News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 5 – 11, 2020)
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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 5 – 11, 2020) Overview The Gaza Strip border is becoming more violent, with IED and incendiary balloons launched into Israeli territory almost daily. Most of the balloons have landed in the region of the Israeli communities near the border, causing fires (the Nature and Parks Authority reports that at least 1,000 dunams (about 250 acres) have been burned). Some of the balloons penetrated deep into Israeli territory, including one with a delayed-action fuse found in the southern Israeli city of Arad, a distance of 70 kilometers (almost 44 miles) from the Gaza Strip. The balloons were launched by a number of designated networks affiliated with Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in Gaza. The balloons were accompanied by a media campaign threatening Israel. The threats were backed up with rockets launched by Hamas towards the sea to send Israel the message to moderate its response to the balloons. In response to the IED and incendiary balloons IDF aircraft carried out several attacks on Hamas posts and facilities in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli defense minister closed the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the delivery of all merchandise with the exception of humanitarian aid. Hamas applauded the balloon launchings, promised to protect the operatives launching them, and threatened that any Israeli "aggression" would meet with a powerful response. What is behind the increasing violence from Gaza, which began with rocket fire at Sderot last week? The Palestinian and Arab media proposed two explanations: one is that the violence is meant to goad Qatar into delivering the final installment of money and to extend the duration of the donations. The other is that violence from Gaza is meant to exert pressure on Israel to implement the understandings reached during the talks for a lull arrangement (executing projects, increasing the activities of the crossings, lifting the so- called "siege"). It is also possible that Hamas has renewed its policy of controlled violence to leverage civilian aid and political gains. That may indicate Hamas has gained self confidence from its 199-20 2 (so far) successful halting of the spread of the coronavirus in Gaza. In all probability Hamas is not interested in a broad military confrontation with Israel at the present time, but as in the past, it takes into account that its policy of brinksmanship has led to periodic rounds of escalation between Gaza and Israel. COVID-19 Infection – Overview Judea and Samaria1 In the Palestinian Authority (PA) territories the trend toward flattening the COVID-19 curve continues. According to reports from the ministry of health in Ramallah, as of August 10, 2020, there were 6,351 active cases, 4,224 in the Hebron district, accounting for 66% of the total number. The number of active cases in the east Jerusalem neighborhoods stands at 1.823, with 24 patients in ICUs and three on ventilators. So far there have been 103 deaths (as of August 11, 2020). The ministry of health adopted the W.H.O.'s protocol regarding the isolation period of COVID-19 patients. The ministry of health distributed a circular stating that the isolation period of asymptomatic patients would be shortened to ten days from the receipt of a positive outcome of a PCR test, without the need for additional testing. The isolation of a symptomatic patient would end after at least ten days from the appearance of the symptoms, and three additional days without symptoms, without the need for additional testing (Dunia al-Watan, August 10, 2020). An asymptomatic person will be considered a carrier of the virus but not as having been infected (Sawa, August 10, 2020). Gaza Strip In contrast to the widespread infection in the Palestinian Authority (PA) territories, the Hamas administration has successfully coped with the virus in Gaza. Three new cases were detected this past week, Palestinians who returned through the Erez Crossing. Thus there are currently ten active cases in Gaza, all of them hospitalized in the quarantine center at the Rafah Crossing (as of August 11, 2020). 1 For further information, see the August 10, 2020 bulletin, "The Spread of COVID-19 in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip." 199-20 3 Opening the Rafah Crossing Given the low level of infection, preparations are being made in Gaza to receive more returning residents. The PA legation in Egypt said the Rafah Crossing would be open to passage in both directions between August 11 and 13, 2020 (Wafa, August 10, 2020). On the eve of the opening the ministry of the interior in Gaza issued a list of compulsory precautionary measures for returning Palestinians (Dunia al-Watan, August 10, 2018). Iyad al- Buzum, spokesman for the Gazan ministry of the interior, said that immediately upon arrival returnees would spend 21 days in quarantine centers, including the two new ones. The ministry of health said that quick-result blood tests would be give to all returnees in order to detect the virus. Returnees with positive results will be quarantined at the Rafah Crossing and PCR tests will be administered. He said they expect to find 20% to 30% of them infected with the virus. Anyone who came into contact them will also be quarantined (al-Aqsa, August 10, 2020). Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel This past week no rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory. On August 10, 2020, the Palestinian media reported that the "resistance" [i.e., the terrorist organizations, apparently Hamas] had launched a number of test rockets towards the sea with the aim of improving their military capabilities. According to reports, eight test rockets were launched, five in one barrage (al-Ra'i news agency, established by the Hamas administration, August 10, 2020). The ministry of the interior in Gaza said explosions heard during the day came from "resistance" activities (Facebook page of the ministry of the interior in Gaza, August 10, 2020). Hamas often fires test rockets towards the sea. The launching was exceptional because of the relatively large number of rockets, fired during the day with local residents not only watching, but taking pictures as well. It is possible that the rocket fire was intended as a kind of Hamas warning to Israel to moderate its response to the launchings of IED and incendiary balloons (see below). 199-20 4 The rocket launches (palsawa, August 10, 2020). Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire 700 691 600 578 500 400 300 200 122 100 89 2 2 2 1413 4 6 15 3 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 July July May May June June April April March March Jan-19 Jan-20 August August October February February December November September Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits 3852 4000 3000 2000 1,403 1159 1,119 974 925 845 783 787 1000 375 373 158 146 103 39 24 15 29 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Operation Cast Lead Operation Pillar of Defense Operation Protective Edge 199-20 5 Clash on the Gaza Strip border On August 9, 2020, gunshots were heard from the southern Gaza Strip in an area where Israel is constructing the border security fence and underground barrier. Following the gunshots the construction work was halted and mortar shells were fired as a screen. Shots were also fired at IDF forces that arrived at the site. No casualties were reported (IDF spokesman, August 9, 2020). The Palestinian media reported that shots were fired from the Gaza Strip at workers who were constructing the border fence. They reported that in response the IDF fired artillery at a Hamas restraint-force post east of Deir al-Balah (Shehab Twitter account, August 9, 2020). Launching IED and incendiary balloons After months when no balloons were launched, this past week a large number of IED and incendiary balloons were launched into Israeli territory. They caused fires in various locations near the Gaza Strip border, and in distant locations as well. The Israeli Nature and Parks Authority reported that at least 1,000 dunams (about 250 acres) were burned. The launches: August 10, 2020 – Israel's Fire and Rescue Services reported they had put out five fires. A local council in the western Negev reported 12 fires. In addition, an incendiary balloon was seen landing in an open area in the western Negev (Israel Police Force spokesman's unit for the western Negev, August 10, 2020); a fire broke out near one of the kibbutzim in the western Negev; and three incendiary balloons exploded in the sky over the southern city of Sderot (Ynet, August 10, 2020). In the southern town of Ofakim a balloon was found with a suspicious object attached to it; examination showed it was an incendiary balloon (Israel Police Force spokesman's unit for the western Negev, August 10, 2020). 199-20 6 Right: Fire set by incendiary balloon near the security fence in the western Negev. Left: Balloon with IED attached found in a field in the western Negev (Twitter account of Matan Tzuri, August 10, 2020). August 9, 2020 – Incendiary balloons caused two fires near a kibbutz in the western Negev. The balloon launchings continued during the evening and into the night (Ynet, August 9, 2020). August 8, 2020 – An improvised hand grenade was found attached to a balloon cluster in a field in the western Negev.