News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 1 – 12, 2021)

Attacks and attempted attacks

Stabbing attack in east Jerusalem

• On the afternoon of September 10, 2021 a Palestinian stabbed a Border Police fighter, superficially wounding him. The attack took place at the Lion Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem near the entrance to the al-Aqsa mosque compound. The Palestinian was shot and killed. According to the initial investigation, the terrorist entered the Old City from the Damascus Gate and turned his steps towards the Temple Mount. The Palestinian media reported he was Dr. Hazem al-Joulani, 50, a Palestinian doctor, married with children, who lived in Shuafat in east Jerusalem. He was the director of the Riyan College for Alternative Medicine in east Jerusalem (Palinfo, September 10, 2021).

   
Right: CCTV documentation of the stabbing attack. Left: The terrorist is shot and killed (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, September 11, 2021).

   
Right: Dr. Hazem al-Joulani (Palinfo Twitter account, September 10, 2021). Left: The knife used in the attack (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, September 10, 2021).

• Hamas rushed to praise the attack. Muhammad Hamadi, Hamas spokesman for Jerusalem affairs, said it was a sign that the Palestinians would not remain passive while Israel “harmed” Jerusalem and the prisoners. The Palestinians, said Hamas, were prepared to respond strongly if Israel continued its activities. According to Hamas, in the coming days there will be other “actions” of solidarity with the prisoners (Hamas Telegram channel, September 10, 2021).
• The stabbing attack was carried out after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) declared Friday a “day of rage” in solidarity with the prisoners in Israeli jails. They called on the Palestinian public to go to the traditional friction points and confront the Israeli security forces (Hamas Telegram channel, September 9, 2021).

Recapture of four of the six convicts who escaped from the Gilboa prison ^[3]

• On the evening of Friday, September 10, 2021, after five days of searches, two of the six prisoners who escaped from the Gilboa prison in northern Israeli were captured. One was Mahmoud al-Ardah, the PIJ terrorist operative who orchestrated the escape. The following day two more were captured; they had been hiding in a parking lot used by truckers. One was Zakaria Zubeidi, the most famous of the six fugitives. The Israeli security forces continue searching for the remaining two. In Israeli assessment at least one of them crossed the green line into the PA.
• The Palestinian media dealt extensively with the fugitives and reactions to their capture. They praised their escape and published pictures of them. Some of the media criticized the PA because of reports it had assisted Israel’s efforts to capture the fugitives (al-Akhbar, September 10, 2021). The Palestinian terrorist organizations issued threats and said Israel would be held responsible for their medical welfare. Fatah said the recapture of the prisoners would not weaken the prisoners or the Palestinian people, and would only strengthen their determination to continue the struggle (Wafa, September 9, 2021).

• According to Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, the “freedom tunnel” rekindled hope in the hearts of the Palestinian people. The capture of the fugitives, he claimed, was one of the manifestations of the ongoing, open confrontation with Israel, which was the force that motivated all the Palestinians to continue their “resistance” [i.e., terrorism and violence] and the intifada (al-Andalou News, September 11, 2021). Hamas leader Muhammad al-Madhoun said Hamas would not abandon the fugitives or the Palestinian prisoners, and would secure their release in an MIA and prisoner exchange deal. He added that their detention would motivate the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to continue their intifada against Israel. He called on Palestinians to ignore reports in the Israeli media, whose only objective was to create a schism within the Palestinian people (Hamas Telegram channel, September 11, 2021).
• The PIJ praised the prisoners and said Israel was responsible for their lives and welfare. According to the PIJ, any harm to the prisoners would be considered a declaration of war on the Palestinian people. Senior PIJ figure Da’ud Shehab said the capture of the fugitives did nothing to soften the blow inflicted on the IDF (Shehab, September 11, 2021). PIJ spokesman Tareq Silmi praised the demonstrators, saying that all the Palestinian organizations had to actively foment a popular intifada. He also said they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel (PIJ Telegram channel, September 11, 2021).
• The Palestinians held marches and demonstrations to show solidarity with the prisoners. In a number of locations, among them the Halhul area of Hebron, Hawwara, the southern entrance of Bayta and Nablus, demonstrators confronted the Israeli security forces. A general strike was declared in the Jenin district, which included businesses, educational institutions and PA institutions, to show solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and the four fugitives who had been caught. Marches were also held in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians stressed that Israel was responsible for the fugitives’ welfare, and some threatened a response if they were harmed.

