Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (July 13 – 19, 2022)

Shooting attack

• On July 15, 2022, shots were fired at the vehicle of four Israelis who entered Nablus without IDF authorization to pray at the Tomb of Joseph. As they drove away the vehicle overturned, and one passenger was injured.

Counterterrorism activities

• This past week the Israeli security forces continued carrying out counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria. Several dozen Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity were detained and illegal weapons were confiscated. In several instances Palestinians rioted against the Israeli forces, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails, and sometimes shooting (IDF spokesman).
• The more prominent events were the following:
• During an Israeli security force activity in the village of ‘Aqab in east Jerusalem, Palestinians threw rocks and shot fireworks and guns at the soldiers, who responded with riot control measures and live fire. No Israeli casualties were reported; an IDF vehicle was damaged (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 18, 2022).
• During an Israeli security force activity in the Jilazoun refugee camp, near Ramallah, four Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity were detained. During the activity Palestinians threw rocks and bricks at the forces, who responded with live fire (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 18, 2022).

•  On July 17, 2022, during an Israeli security force activity in Tubas, northeast of Nablus, to detain a wanted Palestinian, the forces were shot at and returned fire (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 17, 2022). After the event the Tubas Battalion of the Jerusalem Brigades, the military-terrorist wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the announcement, the first of its kind, an IDF vehicle was disabled and the Battalion promised to continue “jihad and resistance” [terrorist activity] against Israel (Filastin al-Yawm, July 17, 2022). The Tubas Battalion joins the Jenin and Nablus Battalions, which were recently established and attack IDF security forces^[1] (Telegram channel of the Jerusalem Brigades’ Tubas Battalion, July 17, 2022).

   
Pictures from the video of a burning IDF jeep and the disabling of another IDF vehicle during the riot in Tubas (QudsN Facebook page, July 17, 2022).

• On July 16, 2022, the night harassment unit in al-Bireh and Ramallah claimed responsibility for attacking the settlement of Psagot with a pipe bomb and two Molotov cocktails.

Donating blood in Jenin

• On July 15, 2022, Abu Sina Hospital in Jenin held a blood-donation drive whose slogan was “Every drop saves a life.” According to the hospital, there is a lack of blood units in the Jenin district because of the large number of Palestinians wounded in recent IDF activity (QudsN Twitter account, July 16, 2022).

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

Israel authorizes legal status and family unifications

• On July 12, 2022, after a security assessment and with authorization from Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced that following the minister’s meeting with Mahmoud Abbas and in view of the upcoming visit of the president of the United States, Israel would initiate a series of trust-building steps with the Palestinian Authority (PA). One of the steps will be the registration of 5,500 Palestinians with no legal status (in addition to the 12,000 registered in the past) (COGAT Facebook page, July 12, 2022).
• Hussein al-Sheikh, PA minister of civilian affairs, said authorization had been received for 4,000 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, who can now receive ID cards and passports. He called on them to go to the civilian affairs offices to receive the necessary documents for the PA ministry of the interior to be able to complete the process (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Facebook page, July 12, 2022).

   
A crowd of Gazans in the offices of the civilian affairs (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, July 13, 2022). Left: Gazan gives thanks to Allah after receiving the authorization of his status (Wafa, July 14, 2022).

Bullet fired at Netiv HaAsara

•  According to the initial report, on the morning of July 19, 2022, a bullet shell casing was found in the community of Netiv HaAsara, north of the Gaza Strip. The bullet hit an industrial building and investigation indicated it had been fired from the Gaza Strip. In response IDF aircraft attacked a Hamas post in the northern Gaza Strip (IDF spokesman, July 19, 2022).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• Just past midnight and in the early morning hours of July 16, 2022, four rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. So far no organization has claimed responsibility. No casualties or damage were reported (IDF spokesman, July 16, 2022).
• At around 00:50, two rockets were fired at the southern coastal city of Ashqelon. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system, the other fell in an open area.
  • At around 04:45, two additional rockets were fired at the area south of the southern city of Kiryat Gat during an IDF attack in the Gaza Strip. They fell in open areas and were not intercepted. Machineguns were also fired at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip border (IDF spokesman, July 16, 2022).
  • In response to the rocket fire Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas military site in the central Gaza Strip, which included an underground facility for making raw materials used in the manufacture of rockets. According to the IDF spokesman, the site is one of the largest and most important, manufacturing raw materials for the rockets of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. The attack caused difficulties for Gaza’s rocket manufacturers (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 16, 2022).
• The Palestinian media reported that about ten missiles were fired at a Hamas naval post on the coast, south of Gaza City (Shehab, July 16,2022; Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, July 16, 2022). A reporter for Wafa wrote the post was near the Sheikh Ajlin holiday site, and the attack destroyed the post completely and caused a fire, which damaged nearby property (Wafa, July 16, 2022). According to reports, as anti-aircraft guns were fired at the planes two rockets were fired at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip (Shehab, July 16, 2022; Dunia al-Watan, July 16, 2022).
• In response to the rocket fire targeting the Lachish region south of Kiryat Gat, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked another Hamas facility for the manufacture of rockets (IDF Twitter account, July 16, 2022). The Palestinian media reported the site was west of the Nuseirat refugee camp (Shehab, July 16, 2022; Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades website, July 16, 2022).

