Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (December 17 – 24 , 2024)

Weapons found in a tunnel in Beit Lahia (IDF spokesperson, December 20, 2024)

Weapons found in a tunnel in Beit Lahia (IDF spokesperson, December 20, 2024)

Alleged result of an exploding robot near the Kamal Adwan Hospital (Quds Agency X account, December 22, 2024)

Alleged result of an exploding robot near the Kamal Adwan Hospital (Quds Agency X account, December 22, 2024)

The delegations meet in Cairo (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)

The delegations meet in Cairo (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)

PA armored vehicle damaged by the PIJ (Quds Agency Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)

PA armored vehicle damaged by the PIJ (Quds Agency Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)

Egyptian President el-Sisi meets with Abbas (Wafa, December 19, 2024)

Egyptian President el-Sisi meets with Abbas (Wafa, December 19, 2024)

  • The southern front: IDF forces continued operations in the northern (the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia), central and southern Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist operatives hiding in civilian structures, including senior Hamas figures. An IDF officer and two IDF soldiers were killed in the northern Gaza Strip.
  • The ceasefire and hostage release negotiations: Hamas and other “Palestinian faction” delegations held meetings in Egypt to advance an agreement. Hamas reiterated its insistence on a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip at the end of the process and accused Israel of presenting new demands.
  • The “day after”: Egyptian efforts continued to persuade Mahmoud Abbas to approve the establishment of a community support committee to manage the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian “factions” presented names of candidates to represent them on the committee.
  • The situation in the Gaza Strip: A new study cast doubt on the data provided by Hamas’ ministry of health in Gaza regarding the number of fatalities since the beginning of the war.
  • Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinians carried out two terrorist attacks. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, eliminating a wanted Palestinian who was operating with Iranian funding.
  • The Palestinian Authority: The Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces continued operations against “gunmen” in the Jenin refugee camp. Two security operatives were killed and the “gunmen” threatened to escalate the fighting.
IDF operations in the Gaza Strip
  • This past IDF forces continued operations in the northern (the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia), central and southern Gaza Strip (the Rafah area).. IDF forces located and destroyed weapons and terror facilities, and attacked dozens of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist operatives from the air and on the ground, including terrorists involved in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre and others planning to attack IDF forces, some of whom were hiding within the civilian population. An IDF officer and two IDF soldiers were killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, December 17-24, 2024).
  • The Northern Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued operations in the Jebalya refugee camp and in Beit Lahia, expanding to the area west of Beit Hanoun. They eliminated terrorist operatives and destroyed terrorist facilities above and below ground, including three tunnels approximately 7.5 kilometers long in Beit Lahia. Inside the tunnels IDF equipment seized by Hamas terrorist operatives on October 7, 2023, was discovered (IDF spokesperson, December 17-24, 2024).
Weapons found in a tunnel in Beit Lahia (IDF spokesperson, December 20, 2024)
Weapons found in a tunnel in Beit Lahia (IDF spokesperson, December 20, 2024)
  • The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in Gaza claimed that the IDF had attacked the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. , Husam Abu Safiya, director of the hospital, claimed the IDF had demanded the evacuation of staff and patients, allegedly within hours, to the Indonesian Hospital. Marwan al-Hams, director-general of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, claimed that IDF forces had placed booby-trapped robots in the vicinity of the Kamal Adwan Hospital (Palinfo , December 21, 2024; al-Jazeera, December 22, 2024; Shehab News Agency, December 22, 2024).
Alleged result of an exploding robot near the Kamal Adwan Hospital (Quds Agency X account, December 22, 2024)
Alleged result of an exploding robot near the Kamal Adwan Hospital
(Quds Agency X account, December 22, 2024)
Attacks on Hamas terrorists operating in civilian facilities
  • This past week Israeli security forces attacked terrorist operatives and facilities operating within civilian sites in the Gaza Strip and planning to attack IDF forces and the State of Israel. In all cases, precautionary measures were taken to minimize possible harm to civilians:[2]