   
Right: Palestinians riot in Jabal Sabih (near the Eviatar outpost, south of Nablus) (Palinfo Twitter account, September 10, 2021). Left: Palestinians riot in Kafr Qaddum (Wafa, September 3, 2021).

   
Demonstration to show solidarity with the escaped convicts, Ramallah (Wafa, September 11, 2021).

• The PA commission for prisoners’ affairs said the security prisoners in Israeli jails were planning a hunger strike which would be carried out in waves. During the first wave 1,500 prisoners would strike and more would join each day (Facebook page of the commission for prisoners and released prisoners’ affairs, September 11, 2021).

Counterterrorism activities

• On September 11, 2021, after the guard post in Hebron had been repeatedly attacked with Molotov cocktails, an IDF force waited in ambush for the attackers. The soldiers identified a number of Palestinians, one of whom threw Molotov cocktails. The soldiers shot him in the leg. Two other Palestinians fled. No Israeli casualties were reported (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, September 11, 2021). In the meantime, an IDF force waited in the alleys of Hebron near the Jewish settlement. When Palestinians began throwing rocks the soldiers detained a number of Palestinians, including the rock-throwers (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, September 11, 2021).
• On September 11, 2021, Border Police fighters at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron detained a Palestinian who tried to enter the cave with a knife. The suspect, 18 years old from Hebron, was taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, September 10, 2021).
• On September 6, 2021, Border Police fighters at the Cave of the Patriarchs detained a Palestinian who aroused their suspicions. While he was being searched he threw a knife on the ground (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, September 6, 2021).

Palestinian killed by IDF fire

• Palestinian sources reported the death of Ra’ed Yusuf Rashad Jadallah, killed by IDF fire in Beit Ur al-Tahta, west of Ramallah. According to the Palestinians, he was killed at the entrance to the village. The Hamas media described his death as an “execution.” The circumstances of the event are under investigation. The PA foreign ministry condemned his death and accused Israel of responsibility (Wafa, September 1, 2021). His death was widely discussed in the Palestinian social media, with posters expressing sorrow and condemning Israel.

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli driving on the roads. The more prominent events were the following:^[4]
  • September 12, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle driving on the Halhul bypass road north of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 12, 2021: Palestinians burned tires on a hill west of the Israeli community of Naveh Tsuf, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 12, 2021: Palestinians threw an IED at the Israeli community of Beit El, northeast of Ramallah. It exploded before it reached the community. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 11, 2021: Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails and burned tires between Beit Fajjar and the Israeli community of Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion, northeast of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 11, 2021: Four burning tires were placed on route 446 northwest of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported
  • September 11, 2021: Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails from a passing vehicle at an IDF force near Hizma, north of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 11, 2021: Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails at a vehicle on the Husan bypass road near Beitar, west of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 11, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • September 11, 2021: Rocks were thrown and burning tires were rolled at an Israeli police patrol car east of Qalqilya. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 11, 2021: Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails from a vehicle at an IDF force between Beit Fajjar and Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion northeast of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 11, 2021: Palestinians threw rocks and placed burning tires near the fence of the Israeli community of Psagot, east of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported
  • September 10, 2021: Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails and burned tires south of the Ofarim Junction northwest of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported
  • September 10, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in the region of Turmus Aya, north of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • September 10, 2021: An IED and Palestinian flags were found east of the Israeli community of Adi Ad, northeast of Ramallah. The IED was neutralized by a demolitions expert. A pipe bomb was thrown at the Israeli community of Beit El; it did not explode. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • September 10, 2021: Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails at a vehicle entering the Israeli community of Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion.
  • September 10, 2021: Rocks were thrown at a police patrol car at a junction north of Kiryat Arba, east of Hebron. No casualties were reported. The patrol car as damaged.
  • September 9, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus and vehicles near the northern entrance of the Israeli community of Efrat, southeast of Bethlehem. There were no casualties; damage was reported.
  • September 8, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near the Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. A bus window was broken.
  • September 3, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Givat Asaf south of Bethlehem. The front windshield of the bus was damaged and the driver was superficially injured by flying glass.
  • September 3, 2021: Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the fence of the Israeli community of Beit El. No casualties or damage were reported. Two Molotov cocktails were thrown in the Tekoa region, southeast of Bethlehem.
  • September 2, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in the region of Sinjil. A civilian was injured. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • September 2, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in the region of Tekoa. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • September 1, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in the region of Luban al-Sharqia, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[5]

