News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (April 27 – May 3, 2021)

Shooting attack in Ariel

• On April 29, 2022, an Israeli was killed in a shooting attack carried out at the entrance to the Samarian city of Ariel. Two terrorists drove to the guard post at the city’s western entrance and shot the guard at point-blank range, killing him. They then drove away (IDF spokesman, April 28, 2022).
• According to the initial investigation, the attack was premeditated. The terrorists equipped themselves with weapons and drove a vehicle with Israeli license plates. After the attack they drove for about 20 minutes, and, arriving at an open area, abandoned the car and set it on fire. Apparently, another vehicle was waiting and took them to a hideout. Several people reported that the week before the attack the terrorists carried out surveillance of the site.
• Immediately after the attack, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Fatah’s military-terrorist wing, posted an announcement to the Palestinian social networks claiming its operatives had carried out the attack. However, there was no formal claim of responsibility. On May 2, 2022, Hamas military-terrorist wing issued a formal claim of responsibility. According to the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades announcement, the wing claimed full responsibility for the “heroic action in Salfit” carried out by two of its fighters. They claimed the attack was part of a series of actions responding to Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa mosque, and would not be the last action (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades Telegram channel, May 2, 2022). The Hamas claim of responsibility was exception because the organization rarely claims official responsibility for attacks in Judea and Samaria.
• Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua said that issuing a claim of responsibility was a new stage in the “resistance” carried out for the sake of al-Aqsa mosque (Shehab, May 2, 2022). Muhammad Hamada, Hamas spokesman for Jerusalem, said the claim was a message for Israel of what it could expect (Khabar Press, May 2, 2022). PIJ spokesman Tareq Izz al-Din said his organization welcomed the heroic action of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades fighters in Salfit and was proud of the example it set. He added that the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades’ claim of responsibility was a declaration from the Palestinian organizations that they supported and stood behind the “struggle” in the West Bank (Filastin al-Yawm, May 2, 2022).
•  IDF forces pursued the terrorists, blocked roads and entered a number of towns in the Salfit region. During the search for the terrorists Palestinians rioted in a number of locations. In one incident, a Palestinian was killed at the entrance to the village of Azun, east of Qalqilya.

   
Armed Palestinians in Azun, east of Qalqilya, deploy to confront Israeli security forces
(QudsN Twitter account, April 30, 2022)

• The Palestinian media reported the Palestinian who had been killed was Yahya Adwan, 27, from Azun (Shehab Twitter account, April 30, 2022). According to the report, he was a released prisoner who had spent a total of six years in Israeli prisons. He was wounded in the past and was wanted by the IDF (al-Quds al-Arabi, April 30, 2022). The PA gave him a military-style funeral in Azun, attended by the governor of the Qalqilya district (Shehab Twitter account, April 30, 2022).

   
Right: Yahya Adwan (al-Quds al-Arabi, April 30, 2022). Left: The military-style funeral held for Yahya Adwan in Azun (Shehab Twitter account, April 30, 2022)

• Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem rushed to praise the terrorist attack, claiming the Palestinians who carried out the “heroic attack” wanted to end Ramadan with a “quality action.” He called it a translation into action of the declaration that Jerusalem was a red line, and proved that Israel’s measures were ineffective against the devotion of young Palestinians to fighting and confrontation (Hazem Qassem’s Telegram channel, April 30, 2022). PIJ spokesman Tareq Izz al-Din said the action “confirmed” the continuation of the “resistance” to the Israeli occupation and the failure of Israeli security. He added that they would continue “resistance” [i.e., terrorist attacks] until they achieved their rights (Telegram channel of the PIJ’s propaganda unit, April 30, 2022). Abu Hamza, spokesman for the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, called the attack in Ariel “a Jerusalem Day gift to the Palestinian people” and to free people everywhere (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel, April 30, 2022).
• Hezbollah’s combat propaganda unit praised the attack, claiming it “proved the determination” of the Palestinian people to defend themselves with every means at their disposal, to stand up to Israel and to “struggle” until they were victorious (Telegram channel of Hezbollah’s combat propaganda unit, April 30, 2022).
• On April 30, 2022, the Israeli security forces reported the capture of the two terrorists who carried out the shooting attack. They were found in the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, near Salfit. The two surrendered and gave up their weapons. The father of one of the terrorists was detained on suspicion of helping them leave the scene of the attack.

