Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (October 4-19, 2022)

Shots fired at Shaked

• On October 18, 2022, shots were fired at the settlement of Shaked in northern Samaria. No casualties were reported. Three houses were hit. IDF forces instituted a search for the shooters.

Shooting attack in Beit El

• On the evening of October 14, 2022, a shooting attack was carried out in Beit El (northeast of Ramallah). Two armed Palestinians opened fire at houses in the settlement. An Israeli man sitting outside was wounded by shrapnel. An IDF force at the scene identified the source of the attack and opened fire at the shooters. One was killed and the other was wounded and escaped. The Palestinian who escaped was Muhammad Awda, 19 years old, from Dir Jarir, and was detained the following day along with two confederates. A search of his house revealed weapons, uniforms and propaganda, as well as the gun he used in the attack (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 14 and 15, 2022).

   
Right: Muhammad Awda (Facebook page of Muhammad Nidal Awda, August 282, 2022). Left: The gun used in the attack (IDF Twitter account, October 15, 2022).

• The Palestinian fatality was Qais Imad Shejaiya, 23 years old. Hamas issued a mourning notice for him confirming he was one of its operatives (Hamas website, October 15, 2022). He was wounded in 2015 in a clash with Israeli security forces near al-Bireh and detained. His father, Imad Shejaiya, is a released prisoner who was one of the leaders of the first intifada. His brother Bahaa al-Din, who was detained by Israel more than once and is currently in administrative detention. According to the family, his grandfather Ahmed Awda Fares was wanted by the Israeli security forces in the 1970s and a female relative, ‘Aasha Awda, is a released, expelled prisoner (QudsN, October 15, 2022).

    
Qais Imad Shejaiya (Facebook page of Deir Jarir1, October 15, 2022).

Drive-by shooting attack in Shavei Shomron

• On October 11, 2022, Palestinians drove by and shot at an IDF force operating in the area, killing one of the soldiers. The Lion’s Den terrorist network, which has recently been active in the Nablus area, claimed responsibility for the attack (al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 11, 2022).

Shooting attack at the Shuafat Crossing

• On the evening of October 8, 2022, during an IDF activity at the Shuafat Crossing (north of Jerusalem), the forces were attacked with gunfire. The shooter escaped into the Shuafat refugee camp. A female soldier was mortally wounded and later died. A guard was critically wounded (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 9, 2022). The search for the shooter continues. Palestinians in the Shuafat refugee camp rioted against the Israeli security forces, and many young Palestinian men shaved their heads to look like the shooter and make it difficult for the forces to identify him. The head-shaving campaign has gained traction and spread to Nablus, Hebron and other cities in Judea and Samaria. It has been documented in videos uploaded to the social media and widely commented on.

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[1]

Violent riots in east Jerusalem

• Following Israeli security force activities to locate the Shuafat Crossing shooter, and because of the limitation of movement placed on local residents, on the night of October 12, 2022, there were particularly violent riots in a number of locations in east Jerusalem, including Issawiya, Ras al-Amoud, Beit Hanina, Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah and Shuafat. Palestinians threw rocks and Molotov cocktails and shot fireworks at Israeli security forces, burned tires and blocked roads. Several policemen were injured in the riots.
• In response to the violence in east Jerusalem, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh claimed “the election propaganda of the right-wing parties in Israel drips with Palestinian blood.” He said Israel had to pay for its actions and called on the international community to recognize the Palestinian state to “defend the two-state solution” (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 16, 2022).

   
Riots in east Jerusalem (Kul Yawm, October 12, 2022; Sawa, October 13, 2022).

Counterterrorism Activities

• During the past two weeks 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:
  • On October 18, 2022, the Israeli security forces organized to detain Palestinians suspected of assisting the terrorist operative who carried out the shooting attack at the Shuafat Crossing. A search of the suspects’ houses in Shuafat and Anata (northeast of Jerusalem) revealed ammunition magazines, parts of guns and vests. During the activity local residents rioted, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at the forces, who responded with riot dispersal measures. The suspects were taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, October 18, 2022).

