News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (October 6-12, 2021)

Counterterrorism activities

•  Israeli security forces operating in Hebron searched houses and in one found hand grenades, Molotov cocktails, ammunition magazines, a handgun and various types of ammunition. Three Palestinians from Hebron were detained (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, October 11, 2021).
• Israeli security forces operating in the village of Urif, south of Nablus, detained two Palestinians on suspicion of using a lathe for unlawful purposes and confiscated improvised weapons.

Riots near the Damascus Gate

• For the past several days Palestinians have rioted at the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. On October 9, 2021, there was a mass clash of Jews and Arabs. On October 11, 2021, several dozen Palestinians went to the site and thew rocks at Israeli police forces and passing buses. The police implemented riot control measures and detained suspects. Several buses and vehicles were damaged (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, October 11, 2021).

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles, including buses, driving on the roads. The more prominent events were the following:^[1]
  • October 11, 2021: For the second day in a row, rocks were thrown at buses and other vehicles south of Givat Assaf, east of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicles were damaged.
  • October 11, 2021: Rocks were thrown at a bus between Mevo Dotan and Hermesh in northwestern Samaria. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • October 11, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near the al-Aroub refugee camp. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • October 11, 2021: Molotov cocktails were thrown at a bus and vehicles between Adam and Hizma, northwest of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported.
  • October 11, 2021: Rocks were thrown at a minibus carrying Arab workers on the trans-Judea road near the settlement of Adora, west of Hebron. A worker sustained superficial injuries and was evacuated by the Palestinian Red Crescent. The vehicle was damaged.
  • October 10, 2021: Rocks were thrown from a passing car at an Israel vehicle in the region of Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • October 9, 2021:Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Tunnel Road between Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. No casualties or damage were reported. A similar attack was carried out on October 7, 2021.
  • October 9, 2021: Shots were fired from a passing car at an IDF post at the Jit Junction, west of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The car drove away.
  • October 8, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Deir Qadis, west of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • October 8, 2021: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli bus on the road between the Ma’aleh Lavona Junction and Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
  •  October 7, 2021: An iron pipe was thrown at an Israeli bus near the Lion Gate in east Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. A bus window was shattered.
  • October 7, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Zif Junction, south of Hebron. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • October 7, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus carrying soldiers near Neguhot, southwest of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • October 5, 2021: A bottle of paint was thrown at an Israeli bus near Hizma. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged.

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[2]

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• This past week no rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory.

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Rush to receive work permits for Israel

• Following rumors about the possibility of receiving work permits for Israel, thousands of Gazans went to the offices of the bureau of commerce in the Gaza Strip. The ministry of labor published a notice on its website stating that permits were for businessmen only. The ministry accused Israel of issuing false information without coordinating with the ministry of labor, leading a rush of residents to apply. The ministry also blamed Israel for the unemployment in the Gaza Strip (website of the ministry of labor in Gaza, October 7, 2021). The COGAT stated that strengthening and stabilizing security would make it possible to continue implementing measures to ease the daily lives of the residents of the Gaza Strip (al-Munsaq website, October 7, 2021).

   
Palestinians swarm to the Palestinian bureau of commerce in Deir al-Balah (Twitter account of Ashraf Amara, October 7, 2021).

Palestinian farmers hold protest demonstration at the Kerem Shalom Crossing

•   On October 10, 2021, dozens of Palestinian farmers held a demonstration on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom Crossing to protest the difficulties Israel imposes on the export of agricultural produce from the Gaza Strip to Judea and Samaria (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, October 10, 2021).

Rebuilding the Gaza Strip

• Palestinian sources revealed that Hamas and Egypt had come to an agreement for Egypt to begin implementing steps to improve the financial situation in the Gaza Strip. Egypt would supply the Gaza Strip with various types of merchandise through the Rafah Crossing, including building materials, and would allow Gazan exports. According to the reports, Egypt was making preparations to install an electronic monitoring system at the Rafah Crossing to prevent the smuggling of weapons and banned commodities, as was agreed at a meeting held with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (al-Akhbar, October 8, 2021).
• Naji Sirhan, deputy minister of housing and labor in Gaza and holder of the Hamas rebuilding portfolio, said Hamas had reached agreements with Egyptian intermediaries to begin working on al-Rashid Street west of Beit Lahia, financed by Egypt and the United States. He added that the Egyptians had promised Hamas that reconstructing the high-rise buildings damaged during Operation Guardian of the Walls would be their top priority once the rate of rebuilding had increased. Building materials would be delivered to the Gaza Strip from Egypt through the Rafah Crossing in the near future (Sama News, October 9, 2021).

