Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 13-20, 2023)

Shots fired near Kibbutz Meirav on the Gilboa

• On September 18, 2023, shots were fired at an IDF vehicular patrol near Kibbutz Meirav on the Gilboa (east of Jenin). No casualties were reported; vehicles were damaged. IDF forces instituted a search for the shooters (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, September 18, 2023).

Shots fired at the IDF position in Deir Sharaf

• On the morning September 18, 2023, shots were fired fired at an IDF position near Deir Sharaf (northwest of Nablus) from inside the village. The position was damaged, no casualties were reported. IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, September 18, 2023).
• The Dawn Battalion network, affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB), claimed responsibility for the shooting, stating it was a response to the entrance of Israelis into the Temple Mount and the Israeli police forces’ attack on Muslim men and women (Shehab, September 18, 2023).

Stabbing at the Mizmoria Crossing

• On the morning of September 18, 2023, a Palestinian arrived at the Mizmoria Crossing (south of Jerusalem, also known as the Har Homa Crossing). He aroused the suspicion of the crossing guards and Border Police fighters by passing between the vehicles with his hands behind his back. When the fighters approached him for a security check he pulled out a knife and tried to stab them. In response, they shot and wounded him. The Palestinian, from Bethlehem, wanted medical treatment in Israel. No injuries were reported among the police officers (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, September 18, 2023).

Shots fired at an IDF position near the village of Salem

• Before dawn on September 18, 2023, shots were fired at an IDF position near the village of Salem (northwest of Jenin). No casualties or damage were reported. IDF forces instituted a search for the shooters (IDF Twitter account, September 18, 2023).

Shots fired at an IDF position near Tulkarm

• On the afternoon of September 16, 2023, shots were fired at an IDF position near the village of Shuweika (north of Tulkarm). No casualties or damage were reported. Empty shell casings were found near Shuweika and IDF forces instituted a search for the shooters (The IDF Twitter account, September 16, 2023).

IED explodes in Tel Aviv

• At around 6:20 a.m. on September 15, 2023, an IED hidden under a tree exploded in the Yarkon Park (northern Tel Aviv). The police began an investigation and, suspecting a terrorist attack, involved the Israeli Security Agency. A few hours later Israeli security forces stopped a vehicle driving east on route 431 near the Ramla Interchange. Two Palestinians, who alternated living in al-E’izariya (east of Jerusalem) and Jaffa, were in the vehicle; no weapons were found. During interrogation one them admitted a connection to the explosion. The security forces are still investigating the incident (Israeli media, September 15, 2023).

Shots fired at Israeli vehicle in Hawwara

• On the evening of September 12, 2023, shots were fired at an Israeli vehicle near Hawwara (south of Nablus). Two Israelis were wounded and evacuated to a hospital. According to IDF sources, they were attacked from ambush and the shooter or shooters fled the scene (Israeli media, September 12, 2023). In efforts to locate them, IDF forces entered the village of Bayta (south of Nablus) to confiscate the security cameras. Palestinians rioted against the forces. (Shehab Twitter account, September 12, 2023).
• The so-called “al-Fajar Battalion – the young insurgents” of the Balata refugee camp in Nablus claimed responsibility for the shooting in Hawwara, calling it revenge for the “crimes of the occupation” against Palestinian women in Hebron and Jerusalem (QudsN website, September 12, 2023). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed the “act of resistance” [terrorist attack] was carried out to mark the anniversary of Israel’s defeat in Gaza and northern Judea and Samaria (Hamas website, September 12, 2023).

     
The Israeli vehicle ambushed in Hawwara (QudsN Twitter account, September 12, 2023)

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

Terrorist attack prevented in Tel Aviv

• Near the Savidor train station in Tel Aviv on the afternoon of September 20, 2023, a Tel Aviv municipality security patrol detained a 35 year-old Palestinian from Jabalia in the Gaza Strip. A butcher knife was found buried under his clothes in a backpack. He held a work permit for Israel and planned to enter the train station. He was transferred to the police for investigation (Israeli media, September 20, 2023).

Counterterrorism Activities

• This past week the Israeli security forces continued intensive counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining Palestinians suspected of involvement in terrorism and confiscating large quantities of weapons. On September 19, 2023, during an activity in the Jenin refugee camp to detain a wanted Palestinian terrorist, four Palestinians were killed and about 20 were wounded. The wanted Palestinian escaped. It was the third time Israeli security forces entered the Jenin refugee camp since the activity at the beginning of July (July 3-5, 2023). One Palestinian was killed in a security force activity in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho.