• • On October 16, 2022, an IED was tossed from a passing vehicle at an IDF force at a roadblock in Nablus. The soldiers responded with gunfire and the terrorists fled. An abandoned vehicle was found with another IED (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 16, 2022).
  • On October 14, 2022, IDF forces operating in the Jenin refugee camp apprehended three Palestinian suspects, one of whom was Dhiaa Muhammad Yusuf Salameh, 24 years old, a Hamas terrorist operative from the refugee camp who had an M-16 assault rifle in his possession. He was involved in a number of shooting attacks and planned to carry out more. A military vest and another M-16 were also confiscated. During the operation local residents threw IEDs and shot at the forces, who responded with live fire. The IDF spokesman emphasized that the presence of uninvolved civilians in a combat area is life-threatening (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 14, 2022). The Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military wing, claimed Dhiaa Salameh as one of its operatives (the Jenin Battalion’s Telegram channel, October 14, 2022).

   
Right: Dhiaa Salameh wearing a Jerusalem Brigades headband (Jenin al-Qassam Telegram channel, October 14, 2022). Dhiaa Salameh in a Hamas operative uniform
(Paldf Twitter account, October 14, 2022).

• According to reports, on October 8, 2022, a Palestinian suspected of involvement in terrorist activities was detained in the Jenin refugee camp. He was Saleh Samir Abu Zina, 25 years old. A PIJ operative, he was indicted twice in the past for involvement in terrorist activities and released in 2020. Since his release he has planned and carried out shooting attacks targeting IDF forces. During the detention dozens of Palestinians threw IEDs and Molotov cocktails at the forces, and also shot at them. The forces returned fire (IDF Twitter account, October 8, 2022). The Palestinians reported that Israeli forces surrounded the house of wanted released prisoner Muhammad Abu Zina but were unsuccessful in attempts to detain him. His brother Saleh Abu Zina was detained to exert pressure on Muhammad to turn himself in (Jenin al-Qassam Telegram channel, October 8, 2022; al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 8, 2022). Reportedly operatives from the PIJ’s Jerusalem Brigades and from Hamas’ military-terrorist wing participated in the attack on the Israeli fighters (PIJ website, Hamas website, October 8, 2022).

• On October 7, 2022, Israeli security forces detained Nablus resident Imad Aslim and took him for interrogation. He had been involved in shooting at an Israeli vehicle near Hawwara on September 19, 2022, and in placing an IED at the Kedumim gas station on September 25, 2022 (IDF Twitter account, October 7, 2022).
• On October 5, 2022, Israeli security forces detained Salman Amran (Abu Ahmed), a wanted Hamas Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades terrorist. He was detained after the forces surrounded his house in Dir al-Hatab (east of Nablus) and exchanged fire with him for several hours. According to reports, he surrendered only after he had run out of ammunition (al-Aqsa TV website, October 5, 2022). The Lion’s Den terrorist network claimed him as one of its operatives (Lion’s Den Telegram channel, October 5, 2022). Salman Amran, 37 years old from Dir al-Hatab, is married and has five children. His father’s brother, Hamed Izzat Amran, was killed in 2002 in a clash with IDF forces near Alon Moreh. His brother Nur al-Din was killed in 2003 in Nablus while throwing rocks at IDF forces. His father Ahmed Izzat Amran was killed in Dir al-Hatab in 1989. Salman Amran was detained by Israeli security forces for the first time in 2002 and sentenced to a two-year imprisonment in Israel, and was later detained three times, the most significant of which was in 2015, for which he served two and a half years in prison. He was also summoned and detained by the Palestinian security forces (Palinfo, October 5, 2022; aljazeera.net, October 5, 2022).

  
Salman Amran (Twitter account of senior Hamas figure Abd al-Rahman Shadid, October 5, 2022).

Prevention of terrorist attacks

• According to reports, in September 2022 two Israeli Bedouins were detained. They had been in contact with a terrorist operative from the Gaza Strip. At his request they transferred funds, and one was asked to carry out security missions, agreeing to help transfer weapons to another operative. The two were indicted (Israeli Security Agency media unit, October 16, 2022).
• On October 12, 2022, a gag order was lifted and it was reported that the interrogation of four Palestinians from the Qalqilya and Tubas areas had been concluded. They had been in contact with a Hamas operative from the Gaza Strip and planned to carry out shooting attacks at Israeli targets. Interrogation revealed they had been in contact with Bilal Basharat, a Hamas operative who had been released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal (2011) and expelled to the Gaza Strip. Basharat instructed them to purchase weapons and collect information in preparation for carrying out shooting attacks at Israeli targets and soldiers. Weapons were found in their possession as well as funds Hamas transferred to them to finance the attacks (Israeli Security Agency media unit, October 12, 2022).

