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News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (January 16 - 22, 2019)

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News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (January 16 - 22, 2019) רמה כ ז מל ו תשר מה ו ד י ע י ן ( למ מ" ) כרמ ז מה י עד מל ו ד י ע י ן ול רט ו ר News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (January 16 - 22, 2019) Overview This past week there was a relatively low level of violence at the "return march" (about 14,000 participants). The Gazan media reported that the demonstrators had been instructed to exercise restraint and discipline. In ITIC assessment that was because of the expected arrival of the third installment of money from Qatar for Gazan salaries. However, the Arabic media reported Hamas sent messages threatening Israel that if it did not meet its commitments to the lull (transferring funds, increasing the fishing boundaries, allowing materials to enter the Gaza Strip), Hamas would escalate the events on the ground. This past week a stabbing attack was prevented near an IDF check post south of Nablus. The would-be stabber was shot and killed. In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. On February 3, 2019, an American law will go into effect making any recipient of American aid subject to the jurisdiction of its courts. Therefore, Mahmoud Abbas ordered a letter sent to the American administration stating the Palestinians would refuse security aid from the United States until a solution had been found. Israel's South The "return march" of January 18, 2019 On January 18, 2019, the Palestinians held the 43rd "return march" in the Gaza Strip. About 14,000 demonstrators participated. Palestinian sources reported that the Supreme National Authority of the Great Return March had taken steps to guard the safety of the demonstrators during march activities and to preserve the [so-called] non-violent nature of the events. The steps were taken to prevent Israel from harming the demonstrators. 015-19 2 Da'ud Shehab, a member of the Supreme National Authority, said the Authority had taken steps to protect the marchers from the [so-called] "terrorism of the occupation." He also said preparations had been made to reduce the amount of damage and loss of life (palsawa.com, January 17, 2019). A senior Supreme National Authority figure said that all the committees and groups operating at the five "return camps" had been given clear instructions to exercise restraint and discipline during the demonstrations. In addition, he said the Authority had asked the demonstrators to keep away from the friction and "danger" points exposed to attack (Filastin al-Yawm, January 18, 2019). Right: The "return march" in eastern Gaza City. Left: The "return march" in eastern Jabalia (Supreme National Authority Facebook page, January 18, 2019). "Harassment group" operatives in the "return camp" in the central Gaza Strip carry a "coffin" covered with an Israeli flag (Supreme National Authority Facebook page, January 18, 2019). Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, said that during the January 18, 2019 "return march" 30 Palestinians had been injured by IDF gunfire. In addition, two journalists and three paramedics who had inhaled tear gas were injured (Ashraf al- Qidra's Facebook page, January 18, 2019; al-Andalou News, January 18, 2019). Senior Hamas figures who participated in the event said the marches would continue, and threatened that they would intensify if Israel did not carry out its side of the understandings: 015-19 3 Fathi Hamad, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said the Palestinians were determined to restore all their villages and cities by means of the "return march." He added that they emphasized the need [for Israel] to implement the understandings, and if the understandings were not implemented, the marches would return to "harsh activities," including [launching incendiary] balloons, night harassment, [burning] tires, etc. (video on the Supreme National Authority Facebook page, January 19, 2018). Senior Hamas figure Fathi Hamad during the "return march" (Supreme National Authority Facebook page, January 19, 2019). Ahmed Bahar, deputy chairman of the Legislative Council, said national unity was the way to victory and liberation, and the Palestinians were united around the "resistance." He added that the Palestinians were united in their determination to continue the "return marches" (alresala.net, January 18, 2019; Palestinian Legislative Council in the Gaza Strip Facebook page, January 18, 2019). Ahmed Bahar speaking at the "return camp" in the eastern part of Gaza City (Facebook page of the Palestinian Legislative Council in the Gaza Strip, January 18, 2019). Senior Hamas figure Essam Aldalis claimed Israel was shirking its commitments, recently agreed upon through the mediation of Egypt, the UN and Qatar. As an example he gave Israel's preventing the passage of funds into the Gaza Strip. He called on the mediators to exert pressure on Israel. He said the Palestinian organizations would be 015-19 4 committed to the understandings