Israeli security force activity in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp

• Before dawn on September 20, 2023, Israeli security forces operated in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp (south of Jericho) to detain wanted Palestinians. As they entered the camp, local residents rioted and threw rocks at them. They responded with live fire, killing a Palestinian who had thrown IEDs at them (Israeli media, September 20, 2023).
• The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Dhara’am Muhammad Yahya al-Akhras, 19 years old, from the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp (Wafa and Ma’an, September 20, 2023). According to reports, his father, Muhammad Dhara’am (Abu Yahya), works for the PA civilian affairs commission (headed by Hussein al-Sheikh), which issued a mourning notice for him (Amad, September 20, 2023). His body was wrapped for burial in a Palestinian flag. Funeral attendees chanted “Reject the olive branch and restore the rifle” (Khabar Peres, September 20, 2023).

Israeli security force activity in the Jenin refugee camp

• On the evening of September 19, 2023, Israeli security forces operated in the Jenin refugee camp to detain wanted Palestinians. The forces surrounded the house of Mahmoud Abu al-Bahaa’, an AAMB commander. An exchange of fire with local terrorists developed. In response, the IDF attacked the shooters with a drone. As the forces were leaving, a military vehicle carrying fighters ran over an IED on the outskirts of Jenin and stalled. Terrorists continued shooting at the forces as the vehicle was extracted (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, Israeli media, September 19 2023).
• Hamas’ Jenin Battalion claimed responsibility for shooting and detonating explosive devices. The AAMB also issued a claim of responsibility stating its operatives had participated in the exchange of fire with the Israeli forces and used locally produced IEDs (Ma’an, September 19, 2023). The Jenin Battalion of the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, claimed operatives of its engineering unit had detonated two IEDs to attack IDF armored vehicles and put them out of action. They also claimed to have exchanged fire with the security forces on several streets along with AAMB and Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades operatives. The announcement strongly condemned the PA’s security forces’ activities against “resistance operatives” [terrorist operatives] who ambushed IDF vehicles as they left the camp, claiming the PA operatives had wounded one of them and confiscated the ammunition in his possession (Jenin Battalion’s Telegram channel, September 19, 2023).
• The ministry of health in Ramallah reported three deaths and at least thirty wounded. Eyewitnesses said that Muhammad Abu Al-Bahaa’, the target of the activity, had left the house unharmed (Wafa, September 19, 2023; Ultra Palestine website, September 19, 2023). It was later reported that a fourth Palestinian, who had been critically wounded, had died (Wafa, September 20, 2023). The fatalities were:
  • Mahmoud Khaled Ararawi, 24 years old. According to the social media he lived in the Jenin refugee camp and was a Jenin Battalion operative (reportedly a sniper). Hamas claimed he was an operative of its military wing. His cousin, Majdi Younes Ararawi, a PIJ terrorist operative, was killed in the IDF activity in Jenin at the beginning of July 2023 (Mahmoud Fari’s Facebook page, September 19, 2023). His father was released a few days ago from a PA prison, after having been detained when Fatah and PA figures were expelled from the funeral of the operatives killed during the IDF’s early July activity (al-Shahed website Twitter account, September 19, 2023; Abu Musab Bakheet’s Facebook page, September 19, 2023).

     
Right: Mahmoud Khaled Ararawi. According to the Arabic he was a sniper in the Jenin Battalion (Ziyad Shtayyeh Abu Yaman’s Facebook page, September 19, 2023). Left: The helmet has “Jenin Battalion” written on it (New press Twitter account, September 19, 2023)

• Mahmoud Ali Nafa’ al-Sa’adi, 23 years old, from the Jenin refugee camp, an operative of Hamas’ Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades (Paldf Twitter account, September 20, 2023; Twitter account of @tawra8001, September 20, 2023).

   
Right: Mahmoud al-Sa’adi wearing an Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades headband (Paldf Twitter account, September 20, 2023). Left: Mahmoud al-Sa’adi (Green Jenin Telegram channel, September 20, 2023)

• • Rafat Omar Khamaisa, 22 years old, from Jenin (Reem Zaher’s Facebook page, September 19, 2023).

   
Rafat Khamaisa (Right: Facebook page of his cousin Hade Khamaisa, September 19, 2023. Left: New press Twitter account, September 19, 2023)

• • Ata Yasser Ata Musa, 29 years old, from the village of Mirka (south of Jenin). According to the social media he was a Jenin Battalion operative (Walid Tuwalba’s Facebook page, September 20, 2023).