Prevention of smuggling

• The Israeli security forces prevented weapons from being smuggled through the Jordan Valley. On October 12, 2022, IDF and police surveillance identified a vehicle with two suspicious occupants driving near the security fence. The forces apprehended two suspects and confiscated the ten handguns in their possession (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 12, 2022). On October 3, 2022, the Israeli security forces prevented the smuggling of more than 60 guns in the same area (IDF Twitter account, October 3, 2022).

  
Right: Handguns confiscated from the vehicles of suspects in the Jordan Valley (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 12, 2022). Left: Confiscated weapons (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 3, 2022).

Palestinian fatalities

• After Israeli security forces shot at two rock-throwing Palestinians near Salfit, the ministry of health in Ramallah reported two wounded Palestinians had been brought to a hospital (Wafa, October 15, 2022). The following day the ministry of health reported the death of Mujahed Ahmed Muhammad Daoud (also reported as Mujahed Ahmed Muhammad Shamlawi), 31 years old (Wafa, October 16, 2022). He was born in the village of Hares and lived in Qarawat Bani Hassan (Facebook page of the Salfit district governor, October 16, 2022). The Fatah branch in the Salfit district issued a mourning notice for him, stating he was a movement activist (Facebook page of Fatah’s information and cultural bureau, October 16 2022). A military-style funeral was held for him in Hares (Facebook page of the Palestinian national security forces, October 16, 2022).

  
Right: Mourning notice issued by Fatah for Mujahed Ahmed Muhammad Daoud (Facebook page of Fatah’s information and cultural service, October 16, 2022). Left: PA security force operatives carry the body of Mujahed Ahmed Muhammad Daoud (Facebook page of the PA security forces, October 16, 2022).

• On October 14, 2022, the ministry of health in Ramallah announced the deaths of two Palestinians killed in an exchange of fire with IDF forces near the Jenin refugee camp:
• Mateen Fayiq Hussein Dabaya, 20 years old, from the Jenin refugee camp (Wafa, October 14, 2022). The Jenin Battalion issued a mourning notice for “commander Mateen Fayiq Hussein Dabaya,” 25 years old, who was, according to the notice, one of the Jenin Battalion’s founders (Jenin Battalion Telegram channel, October 14, 2022). He was the son of an officer in the Palestinian police force (Telegram channel of Fatah’s information and cultural bureau, October 16 2022). His funeral was attended by Fathi Hazem, the father of the terrorist operative who carried out the shooting attack in Tel Aviv, and Maher Turkman, one of the terrorists who carried out the shooting attack in the Jordan Valley on September 4, 2022 (Palestine Online, October 4, 2022).

  
Right: Mourning notice issued by the PIJ for Mateen Dabaya (Daffa_media Telegram channel, October 14, 2022). Left: Fathi Hazem and Maher Turkman (left) at the funeral (Fathi Hammad’s Twitter account, October 14, 2022).

• Dr. Abdallah Ahmed Abu al-Teen, 43 years old, head of the licensing unit of the ministry of health in Ramallah, killed in a clash near the government hospital in Jenin (Wafa, October 14, 2022). The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades issued a mourning notice for Dr. Abdallah Abu al-Teen “al-Ahmed,” representing him as an al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades commander and one of the senior figures in the Fatah leadership in Jenin (al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades Telegram channel, October 14, 2022). According to an announcement from the ministry of health in Ramallah, he was head of the licensing bureau (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, October 14, 2022). The ministry of health in Ramallah also erected a mourning tent for him. Among the people who came to offer condolences was Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the PLO’s Executive Committee and a member of Fatah’s Central Committee (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, October 18, 2022). Ataa Abu Armila, secretary of the Fatah branch in the Jerusalem district, claimed he was killed while fighting shoulder to shoulder with “resistance” [terrorist] operatives and had gone to the refugee camp to clash with Israeli forces. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades’ Jenin Shaheed Battalion issued a mourning notice for him claiming he had founded the Battalion along with Taha al-Zubeidi (al-Quds, October 14, 2022).