    • On December 19, 2024, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked terrorist operatives operating in command and control centers which had been previously used as the al-Karama and Shaaban schools in Daraj Tuffah in Gaza City (IDF spokesperson, December 19, 2024). The civil defense mechanism in the Gaza Strip claimed that at least 13 people had been killed (al-Jazeera X account, December 19, 2024).
    • On December 22, 2024, Tharwat Muhammad Ahmed al-Bic, head of the security administration in Hamas’ general security forces, was eliminated in an airstrike on a command and control center which had previously served as the Musa Ibn Nusayr school in Daraj Tuffah in Gaza (IDF spokesperson, December 22-23, 2024). Palestinian media reported that Tharwat al-Bic, who served as secretary-general of Hamas’ legislative council in the Gaza Strip, and Muhammad Abu Askar, who was chairman of Hamas’ summer camp committee, were killed in the strike (Muhammad al-Najjar from Jebalya’s X account, December 22, 2024; legislative council in the Gaza Strip X account, April 21, 2023; Palestine Online, July 8, 2023).
    • On December 22, 2024, an Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas operative operating in the humanitarian area in Khan Yunis (IDF spokesperson, December 22, 2024). “Palestinian sources” reported three fatalities in the attack on shelters in al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis (Hamza al-Masri’s Telegram channel, December 22, 2024).
UAV launched from the Gaza Strip
  • On December 19, 2024, a UAV launched in the Gaza Strip was intercepted (IDF spokesperson, December 19, 2024). The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, claimed responsibility for launching an al-Zawari suicide UAV at an IDF outpost (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 19, 2024).
  • This past week negotiation meetings were held in Egypt for a ceasefire and the release of hostages:
    • On December 20, 2024, a meeting took place between a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Haya, the acting head of the political bureau in the Gaza Strip; a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) delegation led by Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the secretary-general; and a Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) delegation led by Jamil Mazhar, the organization’s deputy secretary-general. The delegations discussed developments in the negotiations, claiming that all “factions” were striving to halt the “aggression.” Participants said a possible agreement was “closer than ever,” provided the “enemy” stopped introducing new conditions (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 21, 2024). “Palestinian sources” reported that the meeting discussed scenarios of negotiations entering a “serious final phase.” The “sources” claimed the “factions” had demonstrated “flexibility” and did not pose a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as a condition, not from the Netzarim Corridor or the Philadelphi Axis. However, the sources claimed, with each “demonstration of flexibility,” Israel increased pressure to delay reaching an agreement (al-Sharq al-Awsat, December 21, 2024).
The delegations meet in Cairo (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)
The delegations meet in Cairo
(Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)
    • Hassan Rashad, head of Egyptian General Intelligence, and senior officials involved in the mediation met with delegations from Hamas, the PIJ and the PFLP, the three terrorist organizations holding hostages. The parties focused on identifying key points of dispute and security arrangements during a future agreement period (al-Ghad TV, December 21, 2024).
    • After the meetings in Cairo the PIJ said in that the discussions had addressed a “prisoner” deal, a ceasefire and efforts to establish a committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war. The pro-Iranian militias expressed its appreciation for Egyptian and Qatari mediators (PIJ combat information Telegram channel, December 22, 2024).
    • A delegation led by Ayman al-Shashnia, secretary-general of the “Resistance Committees,” met in Cairo with a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Haya. They discussed developments in the negotiations and the establishment of a committee to manage the Gaza Strip (Resistance Committees Telegram channel, December 23, 2024).
  • This past week, Arab media published reports, whose reliability remains unclear, regarding the details of a possible agreement for a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages, as well as disputes and difficulties in the negotiations. It was claimed that Israel demanded 11 more hostages, which Hamas claimed did not meet the agreed-upon criteria (al-Ghad TV, Egypt, December 21, 2024; Aram News, December 22, 2024; Ultra Palestine, December 22, 2024). Senior Hamas and PIJ figures reiterated the claim that they had demonstrated “flexibility,” including regarding Israel’s full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the first phase of the agreement. However, they accused Israel of creating difficulties:
    • Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha stated that discussions on a ceasefire agreement were proceeding in a serious and optimistic atmosphere and expressed hope that the mediators’ efforts would lead to an agreement. He claimed Hamas had a positive approach to issues which serve the Palestinian people, adding that they required “seriousness from the occupation, without creating obstacles and conditions, and aimed at an agreement” (al-Araby al-Jadeed, December 17, 2024).
    • Muhammad al-Hindi, PIJ deputy secretary-general, accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of disrupting the negotiations “for political and personal reasons,” although he added that “the winds were blowing toward a ceasefire agreement.” He stated that “the resistance” had demonstrated “flexibility” regarding the details of the deal but not regarding the demand to stop “aggression” and a full withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip, even if carried out in stages (al-Ghad TV, December 18, 2024).
    • A “Hamas source” claimed that Israel refused to release Palestinian prisoners and senior figures held in Israeli prisons and insisted on deporting all prisoners sentenced to hard time. He noted that Hamas insisted on a written agreement with guarantees from the mediators obligating Israel to implement all phases of the deal, claiming Israel preferred an unsigned agreement, relying only on a Qatari and Egyptian statement (al-Sharq, December 18, 2024).
    • A “senior Hamas figure” stated that a few unresolved points remained but should not delay the process, and if no disruptions occurred, an agreement could be reached before the end of the year. The agreement would be signed in stages, concluding with a “serious” exchange process, a ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip (Agence France-Presse, December 21, 2024).
    • Ahmed Abd al-Hadi, Hamas representative in Lebanon, said that Hamas insisted that the agreement include the term “permanent end to the war,” even if the goal was achieved through multiple stages. He added that it also applied to the full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He admitted Israel was showing flexibility regarding withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor and the Philadelphi Axis, but Hamas insisted that the agreement, once fully implemented, would lead to a complete withdrawal (al-Jadeed channel X account, December 22, 2024).
Palestinian casualties
  • The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that since the beginning of the war, 45,3383 Palestinians had been killed and 107,764 injured (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, December 24, 2024).
  • The research institute of the Henry Jackson Society published a study indicating a high likelihood that the data from Hamas’ health ministry in the Gaza Strip was grossly inflated, involving deliberate falsification to present a distorted picture of civilian, women and children casualties in the Gaza Strip. Among other findings, the study revealed that a high percentage of media outlets (84%) did not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties, and 98% relied solely on Hamas data. In 19%) of the cases, Hamas data was presented without citing the source. Numerous errors were found in the casualty lists, including recording deceased individuals as children or women. The lists also included natural deaths, deaths that occurred prior to the war and fatalities caused by Hamas itself. The study identified scientifically unsupported data which did not align with scientific methodology, including evidence of concealing combatant casualties (Henry Jackson Society, December 13, 2024).[3]
The situation in the Gaza Strip
  • The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that during the week ending December 22, 2024, 1,025 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered the Gaza Strip, delivering food, water, medical supplies and equipment for shelters. Additionally, 1,076 trucks were transferred to warehouses and humanitarian shelters inside the strip in coordination with aid organizations and the international community (COGAT X account, December 22, 2024).
  • Thousands of food packages, flour and drinking water were delivered to the Beit Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip. The goods were loaded onto nine World Food Program (WFP) trucks and transported to distribution centers for local residents. The operation was carried out under the supervision and coordination of the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration and in coordination with international aid organizations (al-Munsaq Facebook page, December 20, 2024).
  • The Hamas ministry of social development announced the launch of a new electronic service for registering and updating data on displaced persons and residents in Gaza Strip districts. The service is intended to support efforts to provide shelter for displaced persons and improve the conditions of shelter centers, camps and displacement locations. The data will be used to enhance aid operations for displaced persons and manage the distribution of aid (al-Risalah.net, December 21, 2024).