   
Ata Yasser Musa armed (Right: Nazir Mousa’s Facebook page, September 20, 2023. Left: Walid Tuwalba’s Facebook page, September 20, 2023)

• Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the “occupation’s crimes” in Jenin and Gaza. He said the American administration had to intervene immediately to stop the “Israeli insanity” before things exploded, when everyone would pay the price (Wafa, September 19, 2023). Hamas said in a statement that their blood would ignite “the intifada of the revolution” and their deaths would not go unpunished (Hamas Telegram channel, September 19, 2023). Senior Hamas figure Musheir al-Masri equated Tel Aviv’s security with Jenin’s security (al-Jazeera TV, September 19, 2023).

Tensions following the entrance of Jewish worshipers to the Temple Mount

• During on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, hundreds of Jews entered the Temple Mount compound. Three were detained by the police for disorderly conduct and blowing the shofar. The event was condemned by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and the UAE, which accused Israel of violating the status quo. Condemnations and threats were also issued by Palestinian figures:
• Haroun Nasser al-Din, a member of the Hamas political bureau and head of its office of Jerusalem affairs, claimed they had recently sent explicit messages to the mediators stating that any attack on al-Aqsa Mosque would be met with a harsh response. He referred to the rocket fire from Lebanon during the most recent Passover and claimed it was a “small example” of what Israel would experience if the red lines in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque were crossed (Hamas website, September 18, 2023).
• PIJ spokesman for Jerusalem Tareq Salameh said the Palestinian people would not back down in the face of Israel’s attempts to undermine the dignity of the Muslims “standing guard” [Palestinians remaining in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound]. He called on Israel to remember what happened following attacks on worshipers during Ramdan (QudsN, September 17, 2023).
• Muhammad Hamada, Hamas spokesman for Jerusalem affairs, stated that the entrance of worshipers represented the continued aggression and invasion of al-Aqsa Mosque, and was considered as desecrating it. He claimed the Palestinian people were united in defending the mosque and Israel would not succeed in breaking the “equation” of resistance [terrorism] which would continue until the expulsion of the “occupation” (Hamas website, September 16, 2023).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• This past week no rocket or mortar shell hits were identified in Israeli territory.

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since September 2021

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits since 2006

Rockets launched towards the sea

• The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip continued to launch rockets towards the sea as part of what they call “the development of rocket capabilities.” On the mornings of September 17 and 18, 2023, rocket launches towards the sea were detected (Shehab, September 18, 2023; Paltoday, September 17, 2023; the SND website Twitter account, September 17, 2023).

     
The rocket launches (Right: alresala.net Twitter account, September 18, 2023. Left: SND website Twitter account, September 17, 2023)

Prevention of the smuggling to the Gaza Strip of materials for rocket manufacture

• In July 2023, the smuggling of 16 tons of material for the manufacture of rockets was prevented at the port of Ashdod. The material, meant to be delivered to the Gaza Strip, came from Turkey and was hidden in two containers containing sacks of plaster. The customs officials at the port who were inspecting the shipment suspected some of the material in the containers was not plaster. The material was taken for laboratory testing, which revealed it was ammonium chloride, used in the manufacture of rockets (Israeli media, September 14, 2023).

Qatar’s support for the Gaza Strip

• The Palestinian media reported that Mohammed al-Emadi, chairman of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, left the Gaza Strip on September 13, 2023 (Shehab, September 13, 2023). According to the social media, al-Emadi’s visit ended without result after several meetings had been held with the Israelis and Palestinians in an effort to calm the situation. It was further reported that following the failure of the meetings, the terrorist organizations in Gaza ordered the protesters to begin harassment activities along the security fence according to a schedule which would be arranged between the young people and the Hamas administration (Twitter account of @K_a_p_s_o_l_a, September 13, 2023; Twitter account of @Hakeam_ps, September 13, 2023).
• “Sources in Hamas” reported the movement’s leadership was angry at Qatar’s recent measures regarding its monthly grant and its refusal to pay the salaries of the public sector workers in the Gaza Strip. They claimed the meeting held with al-Emadi had been very tense after he informed them that the funds for the civilian workers and for operating the Gaza power plant’s fourth turbine, which had only been in operation for two months, would not be renewed. The sources added that al-Emadi had told the Hamas leadership in no uncertain terms that Qatar could not eternally give money to the Gaza Strip and better, permanent solutions had to be sought. The “sources” stated that the decision to renew the activity of the “insurgent youth” in the Gaza Strip was a decision taken at the highest levels of the leadership and it objective was “to force Israel to find solutions” (Sada News, September 16, 2023).

