News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
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News of Terrorism and the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict March 19–25, 2014 Hamas tunnel dug for terrorist purposes uncovered in the southern Gaza Strip (IDF Spokesman, March 21, 2014). Overview This past week IDF forces uncovered a tunnel dug for terrorist purposes by Hamas and penetrating into Israeli territory, one of the longest ever uncovered. It was apparently intended to be used in carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli, including abductions. Hamas spokesmen tried to minimize its importance and Israel's achievement in uncovering it. Three terrorist operatives were killed in the Jenin refugee camp as an Israeli security force attempted to detain them. One of them was a Hamas operative who planned terrorist attacks against Israel. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) condemned the killing of the three; the Palestinian Authority (PA) joined in condemning them. 051-14 2 The Security Situation in Israel's South Tunnel Dug for Terrorist Purposes in the Southern Gaza Strip On March 18, 2014, IDF forces operating in the southern Gaza Strip uncovered a terrorist tunnel whose estimated length was 1,800 meters (1.1 miles), one of the longest ever found penetrating into Israeli territory. Inside were tools, generators, protective equipment and equipment for coating the walls with cement, indicating that until recently work was being done there. Apparently the tunnel was dug to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel, including abductions. According to General Sami Turgeman, chief of the southern command, the IDF had monitored its construction for a long period of time. He said it was "a strategic tunnel" for Hamas (IDF Spokesman, March 21, 2014). Note: In October 2013 the IDF uncovered a similar tunnel near one of the villages close to the Gaza Strip. Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas' military-terrorist wing, held a press conference where he tried to minimize the importance of the tunnel and its discovery. He claimed it was an old tunnel that had been destroyed in December 2013 by the rains, and therefore its discovery was not a security or military achievement for Israel. He also claimed that all the digging activity was part of the "resistance's" response to Israel's repeated acts of aggression (Al-Aqsa TV, March 20, 2014). Hamas military-terrorist wing holds a press conference to discuss the discovery of the tunnel (Al- Aqsa TV, March 21, 2014). 051-14 3 Rocket Fire This past week, after the most recent massive escalation, no rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory. Rocket Hits in Israeli Territory since January 1, 20131 50 60 40 18 13 20 6 5 5 4 3 3 0 1 2 2 1 0 0 Since the end of Operation Pillar of Defense (November 2012), 113 rocket hits have been identified in Israeli territory, including eight rockets fired at the southern Israeli city of Eilat. Annual Distribution of Rocket Fire2 1159 1200 974 925 845 1000 783 787 800 600 375 400 158 103 200 36 74 0 2006 2007 2008 Dec. 2008 200 9 201 0 201 1 201 2 2012 2013 2014 Jun. 2009 Pillar of operation defense cast lead Since January 1, 2013, 113 rocket hits have been identified. 1 As March 25, 2014. The statistics do not include mortar shell fire and rocket hits inside the Gaza Strip. 2 The statistics do not include mortar shell fire. 051-14 4 Judea and Samaria Three Terrorists Killed during an Attempt to Detain a Hamas Operative On March 22, 2014, three Palestinian terrorist operatives were killed in Jenin during an Israeli security force attempt to detain them. The three were killed after they opened fire on the IDF forces that went to the house they were hiding in to detain them. One of them was Hamza Abu al-Hija, a Hamas terrorist operative, son of Jamal Abu al-Hija, a senior Hamas operative in Judea and Samaria imprisoned in Israel. During the action two IDF soldiers incurred minor wounds. According to the commander of the Israeli forces participating in the action, the terrorist squad was planning to carry out a terrorist attack within the State of Israel in the immediate future, under the direction of Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip (Ynet, March 22, 2014). According to the Palestinian media, Hamza Abu al-Hija, 22, was a commander in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military-terrorist wing. He was also wanted by the PA's security services. The Palestinian media reported that he planned to carry out a showcase attack against Israel. The second Palestinian killed was Mahmoud Omar Abu Zina, 25, an operative in the PIJ's Jerusalem Brigades. The third Palestinian terrorist killed was an operative from Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (Al-Aqsa TV, March 22, 2014). The deaths of the three led to a wave of protests and condemnations in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip: Hamas issued a formal statement condemning the incident and warning Israel against committing so-called "additional crimes." Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the incident proved the advantages of the "resistance" and the fact that all attempts to crush it had failed (Filastin Al-'Aan, March 22, 2014). The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas military-terrorist wing, issued a formal death notice for the three and accused the PA of responsibility for their deaths because of its security coordination with Israel. 051-14 5 Left: The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades' formal death notice for the three killed in the Far'a refugee camp south of Jenin (Qassam.ps, March 22, 2014). Right: Hamza Abu al-Hija (Hamas forum, March 22, 2014). Bassam al-Sa'adi, senior PIJ figure in Jenin, said that Israel was trying to isolate the Palestinian people and damage its holy sites. He called on the PA to end its security coordination with Israel (Paltoday.ps, date, 2014). A joint Hamas-PIJ protest rally was held in the northern Gaza Strip. Khaled al-Batash, PIJ activist, gave a speech accusing Israel of responsibility for the deaths of the three, saying that his organization had chosen "jihad and resistance" (Ma'an News Agency, March 22, 2014). Nabil Abu Rudeina, PA spokesman, condemned what he called "Israeli escalation." He said the Israeli government was responsible and demanded the American government act quickly to "prevent everything from collapsing" (Wafa News Agency, March 22, 2014). 051-14 6 Cartoon from the PA-affiliated daily newspaper Al-Ayam. The caption reads "Bathing in Jenin." The figure in the tub is Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu (Al-Ayam, March 23, 2014). Residents of the Jenin refugee camp issued a statement praising the three "shaheeds" for adhering to the path they had chosen and for their struggle against the Israeli forces. They called for the continuation of the "resistance" and the end of the negotiations with Israel. Palestinian Violence Continues This past week violent incidents continued in Judea and Samaria, part of the so- called "popular resistance." Stones were thrown at Israeli civilians and Israeli security forces and Molotov cocktails were thrown at vehicles on main roads. Friday riots were held at the traditional friction points (Bil'in, Ni'lin, Nebi Saleh, Qadoum, Beit Umar, etc.). On March 20, 2014, a Molotov cocktail and stones were thrown at a bus en route from Jerusalem to Kiryat Arba. The Molotov cocktail shattered on the bus' front windshield. There were no casualties. The bus was damaged (Tazpit News Agency, March 20, 2014). Stones were thrown at a bus near the Nablus Gate in Jerusalem. One of its windows was cracked (Tazpit News Agency, March 20, 2014). 051-14 7 Left: Palestinians confront IDF forces in the village of Silwad, north of Ramallah. Right: Palestinians throw stones at IDF soldiers during the weekly riot in Bil'in (Filastin TV, March 21. 2014). Developments in the Gaza Strip The Rafah Crossing The Rafah crossing remains closed (for 65 days, according to Hamas sources). The de-facto Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip continues protesting its closure to the Egyptians. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called Egypt's persistent closing the crossing to Palestinians "a crime against humanity." He appealed to the Arab states and the world at large to intervene to lift the siege of the Gaza Strip (Ma'an News Agency, March 19, 2014). On March 23, 2014, the crossing was opened for a short time to allow for the passage of Gazan pilgrims going to Mecca; several hundred exited the Gaza Strip (Ma'an News Agency, March 23, 2014). Ihab al-Ghussin, spokesman for the Hamas administration, said that the Hamas administration was in contact with diplomatic and international entities to exert pressure on Egypt to open the crossing. He claimed Egypt and Israel were responsible for the welfare of the Gazans, who could not receive medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip (Radio Al-Aqsa, March 19, 2014). The Gaza Ark project3 issued an appeal to join its campaign to exert pressure on Egypt to open the Rafah crossing (Gazaark.org. March 19, 2014). 3 The Gaza Ark is a project of activists inside the Gaza Strip and beyond trying to carry out actions to defy and challenge Israel inside the Gaza Strip against the so-called "Israeli siege." 051-14 8 Gazan women demonstrate in front of the Egyptian embassy, demanding the continuous opening of the Rafah crossing (Palestine-info.info, March 20, 2014). Rally Marks the Anniversary of the Killings of Hamas Leaders On March 23, 2014, a rally was held to mark the tenth anniversary of the killing of Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas. It also marked the anniversaries of the killing of senior Hamas operatives Aziz al-Rantisi and Ibrahim al-Muqadma.