The crossings in Judea and Samaria open

• The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced that between September 12 and 14, 2021 [Yom Kippur eve] the crossings in Judea and Samaria would operate as usual. They were closed on the eve of Rosh Hashanah following the escape of six terrorists from the Gilboa prison. The COGAT warned the public, especially people in Israel illegally, not to approach the border security fence, where there would be a reinforced IDF presence, or to assist the two fugitives who were still at large (COGAT website, September 11, 2021).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• Two rockets were fired at Israel on consecutive days and were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system. No terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. Since Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, three rockets have been fired into Israeli territory.
• On the night of September 10, 2021, a short time after the capture of two of the fugitive terrorists was announced, a rocket was fired at the western Negev. A woman sustained superficial injuries while running to a sheltered area. In the Gaza Strip it was reported that the “resistance” had fired a rocket but no organization was named.
• In response to the rocket fire the Israeli Air Force attacked Hamas terrorist targets, including a post used for machinegun fire, a site for storing weapons situated near a school and mosques, and a Hamas military facility where concrete for terrorist tunnels was manufactured (IDF spokesman, September 11, 2021). the Palestinian media reported that “farmland” in eastern Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza Strip) had been attacked, as had a Hamas post in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip and a Hamas post in western Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip (Ma’an, September 11, 2021).
• On the evening of Saturday, September 11, 2021, another rocket was fired at Israel. Sirens were sounded in the southern Israeli city of Sderot and in neighboring communities. A man sustained superficial injuries while running to a sheltered area. The rocket was launched a short time after Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, issued a recorded statement in which he said the capture of the four fugitives could not conceal the shame of the Israeli security forces. He promised that the prisoners in Israeli jails would be released in the near future (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades website, September 11, 2021).
• In response to the rocket fire the IDF attacked Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip which included a military facility and underground targets, a training camp, a site for storing weapons and a terrorist tunnel (IDF spokesman, September 12, 2021). According to the Palestinian media, a Hamas restraint force post in Deir al-Balah, a post in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and a post of Hamas’ naval force in Rafah were attacked (Ma’an, September 12, 2021).

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Violence along the Gaza Strip border

• At the beginning of September 2021, the night harassment units renewed their violent activities along the Gaza Strip border. On September 2, 2021, they reported the death of Ahmed Saleh, 26, from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, killed by IDF gunfire east of Jabalia (Safa Facebook page, September 2, 2021). His mother said he had been wounded in the leg and face several times in the past during “events” on the border. A funeral was held for him in Jabalia with no indication of terrorist organization affiliation (Safa Facebook page, September 3, 2021). The activities of night harassment units waned after the visit of Mohammed al-Emadi, chairman of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, who brought promises of the transfer of financial aid from Qatar (See below)

   
Right: Night harassment unit activities east of al-Bureij (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, August 31, 2021). Left: Night harassment unit activity in the eastern Gaza Strip. The operative second from the right is wearing a green Hamas military-terrorist wing headband (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, September 2, 2021).

Arson terrorism

• On September 5, 2021, a number of balloons were launched into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. They were not IED or incendiary balloons, rather they carried pictures of Palestinians recently killed in clashes with IDF forces, of the heads of the military-terrorist wings and warnings for Israel. A terrorist organization source reported an agreement in the Gaza Strip to gradually return to IED and incendiary balloon-launching activity (al-Ayam, September 5, 2021).

   
Balloons carrying a warning for Israel (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, September 4, 2021).

