February 8, 2023). The delegation met with General Abbas Kamal, head of Egyptian General Intelligence (EGI). According to Hamas reports, they briefed him on current dangers and challenges, especially in light of the formation of the new government in Israel, and the Hamas movement’s attitude towards coping with developments and ways to intensify the firm stance of the Palestinians and their “struggle” [terrorist attacks]. They also discussed developing cooperation with Egypt and coordinating the protection the Palestinians’ rights and holy sites. The Egyptians said they would continue to stand with the Palestinians and work jointly to achieve their objectives and meet the various challenges (Hamas website, February 9, 2023).

• “Palestinian sources” reported the deliberations, including the issue of firing rockets from the Gaza Strip and the restraints necessary to prevent the Israeli government from having “excuses” to escalate. The delegation stressed their commitment to calming the situation but called for pressure to be exerted on Israel to make it stop its activities against the Palestinians, claiming the ball was in the Israeli court. The “sources” also claimed that while the meetings ended on February 9, 2023, the delegation remained in Egypt for further deliberations and to wait for the results of the Egyptian contacts with members of the Israeli government (al-Sharq al-Awsat, February 11, 2023).
• The EGI meeting with the Hamas delegation was held after a similar meeting had been held with the PIJ. According to reports of the PIJ meeting, they ended without an unequivocal statement. Khader Habib, a PIJ figure in the Gaza Strip, said they had informed the Egyptian mediators that the lull depended on Israel’s ending its “crimes” against the Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, claiming the new Israeli government was the reason for the escalation but that they were still giving the mediators a chance (PalPress, February 7, 2023).

Ziyad al-Nakhalah chosen for a second term as PIJ leader

• PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah was chosen to head the organization for another term of four years. There were no other candidates. His second term will be declared at the PIJ elections held at the beginning of March 2023 (QudsN and aljazeera.net, February 9, 2023).

Mahmoud Abbas visits Cairo

• On February 11, 2023, Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Egypt for a formal visit to participate in the Jerusalem Support Conference held at Arab League headquarters in Cairo (Wafa, February 11, 2023). While there he met with the Algerian foreign minister and with Ahmed Abu al-Ghait, Arab League secretary general (Wafa, February 11, 2023).

    
Right: Mahmoud Abbas meets in Cairo with the Arab League secretary general (Wafa, February 11, 2023). Left: Anti-Netanyahu Palestinian cartoon. The Arabic reads, “The path of the extreme right-wing Israeli government” (al-Quds al-Arabi, February 5, 2023).

• On February 5, 2023, the “Jerusalem – Firm Stance and Development” conference was held at Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The decision to hold the conference had been made during the Arab summit meeting in Algeria in November 2022. Participants included Mahmoud Abbas, the president of Egypt, the king of Jordan, the prime minister of Morocco and ministers and under-ministers from the other Arab countries. Also present were the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation secretary general and the Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general. A recorded statement from the UN secretary general was played.
• Mahmoud Abbas told the conference that he regarded support for Jerusalem as a religious duty and a national, humanitarian need that had to be met. He said in the coming days the Palestinians were planning to appeal to the UN for a resolution “protecting” the two-state solution by giving “Palestine” full UN-member status. He also said they reserved the right to appeal to international courts and organizations to protect the Palestinians’ right and would “cope” with the Israeli government’s “programs against al-Aqsa mosque” with all their strength. He praised the initiative of the funds and foundations that raised $70 million for the Palestinians, and were planning to increase the sum to $200 million over the next five years, which would fund “Muslim endowment programs in Jerusalem and ‘Palestine’ ” (Wafa, February 12, 2023).
• The announcement summarizing the conference deliberations noted they would begin implementing the Arab League Council’s decision to establish a League advisory committee of international legal experts to support the Palestinians efforts to demand accountability from those “responsible for the crimes committed against them” through international legal mechanisms, and to provide the necessary legal advice and technical and financial support for the efforts (Wafa, February 12, 2023).

    
Right: The Jerusalem conference in Cairo (Fatah’s media information and cultural commission Facebook page, February 12, 2023). Left: Mahmoud Abbas speaks at the conference (Wafa, February 12, 2023).

International Court of Justice (ICJ) issues time limits for the presentation of legal documents

• On February 9, 2023, the PA foreign ministry confirmed the receipt of letter from the ICJ in The Hague regarding following the ad hoc session held by the judges regarding the “nature of the occupation.” The letter noted July 25, 2023, as the time limit within which written statements on the questions may be presented to the court from various countries, the UN and the PA, and for all the information and documents regarding the issue in accordance with the resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on December 30, 2023, which asked the ICJ for an advisory opinion regarding the legality of the Israeli “occupation” in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. It also noted October 25, 2023, as the time limit within which States and organizations, having presented written statements may submit written comments (PA foreign ministry Facebook page, February 9, 2023).
• According to the ICJ’s unofficial press release, the matter in hand is a request for an advisory opinion about the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the “occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem” (ICJ, February 8, 2023).

Help for the victim of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

•  Following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, which killed tens of thousands of people, Mahmoud Abbas called Bashar Assad, the Syrian president, and offered his condolences (Wafa, February 8, 2023). Muhammad Shtayyeh also sent a letter of condolence to the Syrian prime minister (Wafa, February 9, 2023). Following instructions from Mahmoud Abbas, Shtayyeh ordered civil defense and medical teams be sent to participate in the search and rescue operations in Turkey and Syria (Wafa, February 6, 2023). In the meantime, Palestinian activists and NGOs abroad, especially in Turkey, launched a campaign called “Palestine [sic] is with you” to help earthquake victims, especially Palestinian victims (QudsN and the al-Aqsa TV website, February 7, 2023).

