Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (November 19 – 26 , 2024)

IDF operations in the Gaza Strip

• This past week IDF operations continued to focus on terrorist targets in northern Gaza Strip, the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip and the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip. IDF forces targeted dozens of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist-operatives from the air and on the ground, as well as locating and destroying large quantities of weapons and terrorist facilities. Some of the operatives and weapons were identified near civilian sites.^[2] An IDF soldier was killed in the fighting in the northern Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, November 19–26, 2024).
• The northern Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued operations in the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia, eliminating and detaining terrorist operatives. Weapons were located, explosive devices and booby-trapped structures were neutralized, and Hamas headquarters and military facilities were destroyed. During the operation, IDF soldiers found two ready-to-use anti-aircraft missiles hidden in a clinic in the Jabalia refugee camp near the humanitarian route (IDF spokesperson, November 19–26, 2024).

     
Right: Weapons found in the Jebalya refugee camp (IDF spokesperson, November 23, 2024). Left: Anti-aircraft missile found in a clinic (November 25, 2024)

• Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip continued to accuse Israel of killing dozens of civilians and deliberately targeting civilian facilities in the northern part of the Strip:
  • Khalil al-Haya, acting head of Hamas’ political bureau in the Gaza Strip, claimed that Israel was isolating northern Gaza from Gaza City as part of a plan to displace the local population while preventing the supply of medical equipment and food. He alleged that Israel was also blocking supplies to the Kamal Adwan Hospital and preventing children in northern Gaza from being vaccinated (Hamas Telegram channel, November 20, 2024).
  • Palestinian media reported that the IDF had attacked a residential complex in the Beit Lahia project near the Kamal Adwan Hospital. According to unverified reports, 66 people were killed, and over 100 were injured (of journalist Safinaz al-Luh’s Telegram channel November 21, 2024; Tufan Telegram channel, October 7, November 21, 2024).
  • Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan Hospital director, claimed that the hospital was not performing surgeries and was primarily dealing with emergency cases. He accused the IDF of preventing the entry of medical delegations and warned that the hospital would turn into a mass grave if international institutions did not intervene and provide medical aid (journalist Bilal Musa’s Telegram channel, November 21, 2024).
  • Mahmoud Bazzal, spokesman for civil defense in the Gaza Strip, accused “occupation forces” of attacking medical teams to depopulate northern Gaza.
  • On November 24, 2024, according to claims Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan Hospital director, was injured in an alleged attack on the hospital. He accused the IDF of besieging the hospital and preventing the entry of food, water, medical supplies and fuel (al-Risala Telegram channel, November 24, 2024).

Eliminating terrorist operatives

• The IDF continued aerial strikes targeting terrorist operatives, including those involved in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack:
  • On November 20, 2024, five Hamas terrorist operatives were killed, including two nukhba company commanders, in a strike in Beit Lahia. The two commanders, Jihad Mahmoud Yahya Kahlout and Mohammad Riyadh Ali Awkal, led the October 7 killings and abductions at the so-called “Mefalsim Bend”^[3] in the road (IDF and Shin Bet spokespersons’ units, November 22, 2024).
  • On November 20, 2024, Khaled Abu Daqqa, commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) rocket unit, was killed in a strike on the humanitarian area of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. He had been involved in numerous terrorist activities, including firing rockets at communities near Gaza since October 7 (IDF and Shin Bet spokespersons’ units, November 22, 2024).
  • On November 22, 2024, Murad Awad al-Rajoub was killed in a strike in western Gaza. A former prisoner released in 2011 the Gilad Shalit exchange deal and exiled to Gaza, Rajoub, originally from the town of al-Koum in southern Hebron, was an operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing. He had been sentenced to 38 years in prison for involvement in an attack in Beersheba but was released after serving ten years (Palinfo, November 22, 2024).

• • On November 25, 2024, Ahmed Abd Halim Abu Hussein was killed. He had been responsible in Hamas’ east Jabalia Battalion for firing rockets and mortar shells at IDF forces in the Gaza Strip and into Israeli territory (IDF Spokesperson, November 25, 2024).