  
Right: Dr. Abdallah Ahmed Abu al-Teen (al-Quds, October 14, 2022). Left: Dr. Abdallah al-Ahmed Abu al-Teen in his office in the ministry of health in Ramallah (Kul Yawm website, October 14, 2022).

    
Right: Mourning notice issued by Fatah for Dr. Abdallah al-Ahmed Abu al-Teen. Left: Mourning notice issued by the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades’ Shaheed Battalion “for its commander” Dr. Abdallah al-Ahmed Abu al-Teen (Fedayeen Twitter account, October 14, 2022).

   
Cartoons drawn for the death of Dr. Abdallah al-Ahmed Abu al-Teen (Right: Fedayeen Twitter account, October 14, 2022; left: Palestine Online, October 14, 2022).

• On October 14, 2022, the death of Muhammad Ghawarda, 18 years old, from Jenin, was reported. He was one of the terrorists who carried out the attack on the bus carrying soldiers in the Jordan Valley on September 4, 2022. He was severely burned during the attack and died of his injuries.
• On October 12, 2022, the IDF spokesman reported that masked Palestinians had thrown rocks near the al-Aroub refugee camp (north of Hebron). An IDF force responded with gunfire (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 12, 2022). The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Usama Mahmoud Adawi, 18 years old (Wafa, October 18, 2022). Hamas issued a mourning notice for him, claiming him as a Hamas activist (Hamas website, October 18, 2022).

  
Right: Mourning notice issued by Hamas for Usama Adawi (Radio Sawt al-Aqsa Twitter account, October 13, 2022). Left: The body of Usama Adawi wrapped for burial in Hamas flag and wearing an Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades headband (Paldf Twitter account, October 13, 2022).

•    Palestinian medical sources reported that on October 8, 2022, Ahmed Muhammad Hussein Daraghma, 19 years old, from Tubas, and Mahmoud Ma’id al-Sus, 18 years old, from the Jenin refugee camp, were killed during a riot following an attempt by Israeli security forces to carry out detentions in the Jenin refugee camp (Wafa, October 8, 2022). Both were PIJ operatives.

• On October 7, 2022, the ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of ‘Adel Ibrahim ‘Adel Daoud, 14 years old, who had been wounded by IDF fire during a riot in the al-Birin region near the security fence south of Qalqilya (Wafa, October 7, 2022). A military-style funeral was held for him, attended by the governor of the Qalqilya district (Facebook page of the governor of the Qalqilya district, October 8, 2022).

   
Right: ‘Adel Daoud with a Hamas flag (Paldf Twitter account, October 8, 2022). Left: Armed, masked al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades operatives attend the funeral (Facebook page of the governor of the Qalqilya district, October 8, 2022).

• On October 10, 2022, the ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Mahmoud Muhammad Khalil Samoudi, 12 years old, who died of wounds incurred on September 28, 2022, at the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp (Wafa, October 10, 2022).

• On October 7, 2022, during riots near a village northwest of Ramallah, an IDF soldier was wounded when Palestinians threw rocks at the fighters. An IDF force responded with riot control measures and protocol for the detention of a suspect, which includes live gunfire directed at the leading rioters. One, who was wounded, received first aid from an IDF medic at the site and was transferred to the Red Crescent for further care. While the Palestinian was being treated by the IDF Palestinians tried to steal the weapon of one of the fighters and prevent the IDF from providing first aid. The incident is under investigation (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 7, 2022). The Palestinians reported the death of Mahdi Ladadweh, 17 years old (Wafa, October 7, 2022). The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) issued a mourning notice for him, claiming he was a member of the Democratic Union of Young Palestinians (Facebook page of the DFLP’s media unit in the Gaza Strip, October 7, 2022). His mother said he used to go with other youths to clash with IDF forces and settlers who came into the village, and he told her he wanted to become a shaheed (al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 8, 2022). Layla Ghanem, governor of the Ramallah district, attended his funeral (Facebook page of Layla Ghanem, October 8, 2022).

•  On October 5, 2022, Alaa Nasser Ahmed Zaghal, 21 years old, was killed when Palestinians clashed with IDF forces as they surrounded the house of Salman Amran in Dir Hatab (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, October 5, 2022). Fatah issued a mourning notice stating that Zaghal, who came from the Askar refugee camp in Nablus, was a Fatah operative (Facebook page of Fatah’s media and cultural bureau in the Gaza Strip, October 5, 2022). The Lion’s Den network also issued a mourning notice for him.