     
Right: CCTV picture of the shooting attack (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, April 29, 2022). Left: The weapons seized along with the captured terrorist operatives
(Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 30, 2022)

• The Palestinian media reported the two terrorists were (Amad, Sanad, April 30, 2022):
  • Yahya Muhammad Mari’ – 19, a released prisoner. His father Muhammad Mari’ was imprisoned in Israel for 13 years. He was an aide of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin and a friend of Yahya Ayash, for whom his son is named.
  • Yusuf Samih ‘Asi – 20, a released prisoner. In January 2022 he posted a cartoon and picture of Yasser Arafat to his Facebook page, and praised his path and memory.

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[1]

• On the night of April 27, 2022, the Laylat al-Qadr prayer was held in al-Aqsa mosque, the most important night of Ramadan. According to the waqf, about 250,000 worshippers came to al-Aqsa mosque to pray. The Israeli police reported that about 150,000 of the 250,000 were Palestinians from Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. Videos of the prayer showed Palestinian and Hamas flags, and worshippers chanting, “With spirit and blood we will redeem al-Aqsa.”
• In preparation for Laylat al-Qadr, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced that all the crossings would be open for the passage of worshippers. He also issued the list of those would could pray at al-Aqsa mosque (COGAT website, April 27, 2022). The number of Israeli police present was increased to preserve calm and to ensure the safe arrival of the tens of thousands of Muslims who wanted to pray on the Temple Mount. Before dawn several Palestinians tried to riot, but others at the site removed them without having to involve the police (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 28, 2022).

    
Right: Muslim worshippers on the Temple Mount during the Laylat al-Qadr prayer (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, April 27, 2022). Left: The flag of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, hung on the Temple Mount for Laylat al-Qadr (Paldf Twitter account, April 28, 2022)

• On April 29, 2022 the prayers for the final Friday of Ramadan were held. Before the prayers the Palestinian social media spread calls asking the public to go to al-Aqsa mosque en masse. After the dawn prayer Palestinians rioted in the Temple Mount compound, throwing rocks at the Western Wall, forcing Israeli to enter the Temple Mount compound and employ riot control measures to restore calm. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that 42 Palestinians had been wounded. The afternoon prayers were held without particular incident, attended by about 160,000 worshippers (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, April 29, 2022). the Palestinian media following the events reported that thousands of Israeli police had been deployed throughout east Jerusalem and near the al-Aqsa mosque gates.
• After the dawn prayer on April 30, 2022, hundreds of Palestinians, some of them masked, rioted on the Temple Mount, throwing rocks and shooting fireworks at the Western Wall. Israeli police were again to enter the Temple Mount compound and employ riot control measures to restore calm (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 30, 2022).
• On the morning of May 2, 2022, the Eid al-Fitr prayer was held on the Temple Mount; about 200,000 worshippers attended (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, May 2, 2022). Hamas supporters hung a sign showing an armed Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades operative holding a gun, with an inscription from Hamas praising the Arab nation on the holiday. Several masked Palestinians waved Hamas flags and chanted, “We are the men of Muhammad Deif.” The Israeli police removed the sign and opened an investigation to find the Palestinians who hung it (Paldf Twitter account, May 2, 2022).