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip

• This past week, five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at communities near Gaza. Three were intercepted and two landed in open areas. No casualties or damage were reported (IDF spokesperson, November 19–26, 2024). The military wing of Hamas and the PIJ claimed responsibility for the rocket fire (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades and Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channels, November 19-25, 2024).

• A senior Hamas figure stated that the movement’s negotiation delegation, led by Khalil al-Haya, acting head of the political bureau, had not returned to Qatar and was on a mission abroad, most likely in Turkey. He said the movement had received an invitation from Turkey to discuss proposals and ideas related to ending the war and a “prisoner exchange,” accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of thwarting the efforts, just as he had [allegedly] disrupted mediators’ efforts in Egypt and Qatar (al-Sharq, November 19, 2024). According to reports, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visited Turkey on November 16, 2024, and held talks with Turkish intelligence head Ibrahim Kalin regarding the issue of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip (al-Araby al-Jadeed, November 19, 2024).
• Khalil al-Haya accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of preventing a “prisoner exchange” deal from going forward. He reiterated Hamas’ demand of an end to “aggression” as a first step, after which discussions on returning “prisoners” could take place. He said Hamas saw no reason to give up a “strong card” while the war continued, adding that the movement was demonstrating “flexibility” and continued to engage with mediators to advance negotiations (Hamas Telegram channel, November 20, 2024).
• According to reports, Egypt invited the Hamas leadership to visit Cairo in an attempt to revive the ceasefire negotiations and advance efforts to establish a joint administration committee for the Gaza Strip with the consent of Fatah and Hamas. A senior Hamas figure stated that the movement had told the mediators of its willingness to positively consider the efforts, provided they were based on the principle of ending the war and the full withdrawal of the IDF forces (al-Araby al-Jadeed, November 21, 2024).
• Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, said that after weeks without contact, communications had been reestablished with “fighters” guarding Israeli “prisoners.” He said that one Israeli “female prisoner” had been “killed in northern Gaza [allegedly]] by Israeli strikes” and that another hostage was in critical condition (Hamas Telegram channel, November 23, 2024). In response, an IDF spokesperson said the information was being examined and accused Hamas of waging psychological warfare against the hostages’ families (IDF spokesperson, November 23, 2024).
• Senior Hamas figure Osama Hamdan warned that if contact with the “fighters” holding Israeli hostages was lost or if they were killed, the lives of the “prisoners” would be at risk, and no one “can be certain of their condition.” Hamdan claimed that Israel sought to achieve through negotiations what it failed to achieve on the ground, adding that “the resistance” would not allow this. He further stated that a five-day ceasefire followed by a resumption of fighting would not meet Hamas’ demands (al-Mayadeen, November 25, 2024).

Palestinian casualties

• The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that since the beginning of the war, 44,249 Palestinians had been killed and 104,746 injured (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, November 26, 2024).

The situation in the Gaza Strip

• According to reports, this week’s rains caused severe damage to the tent camps of the displaced in the Gaza Strip. Hamas’ government media office claimed that approximately 10,000 tents had been damaged by storms and washed away by seawater, calling on the international community to provide aid and tents (Safa Agency Telegram channel, November 25, 2024).