 
Right: Mourning notice issued by Fatah in the Askar refugee camp in Nablus for Alaa Zaghal (Facebook page of Fatah’s media and cultural bureau in the Gaza Strip, October 5, 2022). Left: Mourning notice issued by the Lion’s Den network for the death of Alaa Zaghal (Lion’s Den Telegram channel, October 6, 2022).

• The Palestinians reported the death of Salameh Rifat Shraia’ from Bir Zeit (Palestinian TV Facebook page, October 4, 2022). He was wounded while trying to ram his vehicle into IDF soldiers in the Jilazoun refugee camp on October 3, 2022. The Fatah movement issued a mourning notice for him. Mahmoud Abbas and Majed Faraj, head of Palestinian general intelligence, called Nasser Shraia’, Salameh’s uncle and chairman of Popular Service Committee in the Jilazoun refugee campaign, to offer condolences (al-Ayam, October 5, 2022).

Threats from the Lion’s Den

• The Lion’s Den terrorist network, which operates mainly in the Nablus region, continues its attempts to situate itself as the leading force against Israeli civilians and security forces. It claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks and threatened to carry out more. On October 12, 2022, the network issued a strongly-worded threat, which was widely reported, about the entrance of Israelis who come to worship at the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus. On October 13, 2022, Palestinians shot at Israeli security forces during an IDF activity to secure the entrance of worshippers into the Tomb of Joseph. No Israeli casualties were reported (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 13, 2022). On October 16, 2022, the network issued a statement claiming responsibility for throwing an IED at Israeli security forces near Nablus and claiming, falsely, that it had killed five IDF soldiers (Lion’s Den Telegram channel, October 16, 2022).
• The social networks reported that two Lion’s Den operatives, Ikrima Gamal al-Khamash (also reported as Muhammad al-Khamash), nicknamed al-Ako, and Taysir Imad al-Kharaz, nicknamed Taysoun, were wounded on October 12, 2022, when an IED exploded in the Kasbah of Nablus. According to the reports, Taysir al-Kharaz is the son of Lieutenant Colonel Imad al-Kharaz of Palestinian preventive security (@MshJyk2 Twitter account, October 13 2022; hebronradio Facebook page, October 13, 2022, Facebook page of Abu Milad Azzam, October 15, 2022). The social networks later reported that the PA security forces in Nablus would cover the costs of medical treatment for the wounded operatives (Fedayeen Facebook page, October 15, 2022).
• The forming of a new network in Tulkarm was also announced, apparently inspired by the Lion’s Den network in Nablus. The network, which calls itself “the Eagle’s Nest,” formally announced its establishment.

Senior PA figures make condolence calls in Jenin

• Many senior PA and Fatah figures went to the mourning tents erected in Jenin. Among them were PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, who paid condolences calls to the families of the three Palestinians killed in Jenin. He gave a speech in which he said the blood of the shaheeds and the price the Palestinian [security] prisoners paid would not be in vain. He said the “struggle” was an ongoing “struggle” of generation after generation and victim after victim, and Jenin was a concrete realization of national unity [sic] (Wafa, October 16, 2022, Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 16, 2022).

  
Right: Muhammad Shtayyeh with Fathi Hazem behind his left shoulder; in back are operatives of the PA security forces. They are at the mourning tent erected for Mateen Dabaya and Muhammad Maher Ghwardra, whose pictures appear on the poster. Left: Muhammad Shtayyeh shakes hands with wanted terrorist Fathi Hazem (Facebook page of the Popular Service Committee in the Jenin refugee camp, October 16, 2022)

• Other senior Fatah figures, among them Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of the PLO.s Executive Committee and Fatah’s Central Committee, and Sabri Sidam, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, and members of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, also paid condolence calls to the three families in Jenin (Palestinian TV website, October 15, 2022).
•  On October 16, 2022, a memorial service was held in Jenin for the three Palestinians. It began with a military display of operatives from the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the Jenin Battalion and the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, who marched, armed, through the streets of the Jenin refugee camp and carried pictures of the three. A memorial service was then held where a speech was given by Ataa Abu Armila, Fatah secretary for the Jerusalem district, who emphasized that the Jenin refugee camp would remain united against Israel (al-Quds, October 16, 2022).