Clashes on the border of the Gaza Strip

• Following the decision to resume “activities” along the border security fence, the clashes along the fence have taken place almost every day, with dozens of rioters in various locations throwing explosives and grenades, burning tires and trying to reach the fence. The excuses were the arrival of Jewish worshipers on the Temple Mount compound on Rosh Hashanah, the conditions of the Palestinian terrorist prisoners in Israeli jails, the 30^th anniversary of the Oslo Accords and the 18^th anniversary of Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip. Six Palestinian rioters were killed (five by an IED and one by IDF gunfire) and several dozen were injured. Among the injured were several journalists.^[2] During the activity the “young insurgents” were mentioned as directing the activity. It is unclear who the “young insurgents” are but it can be assumed that while Hamas is involved, it also seems to be trying to monitor the intensity of the riots.
• Because of the events, Major General Ghassan Alian, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), announced that the Erez Crossing, which was closed for Rosh Hashanah, would remain closed for the time being (COGAT Facebook page in Arabic, September 18 and 19, 2023). Sami al-Amasi, chairman of the workers’ unions in the Gaza Strip, claimed Israel was using the issue of exit permits as “leverage and blackmail.” He called closing the Erez Crossing “collective punishment” for about 18,500 families of workers “who have nothing to do with the events and developments taking place.” He called on the mediators to exert pressure on Israel and to separate humanitarian from political issues and to meet its obligations to increase the number of workers authorized to work in Israel to 30,000 (al-Quds, September 18, 2023)
• On September 19, 2023, Palestinians rioted near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip “in support” of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque. They burned tires and launched incendiary balloons and explosives towards the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip border. In the Abu Safia area in eastern Jabaliya, several Palestinians crossed the fence and climbed onto a military position; IDF soldiers fired tear gas canisters at them. In eastern Rafah, IDF soldiers fired tear gas canisters during clashes with rioters after they had advanced to the point closest to the fence and detonated several IEDs. In the return camp in eastern Khiza’a in Khan Yunis, rioters detonated three IEDs near the fence. IDF forces responded with live fire. The ministry of health in Gaza reported the death of Yusuf Salem Yusuf Radwan, 25 years old, a resident of Bani Suheila, and the wounding of 11 Palestinians, one of them seriously (Safa, September 19,  2023; Shehab, September 19, 2023).

     
Right: Launching incendiary balloons in eastern Khan Yunis (Facebook page of photojournalist Anas al-Sharif, September 19, 2023). Left: Detonating IEDs in eastern Rafah (Telegram channel of journalist Hani al-Shaer, September 19, 2023)

   
Palestinians in eastern Jabaliya cross the fence and wave a Palestinian flag over an IDF position (Facebook page of photojournalist Anas al-Sharif, September 19, 2023)

• On September 18, 2023, hundreds of Palestinians rioted, throwing IEDs at IDF forces, who responded with live fire (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, September 18, 2023). The Palestinian media reported “activities” had taken place in eastern Gaza City, the Abu Safia region, eastern Jabalia, eastern Khan Yunis and eastern Rafah “to support Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque.” The ministry of health in Gaza reported two Palestinians had been injured (Safa, September 18, 2023; Shehab, September 18, 2023).

   
Right: Palestinians burn tires near the security fence (Shehab Twitter account, September 18, 2023). Left: Palestinians burn tires in eastern Jabaliya (Facebook page of photojournalist Anas Al-Sharif, September 18, 2023)

• In the evening, night harassment unit activity was reported in eastern Gaza City (Filastin al-A’an Twitter account, September 18, 2023; QudsN Twitter account, September 18, 2023). The Palestinian media issued an announcement from the “insurgent youth” claiming it would return to launching incendiary balloons during the day and IED balloons during the night on September 18, 2023 (Dunia al-Watan, September 18, 2023; Filastin al-A’an, September 18, 2023).

• On September 17, 2023, Palestinians rioted in several locations along the border security fence, throwing IEDs at the IDF forces. In response, the forces shot at the rioters (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, September 17, 2023). The Palestinian media reported that three journalists had been injured while covering the events. The ministry of health in Gaza reported six wounded (Safa, September 17, 2023; Shehab, September 17, 2023).

   
Right: An IED detonated near the gate of the Malka outpost (Filastin al-A’an Twitter account, September 17, 2023). Left: Burning tires in eastern Rafah (Shehab Telegram channel, September 17, 2023).