• The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that between October 7, 2023, and November 23, 2024, 1.142 million tons of humanitarian aid had been delivered to the Gaza Strip. Most of it, more than 1.126 million tons, was transported via trucks through land crossings, nearly 7,000 tons were air-lifted, and 9,185 tons were delivered by sea. According to the data, more than 872,000 tons of food, over 51,000 tons of water, more than 27,000 tons of medical supplies and over 27.5 million liters of fuel were provided (COGAT website, November 25, 2024).
• The Jordanian army sent its first convoy of transport helicopters loaded with humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, including food, medicine and medical equipment. According to reports the initiative was part of the Humanitarian Bridge program announced by King Abdullah II at the UN and during the Islamic-Arab Summit in November 2024. The convoy of eight helicopters carried more than seven tons of aid, which was delivered to the World Food Program (al-Mamlaka Facebook page, November 20, 2024).
• The World Food Program reported that only seven of 19 bakeries supported by humanitarian partners in the Gaza Strip were still operational: two in Deir al-Balah, one in Khan Younis, and four in Gaza City. Seven bakeries supported by the UN in Rafah and the northern Gaza Strip remain closed due to the fighting (Xinhua News Agency, November 21, 2024).
• The Khan Yunis municipality in cooperation with the Coastal Water Authority and under the guidance of the Palestinian Water Authority launched a sewage-system maintenance project in new neighborhoods in western Khan Yunis, funded with $100,000. The project focuses on repairing and rehabilitating sewage networks damaged during Israeli strikes, including in areas such as the industrial zone and al-Amal neighborhood (Khan Yunis municipality Facebook page, November 25, 2024).

   
Repairing the sewage system (Khan Yunis municipality Facebook page, November 25, 2024)

• The Sahm (Arrow) Unit of Hamas’ interior ministry in the Gaza Strip warned that any merchants or sellers collaborating with “occupation thugs,” a term it used for those looting aid trucks, would face summary trials (journalist Safinaz al-Luh’s Telegram channel, Gaza, November 19, 2024). According to reports the unit also operated against persons considered “thieves, bandits, merchants and those on the side of the occupation:”
• The unit reportedly killed four armed Gazans who stole property from homes, sold it in markets and stole several trucks (Sahm Unit, Special Operations 103 Telegram channel, November 23, 2024).
• “Palestinian sources” reported that the Sahm Unit killed Mohammad Yahya Abd Abu Sharif, known as al-Shakal, a resident of Deir al-Balah. According to the reports, he was involved in looting aid trucks, stealing gas cylinders for resale and stealing weapons (Amsak Amil’s Telegram channel, November 23, 2024).
• According to reports the unit ambushed 25 armed “bandits” in the Khan Yunis district, attacking the suspects with artillery and clashing in close-range firefights, resulting in deaths and injuries of gang members (Sahm Unit, Special Operations 103 Telegram channel, November 24, 2024).

     
Right: Sahm Unit operatives breaking the legs of suspects accused of theft (Sahm Unit, Special Operations 103 Telegram channel, November 24, 2024). Left: A cartoon by Hamas-affiliated Alaa al-Laqta, entitled “Security operation against the gang that steals [humanitarian] aid” (pl24 Online Instagram account, November 21, 2024)

• According to a report from a Fatah-affiliated X account, the Sahm Unit was established before the war by the late Yahya al-Sinwar, former head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and his close associate Tawfiq Abu Naim to target al-Sinwar’s opponents in the Gaza Strip. Most of its operatives were eliminated by the IDF during the war, but Hamas rebuilt the unit, now comprising about 1,000 nukhba fighters from Hamas’ military wing who focus on merchants who refuse to comply with Hamas’ demand to pay taxes on goods entering the Strip (al-Ghazawi X account, November 25, 2024).
• The national union of tribes, clans and Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip expressed support for the security campaign led by Hamas’ Interior Ministry against thieves and lawbreakers. The union praised police efforts to eliminate corruption and collaborators with “the Israeli occupation” who harm the Palestinian people (Hamas Telegram channel, November 19, 2024).
• Khalil al-Haya, Acting head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza, accused those involved in stealing humanitarian aid of collaborating with “the occupation” and threatened that Hamas would pursue and prosecute them. In an interview with al-Aqsa TV, he criticized the looters, saying, “How do you steal the trucks to enrich yourselves while your people are dying of hunger?” He added, “Your crimes are a stain of shame on anyone involved in them” (Hamas Telegram channel, November 20, 2024).
• “Palestinian sources” reported that stealing from humanitarian aid trucks mainly targeted unprotected UNRWA trucks, while others, designated for hospitals or local merchants, were not attacked thanks to security measures. Moreover, families and clans in Gaza distanced themselves from the looters, accusing Israel of allowing the thefts to take place in areas under its control. The head of the al-Astal family said that he had he rejected an Israeli proposal to serve as an alternative to the Hamas government in Gaza. He said families were willing to assist in securing aid only in safe areas. Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas government media office, claimed the Gaza government had been working for months to address lawless gangs but security restrictions hindered police activity (Ultra Palestine website, November 21, 2024).
• Given the bread crisis in the Gaza Strip and sky-rocketing prices, the Sahm Unit issued a statement in southern Gaza prohibiting the sale of bread loaves [i.e., plastic bags containing ten pitot] for more than five shekels. Residents were urged not to purchase at higher prices and bakery owners were required to adhere to the pricing and limit sales to two per customer to prevent scalping at bakery entrances. The unit warned that enforcement figures would take strict measures against violators of the regulations (Sahm Unit, Special Operations 103 Telegram channel, November 26, 2024).