Hamas delegation to Cairo

•  On October 9, 2021, the visit of the Hamas delegation to Cairo ended. The Hamas leadership met with senior Egyptian officials, and members of the political bureau held internal meetings. According to reports, Hamas noted six issues that were discussed: Jerusalem, which was represented as a “red line;” the [Palestinian terrorist] prisoners [held in Israeli jails]; the release of the Hamas prisoners held in Saudi Arabia; the internal Palestinian reconciliation; the funding from Qatar and Hamas’ international activities (al-Mayadeen, October 9, 2021).

• Regarding the results of the visit, the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese al-Mayadeen network reported that the Hamas delegation had come to an understanding with Egypt, agreeing to maintain the lull along the Gaza Strip border “as long as Israel also honors the ceasefire.” In addition, Egyptian General Intelligence was fully aware of all the aspects of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel, and the ball was now in Israel’s court. According to Hamas, the prisoner exchange deal would be carried out in two stages (al-Mayadeen, October 9, 2021).
• According to Egyptian sources, the Hamas delegation will remain in Egypt until a response is received from Israel regarding negotiations. In addition, progress has been made in the prisoner exchange deal. The sources also revealed that a draft version of the deal existed, reducing the number of prisoners who were serving long sentences and increasing the number of prisoners “who did not have Israeli blood on their hands” (al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 10, 2021).
• Muhammad Nizal, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said the discussions focused on Jerusalem and a possible prisoner exchange deal with Israel. He said Hamas wanted an additional, different deal with Israel, which would include the six prisoners who had escaped from the Gilboa prison. He said Hamas was currently waiting for a response from Israel, and accused Israel of evasion and “intransigence.” As for the prisoners who would be included in the deal, Nizal said Marwan Barghouti would be head the list. Nizal rejected reports that a long-term lull had been discussed in Cairo, claiming there was a limited lull but Israel had not committed to it (al-Ghad, October 9, 2021).
• In view of the talks about a prisoner exchange deal, Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, held telephone conversations and meetings with released prisoners and their families. He met with the daughter of Fouad al-Shoubaki, a high-ranking Fatah operative imprisoned in Israel; and spoke with Miqdad al-Qawasmeh, a hunger-striking prisoner; and with Beshara al-Tawil, a released prisoner, in all discussions noting that Hamas was following the issue of the prisoners on a daily basis and working to free them. He also met with Fadua Barghouti, wife of Marwan Barghouti, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, and told her that Hamas would pay any and every price to release the prisoners (Sawa, October 9, 2021). Apparently publicizing the meetings was meant to give prominence to Hamas’ activities to release the prisoners and influence the Palestinian public opinion with the idea that Hamas was handling the defense and care of the prisoners.

Hamas response to the prisoners’ hunger stroke

• Hamas notified Israel that it was monitoring the hunger strike of the prisoners in Israeli jails, threatening that Israel’s avoiding the issue could have “unwanted consequences.” Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said Hamas was monitoring the strike on a daily basis and updating the Egyptians accordingly. He also said Israel’s avoiding the issue was liable to cause “unwanted consequences” (Sawa, October 9, 2021).

Speech given by Ziyad al-Nakhalah

• Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah gave a speech for the anniversary of the organization’s founding. He claimed Operation Guardian of the Walls had “exposed Israel’s [alleged] weakness” and revived the Palestinian people’s hope of defeating Israel (Telegram channel of the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, October 6, 2021).

Shehab agency’s Facebook account blocked

• Facebook announced for the second time in the recent months that it was blocking the account of the Hamas-affiliated Shehab News Agency. Shehab later responded by claiming that Majed Faraj, head of Palestinian general intelligence, had been involved in the decision. That was because, according to Shehab, of several uncomplimentary revelations the agency had made about Faraj’s part in the diplomatic crisis between the PA and Turkey, and in the death of political activist Nizar Banat. According to Shehab, Faraj asked PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh to contact Facebook and request the account be blocked (Shehab, October 8, 2021).