  
Right: Muslim worshippers on the Temple Mount during Eid al-Fitr prayer (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, May 2, 2022). Left: Huge sign in praise of Hamas hung on the Temple Mount for Eid al-Fitr (Paldf Twitter account, May 2, 2022)

Counterterrorism activities

• Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria:
• On the night of May 1, 2022, the Israeli security forces prevented the smuggling of dozens of handguns from Jordan into the PA. Two Palestinians were apprehended near Tel Arad in the southern part of the country with weapons they were attempting to smuggle into Judea and Samaria. The Palestinians, residents of Bethlehem, both about 30 years old, were detained and taken for interrogation.
• On May 1, 2022, Israeli security forces operated in several locations in Judea and Samaria, detaining Palestinians suspected of terrorist activities and seizing illegal weapons. Among the locations were Qarawat Bani Hassan, the home of the shooters who killed the security guard in Ariel, the Jilazoun refugee camp and Sanur. They mapped the houses of the terrorists who killed the security guard in preparation for demolishing them. Palestinians rioted in the refugee camp, throwing rocks at the security forces. Twelve Palestinians were detained and weapons were confiscated, including handguns, a hunting rifle and an improvised Carlo machinegun (IDF spokesman, May 1, 2022).

• On April 27, 2022, Israeli security forces operating in the Jenin refugee camp detained two Palestinians wanted for terrorist activity. In Qabatiya they detained three wanted Palestinians. Riots broke out in Jenin, where dozens of Palestinians fired guns, burned tires and threw IEDs at IDF fighters, who responded with gunfire (IDF spokesman, April 27, 2022). According to reports, an armed Palestinian was killed and three were wounded during an exchange of fire with the Israeli forces.

• The Palestinian media reported the person who had been killed was Ahmed Masad, from the village of Burqin, west of Jenin. The PIJ issued a mourning notice for him, calling him a released prisoner “hero.”. A funeral was held for him in Burqin, where his body was wrapped for burial in a PIJ flag with a Jerusalem Brigades – Jenin Battalion headband (Filastin al-Yawm, April 27, 2022).

   
Right: Ahmed Masad wrapped for burial in a PIJ flag with a Jerusalem Brigades – Jenin Battalion headband (Paldf Twitter account, April 27, 2022). Left: Armed, masked Palestinians at the funeral (ultrapalestine Twitter account, April 27 2022)

• The PA foreign ministry condemned the “crime of the execution” of Ahmed Muhammad Lutfi Masad in a clash with IDF forces. According to the announcement, the “despicable crime” was a translation into action of the orders issued by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had stressed more than once that there were no limits or restraints on Israeli actions. The foreign ministry demanded that the international community end its “double standard.” It also noted it was following the issue of “crime” and “execution without trial” with the International Criminal Court and the UN’s Human Rights Council to ensure that “Israeli war criminals” would be tried in court (Wafa, April 27, 2022).
• Hamas expressed its condolences for the death of Ahmed Masad, claiming that Israel’s action in Jenin and Qabatiya increased the determination of the Palestinian people to continue the “resistance” [i.e., terrorist attacks]. Hamas called on the Palestinian people to continue confronting “the occupation” with everything at their disposal and to stand united against it (Hamas Telegram channel, April 27, 2022).
• On April 30, 2022, the PIJ’s Jenin Battalion claimed it had identified the entrance of IDF forces into the al-Jabariat region and had attacked them with gunfire and IEDs, forcing them to retreat. It claimed its fighters were prepared to deal with any Israeli attempt to harm people and would spare no effort (Jenin Battalion Telegram channel, April 30, 2022).
• PIJ spokesman Tareq Izz al-Din condemned the detentions carried out by Israel of civilians and released prisoners in the West Bank, PIJ leaders among them. He called on the Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem to continue the “struggle” against Israel and to stop Israeli activities (PIJ Telegram channel, May 1, 2022).
• In coordination with security assessments and instructions from the Israeli leadership, a general closure will be imposed on Judea and Samaria and the crossings into the Gaza Strip will be closed during Remembrance Day and Independence Day, May 4 and 5, with the exception of humanitarian cases. The crossings will reopen on Friday, May 6, 2022, in accordance with security assessments (COGAT website, May 1, 2022).