• According to Khalil al-Haya, acting head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza, Hamas supports Egypt’s proposal to establish a committee for managing the Gaza Strip, to be composed of local professionals to handle day-to-day matters such as health, education, police, security, civil defense and municipal activities. He said the committee would operate in coordination with the PA government in Judea and Samaria and could provide assistance and services in the Strip, provided it received Palestinian, Arab and international approval and sufficient financial resources. He said that the proper working of the committee could contribute to ending Israeli “aggression” and added that Hamas was willing to cooperate, including reopening the Rafah Crossing and coordinating the management of the Palestinian police in Gaza (Hamas Telegram channel, November 20, 2024).
• The PLO negotiation support unit, led by Dr. Shadad Al-Aweili, met with the Tariq Zaarab, the PA minister of transportation, to discuss early reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. The meeting addressed the infrastructure, and presented items for a cooperation agreement between the parties. Zaarab noted the importance of governmental coordination for rebuilding Gaza and improving transportation as part of the vision for an independent Palestinian state (Ma’an, November 21, 2024).
• “Palestinian sources” claimed that Mahmoud Abbas, the PA chairman, was delaying the implementation of the Fatah-Hamas agreement to establish a joint committee for managing the Gaza Strip due to his refusal to issue an official decision. According to the report, Egyptian efforts to advance the issue have stalled following the failure of recent meetings in Cairo between representatives of the two factions. Muhammad Nizal, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the idea of establishing a civil administration in Gaza had received initial approval from Palestinian factions but they were awaiting the positions of Fatah and Mahmoud Abbas (al-Araby al-Jadeed, November 22, 2024).
• Senior Hamas figure Osama Hamdan, who lives in Lebanon, said a meeting with Fatah representatives in Cairo to finalize arrangements for establishing the committee had been delayed due to “developments,” including the death of Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, on October 16, 2024. Hamdan added that Hamas’ position was to establish a national reconciliation government to manage Palestinian affairs, but no agreement had yet been reached (al-Mayadeen, November 25, 2024).

America imposes sanctions on senior Hamas figures

• The United States Treasury Department announced that six senior Hamas figures would be designated as terrorist operatives. They are Abd al-Rahman Ghanimat, a senior member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades who lives in Turkey, accused of involvement in terrorist attacks; Musa Akari and Salameh Marai, accused of involvement in funding Hamas terrorist activities; Muhammad Nizal, Bassem Naim and Ghazi Hamad (United States Treasury Department website, November 19, 2024).
• Hamas condemned the American announcement, claiming it portrayed “legitimate Palestinian resistance [sic]” as terrorism and confirmed American bias in favor of Israel. Hamas claimed the decision was based on false assumptions and allegations aimed at tarnishing the image of the movement’s leaders while ignoring the Israeli leadership, which it claimed was responsible for committing “the most terrible genocide in history” [sic] (Hamas Telegram channel, November 20, 2024).
• Muhammad Nizal called on the American administration to present the legal evidence on which it based his inclusion on the sanctions list. He claimed that since joining Hamas 37 years ago he had worked “in the fields of politics, the media and other public spheres” (al-Araby al-Jadeed, November 21, 2024).