  • On December 18, 2024, “Palestinian sources” reported that 73 aid trucks entered through the Philadelphi Axis from al-Rashid Street. According to reports 60 of them reached their destination in western Khan Yunis, while 13 trucks were looted in an area under Israeli control, which made securing the trucks more difficult (Ramallah News Telegram channel, December 18, 2024). It was also reported that five people were killed and nine were injured by gunfire from Hamas’ Interior Ministry’s Sahem unit after they attempted to loot the humanitarian aid trucks (Sabaq24 News Agency Telegram channel, December 18, 2024).
  • On December 19, 2024, the Palestinian Monetary Authority condemned the robbery at a bank branch in the Gaza Strip, during which approximately eight million shekels (about $2.19 million) were stolen. The Authority claimed it was making efforts to address the severe cash liquidity shortage caused by repeated attacks by various “elements” in the strip, which disrupt cash supplies, ATM functionality and the ability of banks to serve the public. The authority reiterated that depositors’ funds were safe and secure despite the break-in and thefts (Wafa, December 19, 2024).
  • According to reports Egypt is pressuring Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), to approve the establishment of the community support committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war. “Sources” claimed that Cairo directed “severe accusations” at Mahmoud Abbas because he refused to make decisions on the matter and failed to respond positively to all the proposals presented (al-Akhbar, December 20, 2024).
  • According to an “official Palestinian source,” the Palestinian “factions” had presented a list of 50 independent individuals, from which 15 would be selected to serve as representatives on the support committee. It was also reported that while Mahmoud Abbas rejected Egyptian attempts to establish the committee, Egypt was determined to carry out the project even without PA cooperation, urging the American administration to exert additional pressure on Mahmoud Abbas (al-Araby al-Jadeed, December 23, 2024).
  • A “senior leader” in the Gaza Strip’s tribal coalition expressed dissatisfaction with Mahmoud Abbas’ opposition to the Egyptian initiative to establish the community support committee, claiming that Abbas’ position served the Israeli government and delayed the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner exchange deal. He warned of the consequences of delaying the agreement, including demands to end Hamas control over the Gaza Strip and the operation of the Rafah Crossing under PA presence, in accordance with the 2005 agreement (al-al-Araby al-Jadeed, December 23, 2024).
  • Given the deadlock in establishing the support committee and the activity of Palestinian security forces in the Jenin refugee camp, Fatah accused Hamas of legitimizing chaos, property damage and attacks on people. Fatah claimed that since October 7, 2023, Hamas’ actions had served as the pretext for the “occupation” to carry out a “war of annihilation” in the Gaza Strip. Fatah questioned whether Hamas regarded tactics such as booby-trapping children’s bodies, using hospitals as fortresses, placing explosives near schools and homes, targeting security personnel and militia control in refugee camps as “legitimate resistance.” Fatah called on Hamas to reconsider its approach and prioritize national interests, emphasizing the need for national solidarity against the “occupation’s plans for annexation and expulsion” (Wafa, December 24, 2024).
Terrorist attacks
  • This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out two attacks:
    • A shooting in Nablus: On December 18, 2024, shots were fired at a bus carrying Israeli civilians entering Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, wounding an Israeli civilian. The Israeli civilians were evacuated and transferred for investigation because of unauthorized entry into Area A (IDF spokesperson, December 18, 2024). The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB) in the Balata refugee camp claimed responsibility for the attack (Operation al-Aqsa Flood of October 7 Telegram channel, December 18, 2024).
    • A stabbing in Pisgat Ze’ev: On December 23, 2024, an East Jerusalem resident armed with a knife exited a car in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood and attempted to stab a security officer. The officer and civilians shot and wounded the terrorist. No injuries were reported (Israel Police X account and Israeli media, December 23, 2024).
Counterterrorism activities
  • The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, focusing on Tulkarm. They detained wanted Palestinians and those suspected of terrorist activities, and located weapons and funds for financing terrorist activities (IDF spokesperson, December 17-24, 2024).
  • According to data published by the IDF, since January 2024, 787 terrorist operatives have been eliminated, approximately 100 airstrikes have been carried out, over 2,500 terrorist operatives have been detained in Judea and Samaria, and more than 1,000 weapons have been seized (IDF spokesperson, December 19, 2024). Since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023, over 6,000 wanted terrorist operatives have been detained, more than 2,350 of whom were affiliated with Hamas (IDF spokesperson, December 16, 2024).