as long as Israel was committed to them, and that Israel had to meet its commitments if it wanted to avoid a new confrontation (Filastin al-Yawm, January 19, 2019). After the demonstrations the Supreme National Authority called on the public to participate in the Friday, January 25, 2019 march, whose theme would be "The crime of the siege – a plot that will not succeed" (qudspress.com, January 18, 2019). This week as well the Authority announced that the weekly mini-flotilla and its activities scheduled for January 21, 2019, would be postponed, [allegedly] because of the difficulty in reaching the site (Supreme National Authority Facebook page, January 20, 2018). Rocket Fire Rocket fire into Israeli territory This past week no rocket hits were identified in Israel territory. Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire During and Between the Recent Rounds of Escalation1 500 450 1,130 rockets and 460 400 mortar shells since 350 May 2018 300 250 200 200 150 180 150 45 100 13 50 7 2 40 17 0 2 3 9 2 1 1 1 1 The statistics of the launching of rockets and mortar shells are according to the IDF spokesman's assessment.. 015-19 5 Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2018 500 477 450 1,130 rockets and 400 mortar shells since 350 May 2018 300 250 213 180 200 150 150 100 67 50 3 4 0 0 43 0 1 2 0 Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits 4000 3852 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 974 1159925 1137 1000 783 787845 375 373 500 158 103 39 24 15 29 2 0 Gunfire targeting IDF forces On January 22, 2019, IDF forces near the security fence were attacked with gunfire. In response an IDF tank shot at a Hamas post in the northern Gaza Strip (IDF spokesman, January 22, 2019). 015-19 6 Judea and Samaria Attempted stabbing attack On the evening of January 21, 2019, a Palestinian drove south from Nablus to an IDF checkpoint. He was asked to present identification. He got out of his vehicle and tried to stab an IDF soldier. He was shot and killed (IDF spokesman, January 21, 2019). The attacker was Muhammad Fawzi Adawi, 36, originally from the Qalqilya district. He lived in the village of Rujeib south of Nablus district and worked in the sanitation department of Salfit (Wafa, January 21, 2019; Facebook page of Muneir al-Jaghoub, the head of Fatah's bureau of mobilization and organization, January 21, 2019). Right: The knife the terrorist planned to use to carry out the stabbing attack (IDF Twitter account, January 21, 2019). Left: Muhammad Adawi (Facebook page of Muneir al-Jaghoub, the head of Fatah's bureau of mobilization and organization, January 21, 2019). Other events on the ground Israeli security forces carried out counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining dozens of Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity, seizing weapons and confiscating funds used to finance terrorist activities. Palestinians continued throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at vehicles, damaging several. The more prominent events were the following: On the night of January 20, 2019, the Israeli security forces secured the entrance of 1,500 Jewish worshippers into the precinct of the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus. As they entered, Palestinians threw stones at the Israeli security forces, slighting wounding two soldiers (IDF spokesman, January 21, 2019). 015-19 7 On January 20, 2019, Israeli security forces operating in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley detained thirty Palestinians wanted of involvement in terrorist activities (IDF spokesman, January 21, 2019). On January 18, 2019, Israeli security forces destroyed the apartment of terrorist Khalil Yusuf Ali Jabarin in the village of Yatta (south of Hebron). On September 16, 2018, he stabbed an Israeli to death at the Gush Etzion Junction. During the activity Palestinian rioters threw stones at the IDF forces (IDF spokesman, January 18, 2019). Destruction of the house of the terrorist in the village of Yatta (IDF spokesman's website, January 18, 2019). On January 16, 2019, Israeli security forces confiscated six lathes used to make weapons; the lathes were found in a workshop in Nablus (IDF spokesman, January 16, 2019). On January 16, 2019, during Israeli security force searches, money used to fund terrorist activities totaling about $2700 was confiscated (IDF spokesman, January 16, 2019) 015-19 8 Significant terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria during the past 2 year 9 9 8 8 7 3 7 6 6 6 5 1 5 4 4 4 7 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 July July May June April March August August January January October October February December December November November September September Developments in the Gaza Strip The third installment of funds from Qatar to Hamas Mohammed al-Emadi, the chairman of the Qatar committee for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, reported that the third installment of money from Qatar to pay salaries in the Gaza Strip, totaling $15 million, would arrive in the Gaza Strip on January 23, 2019.
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