   
IDF attacks in the Gaza Strip. Right: Attack on weapons-production sites. Left: Attack on an underground facility for the manufacture of rockets (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 16, 2022).

   
Right: Israeli Air Force attack in Gaza City (Masdar News, July 16, 2022). Left: The results of the attack (alresala.net, July 16, 2022).

• In the meantime, after security consultations, Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the additional 1,500 entrance permits issued for Gazans working in Israel to be frozen. Manal al-Hata, spokesperson for the ministry of labor in the Gaza Strip, said in response that Israel was exploiting the Gazans’ need to work in Israel to exert pressure on the Gaza Strip (al-Aqsa, Julye 16, 2022).
• According to the Palestinian media, two Hamas facilities were attacked, one in the southern part of Gaza City and the other in the central Gaza Strip. The houses of local residents near the sites were damaged (al-Ghad, July 16, 2022). According to al-Mayadeen, Hamas operatives responded by firing anti-aircraft guns at the planes (al-Mayadeen, July 16, 2022).
• Hamas spokesmen responded to the attacks. Fawzi Barhoum claimed the attack was “a continuation of Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians, their land and holy places.” He said that “escalation,” immediately after the visit of the president of the United States, reflected the extent of America’s support and encouragement for Israel. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid was desperately trying to prove to Israelis that he could restore Israel’s power of deterrence. Hazem Qassem claimed the attack was part of “the ongoing crimes of the occupation and its terrorist conduct” against the Palestinians. He added that they would continue the “resistance” [terrorist attacks against Israel] and their “legitimate struggle” (Hamas website, July 16, 2022).
• PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami claimed the attacks were an attempt which had failed and would not prevent the Palestinians and the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] from continuing the path of jihad. He called on the Palestinians masses to rise up and confront Israel at the friction points in the West Bank and inside Israel (Paltoday, July 16, 2022).
• Note: On the eve of Biden’s visit Israel warned the Hamas leadership through the mediators that Israel would respond to any escalation from Hamas during the visit, and would take strong measures against the Gaza Strip. Hamas responded that the activities of the “resistance” [anti-Israeli terrorism] of the Palestinian people were unrelated to any visit of anyone to the region, and escalation was determined solely by Palestinian interests (Ma’an, July 12, 2022).

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Detention of Palestinian who tried to cross the border security fence

• On July 13, 2022, IDF fighters detained a Palestinian who tried to cross the border security fence in the northern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. A knife was found in his possession and he was taken for interrogation (IDF spokesman, July 13, 2022).

Remarks from Musa Abu Marzouq

• Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in an interview that Hamas had always aspired to deepen its relations with the Arab-Muslim world. He said they were in contact many Arab states and were trying to rehabilitate relations with the countries that had cut their ties with Hamas [possibly a hint at Hamas’ intention to renew ties with Syria]. He said their main enemy was the “Zionist occupation,” and therefore Hamas would not be part of any agreement that did not focus on Jerusalem, “Palestine,” and the “resistance” [anti-Israeli terrorism], because the Hamas movement was founded to defend the rights of the Palestinians and to deal with the Palestinian cause. He added that Iran was the “resistance’s” most important supporter, and Hamas collaborated with it in every area vital to the “resistance” (al-Aqsa, July 17, 2022).