• On September 15, 2023, Palestinians rioted along the border security fence to commemorate the “Friday of the martyrs who protect the prisoners” [the Palestinian deaths near the fence on September 13, 2023]). Hundreds of rioters tried to approach the fence and threw IEDs and fragmentation grenades. The IDF forces used live fire to distance them from the fence. Videos on the Palestinian social networks documented Gazans shooting at the IDF forces (@Mohammed_masri8’s Twitter account, September 15, 2023). According to later reports, the videos were deleted to “preserve the lives of the insurgent youth” (Rasad Almedan’s Telegram channel, September 15, 2023; Kapsola Telegram channel, September 15, 2023).
• The ministry of health in Gaza reported that 12 Palestinians were injured. Journalist Ashraf Abu Amra, who was wounded when a tear gas canister exploded in eastern Khan Yunis, was treated on site and then evacuated to a hospital for further medical treatment (arabi21 website, September 15, 2023; Safa, September 15, 2023).
• In response to the events, an IDF UAV attacked a Hamas restrain force observation post in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, September 15, 2023). A “security source” in Gaza said the attack damaged the post and wounded a Palestinian (arabi21 website, September 15, 2023; al-Jazeera TV website, September 15, 2023).
• Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed the Israeli attack on “resistance” [terrorist organization] observation points was part of its “criminal Nazi behavior” against the Palestinians, which would not deter the Palestinians from continuing their “legitimate struggle” to restore their rights. He called the continuation of the [alleged] “siege” of the Gaza Strip an ongoing “Zionist crime” and emphasized the right of the Palestinians to use all “methods of struggle” [terrorist attacks] against Israel (Hamas website, September 15, 2023).

       
Right: An IED near the Malka outpost (Radio Sawt al-Aqsa Twitter account, September 15, 2023). Left: Attack on a restraint force position (Twitter account of the Lebanese Unews website, September 15, 2023)

• On September 13, 2023, hundreds of Palestinians rioted in eastern Gaza City with the slogan, “Resistance is the path to victory,” to mark the 18^th anniversary of Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the 30^th anniversary of the Oslo Accords. A spokesman for the terrorist organizations’ joint operations room claimed the “Palestinian revolution is burning at all points of confrontation with Israel,” especially in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, and would only end with expelling Israel from Palestinian land (Shehab, September 13, 2023).
• On September 12, 2023, dozens of Palestinians began night harassment unit activity in the Malka camp in eastern Gaza City to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. According to reports, IDF forces fired tear gas canisters in an attempt to disperse them, dozens of them suffered from tear gas inhalation and others were injured by rubber bullets (Shehab, September 12, 2023; Safa, September 12, 2023; journalist Hani al-Shaer’s Telegram channel, September 12, 2023). IDF forces detained three suspects in the northern Gaza Strip who were then transferred to the security forces for further investigation (IDF  spokesman’s Twitter account, September 13, 2023).

   
Detonating an IED and burning tires in eastern Gaza (journalist Hani al-Shaer’s Telegram channel, September 12, 2023, September 12, 2023)

IED explodes during the events

• During the events of September 13, 2023, rioters tried to plant an IED to attack IDF forces. The device exploded near a group of demonstrators. The ministry of health in Gaza reported the explosion had killed five Palestinians and wounded 25 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, September 13, 2023) Isma’il Abu Omar, a reporter who was injured in the incident, claimed that the IED exploded because the IDF forces fired shots at it (arabi21 website, September 13, 2023). The monitoring committee of the national and Islamic forces in the Gaza Strip issued a mourning notice for the “revolutionary youth” killed during an “activity” in support of their “fellow prisoners” when a “night harassment unit IED accidentally exploded” (Shams News, September 13, 2023).

   
Pictures from a video of the IED explosion (Twitter account @LiveGaza, September 15, 2023)

• Below are the names of the fatalities (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, September 14, 2023):
  • Muhammad Omar Fahmi Qadum, “Abu Omar,” 29 years old, from the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza City. The organization of “resistance committees” issued a mourning notice for him claiming he was a commander of the Squads of the Descendants of Nasser Salah al-Din – the insurgent youth [the operatives of the night harassment units who launch IED and incendiary balloons at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip and engage in night harassment activities]. According to the notice, he had previously been injured several times during his activities along the eastern and northern borders of the Strip (“resistance committees” website, September 14, 2023). A mourning notice was issued on social media in the name of the “insurgent youths” stating he was the commander of the “insurgent youth” in the Gaza area (Raeed Zaeem’s Facebook page, September 13, 2023). It claimed he had carried out many operations, launched incendiary and IED balloons, and “stormed” the border dozens of times (Descendants of Nasser al-Din Telegram channel, September 14, 2023). A video was posted to the social media documenting the detonation of an IED during night harassment unit activity on September 12, 2023, claiming Muhammad Omar Qadum had placed the IED (Rajaa’ al-Agha’s Facebook page, September 14, 2023).