Al-Sisi’s comments to Mahmoud Abbas

• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke with Mahmoud Abbas about developments in the Palestinian cause and political process. Al-Sisi stressed that Egypt would continue its efforts in the peace process and promoting regional security and stability. He updated Mahmoud Abbas on the results of his meeting with the Israeli prime minister. Mahmoud Abbas praised the PA’s relations with Egypt (Wafa, October 6, 2021). According to Egyptian sources, Egypt will try to arrange a meeting in Cairo between Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas leadership (al-Araby al-Jadeed, October 10, 2021). After the item had been published Egyptian sources reported Egypt was not planning such a meeting and so far there had been no breakthrough in contacts for an internal Palestinian reconciliation (al-Quds, October 11, 2021)

World Bank president visits Ramallah

• World Bank President David Malpass arrived in the PA for an official visit, meeting with Mahmoud Abbas and Muhammad Shtayyeh. Mahmoud Abbas thanked him for the aid the World Bank gave the PA to fund infrastructure and institution-building projects. Mahmoud Abbas also informed him of the obstacles facing the PA economy’s growth and development, especially the “measures taken by the Israeli occupation” and the decline in international aid. Malpass said the World Bank would continue providing aid for developing the Palestinian economy and funding projects (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, October 5, 2021). Malpass and Shtayyeh discussed instituting closer relations and continued funding for various PA projects (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 5, 2021).

  
Right: World Bank President David Malpass (left) and Mahmoud Abbas. Left: David Malpass (second from right) and Muhammad Shtayyeh (extreme left) (Wafa, October 5, 2021).

Israeli court decision allows Jews to pray on the Temple Mount

• On October 5, 2021, an Israeli court ruled to revoke the restraining order issued by the Israeli police for a civilian who prayed on the Temple Mount, stating that he had prayed quietly. The decision led to extensive Palestinian and Muslim criticism of [Israel’s alleged] attacks on Islamic holy sites, and warnings of the consequences of the ruling (Shehab, October 9, 2021). Mahmoud Abbas instructed Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian delegate to the UN, to act immediately in collaboration with Arab states, especially Jordan, to counter the court ruling, which he called a clear violation of international law and UN resolutions (Wafa, October 8, 2021).
• Critics of the ruling claimed it was an Israeli plan to expel Muslims from the al-Aqsa precinct for the sake of the Israeli settlers. PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh warned Israel against trying to change the status of al-Aqsa mosque, and demanded the United States meet its commitments to preserve the status quo in the Temple Mount compound and not allow that kind of praying. Shtayyeh called on the Arab-Muslim nation to take steps to end Israel’s activities on the Temple Mount (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 6, 2021).
•  Fadi al-Hidmi, PA minister for Jerusalem affairs, said Israel was inciting anti-Palestinian escalation in east Jerusalem, and described the ruling as a dangerous, unprecedented development. He called on the Arab-Muslim states to take a strong stand (Wafa, October 7, 2021). Mahmoud al-Habash, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor for religious affairs and a judge in the PA’s Sharia Court, condemned the Israeli court ruling, stating they did not recognize rulings of Israeli courts because they had no authority over the Temple Mount, which was a Muslim endowment, and east Jerusalem, which according to international law was an occupied territory (Mahmoud al-Habash’s Facebook page, October 8, 2021). Al-Habash held a press conference in Ramallah where he condemned the ruling, claiming it was a gross Israeli violation, an attack on Islam and liable to cause a religious war. He called on all the international organizations to act against Israel immediately, before it was too late, saying they would not permit an attack on al-Aqsa mosque or remain silent (Mahmoud al-Habash’s Facebook page, October 8, 2021).

• Muhammad Hussein, the mufti of Jerusalem, warned that such an attack on al-Aqsa mosque was liable to be the spark that ignited the entire world (al-Mudar, October 7, 2021). Hamas said the ruling allowing Jews to pray on the Temple Mount could cause a new “explosion” and lead to the collapse of efforts to achieve a lull (al-Akhbar, October 9, 2021).

   
Mass demonstration in Hebron organized by Hizb al-Tahrir to protest the Israeli decision (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, October 9, 2021).

• On October 8, 2021, the Jerusalem district court decided to override the previous ruling, issued by a lower court, allowing Jews to pray quietly on the Temple Mount. The court accepted the appeal lodged by the Israeli Police, which gave as its reason the importance of preserving the status quo. So far the Palestinians have not responded to the new court ruling.

Financial aid for UNRWA

• Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy, announced the EU would provide UNRWA with its yearly donation of €92 million (about $106 million). He said the EU supported UNRWA both politically and economically since the agency provided vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees and “brought stability to the region” (EU website, October 11, 2021).