Public appearance of Yahya al-Sinwar during Eid al-Adha

• On July 12, 2022, the Palestinian social networks posted pictures of Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, visiting the home of Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau. The occasion was Eid al-Adha and al-Zahar’s return to the Gaza Strip after a long period abroad (Facebook page of Mahmoud al-Zahar’s son Sami, July 12, 2022).

Hamas leadership attends Islamic conference in Istanbul

• Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, Fathi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, and Saleh al-‘Arouri, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, attended the opening ceremony in Istanbul of the “First forum of young pioneers from the Islamic world.” It was organized by the Quds Youth, which represents itself as a body of young Palestinians seeing to help the younger generation and recruit them for the sake of Jerusalem and the national Palestinian causes. More than 200 activists from 40 Arab and Islamic countries participated.
• Isma’il Haniyeh gave a speech praising the role of youth, noting three main challenges: uniting the Muslim nation, the ideological challenge of those trying to distance the youth from the religion of Muhammad, and the attempt to integrate Israel into the Middle East, establishing military-security alliances between Israel and the Arab states sponsored by the United States against the forces and countries of the “resistance” [total opposition to the existence of the State of Israel and the desire to destroy it]. He said the challenges had to be faced by strengthening the unity of the Muslim nation, strengthening religion and opposing normalization. Fathi Hamad said the most important duty of young Muslims was to defend the sites holy to Islam, especially al-Aqsa mosque (Hamas website, July 15, 2022; Shehab, July 16, 2022).

   
Isma’il Haniyeh and Fathi Hamad speak at the conference

Biden-Abbas meeting

•  The third day of President Biden’s visit to the Middle East was devoted to the Palestinians. He visited the Augusta Victoria Hospital in east Jerusalem, the first visit of an American president to an east Jerusalem hospital. He gave a speech promising to give the hospitals in east Jerusalem $100 million (Facebook page of the Augusta Victoria Hospital, July 15, 2022).

• Biden then went to Bethlehem to meet with Mahmoud Abbas. After the meeting they issued a joint statement in which Mahmoud Abbas said they expected the United States to end the “occupation and apartheid regime” to put an end to the settlement project, settler violence, to honor the status quo of the holy sites and promote the opening of an American consulate in east Jerusalem. He said he extended his hand to the Israeli leadership for “a courageous peace” (Wafa, July 15, 2022).
•   Biden said his “commitment to that goal of a two-state solution has not changed in all these years. Two states along the 1967 lines, where mutually agreed-to swaps, remain the best way to achieve equal measure of security, prosperity, freedom, and democracy for the Palestinians as well as Israelis…[Shireen Abu Akleh’s] death is an enormous loss to the essential work of sharing with the world the story of the Palestinian people…[and] the United States will continue to insist on a full and transparent accounting of her death, and we will continue to stand up for media freedom everywhere in the world…” He elaborated on the financial and humanitarian aid the United States had given the PA since 2021 and declared the transfer of $200 million to UNRWA in addition to the $100 million for the hospitals (White House website, July 15, 2022)

   
Right: Joe Biden and Mahmoud Abbas. Left: Biden praying at the Church of the Sepulcher in Bethlehem (Wafa, July 15, 2022).

• At the weekly government meeting PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said the government stood behind Mahmoud Abbas and the positions he had stated during his meeting with the American president in the White House. He praised the Arab position on the Palestinian cause as expressed at the Jedda summit meeting (Wafa, July 18, 2022).
• According to an Internet public opinion poll conducted by the al-Quds website, 95% of the Palestinians believe there will be no breakthrough in relations between Israel and the PA as a result of Biden’s visit; 4% believe there will be one (al-Quds, July 14 2022). Palestinian commentators called the visit a disappointment for the Palestinians, because except for statements about financial help, there was no political aspect to the visit beyond an unrealistic reference to the two-state solution. No initiative, work plan or timetable had been discussed that would help reach a solution (QudsN Twitter account, July 14, 2022).

Diplomatic activity

• After Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Mahmoud Abbas sent communiqués to the Saudi Arabian king and crown prince, thanking them for their commitment to the Palestinian cause and support for Palestinian rights. He praised the outcome of the Jedda summit meeting for preserving regional security and economic stability, noting Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional and international leader (Wafa, July 17, 2022).