 
Ataa Abu Armila, surrounded by armed terrorists
(Right:, al-Quds, October 16, 2022; left: Safa, October 16, 2022).

Reactions to the events

• The Palestinian media gave extensive coverage to the terrorist attacks and riots. The PA condemned the activities of the Israeli security forces and called on the United States to exert pressure on Israel to stop what it called Israel’s “unilateral measures against the Palestinians.” Hamas and the PIJ welcomed and praised the “resistance” activities [terrorist attacks] and riots, calling in the Palestinian public to escalate them.
• According to Jamal Hawil, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council in Jenin,^[2] there are about 100 wanted Palestinians living in the Jenin refugee camp, among them Fathi Hazem, who became a symbol of the “Palestinian struggle.” Hawil said the people living in the refugee camp relate to the wanted Palestinians as if they were their children and help them. He said an important aspect of the current “resistance” was that the operatives transcended their organizational affiliation and regarded themselves as one body (Palestine Online, October 10, 2022).
•   On the other hand, other voices have been heard. For example, Ibrahim Ramadan, governor of the Nablus district, caused a storm during an interview with the Nablus-based al-Najah Radio. He called the mothers of shaheeds “perverts” for sending their sons to commit suicide and then represent themselves as fighters. The Fatah branch in Nablus said in a statement that his remarks did not express concepts held by Fatah or the Palestinians. The Lion’s Den network called on him to resign (al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 5, 2022). Hamas also criticized him. In the face of overwhelming criticism, he apologized to the mothers (Facebook page of the governor of the Nablus district, October 5, 2022). Regardless of his apology, demonstrations were held in Ramallah and Nablus, attended by mothers of shaheeds who held pictures of their sons (al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 6, 2022).

  
Right: The demonstration in Nablus (Shehab, October 6, 2022). Left: Cartoon relating to the demonstration (Twitter account of Palestinian cartoonist Omaya Joha, widow of a Hamas terrorist operative, October 6, 2022).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• Since the ceasefire of August 8, 2022, no rocket or mortar shell hits have been identified in Israeli territory.

UAV launched from the Gaza Strip intercepted by the IDF

•  On October 11, 2022, an IDF force identified a UAV, apparently launched by Hamas, on its way to cross the border security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. It was intercepted near the fence (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, October 11, 2022).

Senior Hamas figures visit various countries

• A Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Haya, head of Hamas bureau of Arab-Islamic relations, visited Damascus, the first Hamas visit to Syria in ten years. The members of the delegation met with Syrian President Assad. After the meeting Khalil al-Haya held a press conference where he said the meeting with the Syrian president had been positive and “historic,” and meant the renewal of Palestinian-Syrian cooperation. He said Assad was determined to help the Palestinians and the “resistance” [anti-Israeli terrorism], and called it the response to the normalization of relations with Israel by regional Arab states, which was “intended to drive a wedge between Arabs” (Hamas website, October 19, 2022).
• Before the visit, sources in Damascus reported that the current time relations would be limited to Hamas’ participation in a delegation representing all the “resistance” [terrorist] organizations, and there would be no official representation of Hamas in Syria (al-Watan, Syria, October 10, 2022).

• A delegation of senior Hamas figures headed by Saleh al-Bardawil, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, participated in the Islamic Unity Conference held in Tehran. Al-Bardawil gave a speech thanking Iran for its material and moral support of the “Palestinian resistance,” adding that he expected Iran to serve as an example for everyone who wanted to support the “resistance” (Hamas website, October 13, 2022). While in Iran members of the delegation met with senior Iranian officials and delegations from other countries.
• Fathi Hammad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and head of its bureau for youth activities, paid a visit to Lebanon and participated in the “Youth, Invention and Revolution” conference of young Hamas activists. He called on the young Palestinians living in the refugee camps to “resist the occupation until liberation” [carry out terrorist attacks] (Hamas website, October 17, 2022). He exploited the visit to meet with the Lebanese ministers of culture and of youth and sports (Hamas website, October 17 and 18, 2022).

   
Right: The Hamas delegation in Tehran (Hamas website, October 13, 2022). Left: Fathi Hammad visits the Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp (Hamas website, October 16, 2022).