• On September 6, 2021, three fires broke out in Israeli territory near the Gaza Strip border. Fire marshals from the Israel Fire and Rescue Service said they had been caused by incendiary balloons. In response the Israeli Air Force attacked targets in the Gaza Strip, among them a military facility in Khan Yunis where concrete for terrorist tunnels was produced (IDF spokesman, September 6, 2021). A Palestinian source reported that the military-terrorist wings had shot at Israeli UAVs.

Smuggling of suspected tunnel-construction equipment prevented

• Security checkers of the crossings authority at the Tarqumiya Crossing, northwest of Hebron, prevented the smuggling of gas masks suspected of being intended for Hamas’ tunnel project in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli ministry of defense reported that such equipment was banned from delivery to the Gaza Strip, and included filters, valves and instructions in Hebrew. The equipment was transferred to the ministry of defense for examination (Israeli daily newspaper Ma’ariv, September 1, 2021).

   
Right: The equipment confiscated at the Tarqumiya Crossing. Left: Assembly instructions in Hebrew (The crossings authority of the Israeli defense ministry, September 1, 2021).

Israel continues easing conditions for civilians in the Gaza Strip

• Despite the violence from the Gaza Strip, on September 1, 2021 Israel announced additional measures to ease daily life for the Gazan civilian population. For the first time since Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, Israel permitted the delivery of construction materials, including steel, for the private sector. The COGAT announced the fishing zone would be increased to 15 nautical miles and additional equipment and merchandise would be delivered. The export of fruit, vegetables and textiles to Judea and Samaria was authorized, the supply of water from Israel to the Gaza Strip was increased by five million cubic meters and 5,000 additional permits were issued to Gazan businessmen and workers to enter Israel (COGAT Facebook page, September 1, 2021).

   
Right: Potato snacks for Judea and Samaria exported from the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, September 9, 2021). Left: A Gazan fisherman displays his catch after the fishing zone was enlarged (Safa Facebook page, September 2, 2021).

• The announcement of the additional measures was covered by the Palestinian media. According to Adnan al-Bureij, BBC correspondent in the Gaza Strip, the measures were new, varied, and the largest in number since the end of Operation Guardian of the Walls. He said some Palestinians were surprised that Israel would announce such measures during a week when Gazans were rioting along the fence and calls were heard to hold more demonstrations.
• The Hamas-affiliated Palestinian media continued to broadcast belligerent statements about all aspects of the situation with Israel, even after the additional measures for the civilian population had been announced. Palestinian sources called the measures Israeli “media propaganda” to fool world public opinion and the mediators, who increased their contacts with the organizations after Israel’s announcement. The objective, claimed the Palestinian sources, was to exert pressure on the organizations to stop their “protest activities” at the border. In addition, claimed the sources, the new measures were far from meeting the demands of the “resistance” and the needs of the Gazans, and therefore the “pressure” will continue (al-Ayam, September 2, 2021). Mou’in Rajab, a economic expert in the Gaza Strip, called the new measures “very important” but noted that the Gaza Strip’s economy needed more, it needed all limitations at the crossings to be removed, including limitations on imports and exports (al-Risalah, September 2, 2021).

The funds from Qatar

• Mohammed al-Emadi, chairman of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, arrived in the Gaza Strip for the distribution of funds to needy families. The Hamas leadership complained to him about Israel’s interference regarding the list of names of the families entitled to receive the funds. Hamas claimed Israel had removed the names of about 2,000 families from the list citing “security.” The Hamas leadership met with al-Emadi and told him that the “popular activity” along the border would continue until all the “resistance’s” demands had been met (al-Quds, September 4, 2021).

   
Right: Mohammed al-Emadi meets with the chairman of the contractors’ association in Gaza City (website of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, September 7, 2021). Left: Mohammed al-Emadi (left) visits al-Aqsa mosque (Palinfo Twitter account, September 7, 2021).

• Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua said the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip were determined to have all their demands for breaking the [so-called Israeli] “siege| met and would no longer accept gradual measures to ease their lot. He stressed that all possibilities were open before the Palestinian people and the tools for exerting pressure on Israel were readily available. They could, he claimed, force Israel to lift the “siege” (al-Aqsa radio, September 4, 2021).
• After several days of talks, before al-Emadi left the Gaza Strip the Palestinian terrorist organizations agreed to his request to give him until September 15, 2021, until the new measures had been put in place. According to reports, the Egyptian and Qatari mediators promised to rush implementing the measures. Representatives of the organizations repeatedly warned they would escalate their “protests” along the border if Israel withdrew from its commitments or did not implement them, or if the promises of the mediators were not kept (al-Akhbar, September 7, 2021).
• After leaving the Gaza Strip Mohammed al-Emadi said the PA had changed its mind about delivering the funds from Qatar to the Gaza Strip to pay the salaries of Hamas employees in the Gaza Strip. He said that despite the understandings that had been reached with Qatar, the PA informed him that it would not deliver the funds through the banks operating under its authority in the Gaza Strip. The PA explained it was concerned the banks could be exposed to international legal proceedings regarding their support for and funding of terrorism. Al-Emadi said Qatar was looking for an alternative (Shehab, September 10, 2021). Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua said the decision not to pay the salaries of Hamas employees illustrated the role played by the PA in continuing the “siege” and reflected the PA’s desire to continue the status quo rather than dealing with any issue that would ease the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip (al-Risalah, September 11, 2021).

Reconstructing the Gaza Strip

• In the meantime, reconstruction in the Gaza Strip has begun. After the tripartite summit meeting in Cairo where efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip were discussed, Bassem Rady, spokesman for the Egyptian president, said construction would begin in the near future. He said the phase of removing the rubble had been completed (Radio Egypt, September 3, 2021).
• Alaa al-Araj, head of the Gazan contractors’ association, said Qatar would rebuild buildings that had been completely destroyed and would pay civilians whose houses had been damaged until said houses were ready for habitation. Kuwait, he said had promised to rebuild more than 35 high-rise and other buildings destroyed by the IDF. According to al-Araj, the problem of importing construction materials had been solved through international agreements which had been reached and by virtue of the European pressure exerted on Israel. He said the construction would be carried out by issuing tenders to contractors (al-Aqsa radio, September 8, 2021).
• The ministry of welfare in the Gaza Strip announced that on September 5, 2021, 4,000 families harmed during Operation Guardian of the Walls would be paid 878 shekels (about $275) a month for three months. The money would be paid only to families living in the Gaza Strip and not to refugee families, and payment would be delivered through the Bank of Palestine (Sawa, August 31, 2021).

Rare public appearance of Yahya al-Sinwar

• After an extended period of time during which Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, was neither heard nor seen in public, the Palestinian and Iranian media published a picture of him along with a few quotes, although it was not clear where or under what circumstances the statements had been made. He was quoted as saying that the Gaza Strip could wage another military confrontation, which would occur at the last minute if all other measures to lift the “siege” were unsuccessful. He said Gaza had not seen him in a long time but he could say his health was good (Telegram channel of journalist Hassan Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, September 3, 2021).

Palestinians die in tunnel on the Egypt-Gaza Strip border

• On September 4, 2021, the ministry of the interior in Gaza reported it had removed the bodies of three Palestinians from a tunnel in the Rafah region under the Egypt-Gaza Strip border. According to Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the ministry of the interior in Gaza, all communication with the three had been lost on September 2, 2021. The Palestinian media quoted sources in the Gaza Strip which claimed the three had been killed when the Egyptian army released poison gas into the tunnel (ministry of the interior in Gaza Facebook page, September 4, 2021).
• The Palestinian terrorist organizations condemned the Egyptian authorities for killing three Palestinian workers with poison gas. They called on the Egyptian government to investigate the “crime” and ensure it would not be repeated (Telegram account of Palestinian terrorist organizations, September 3, 2021). An Egyptian security source said Egypt was working with Hamas for an arrangement regarding the Gaza-Israel border. The source rejected the possibility that the death of the three Palestinians would pose obstacles in the path of Egyptian-Hamas coordination. According to the source, the accusations of poison gas did not express the official positions of Hamas and the PIJ (Mada Miser, September 4, 2021).