Charges brought in Germany against persons suspected of Hamas membership

• The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against four persons suspected of being members of Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization in Germany. The four, two Lebanese citizens, an Egyptian, and a Dutch national, were arrested in Germany and the Netherlands in December 2023. According to the charges, they acted as agents for Hamas over a period of several years, holding significant positions in the organization and maintaining direct connections with senior members of its military wing. According to the allegations they operated weapons storage facilities for Hamas in Europe. One defendant was accused of constructing a weapons cache in Bulgaria in 2019, while another allegedly transported a handgun from Denmark to Germany, and the group also reportedly attempted to set up a storage site in Poland. Authorities claim the arsenals were prepared for potential attacks in Germany, targeting locations such as the Israeli embassy in Berlin, the United States Air Force Base in Ramstein and the Tempelhof Airport area in Berlin (Der Spiegel, November 25, 2024).

Terrorist attacks

• This past week no terrorist attacks were carried out.

Counterterrorism activities

• The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining dozens of wanted Palestinians and those suspected of terrorist activities, and locating weapons and funds intended to finance terrorist activities (IDF spokesperson, November 19-26, 2024):
  • On November 20, 2024, Israeli security forces completed a 48-hour counterterrorism operation in Jenin and Qabatiya. During the operation, nine terrorist operatives were neutralized in ground and air strikes, some of whom had been involved in shooting attacks. In addition, dozens of explosive devices were destroyed, weapons and other combat materials were found and several wanted Palestinians were detained (IDF spokesperson, November 19–21, 2024). Kamal Abu al-Rabb, governor of the Jenin district, reported that eight Palestinians had been killed during the Israeli security forces’ operation, 19 others were injured, and significant damage was caused in Jenin and its refugee camp (Wafa, November 20, 2024). Hamas announced the deaths of two operatives from its military wing in the town of Kafr Dan and one more was killed in Jenin (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, November 20–22, 2024).

• • According to reports, on November 21, 2024, Jihad al-Qatouni, from the al-Ayn refugee camp, was killed during an IDF operation (Nablus News Telegram channel, November 21, 2024). The PIJ’s military wing confirmed he was an operative in the Nablus Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades (al-Quds Brigades Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, November 21, 2024).
  • On November 24, 2024, Israeli security forces operated in the village of Ya’bad near Jenin were attacked by explosive devices thrown at them by two terrorist operatives. The forces returned fire and killed the terrorists There were no security force casualties (IDF spokesperson, November 25, 2024). “Palestinian sources” identified the dead as Muhammad Hamarsha and Ahmed Zaid (Palestine Post Telegram channel, November 25, 2024).

• • On November 25, 2024, Israeli security forces prevented weapons from being smuggled into Israel from the Jordan Valley. The forces detained a suspect and found two bags containing 14 handguns and 65 weapon parts (IDF spokesperson, November 25, 2024).

Attempted assassination of Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir prevented

• Three Palestinians from Hebron were charged with forming a terrorist cell to assassinate Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli minister of national security, and his son. According to the indictment, the cell leader, Isma’il Ibrahim Awadi, approached Hamas and Hezbollah in the summer of 2024 to seek assistance in attacking Israelis and senior figures. He also monitored the travel routes of Ben-Gvir and his son, and studied the types of vehicles they used and the number of security personnel guarding them (Police and Shin Bet spokespersons’ units, November 21, 2024).

Activities of the Palestinian security forces

• This past week, according to reports the PA security forces continued locating and neutralizing explosive devices planted by terrorist operatives to harm Israeli security forces, including in the town of Tamun, in Nablus, in Tubas and between the villages of Jalud and Talfit. The Palestinian opposition news site al-Shaheed reported that nearly every day, security force operatives confiscated equipment or explosives belonging to “resistance fighters” in the cities and villages of Judea and Samaria. Additionally, they pursued “resistance fighters” wanted by Israel (al-Shaheed, November 20–25, 2024).
• Following violent clashes between Jewish settlers and local residents in the town of Beit Furik, political activist Marwan al-Aqra called on the PA and its security forces to protect Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. He argued that if they were unable, then young people should be allowed to take responsibility for defending the land and people. He added that Palestinians had the means to defend their land and called on all Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to prepare for a “threatening future, in which everyone may become a target of settler attacks” (al-Shaheed, November 24, 2024).