• Khaled Mashaal, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and head of the “external” Hamas leadership, paid a visit to Turkey and attended an event held to commemorate the 835^th anniversary of Salah al-Din’s conquest of Jerusalem. He said the conquest of Jerusalem was not achieved by negotiations but rather through jihad, “resistance” [terrorism] and shaheeds. He called on Arabs and Muslims to participate in the “struggle to liberate Jerusalem” [sic] (Hamas website, October 2, 2022).

35^th anniversary of the PIJ’s founding

•   On October 6, 2022, the PIJ marked the 35^th anniversary of its founding with a mass rally in Gaza City and with “our fighting extends to Jerusalem” rallies held simultaneously in the refugee camps of Jenin, in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen (Filastin al-Yawm website, October 6, 2022). A speech by PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah was broadcast at the rallies. He said Jerusalem was and would always be the focal point of the “struggle” against Israel. He said he was proud of the Palestinian alliances with Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen, and with anyone else who sided with them against Israel. A speech was also given by Saleh al-‘Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas’ political bureau, who stressed the close collaboration between Hamas and the PIJ. The PIJ’s military-terrorist wing displayed new weapons, including locally-produced rocket launchers (PIJ website, October 6, 2022; Safa, October 6, 2022). The military wing also held a number of military displays in other locations in the Gaza Strip where weapons were shown.

   
Right: The stage erected for the rally in Gaza City (al-Jazeera Facebook page, October 6, 2022). Left: Display of rocket launchers (PIJ website, October 6, 2022).

Interview with Ziyad al-Nakhalah

• On October 10, 2022, PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah was interviewed by Ghassan bin Jiddo, the founder and chairman of the board of the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen TV. Before the interview bin Jiddo gave al-Nakhalah a plaque for the six terrorists who had escaped from the Gilboa Prison (September 6, 2021) and the five prisoners who helped them. Bin Jiddo said that from now on, every September 6 the station would give plaques to 11 Palestinian prisoners.
• Ziyad al-Nakhalah claimed the escape from the prison had begun the current “revolution” in Judea and Samaria. He said the Jenin Battalion, headed by Mahmoud al-‘Arda, played a significant role in the outbreak of the revolution. He added that since the escape (in which Fatah operative Zakaria Zubeidi participated) there has been openness and “maximum” collaboration between the PIJ and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, opening new horizons for the “resistance” and laying the foundations for a new stage in jihad and the Palestinians’ “struggle.” He called current events in Judea and Samaria an “armed intifada,” part of the Palestinians’ revolutionary process against the Zionist enterprise. He said the PIJ was using every means at its disposal to escalate the intifada (al-Mayadeen TV website, October 10, 2022; PIJ website, October 11, 2022).

The Palestinians plan to develop the Gaza Marine gas field

• Palestinian sources reported that the Palestinian Investment Fund was about to reach an agreement with the Egyptian Natural Holding Company, EGAS, to develop the Gaza Marine gas field off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The sources did not relate to Israel’s role in the agreement, claiming matters were proceeding towards the development of the gas field with the agreement of all the relevant bodies involved (al-Andalou News, October 9, 2022). Muhammad Shtayyeh spoke about the agreement at the weekly PA government meeting, where he said the government would appoint a team of ministers to monitor the issue of Palestinian gas (Wafa, October 17, 2022). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Hamas was monitoring developments since the PA had proved it could not be relied on to deal with the Palestinians’ natural resources. He reiterated that Hamas would not allow Israel to “steal” the Palestinians’ natural resources (Dunia al-Watan, October 9, 2022).

Hamas reaction to the prevention of the abduction of a Palestinian in Malaysia

• The Malaysian media quoted senior officials as saying they had released an abducted Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, an expert in information technology, who, they alleged, had been abducted by the Mossad. They added he had left the country a number of days after the incident (al-Jazeera, October 17, 2022). The Hamas ministry of the interior expressed its esteem for the “great efforts invested by the Malaysian regime” in freeing the Palestinian (ministry of the interior in Gaza website October 18, 2022). Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum also expressed his esteem for the efforts of the government of Malaysia and its security forces in releasing the Palestinian, adding that Hamas demanded the international community and the UN condemn Israel and try Israel’s leadership in international courts (Hamas website, October 18, 2022).