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

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

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

• Since 1979, World Jerusalem Day has been marked on the last Friday of Ramadan, a decision made by the Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolution. The objective of Jerusalem Day is to express the support of Iran and the Muslim world for the Palestinian cause and the “liberation” of Jerusalem. This year Jerusalem Day events were held under the shadow of the high tension in Jerusalem, Hamas and PIJ incitement activity to foment violence, and threats to attack Israel.
• Jerusalem Day was marked in the Gaza Strip with a rally. Its high point was a video speech given by Hossein Salami, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). He praised the recent [terrorist] attacks inside Israel, noting that the Palestinian people knew its objectives would only be obtained through jihad. Regarding Ra’ed Hazem, who shot and killed five civilians in Tel Aviv, he said the “shaheed Hazem” was one of the heroes who had changed the “equation” after having managed, “with heroism and courage,” to evade [Israel’s] security barriers and threaten Israel’s safety. He said the Iranians would continue supporting the Palestinian people in the hope of “great future successes” (IRNA, April 28, 2022).
• In a separate event, Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, gave a militant, inflammatory speech for the end of Ramadan and Jerusalem Day, threatening to attack Israeli targets, including abroad (See below).

• The PIJ held a march through the streets of Gaza City. Hundreds of Gazans participated, chanting their support for Jerusalem. After the march a rally was held. Senior PIJ figure Khaled al-Batash gave a speech in which he said that World Jerusalem Day stressed the centrality of the Palestinian cause. He added that the Palestinians’ adherence to the option of “the rifle and resistance” strengthened relations and ties within the Arab nation (al-Andalou News, April 29, 2022).

• Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, gave a speech at a rally held in Yemen, saying the Palestinian people had decided that “resistance” [i.e., terrorism] was the best way to “liberate Jerusalem,” and that no attempt to harm Palestinians would be allowed (Sabaq24, April 29, 2022).
• Abu Hamza, spokesman for the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, gave a speech for Jerusalem Day in which he revealed the “Jenin UAV.” He claimed one had been used on September 7, 2019, to attack an IDF jeep.^[2] He said Jerusalem Day was a day of unity that called to the [Arab] nation to stand firm against its enemies and was characterized by aggression. He said that according to the “equation,” any attack on al-Aqsa meant war (Filastin al-Yawm, April 28, 2022). On another occasion he said the millions who had participated in Jerusalem Day events had shown that the “resistance” stood on firm ground and was fighting the Zionist enemy in the Gaza Strip, Jenin and every [other] city (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel, April 30, 2022).
• Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, said the Palestinians thanked Iranian leader Khamenei for his Jerusalem Day speech, and that they appreciated Iran’s firm, sincere stand with the “resistance” and the Palestinian people, despite all the challenges they faced (al-Mayadeen, May 1, 2022).

Iran and Hezbollah

• Esmail Ghaani, commander of the IRGC’s Qods Force, gave a speech for Jerusalem Day in which he revealed that Iran had deployed to launch UAVs into Israel and that Israel had sent 41 warplanes to intercept them. He claimed Israel had not won any war and that it would not be long before the Palestinian people were “free” (al-Alam, April 29, 2022). He also related to the IDF’s exposure that a year ago Israeli Air Force aircraft had intercepted Iranian UAVs which were trying to smuggle weapons to the Gaza Strip (Israeli media, March 7, 2022).
• Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech for Jerusalem Day praising the Palestinians who were willing to fight for Jerusalem and the “popular resistance” [i.e., popular terrorism] in the West Bank. He said the lone wolf attacks carried out inside Israel were the most dangerous attacks Israel had to cope with and were very important, because they did not require extensive capabilities, only a gun or a knife. He said they revealed the low level of Israeli security and its security forces’ lack of ability, and had returned Jerusalem to “Palestine” and [coverage by] the global media. He called for political, institutional, media, economic and military support for the attacks. He also said the battle of the “Sword of Jerusalem” (i.e., Operation Guardian of the Walls) proved the interdependence of the “resistance axis” arenas. He claimed that despite Israel’s attempts to isolate the activities in the various arenas in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon, they nevertheless worked as a united front (al-Manar, April 30, 2022).
• For Jerusalem Day, Lebanese gathered along the Israeli border at a number of locations and waved Hezbollah, Palestinian and Lebanese flags. The demonstrators did not approach the fence or confront the Israeli security forces.