International activity

• Mahmoud Abbas, PA chairman, spoke with Josep Borrell, the EU foreign minister, about recent developments in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, and ways to implement UN resolutions related to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. According to reports he thanked the EU for its political and financial support for the implementation of the two-state solution, the construction of Palestinian institutions and strengthening the “Palestinian-European partnership.” He also expressed appreciation for Borrell’s call for a ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, as well as his support for accelerating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, preventing the “displacement” of residents, transferring responsibility for Gaza to the PA, condemning Israel’s decision to halt UNRWA’s activities, imposing sanctions on settlers and halting discussions related to the EU-Israel partnership agreement. He also noted the importance of European support for Palestinian efforts to achieve full UN membership and gain recognition of a “Palestinian state” (Wafa, November 21, 2024).
• Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, met in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. They reportedly discussed the current situation in the Palestinian arena and regional developments, the need to continue international and Arab cooperation to end the war in Gaza and Lebanon and to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza (Hussein al-Sheikh’s X account, November 25, 2024).

Responses to the arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and Gallant

• On November 21, 2024, the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court approved Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’ military wing who was killed in an Israeli strike in July 2024. According to the official announcement, the three are suspected of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes (ICC website, November 21, 2024).^[4] In the Palestinian arena, the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were welcomed, while the decision regarding Deif was largely ignored:
  • The PA welcomed the ICC decision, calling on all member states of the ICC in The Hague and the UN to implement the court’s decision and support a boycott of all connections and meetings with Netanyahu and Gallant (Wafa, November 22, 2024).
  • Fatah called the decision as “an achievement for justice and effective accountability,” accusing Israel of committing “massacres” in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria and pledging to continue efforts to hold those responsible for “war crimes” accountable (Wafa, November 21, 2024).
  • Hamas said the decision represented a significant and unprecedented step which rectified “the historical injustice toward the Palestinian people and the international disregard for human rights violations over 76 [sic] years of occupation.” Hamas called for expanding the investigation to include all “occupation” leaders and ministers and urged global cooperation with the ICC to halt the “crimes of extermination” against “civilians” in Gaza (Hamas Telegram channel, November 22, 2024).
  • The PIJ said it viewed the arrest warrant decision as a step in the right direction, though it came too late (PIJ Telegram channel, November 21, 2024).

Shots fired near Israeli embassy

• On November 24, 2024, a shooting occurred in the al-Rabia area of Amman, near the Israeli embassy in Jordan. The Jordanian Public Security Directorate reported that an individual opened fire at a security patrol, and the security forces pursued and killed him; three members of the Public Security Directorate were injured (Sky News Arabia, November 24, 2024). Jordanian government spokesperson and minister of communications, Mohammed al-Momani, called the shooting a “terrorist attack” on public security forces, adding that the shooter had a criminal record. He warned that any attack on Jordan’s stability and security was a “red line” and “would be met with firmness” (Petra Agency, November 24, 2024). No mention was made of whether the attack targeted the embassy.

Former Jordanian MP sentenced to ten years for smuggling weapons to Judea and Samaria

• The Jordanian State Security Court sentenced Imad al-Adwan, a former Jordanian MP, to ten years in prison on charges of smuggling weapons into Judea and Samaria, exporting and selling weapons and committing acts classified as “threatening public order in the kingdom.” He was arrested at the Allenby Bridge on April 22, 2023, in possession of a large quantity of weapons, exploiting his diplomatic immunity. He belongs to the al-Adwan tribe, a powerful and influential tribe in Jordan, known for its support of Palestinian “resistance” (al-Shaheed, November 22, 2024).