News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict July 21
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 (July 21 – 27, 2021) Overview Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in the Bayta and Nabi Saleh regions. One Palestinian was killed and several were wounded. In the meantime, Palestinians continued throwing rocks and a large number of Molotov cocktails at Israeli civilians, communities and vehicles driving on the roads in Judea and Samaria. The Gaza Strip: On July 25, 2021, the Gazan incendiary balloon-launching units renewed their activities, causing three fires in the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian media described the renewal of balloon launching, after three weeks of quiet, as "escalation to counter Israeli measures." In response, IDF aircraft attacked Hamas targets. So far the Egyptian mediation efforts have neither advanced reinforcing the establishment of the May 21, 2021 ceasefire nor lifted the restrictions on the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources reported that the Palestinian terrorist organizations were progressing with gradual escalation, beginning with a renewal of incendiary balloon launches. Weapons cache explosion: On July 22, 2021, there was an explosion on Omar al-Mukhtar Street near the al-Zawiya market, in one of the most densely populated neighborhoods of Gaza City. One man was killed and 14 were wounded, six of them children. The IDF spokesman in Arabic reported that the explosion took place in a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) weapons storehouse located in the heart of a popular market. The PIJ said it would take responsibility for the explosion and examine, along with all the relevant parties, the details of the "unfortunate incident." A mourning tent was erected in Gaza City where a PIJ banner was hung. PIJ operatives helped clear the rubble after the explosion. UN international commission of inquiry: On July 22, 2021, the UN Human Rights Council announced the formation of the international commission of inquiry, established "to investigate violations of international humanitarian law and all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law leading up to and since 13 April 2021, and all underlying 122-21 2 root causes of recurrent tensions."1 The commission will be headed by Navi Pillay, a jurist from South Africa, who is an International Criminal Court judge and was formerly the UN high commissioner for human rights. Judea and Samaria Palestinian demonstrations and clashes with Israeli security forces This past week there were violent clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli security forces in the region of Jabal Sabih, south of Nablus. The Palestinians rioted to protest the Eviatar outpost, throwing rocks and injuring two IDF soldiers. Nine Palestinians were injured. On July 20, 2021, the night harassment unit called on the Palestinian public to participate in "resistance" activities against the "occupation" as part of celebrating the Muslim religious holiday of Eid al-Adha (al-Istaqlal, July 20, 2021). Right: Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces in Jabal Sabih, south of Nablus, to protest the Eviatar outpost. Left: Residents of the village of Ni'lin demonstrate to protest the expropriation of land (Wafa, July 23, 2021). On July 23, 2021 a young Palestinian was seriously wounded when Palestinians rioted against Israeli security forces in the region of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah; he later died (Filastin al-Yawm, July 24, 2021). The IDF reported he was throwing rocks and endangering the life of one of the soldiers, adding that the incident would be investigated (IDF spokesman, July 24, 2021). The Palestinian media reported he was Muhammad al-Tamimi, 17, from the village of Dir Nidham, northwest of Ramallah. He went to the site to participate in the weekly riot protesting the settlements (Ma'an, July 24, 2021). His body was wrapped for burial in a Palestinian flag. Fatah flags were hung near his house and a Fatah mourning notice was hung in Ramallah (Watan TV, July 24, 2021). 1 https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=27119&LangID=E 122-21 3 Right: The funeral held in the village of Dir Nidham for Muhammad al-Tamimi (Wafa, July 24, 2021). Left: Mourning notice issued by Fatah for Muhammad al-Tamimi (Watan TV, July 24, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem expressed sorrow over his death, saying it showed the willingness of the Palestinian people for sacrifice in defense of their territory and holy sites, as well as their adherence to every form of the path of "resistance" [i.e., anti-Israel terrorism and violence] (Hamas website, July 24, 2021). The PIJ issued a statement expressing sorrow at al- Tamimi's death and support for all those clashing with the IDF. The PIJ called the clashes proof of the seriousness of the Palestinian people and their willingness to sacrifice to defend their territory and holy sites (PIJ website, July 24, 2021). On July 26, 2021, the death of a young Palestinian was reported, two months after he was wounded during clashes with IDF forces in Ramallah during Operation Guardian of the Walls (Sawa, July 26, 2021). Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli civilians, communities and vehicles driving on the roads. A large number of Molotov cocktails were used in attacks this past week. The more prominent events were the following:2 July 26, 2021: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. July 26, 2021: Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion Tunnel Road. No casualties or damage were reported. July 26, 2021: A Molotov cocktail caused a fire in a field near Eviatar (south of Nablus). No casualties were reported. 2 All information and reports are from Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria unless otherwise noted. 122-21 4 July 25, 2021: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus at the Tapuah Junction southwest of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported. July 25, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged. July 25, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus carrying IDF soldiers near Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported. July 24, 2021: IDF forces identified three Palestinians throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles southwest of Jenin. The Palestinians were detained. During their apprehension one of the Palestinians was wounded and later died. The other two were apprehended after a chase (IDF spokesman, Ynet, July 25, 2021). July 24, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus northeast of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported. July 24, 2021: A group of Israelis visiting the al-Malih Hot Springs in the Jordan Valley was attacked by several dozen Palestinians. An IDF soldier and two Israelis were injured. July 24, 2021: Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Ni'lin Junction north of Modi'in. No casualties or damage were reported. July 24, 2021: Rocks were thrown at a Border Guard vehicle west of Hebron. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. July 22, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus south of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported. Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near the Reihan Crossing (south of Umm al-Fahm). No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged. 122-21 5 The bus damaged by rocks (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, July 22, 2021). July 21, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle southwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. July 20, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle north of Modi'in. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged. 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 2 0 0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jul Jul Jan Jan Jun Jun Oct Feb Apr Sep Feb Apr Dec Aug Nov Mar Mar May May Perpetrator of shooting attack apprehended A joint Israeli security force activity recently led to finding the perpetrator of the June 2, 2021 shooting attack targeting the vehicle of an IDF reservist near Alon Moreh in Samaria. The 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. 122-21 6 shooter, who came from the village of Salem near Jenin, used a Carlo improvised machine gun. After the attack IDF forces searched for the shooter and eventually apprehended him. During interrogation he was revealed as a Hamas operative who had carried out the attack in revenge for Operation Guardian of the Walls and the death of a friend who had been killed during a riot in Judea and Samaria (Ynet, July 22, 2021). Israel's South Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel Since the ceasefire ending Operation Guardian of the Walls no rockets or mortar shell launchings have been identified from the Gaza Strip. Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020 3,319 400 350 300 261 250 200 122 150 100 25 43 50 15 1 0 1 3 3 15 4 4 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 -21 -21 -21 -21 -21 -21 -21 Jul Jul Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun "Guardian of the Walls" Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits 4000 3,852 3319 3500 3000 2500 2000 1,403 1500 1,159 1,119 974 925 1000 783 787 845 375 373 308 500 158 196 103 39 24 15 29 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Operation "Cast Lead" Operation "Eitan Cliff" Operation "Cloud Pillar" "Guardian of the Walls" 122-21 7 Arson terrorism On July 25, 2021, the Israeli fire and rescue services put out three brush fires in a relatively small area in the western Negev near the Gaza Strip.