Attack on the mosque in the village of Marda
  • The Israel Police and the Israeli Security Agency announced the opening of an investigation into the suspected arson of a mosque in the village of Marda in the Salfit area and the spraying of graffiti (Israel Police X account, December 20, 2024). The Palestinians condemned the attack and called for international intervention against “the crimes of settlers and occupation forces” (Wafa and Quds agencies, December 20, 2024).
Activities of the Palestinian security forces
  • This past week the PA security forces continued operations against armed terrorist operatives in the Jenin refugee camp, under instructions from Mahmoud Abbas, PA chairman. The security forces blocked the entrances to the refugee camp and exchanges of fire with the armed operatives continued:[4]
    • Anwar Rajab, spokesperson for the Palestinian security forces, said the security forces had neutralized an explosive device planted by the “gunmen” near UNRWA headquarters in central Jenin, as well as two other explosive devices in the area. He accused the gunmen of behaving like ISIS operatives and said the PA would continue to pursue and arrest the “gunmen,” and bring them to justice (Wafa, December 21, 2024).
    • Hamas, PIJ and the PFLP issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern” over the events in Jenin. They called for unity and said that “resistance” weapons should be directed solely at the “occupation.” They demanded that the PA immediately cease its security operations in Jenin, lift the siege, and withdraw its forces (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, December 21, 2024).
    • On December 22, 2024, Anwar Rajab announced that Saher Farouq Juma’ah Arhil, an operative in the “Presidential Guard,” was killed in a clash with the gunmen and two other security force operatives had been injured. He called on local residents to cooperate with the security forces and noted that the incident would strengthen the resolve to pursue lawbreakers and enforce the rule of law (Wafa, December 22, 2024). On December 23, 2024, Rajab announced that security forces operative Mehran Qadus had been killed during the operation in the camp (Wafa, December 23, 2024).
    • The Jenin Battalion of the PIJ’s military wing announced that it had entered the third stage of its plan to confront the PA security forces. According to the announcement, the first stage involved detonating explosive devices in front of armored vehicles, not inside them, to convey a message. However, the message had not been understood, and the forces took measures such as firing at homes, cutting off electricity and water, and suppressing demonstrations. In the second stage, the battalion targeted the front of the vehicles, resulting in injuries among the security forces. The third stage involves directly targeting the armored vehicles with explosive devices. It was also claimed that the PA had arrested 237 security operatives who refused to participate in the operations in Jenin (al-Jazeera, December 22, 2024).
PA armored vehicle damaged by the PIJ (Quds Agency Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)
PA armored vehicle damaged by the PIJ (Quds Agency Telegram channel, December 21, 2024)
    • PA security forces operatives allegedly fired an RPG during the operation in the refugee camp after footage showing security personnel with an RPG launcher was issued (Hamas Telegram channel, December 23, 2024). A “senior security figure” denied the authenticity of the images, claiming they were part of incitement by rivals of the PA and the footage was not from Jenin. Israeli security officials opined that the weapon had most likely been confiscated by the security forces during their operations against the gunmen (Israeli media, December 23, 2024).
Alleged PA security force operative with an RPG launcher (al-Shahed, December 23, 2024)
Alleged PA security force operative with an RPG launcher (al-Shahed, December 23, 2024)
    • According to reports, on December 23, 2024, a teenager named Majed Zidan was killed by Palestinian security force fire in the Jenin refugee camp. According to claims, an ambulance could not quickly reach Zidan because the security forces had blocked the entrances to the refugee camp with earthworks (Quds News Agency, December 23, 2024).
    • A video entitled “The Message of the Jenin Battalion” was issued on social media. It showed several operatives in the Jenin refugee camp dressed as suicide bombers, shouting, “If you want to enter the camp, we were ready to blow ourselves up” (Jenin Camp Telegram channel, December 23, 2024; Jenin News Telegram channel, December 23, 2024). In response, Jenin Battalion gunmen claimed they did not have operatives who would blow themselves up in the camp, but they did have a large number of “armed resistance fighters” in the camp (Nesher Palestine Telegram channel, December 23, 2024).
Picture from the video (Jenin News Telegram channel December 23, 2024)
Picture from the video (Jenin News Telegram channel December 23, 2024)