     
Right: Mourning notice issued by the “resistance committees” (Telegram channel “resistance committees” military-terrorist wing, September 14, 2023). Left: Muhammad Oman Qadum (Telegram channel of the Descendants of Salah al-Din the savior, September 17, 2023)

• • Al-Baraa’ Wa’el Mahi al-Din al-Zarad, 18 years old, from the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza City. He was the son of a senior Hamas figure, doctor and preacher Dr. Wa’el al-Zarad (al-Masdar News, September 13, 2023).

• • Abd al-Nasser Rami Ahmed Nofal, 18 years old, from the Nuseirat refugee camp. The son of Colonel Rami Nofal, the commander of the naval police in the Gaza Strip. According to his father, he was a regular participant in the marches and activities near the fence (Palestine Online, September 15, 2023). His uncle is Iman Nofal, the commander of the Central Gaza Camps’ Brigade in Hamas’ military-terrorist wing (Twitter account of journalist Ahmed Wa’el Hamdan, September 13, 2023).

   
Right: The mourning notice issued by the ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip (ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip Twitter account, September 13, 2023). Left: Rami Nofal (right) and his brother Iman Nofal (with the black cap) carrying his body (Paldf Twitter account, September 14, 2023)

• • Ra’ed Ruhi Yahya Ramadan, 19 years old, from the al-Bureij refugee camp (Yahya Abu Muhammad’s Facebook page, September 14, 2023). His body was wrapped for burial in a Hamas flag.

   
Right: Ra’ed Ruhi Ramadan (Yahia Abu Muhammad’s Facebook page, September 14, 2023). Left: His body wrapped for burial in a Hamas flag (Telegram channel of journalist Hani al-Shaer, September 14, 2023)

• • Ali Jumaa Ali Iyad, 24 years old, from the al-Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. His father said that he used to participate in “activities” near the fence and was a night harassment unit operative in eastern Gaza City (Palestine Online, September 17, 2023).

• The delegation of the Hamas leadership led by Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of the Hamas political bureau, paid condolence calls to families (Hamas Telegram channel, September 14, 2023).

   
Right: Condolence call at the family home of Muhammad Omar Qadum. Left: Condolence call to senior Hamas figure Wa’el al-Zarad (Palestine Online, September 14, 2023)

Explosions in the outposts of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip

• On the afternoon of September 18, 2023, there was an explosion at the Fajar post of the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing in the west of the central district of the Gaza Strip.^[3] Six wounded were reported, who were taken to a hospital (al-Boaba, September 18, 2023; alburaij Telegram channel, September 18, 2023; Twitter account @Hakeam_ps, September 18, 2023). On September 19, 2023, an explosion occurred at the al-Qadasiya outpost in Khan Yunis. Two activists were reportedly injured, one of them critically (Wafa, September 19, 2023; Shams News, September 19, 2023).

PA preparations for the upcoming UN General Assembly session

• On September 17, 2023 Mahmoud Abbas arrived in New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly opening session; he is expected to deliver a speech on September 21, 2023. Before his arrival in New York, he participated in the G-77 summit held in Havana, Cuba, in which China also participated.^[4] He gave a speech at the G-77 summit condemning Israel, whose actions, he claimed, established its “imperialist occupation” and imposed an apartheid regime which could not be passed over in silence. He also claimed Israel’s actions prevented the Palestinians from “flourishing.” He called for an end to the “Israeli occupation” and emphasized they would “continue to fight for their rights” (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, September 16, 2023).

Shtayyeh holds meetings

• This past week PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh held a series of meetings in his office with international figures:
  • Meeting with James Cleverly, the British foreign secretary, Shtayyeh asked Britain to recognize a Palestinian state and support the Palestinian process for full membership in the United Nations. He also demanded Britain show a moral and historical responsibility towards the Palestinians and play a positive role in achieving Palestinian rights. He also asked Britain to support PA institutions (Wafa, September 12, 2023).
  • Meeting with Alexandre Stutzman, the new EU representative in the PA, Shtayyeh emphasized their bilateral cooperation and expressed appreciation for the EU’s support for the idea of a two-state solution. He said he would do everything in his power to make it easy for Stutzman to fulfill his role to increase bilateral coordination (Wafa, September 12, 2023).

Preparations for a meeting in New York of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) countries

• Muhammad Shtayyeh left for New York to participate in the meeting of the AHLC committee (the countries contributing to the PA), which will be held with the participation of 46 countries at the same time as the UN General Assembly. According to reports he is expected to present three topics at the gathering: the PA’s financial situation in the shadow of the “financial war” Israel is [allegedly] waging against it, the PA government’s plan for reform and the development plans for the next five years (Wafa, September 17, 2023). Before his departure, Shtayyeh met in his office with the foreign minister of Norway, who will chair the meeting (Wafa, September 14, 2023).