Palestinians welcome the European rejection of Israel’s declaration of social organizations as terrorist

• The PA foreign ministry welcomed the announcement issued by nine European countries [Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Holland, Spain and Sweden] rejecting Israel’s October 22, 2021 designation of six Palestinian social organizations as terrorist organizations. The countries claimed they had not received information from Israel sufficient to justify an examination of their policies towards the organizations, and in the absence of proof they had decided to continue cooperating with and supporting them^[3] (Belgian foreign ministry, July 12, 2022). According to the PA foreign ministry, despite the fact that the announcement arrived late, it was a step in the right direction and a “just” decision in the face of Israel’s attempts to silence Palestinian civilian society which was exposing the [alleged] “crimes of Israel” and “violations of international law” (PA foreign ministry website, July 13, 2022).

Response to the UN report on children in armed conflicts

• On July 11, 2022, UN Secretary General Antonito Guterres issued the annual UN report dealing with children and armed conflict (CAAC), which discusses the destructive influence on children of various forms of conflict around the world in 2021, listing almost 24,000 verified examples. According to the report, most of the children were affected in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, the “occupied Palestinian territory,” Somalia, Syria and Yemen (UN News, July 11, 2022).
• Ahmed al-Mudallal, a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, called on international institutions to protect Palestinian children and exert pressure on Israel to act in accordance with the international conventions regarding children during war. He accused Israel of “war crimes against Palestinian children,” claiming that during Operation Guardian of the Walls Israel used “illegal weapons.” He also claimed Israel held 175 “children” in harsh conditions in prisons (Wafa, July 14, 2022).

The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council adopts recommendations regarding the Palestinian issue

• According to reports, the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council adopted a series of recommendations on the Palestinian issue and called on the European Legation to provide the Palestinians with financial support. According to the report, the Council voted against condemning or taking measures against the contents of Palestinian textbooks claimed to contain incitement and anti-Semitism. Adel Atiya, the PA representative to the EU, said that in recent weeks the PA had been operating with the highest echelons to confirm the EU’s continued support and prevent Israel from blocking it. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna spoke with Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki and tweeted that France and the EU would continue supporting the Palestinians (Wafa, July 14, 2022).

Interview with Hussein al-Sheikh

• Hussein al-Sheikh, general secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee, granted a rare interview to the New York Times. He said that implementing the decisions of the PLO’s Central Council, including revoking recognition of Israel^[4] or dismantling the PA would lead to a security vacuum and cause chaos which would harm the Palestinians, who would be the ones to pay the price. He said Israel did not show serious intentions to end the “occupation” and therefore the Palestinians had no choice but to continue the present arrangement.
• He said that despite his having been appointed general secretary to the council without being elected by its members, he knew how to take the Palestinians along the right path and to be their leader (New York Times, July 15, 2022), thereby replying to claims he had been appointed [by Mahmoud Abbas] to the position, and not elected to it.

The Coronavirus

• On July 17, 2022, the ministry of health in Ramallah reported a decline in the number of active cases in Judea and Samaria, 1,283, down from 1,742 on July 3, 2022. There were 1,550 active cases in east Jerusalem, up from 940 on July 3, 2022. The number of active cases in the Gaza Strip rose sharply, 1,924, up from 38 on July 3, 2022 (corona.ps website, July 17, 2022).
• The ministry of health in Gaza reported the fifth wave of coronavirus in the Gaza Strip. The ministry warned the public that the new variant was contagious and spread quickly, reminded people to follow public health guidelines, wear masks and get vaccinated. It announced the opening of six coronavirus testing centers in the Gaza Strip (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, July 14, 2022). The ministry of health expects the wave to peak in the next two weeks (Ma’an, July 17, 2022).

   
Gazans being tested for coronavirus at centers in the Gaza Strip
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, July 14, 2022).

• On July 18, 2022, IDF forces identified a drone crossing the border from Lebanon into Israel; it was intercepted and downed. The drone, which apparently belonged to Hezbollah, was monitored by Israel throughout its flight (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 18, 2022).

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]
  • July 19, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle from a passing car on the Abud bypass round, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • July 17, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Hizma, northeast of je. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • July 16, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near al-Aroub, north of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • July 15, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Luban al-Sharqia, northeast of Ramallah. One person was injured and evacuated to a hospital.
  • July 15, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • July 14, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • July 13, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Abud bypass road, northwest of Ramallah, injuring the driver.
  • July 13, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Ariel and the Gitai Avishar Junction. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • July 12, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle north of Zahariya, southwest of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • July 12, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Ariel and the Gitai Avishar Junction. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • July 12, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • July 12, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on road, west of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.