New Palestinian chief of police

• On October 5, 2021, a new chief of police was appointed at a ceremony in Muhammad Shtayyeh’s office. Muhammad Shtayyeh praised the outgoing chief, Hazem Atallah, who had held the office since 2008, and incoming Yusuf al-Helu (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, October 5, 2021).
• General Yusuf al-Helu was born in the village of Bayta, south of Nablus. He was Yasser Arafat’s personal bodyguard, and attended many international bodyguarding courses. He held several positions in the security services guarding Palestinian “presidents.” Since 2012 he has been in charge of the administration for instructing Palestinian security forces. He is a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council and the Palestinian National Council (PA police force website, October 11, 2021).

    
Right: Appointing the new chief of police in Muhammad Shtayyeh’s office (Wafa, October 5, 2021). Left: General Yusuf al-Helu (Palestinian police website, October 11, 2021).

Authorization for family reunification

• The PA ministry of civilian affairs said Israel had authorized 442 requests for family reunification, after a 12-year hiatus. The requests granted by Israel enable people to be inscribed in the Palestinian population registry of residents who do not hold PA ID cards, especially those who came from Arab countries. Registration gives them legal standing. Hussein al-Sheikh, PA minister of civilian affairs, called on other residents with the same status to go to the ministry and renew their requests (al-Sharq al-Awsat, October 12, 2021).

Palestinian reaction to Israeli intention to construct homes in the Atarot area

• The news that Israel was planning to construct 10,000 new homes in the Atarot area near Qalandiya was condemned by the PA foreign ministry. The ministry said it frowned on the project as “colonialist expansion” actively implemented on land of the Qalandiya airport north of Jerusalem. According to the ministry, the project will swallow more than 15,000 dunams (about 3,700 acres) and complete the “settlement ring” separating east Jerusalem from the Palestinian area to the north. The ministry warned of the project’s serious consequences for the chances of realizing peace based on the two-state solution, and called on the United States to intervene immediately and force Israel to stop the implementation of the projects (Facebook page of the PA ministry of the interior, October 6, 2021). Hussein al-Sheikh said the plan confirmed “the right-wing settlement approach of the government of Israel,” the death of the two-state solution and preparation for the next [popular] explosion (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, October 6, 2021). Walid Assaf, chairman of the Authority for the Struggle against the Wall and the Settlements, also criticized the plan (Wafa, October 6, 2021).

Ongoing Palestinian protest over changes to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron

• On October 11, 2021, al-Hayat al-Jadeeda published another report criticizing the improvements Israel was making in the access to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. According to Imad Hamdan, director of the building committee in Hebron, Israel is excavating land that belongs to the Muslim endowment and the Cave of the Patriarchs. He claimed Israel had taken control of the territory and deprived the Hebron municipality and Islamic waqf administration of all administrative and legal authority. He also claimed the earthworks were destroying archaeological [remains] of the Mameluke and Ottoman eras located near the Cave of the Patriarchs, adding that behind making the site more accessible was Israel’s economic objective of making a profit while at the same time destroying Palestinian culture and history.
• According to Hassan al-Salamein, a researcher in the legal unit of the Hebron’s building committee, the [hidden Israeli] objective of improving accessibility to the site is to turn it into a synagogue, to Judaize the Old City of Hebron and annex it to Kiryat Arba (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, October 11, 2021).
•  On October 8, 2021, a Muslim mass morning prayer was held near the Cave of the Patriarchs. Many of the participants answered the call to join the prayer as a way of showing solidarity with the Cave of the Patriarchs and to protest Israel’s actions (alquds-city, October 8, 2021).

Judea and Samaria

• On the afternoon of October 12, 2021, the ministry of health in Ramallah issued the following data on coronavirus infections: the number of active cases was 2,907, down from 5,605 on October 5, 2021; there were 71 patients in ICUs, 12 of them on ventilators; and the number of deaths so far was 2,785. The number of fully-vaccinated Palestinians (two shots) was 884,855. The epicenter of coronavirus infection remained the Nablus district (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, October 12, 2021).

The Gaza Strip

• The ministry of health in Gaza reported that as of October 12, 2021, there were 12,710 active cases of coronavirus, down from 17,892 on October 5, 2021. Of 2,963 tests administered in the 24 hours between October 11 and 12, 2021, 649 were positive (a positive rate of 22%). So far a total of 1,479 Gazans have died of coronavirus-related causes, up from 1,422 on October 5, 2021). The number of hospitalized Gazans is 265, of them 172 are in serious or critical condition. So far 459,428 Gazans have been vaccinated, up from 428,860 on October 5, 2021 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, October 12, 2021).