   
Right: The Palestinian delegation before it left (PA foreign ministry Twitter account, February 9, 2023). Left: The Palestinian delegation in a rescue operation (PA foreign ministry Twitter account, February 10, 2023).

Israeli Cabinet decisions following the terrorist attack in Jerusalem

• In response to the terrorist attack in Jerusalem, Israel’s Political-Security Cabinet passed a series of decisions, among them increasing police and Border Police presence in the city and increased operational police activity countering incitement and support for terrorism. It was also decided to legalize the status of nine Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and authorize the construction of new dwelling units in existing settlements (Facebook page of the office of the Israeli prime minister, February 12, 2023).

Reactions to the Israel’s measures

• The Cabinet’s decisions were widely condemned by the PA. For example:
  • Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, said they condemned and rejected the Cabinet authorization to legalize the status of nine settlements in Judea and Samaria. He called it a challenge to American and Arab efforts and an “anti-Palestinian provocation,” which would lead to more tension and escalation (Wafa, February 12, 2023).
  • Muhammad Shtayyeh claimed all the settlements built on Palestinian land were illegal. He added that the decision to enlarge legalize and the settlements, and to take measures against the Palestinians in Jerusalem were a recipe for escalation whose consequences could not be prevented and which would be dangerous for the region and the world (Wafa, February 12, 2023).
  • Hussein al-Sheikh, general secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee, said the Palestinian leadership would examine ways to respond to the “great escalation” of the Israeli Cabinet decisions, and the leadership was of the opinion that the “unrestrained war against the Palestinians” needed immediate international intervention to force Israel to stop its “aggression” (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, February 12, 2023).
  • The PA foreign ministry condemned the Cabinet decisions, claiming it viewed them as “dangerous escalation of the aggression and comprehensive war against the Palestinians” which included Jerusalem, its residents and holy sites in particular, crossed all the known red lines in waging the conflict, disregarded efforts to halt escalation, and the “systematic undermining of every opportunity to revive the peace process” (PA foreign ministry website, February 13, 2023).

Demolishing buildings in east Jerusalem

• Recently, following instructions from the minister of national security, the Jerusalem municipality has been demolishing buildings constructed illegally in the Jabal Mukaber, Ras al-Amoud and Sawahra neighborhoods of east Jerusalem. The activity led to angry Palestinian reactions:
• The PA foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation of the [alleged] “continuing war” against Jerusalem, its residents, institutions, holy sites and buildings, which began to escalate with the sealing and demolition of houses as declared by the minister of national security. According to the foreign ministry, the escalation is part of an alleged process of “ethnic cleansing” intended to “harm Palestinian presence in Jerusalem as the city is Judaized,” isolating it from its Palestinian environment and connecting it to the Israeli heartland. The ministry claimed the “Israeli escalation” which affected every aspect of life in Jerusalem would be part of its claims against Israel in the ICC, and the subject would be on the agenda of the Human Rights Council in Geneva (Wafa, February 12, 2023).
•  Rawhi Fatouh, chairman of the Palestinian National Council, claimed Israel’s “slaughter of demolishing houses [sic]” in Jerusalem, and especially in the Jabal Mukaber neighborhood, was “a new war crime,” like the “forced uprooting and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians.” He demanded the international community and the ICC act immediately to stop Israel (Wafa, February 12, 2023).

Reactions to the decision of the Barcelona city hall

• On February 8, 2023, Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, announced the cancellation of the Barcelona-Tel Aviv twin-city agreement of the past 25 years and the freezing of institutional relations with Israel because of its alleged “apartheid policy towards the Palestinians.” The Palestinians were extremely satisfied by the announcement:
  • Muhammad Shtayyeh called it a reaction to Israel’s “apartheid crime” against the Palestinians’ rights (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, February 9, 2023). The PA foreign ministry praised the decision and called on other cities to take the same action because of the importance of exerting pressure on the government of Israel to stop its activities against the Palestinians (PA foreign ministry Facebook page, February 9, 2023).
  • Jamal Nizal, Fatah spokesman in Europe, called it “a brave, wise decision which did not surrender to threats, bargaining or blackmail” (Wafa, February 9, 2023).
  • The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine praised the decision, saying it reflected a genuine popular desire which rejected Israel’s activities and its “crimes” against the Palestinians’ rights, as well as the increasing voices in Europe, especially in Barcelona, opposing “the occupation and its crimes” (al-Quds, February 9, 2023).

Arab help for the PA

•  On February 8, 2023, Muhammad Shtayyeh participated in the signing in Ramallah of agreements for a total of $43 million for financing various projects for developing public health services, education and the infrastructure in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The money will be transferred from Arab foundations, financial entities and organizations for Arab and Islamic development through the Islamic Development Bank in Jedda, Saudi Arabia. According to the agreement, $20 million will be allotted to constructing and renovating schools in the PA territories and the Gaza Strip, in addition to renovating structures in two universities and upgrading three hospitals in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Thirteen million dollars will be allotted to financing 29 projects for the support and development of the services provided the local authorities and the refugee camps in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. The agreements also include projects in the Old City of Jerusalem (no further information given) (Wafa, February 8, 2023).

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:^[3]
  • February 13, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Halhul (north of Hebron). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • February 12, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near the settlement of Yitav (north of Jericho). No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • February 11, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Shavei Shomron Junction (northwest of Nablus). No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 10, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Bayt Ummar and Karmei Tsur (north of Hebron). No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 9, 2023: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus near al-Aroub (north of Hebron) No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • February 8, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Bayt Ummar and al-Aroub (north of Hebron). No casualties or damage were reported.