    • Senior Hamas figure Abd al-Rahman Shadid accused the PA and its security forces of trying to eliminate the “resistance” in Judea and Samaria in coordination with Israel. He said every drop of blood spilled in Jenin or any other district by the PA’s military campaign was on the hands of Mahmoud Abbas and the heads of the security forces (Palestinian Media Center Telegram channel, December 23, 2024).
    • Qais al-Saadi, a commander of the “armed factions “in Jenin, admitted that they received support from Iran but claimed they were not affiliated with Tehran or any other external entity. He claimed Israel was giving the PA the opportunity to prove itself in Jenin as part of considerations to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to the authority (CNN, December 23, 2024).
    • source” stated that Fatah had decided to prevent al-Jazeera television crews from operating in northern Judea and Samaria, claiming that the network “incites civil war and rebellion.” The decision followed interviews conducted by the network with gunmen in Jenin. According to the source, the areas under the ban include Jenin, Tubas, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya and Salfit, as those were the regions where “resistance factions” has a strong presence (al-Araby al-Jadeed, December 23, 2024).
Mahmoud Abbas’ international activity
  • On December 19, 2024, Mahmoud Abbas participated in the D8 Summit (Organization for Economic Cooperation of Eight Developing Countries) in Cairo, during which he delivered a speech and held meetings (Wafa, December 19, 2024):
    • In his speech, Abbas demanded the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the entry of humanitarian aid, the full withdrawal of IDF forces and the transfer of responsibility for the strip to the PA. He also called for an end to the Israeli occupation through the implementation of a political plan which included a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, full UN membership for “Palestine,” and the preservation of holy sites. He urged the international community to adopt a uniform criterion for justice and to stop Israeli “aggression.”
    • In a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Abbas praised Egypt’s positions and its support for the rights of the Palestinian people. They discussed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the [alleged] “Israeli violations” in Judea and Samaria and “crimes” against Palestinians. They also discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and “Palestine’s” efforts to gain full UN membership and convene an international peace conference.
Egyptian President el-Sisi meets with Abbas (Wafa, December 19, 2024)
Egyptian President el-Sisi meets with Abbas (Wafa, December 19, 2024)
    • Meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo, Abbas noted the Palestinian leadership’s efforts on the international stage to end the Israeli occupation and achieve Palestinian independence, along with the implementation of UN resolutions and the International Court of Justice’s opinion on ending the “occupation and settlements.”
  • Abbas spoke on the phone with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris; they discussed recent developments in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria. Abbas praised Ireland’s support for the PA through its recognition of the State of “Palestine,” support for UNRWA’s activities in the Gaza Strip, and treatment of injured children from the Strip. Harris emphasized Ireland’s commitment to continuing its support for the Palestinian people in building a “state” and achieving rights in accordance with international law (Wafa, December 23, 2024).
UN resolution regarding the Palestinians’ right to self-determination
  • On December 17, 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution with a majority of 172 in favor and seven against, affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, referring to the “occupation” as illegal and calling for its end. The Palestinian foreign ministry welcomed the resolution and urged the opposing states to reconsider their position (Wafa, December 17, 2024). Hamas also welcomed the resolution and called on the international community to exert pressure to implement the decisions, which “would stop the aggression and end the occupation” (Hamas website, December 17, 2024).

[1] Click https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en to subscribe and receive the ITIC's daily updates as well as its other publications.
[2] There has been extensive use by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip of civilian facilities, such as schools and hospitals, for terrorist purposes. The organizations exploit IDF attacks for propaganda and incitement, exaggerating the number of casualties, making claims about civilian injuries and concealing the identities of the terrorists targeted. In all instances the IDF takes particular precautions to minimize harm to civilians, including the use of precision weapons, aerial surveillance and intelligence information.
[3] For the full report, click here.
[4] For further information, see the December 2024 ITIC report, "PA Security Forces Operate Against Armed Terrorists in the Jenin Refugee Camp."