Tripartite summit meeting in Cairo

• On September 2, 2021, a summit meeting was held in Cairo attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, King Abdallah of Jordan and PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas. It was held on the eve of the opening session of the UN General Assembly and apparently its intention was to restore the Palestinian cause to the international agenda. The three discussed shared issues and efforts to revive the peace process. They stressed that the Palestinian cause remained the central issue for Egypt and Jordan, and the principle that the strategic choice of the Arabs and Palestinians was peace according to the 1967 borders. They also stressed their objections to all Israeli violations and measures that harmed efforts to implement the two-state solution or the Palestinian hope for lives of dignity (Wafa, September 2, 2021)

• Before the summit meeting Mahmoud Abbas met alone with President el-Sisi. Afterwards Abbas said Egypt would continue its efforts for the Palestinian cause and would work closely with the Palestinians. He said it was important to support the Palestinian positions regarding a political arrangement and to work to renew negotiations in addition to establishing calm, and at the same time to work for Palestinian unity. He called on Hamas to recognize the PA’s international legitimacy so that it would be possible to establish a Palestinian unity government (Wafa, September 2, 2021).

The PA prime minister continues blaming Israel for the PA’s financial condition

• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh held a series of meetings where he continued blaming Israel for the PA’s difficult financial situation and demanded international financial aid for the PA:
  • Meeting with the Canadian representative to the PA, Muhammad Shtayyeh stressed the PA’s difficult financial situation, the result of the stopping of international aid and the ongoing Israeli deduction of tax revenues it collects for the PA. He demanded the intervention of the international community to stop Israel from deducting funds (Wafa, September 8, 2021).
  • Meeting with Democratic congressmen, Muhammad Shtayyeh thanked them for American aid to the PA, and asked them to exert pressure on Israel and force it to abide by agreements it had signed (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, September 3, 2021).
  • Meeting with John Hansen Bauer, the Norwegian envoy to the Middle East peace process, Muhammad Shtayyeh noted the PA’s difficult financial situation caused by Israel’s deduction of the tax revenues it collects and by the many loans the PA had to take from Palestinian banks. He stressed the importance of the financial aid the PA receives, which allows the government to continue functioning (Wafa, September 1, 2021).

PA activity regarding the International Criminal Court

• The PA foreign ministry appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to begin its investigations as soon as possible. According to the ministry, the ICC announced that Israel and the settlers had carried out violations, accused Israel of ongoing and various escalation and aggression measures, especially the demolition of buildings. The ministry also noted that the visit of the Israeli defense minister to the region of the Eviatar outpost was provocation, and that the ministry viewed the visit as escalation of the aggression against Palestinian lands. The ministry called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to exert pressure on Israel to remove the Eviatar outpost. It also called on the Human Rights Council and UN judicial agencies to bring Israel to trial for human rights violations and crimes against the Palestinians (Wafa, September 4, 2021).

Palestinians request Israeli gesture for family unification

• Following the announcement of Hussein al-Sheikh, PA minister of civilian affairs, in the Palestinian media about Israeli authorization for 5,000 permits for family unification, it was reported that crowds of Palestinians thronged to the offices of the PA authority for civilian affairs in al-Bireh to register for permits (Wafa, August 31, 2021). The Independent Human Rights Authority, which operates in Ramallah, demanded that Hussein al-Sheikh define the criteria for the receipt of a permit (QudsN Twitter account, August 31, 2021).

Judea and Samaria

• The number of active cases in Judea and Samaria continues to rise. According to the ministry of health in Ramallah on September 12, 2021, there were 11,377 active cases, up from 8,422 on August 31, 2021, 73 patients in ICUs, 15 of whom were on ventilators, and a total of 2,597 deaths from coronavirus-related causes. So far 860,000 Palestinians have been vaccinated, 49.2% of the target population, up from 688,802 on August 31, 2021). The Nablus district continues as the epicenter of the disease with 3,232 active cases (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, September 12, 2021).

The Gaza Strip

• According to the ministry of health in Gaza on September 12, 2021, there were 19,302 active cases, up from 11,882 on August 31, 2021. Of the 2,523 tests administered between September 11 and September 12, 2021, 745 were positive, a rate of 30%. So far 1,220 Gazans have died of coronavirus-related causes. There are 385 ICU patients, 248 in serious or critical condition. So far 349,523 Gazans have been vaccinated, up from 246,954 on August 31, 2021 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, September 12, 2021).