News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 4-10 , 2021)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 (August 4-10 , 2021) Overview Judea and Samaria: On August 9, 2021, IDF forces prevented a stabbing attack south of Nablus. This past week clashes continued between Palestinians rioters and Israeli security forces in the village of Bayta (south of Nablus), peaking on Friday, August 6, 2021, when a Palestinian rioter was killed and several dozen were wounded. On August 5, 2021, a delegation of thirty consuls and representatives of EU countries and international institutions paid a visit to Bayta to see the situation first hand. The Gaza Strip: On August 6, 2021, four fires broke out in the western Negev near the Gaza Strip, caused by incendiary balloons. In response the IDF attacked Hamas terrorist targets in Gaza. A delegation of the Palestinian terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, headed by the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leadership attended the inauguration of the new Iranian president in Tehran. Efforts continue to find a mechanism for the transfer of the money from Qatar to needy Gazan families and to employees of the Hamas administration. The Palestinian Authority (PA): The PA's economic crisis worsens as the government is forced to borrow funds from banks to pay the salaries of its employees. However, the PA remains scrupulous in paying the families of prisoners and shaheeds by circumventing local banks, which refuse to transfer the funds. Judea and Samaria Stabbing attack prevented On the evening of August 9, 2021, IDF fighters identified Palestinian woman near the Yitzhar Junction (south of Nablus) as suspicious. She had a knife and tried to stab one of the soldiers stationed at the site. The soldiers initiated procedure for detaining a suspect, which included shooting at her legs and wounding her (IDF spokesman, August 10, 2021). 130-21 2 The knife carried by Fairouz Albaw (IDF spokesman, August 10, 2021). The Palestinian media reported the woman was Fairouz Fayiz Mahmoud Albaw, 23, from Abu Dis in east Jerusalem (al-Boaba website, August 10, 2021, Twitter account of Alaa Shath, August 10, 2021). Under her Facebook page profile picture she wrote, "Bayta – heartbreak! A new occupation begins. There is nothing that depresses me except the condition of our people. Let us die, as long as your can live, our country! Our souls are [dedicated to] the homeland" (Facebook page of Fairouz Albaw, August 9, 2021). Facebook profile picture of Fairouz Albaw On August 7, 2021, she posted the following: "Jabal Sabih in the town of Bayta south of Nablus is no less holy than Sheikh Jarrah or Batin al-Hawa1 or other sites...The occupation exploited the igniting of the global media explosion expressing solidary with Sheikh Jarrah, Batin al-Hawa or Gaza, and carried out their plot to take over the lands of Bayta and Jabal Sabih...Bayta needs you. Standing up for the town is the least you can do" (Facebook page of Fairouz Albaw, August 7, 2021). 1 Jabal Batin al-Hawa, on the southern slope of the Mount of Olives southeast of the neighborhood of Silwan 130-21 3 Demonstrations and clashes with Israeli security forces This past week the clashes between Palestinian rioters and Israeli security forces continued in the village of Bayta (south of Nablus). The Palestinians have been protesting the Eviatar outpost. The violence peaked on Friday, August 6, 2021, when about 700 Palestinians threw rocks and rolled burning tires at the Israeli security forces (IDF spokesman, August 6, 2021). One Palestinian rioter was killed and several dozen were wounded. The ministry of health in Ramallah reported that Imad Ali Muhammad Dweikat, 38 [37, according to Wafa], from Bayta, had been killed (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, August 6, 2021). The Fatah movement in Bayta issued a mourning notice for him, stating he was a movement member (Fatah branch in Nablus Facebook page, August 6, 2021). Palestinians riot in Bayta (Wafa, August 6, 2021). Right: Mourning notice issued by Fatah (Facebook page of the Fatah branch in Nablus, August 6, 2021). Left: Fatah flags waved at the funeral (Wafa, August 6, 2021). 130-21 4 On August 5, 2021, a delegation of thirty consuls and representatives of EU countries and international institutions visited Bayta for a first-hand look at the situation. Mousa Hameil [apparently the deputy head of the Bayta municipality, who often expresses himself to the media] reviewed the situation for the delegation and elaborated on the Palestinians killed and wounded while rioting against the Israeli security forces. Those present called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to evacuate the site (Facebook page of the Bayta municipality, August 5, 2021). The British consulate in Jerusalem reported that the heads of the diplomatic legations and representatives of the European countries visited Bayta in response to growing concerns of more violence from the settlers [sic]. All the participants stressed their objection to Israel's settlement policies and the steps taken to implement them. They also noted that Israel, as an occupying power, was duty-bound to protect the Palestinians and their property (Britain's official website, August 5, 2021). The European delegation at Bayta (Twitter account of the British consulate in Jerusalem, August 5, 2021). Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, condemned his death, calling it a "revolting crime" and part of the series of Israel's daily crimes against the Palestinian people. He called on the international community to protect the Palestinians, and said that in Mahmoud Abbas' next speech before the UN General Assembly he would present a new initiative that would prevent Israel from harming the Palestinians and provide international protection for them against Israel. Taysir Abdallah, a member of Fatah's Revolutionary Council, said the Revolutionary Council planned to hold its next meeting in Bayta (Wafa, August 7, 2021). Responses to the death of Imad Ali Muhammad Dweikat The PA foreign ministry said in an announcement that Dweikat's death was a response to the visit of the EU delegation and assigned responsibility for the alleged "crime" to the 130-21 5 government of Israel. The ministry called on eye witnesses from legal and humanitarian organizations to document the events in preparation for presenting them to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN agencies dealing with the issue (Wafa, August 6, 2021). Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua condemned Israel, saying Israel was responsible for Dweikat's death. He called on the Palestinian people to escalation their "struggle" against Israel (Shehab, August 6, 2021). Military-style funeral for Palestinian whose body was returned by Israel On August 3, 2021, Israel transferred the body of Muhammad Farid Ali Hassan to the PA. He came from Qusra, southeast of Nablus, and was killed on July 3, 2021, during a riot against settlers in the Esh Kodesh outpost near Nablus. He threw an IED from the roof of one of the houses and was shot and killed by IDF fire. A military-style funeral was held for him. Military-style ceremony at the Rafidia hospital in Nablus begins the funeral (Facebook page of the Fatah branch in Nablus, August 4, 2021). Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli civilians, security forces and vehicles driving on the roads. The more prominent events were the following:2 August 9, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle northeast of Jerusalem. Apparently its passengers were Palestinians. A woman was injured by flying glass and the front windshield was damaged. August 8, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an IDF post near the Casbah in Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported. August 7, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli ambulance northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported. 2 All information and reports are from Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria unless otherwise noted. 130-21 6 August 6, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle south of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported. August 5, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle west of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. August 4, 2021: A Molotov cocktail was thrown, apparently from a passing car, at an Israeli vehicle on Route 465 northwest of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. August 4, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle south of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. The front windshield was damaged. August 4, 2021: Several Molotov cocktails were thrown at vehicles on the road northwest of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported. August 3, 2021: Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli bus south of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported. Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 20203 20 18 16 14 14 12 10 7 8 6 6 6 6 4 4 3 3 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jul Jul Jan Jan Jun Jun Oct Feb Apr Feb Apr Sep Dec Aug Aug Nov Mar Mar May May 3A significant attack is defined by the ITIC as involving shooting, stabbing, a vehicular attack, the use of IEDs, or a combination of the above. Stones and Molotov cocktails thrown by Palestinians are not included. 130-21 7 Israel's South Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel Since the ceasefire that ended Operation Guardian of the Walls on May 22, 2021, no rocket or mortar shell attacks from the Gaza Strip have been identified in Israeli territory.