Hussein al-Sheikh visits the Fatah secretary in a hospital in Jenin

• Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee, reported that on September 16, 2023, he had visited Ata Abu Armila, the secretary of the Fatah branch in the Jenin district, who is hospitalized in the al-Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah (Hossein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, September 16, 2023) .

• Ata Abu Armila has often declared his support for the “armed resistance” [Palestinian terrorist attacks] in Jenin, and is considered one of the men in the Jenin refugee camp wanted by Israel. After his arrival at the hospital in Ramallah, reports spread that under the auspices of the PA he had reached a security deal to close his file with Israel. Abu Armila denied what he called “rumors.” He also denied rumors that Mahmoud Abbas fired him as Fatah secretary in Jenin, or that security officials asked him to leave his position. He said that as soon as his treatment had been completed he would return to the Jenin refugee camp and continue working until the next Fatah general conference (Ultra website Palestine, September 11, 2023).

PIJ operatives detained in Jenin

• This past week the PA security forces continued detaining operatives; for the most part they belonged to the PIJ.
  • The PIJ said that operatives of the PA’s security forces operating in Qabatiya had detained Mustafa Hamza Abu al-Rab, 28 years old, son of Hamza Abu al-Rab, the commander of the military-terrorist wing who was killed on December 27, 2002 (Safa, September 16, 2023).
  • On September 17, 2023, Ahmed Fadal al-Sheikh Qassem Jadon, 25 years old, a released prisoner known as “the rocket” and wanted by Israel, had been arrested near the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp. He was arrested in September 2020 and sentenced to 22 months in prison. After his arrest, activists shot at the headquarters of the district governor’s offices in Jenin in response to the continued arrest of wanted persons (Safa, September 17, 2023). A source close to the Jenin Battalion stated that Jadon joined the Jenin Battalion about a year and a half ago after his release from an Israeli prison, and since then he had been wanted by Israel and the PA (al-Araby al-Jadeed, September 18, 2023).
  • The operatives of Palestinian preventive security detained Ahmed Hassin Abu Abed, a released prisoner, 22 years old, a PIJ terrorist operative from the Jenin refugee camp. Abu Abed spent four years in Israeli prisons, first detained when he was 16. He was released in 2022 after serving a term of three years (Safa, September 18, 2023).
• “A source close to the Jenin Battalion” expressed concern about the increase in arrests. According to the source, the security forces claim to have a list of 30 Jenin Battalion operatives accused of shooting at the headquarters of the security forces, and they intend to arrest them. Also according to the source, the PA seeks to eliminate the “resistance” in the Jenin refugee camp gradually, by arresting operatives who belong to or support the Battalion (al-Araby al-Jadeed, September 18, 2023).
• In the wake of the arrests, the “resistance” organizations in Jenin held a press conference with the participation of dozens of masked activists. They expressed their opposition to the political arrests and the persecution of “resistance” operatives by the PA security forces, and demanded it be stopped immediately. They noted that after the Israeli activity in Jenin in early July 2023 the number of arrests increased (Safa, September 18, 2023; Shehab, September 18, 2023).

A new PA minister of education

• Palestinian news sites reported that Marwan Awartani, the PA minister of education, had submitted his resignation during a cabinet meeting. The cause was a serious dispute between him and Muhammad Shtayyeh regarding the management of the education portfolio, and after the sector suffered sanctions, strikes and delays in the payment of teachers’ salaries, (Ma’an, August 28, 2023; Watan Agency, August 28, 2023). Mahmoud Abu Mowis, the minister of higher education, received the education portfolio (Wafa, September 3, 2023).

Issue of the Palestinian terrorist prisoners in the international arena

• Qadoura Fares, chairman of the commission for the affairs of prisoners and released prisoners, met with an International Red Cross Committee delegation and informed them about the treatment of prisoners in Israeli prisons and the worsening of their conditions. He warned that the “provocations” of Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security, would lead to the explosion inside and outside the prisons. Fares also presented what he claimed was the “medical neglect” of the prisoners and called for all the Red Cross’ powers to be exercised in supervising and monitoring events in the prisons and to express this properly in the report it would submit (Wafa, September 12, 2023).
• Qadoura Fares also met with Tor Wennesland, the UN special coordinator for the peace process in the Middle East, to discuss the latest developments regarding male and female prisoners in Israeli prisons. Fares briefed Wennesland on the living and health conditions of the prisoners, which he says are worsening as a result of a systematic Israeli policy which aims to undermine the prisoners’ firm stance and determination. He also referred to Itamar Ben-Gvir’s plan to worsen their living conditions and demanded the intervention of the United Nations (Facebook page of the commission for the affairs of prisoners and released prisoners, September 14, 2023).