Another terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip announced the beginning of operations in Judea and Samaria

•   After the al-Mujahideen Brigades, the military-terrorist wing of the Mujahideen Movement in the Gaza Strip, issued a number of claims of responsibility for terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria, the Salah al-Din Brigades, the military-terrorist wing of the Popular Resistance Movement, announced it was beginning activities in Jenin. It announced that the Shaheed Abu Yusuf al-Qoqa Battalion^[3] had carried out its first attack, detonating an IED at the Jalameh Crossing on October 7, 2022. The announcement also mentioned the Salah al-Din Brigades’ abduction of Israeli Eliahu Oshri in June 2006^[4] (Popular Resistance Movement website, October 8, 2022).

     
Pictures from a Salah al-Din Brigades video. Right: An operative reads the announcement of the beginning of operations in the West Bank. Left: Documentation of the attack at the Jalameh Roadblock (Popular Resistance Movement Telegram channel, October 8, 2022).

Mahmoud Abbas visits Kazakhstan

•   Mahmoud Abbas headed a delegation to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to participate in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). He gave a speech in which he called on the 27 participating countries to support the Palestinian efforts for the recognition of a Palestinian state. He added that the Palestinians would not continue to accept the current situation, in which the PA was the only party committed to agreements, and would reexamine their relations with Israel (Wafa, October 13, 2022). Mahmoud Abbas met on the sidelines with Russian President Putin, Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, and Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Mahmoud Abbas told Putin that the Palestinians had no faith in the United States, did not trust it and did not want it to be the only side sponsoring a negotiated solution.He called Russia a “significant force” and said it was a good thing it was part of the International Quartet. Putin said he supported a fair solution for the Palestinian cause (Wafa, October 13, 2022).

   
Right: Mahmoud Abbas at the CICA conference. Left: Mahmoud Abbas meets with Russian President Putin (Wafa, October 13, 2022)

Representatives of the Palestinian organizations meet in Algeria

• Following a conference to promote internal Palestinian unity held in Algeria, in the presence of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune representatives of 14 Palestinian organizations signed the “Algeria Declaration of National Reconciliation.” The declaration stresses the importance of Palestinian national unity and the strengthening and development of the PLO and its institutions, in which all the organizations will participate. In addition, no later than a year after the signing, elections would behold for the Palestinian National Council and general elections for the “presidency” and the Palestinian Legislative Council in the Gaza Strip, Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. An Algerian-Arab work group will supervise and monitor the implementation of the agreement in collaboration with the Palestinians (Dunia al-Watan, October 13, 2022; arabi21 website, October 13, 2022). The declaration, as signed, did not include a provision for the establishment of a Palestinian unity government because the issue is disputed between Fatah and Hamas (al-Andalou News, October 13, 2022; arabi21 website, October 13, 2022, al-Medan, October 14, 2022). In ITIC assessment the chances of elections actually being held in the spirit of the agreement are slim.

  
Right: Representatives of the Palestinians organizations and the president of Algeria after the signing of the agreement (Facebook page of the office of the president of Algeria, October 13, 2022). Left: The president of Algeria meets with Isma’il Haniyeh and Azzam al-Ahmed of the Hamas delegation (palsawa, October 12, 2022).

Reactions to Australia’s reversal of its recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

• Australia announced it was officially reversing it recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, canceling the decision made by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018. According to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the final status of Jerusalem is an issue that has to be settled as part of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinians welcomed the reversal, which they regard as a diplomatic victory. Muhammad Shtayyeh praised the “wise, brave” reversal and called on Australia to recognize the Palestinian state (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 18, 2022). Hussein al-Sheikh, general secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee, expressed his esteem (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, October 18, 2022). Hamas called the reversal “a step in the right direction towards a victory for Palestinian rights” (Hamas website, October 18, 2022). Senior PIJ figure Khaled al-Batash claimed it righted a wrong done to the Palestinians (Filastin al-Yawm, October 19, 2022).

Norway aids the Palestinian educational system east Jerusalem

• Muhammad Shtayyeh attended the signing of an agreement between the Norwegian representative in the PA and UNDP for $6.3 million in aid for the Palestinian educational system in east Jerusalem. A building will be purchased and turned into a school for 12 grades, attended by 350 boys. The aid will also fund the construction of 15 laboratories in various east Jerusalem schools. According to Shtayyeh, the agreement is important especially in view of Israel’s campaign against the Palestinian curriculums, through which Israel is trying to enforce the Israeli curriculums in the Arab schools in east Jerusalem (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 18, 2022).