   
Right: Qadoura Fares meets with a Red Cross delegation (Facebook page of the commission for the affairs of prisoners and released prisoners, September 12, 2023). From the left: Qadoura Fares meets with Tor Wennesland (Facebook page of the commission for the affairs of prisoners and released prisoners, September 14, 2023)

Public opinion poll

• On September 13, 2023, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Khalil Shaqaqi’s polling institute, published the results of a quarterly survey conducted in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip between September 6-9, 2023. The survey sampled 1,270 Palestinians from 127 randomly selected locations. Below are key findings from the survey (PCPSR website, September 13, 2023):
• Normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia: 56% (69% from Judea and Samaria and 38% from the Gaza Strip) believe that reaching an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize relations is a harmful development that will negatively affect the chances of reaching Palestinian-Israeli peace. 17% (29% in the Gaza Strip and 8% in Judea and Samaria) believe that such normalization can improve the chances of reaching peace; 24% believe it is neither harmful nor helpful.
• Presidential elections: In an election between Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh, the voting rate would be only 42%. Among the voters, Mahmoud Abbas would receive 37% of the votes and Haniyeh 58% (compared to 56% for Haniyeh and 33% for Mahmoud Abbas in the previous poll). In the Gaza Strip, the vote for Mahmoud Abbas would stand at 33% and Haniyeh at 64%, while in Judea and Samaria Mahmoud Abbas would receive 43% and Haniyeh 50%. In a closed question, the public was asked to choose the person they prefer to see as President Mahmoud Abbas’ successor. The largest percentage (34%) mentioned Marwan Barghouti.
• Who deserves to represent the Palestinian leadership: A decrease in the rate of support for Hamas (from 31% to 27%), on the other hand, an increase in the rate of support for Fatah (from 21% to 24%), compared to the previous survey.
• The dismissal of the governors: 53% expressed support for the decision to retire the governors in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip compared to 38% who expressed opposition to it.
• The security situation: A positive assessment of the security conditions in the Gaza Strip is 10% and a positive assessment of the conditions in Judea and Samaria is 21%. Nevertheless, the perception of security and personal safety in the Gaza Strip stands at 69% and the perception of security in Judea and Samaria stands at only 48%. Three months ago, the perception of security in Judea and Samaria stood at 46% and in the Gaza Strip at 71%.
• Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to the Jenin refugee camp: 78% believed that the visit did not contribute to an increase in public confidence in the PA compared to 20% who expressed the opposite position.
• The activity of the PA’s security forces in Judea and Samaria: 60% expressed concern that the friction between armed organizations and the security forces would lead to violent incidents that would threaten the stability of the PA (67% in Judea and Samaria, 51% in the Gaza Strip).

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]
  • September 18, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Burqa (northwest of Nablus). A passenger was injured by flying glass; the bus was damaged.
  • September 18, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Alfei Menashe (southeast of Qalqilya). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 18, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Azzoun (east of Qalqilya). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 18, 2023: Rocks and a hammer were thrown at an Israeli bus near Azzoun (east of Qalqilya). No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged. An IDF force operating in the area shot at the Palestinian who threw the rocks and hammer. He was wounded and turned over to the security forces for treatment (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, September 18, 2023).

     
Right: The damage to the bus. Left: one of the rocks thrown at it.

• • September 17, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Kiryat Arba (east of Hebron). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 17, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Husan bypass road (west of Bethlehem). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 16, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Sinjil (northeast of Ramallah). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 16, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Cave of the Patriarchs (Hebron). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 15, 2023: Molotov cocktails were thrown at a wall near Beit El (north of Ramallah). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 15, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Ofra (northeast of Ramallah). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 14, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Ariel (north of Salfit). No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.

• • September 14, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Azzoun (east of Qalqilya). No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 13, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in Hawwara. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • September 13, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Revava (northeast of Salfit). No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • September 13, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Azzoun (east of Qalqilya). No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.

• • September 13, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israel fire engine near the Jit Junction (west of Nablus). No casualties were reported; the fire engine was damaged.
  • September 12, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Ma’aleh Lavona (northeast of Ramallah). No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • September 11, 2023: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Yakir Junction (northwest of Salfit). Two people were injured; the vehicle was damaged.