   
Lebanese hold a demonstration across the border from Israel’s northern town of Metulla
(Twitter account of Ali Shoeib, April 29, 2022)

Speech given by Yahya al-Sinwar

• Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, gave a militant, inflammatory speech for Jerusalem Day and the end of Ramadan, speaking for about an hour. It was broadcast by the Hamas media outlets with the slogan “The sword of Jerusalem will not return to its sheath” projected on the background, along with pictures of Israeli policemen wearing shoes inside al-Aqsa mosque.

   
Yahya al-Sinwar gives a speech in Gaza City
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, April 30, 2022)

• In his speech al-Sinwar related to a number of issues (Hamas Telegram channel, April 30, 2022):
  • Praise for the recent terrorist attacks in Israel: He praised the Palestinians who carried out the attacks. He claimed such “heroic activities” proved the weakness of the “Zionist entity,” which found itself confused and lost after the most recent attacks. He called on Israeli Arabs to participate in the “resistance.” However, he said the battle belonged to the residents of the West Bank.
  • The clashes on the Temple Mount: He spoke at length about the clashes at al-Aqsa mosque between Palestinians and Israeli security forces during Ramadan. He claimed the mosque was “in danger” and without the young Palestinians who defended it and barricaded themselves inside, [the Paschal lamb] would have been sacrificed inside the mosque and there would have been “blood everywhere.” He claimed the Israeli security forces had “defiled” the mosque and attacked worshippers, including the aged, and such things could not be allowed to happen again. He claimed Israel wanted a religious war, and while Hamas did not, they would meet the challenge if it were presented.
  • Threats for the future: The Palestinians would have to prepare for a great battle if Israel did not end its “aggression.” An attack on Jerusalem would mean a regional religious war, and they would not hesitate to make the decision, regardless of cost. All the organizations in the Gaza Strip had to remain on alert because the battle would not end with the end of Ramadan. The real battle would begin after Ramadan, and mentioned Independence Day (May 5) and Jerusalem Day (May 29) as possible dates. He also threatened to increase terrorist activity, saying that synagogues around the world would be attacked if Israeli security forces entered al-Aqsa mosque again.
  • Rocket fire at Israel: Hamas’ military wing had already prepared the first barrage of artillery that would be fired in the next confrontation with Israel to defend al-Aqsa mosque. It would be a barrage of 1,111 rockets, to commemorate Yasser Arafat, who died on 11/11 [2004].
  • The [so-called Israeli] “siege” of the Gaza Strip: Hamas was planning to break the “siege” of the Gaza Strip with a maritime route to and from the Gaza Strip which would begin operating in the near future and be called the “Jerusalem axis.”
  • A personal appeal to Israeli Knesset member Mansour Abbas: Al-Sinwar accused of providing a security net for the Israeli government, which attacked al-Aqsa mosque. According to Yahya al-Sinwar, Abbas’ United Arab List [political party] had to resign from the government.
• There were many reactions to the speech. Regarding breaking the “naval siege,” Hamas spokesman Musheir al-Masri said the decision was tied to the will of the organizations. He said Egypt would also show understanding for such a decision, and if breaking the naval siege was the only remaining option, they would fight for it. As for attacking synagogues, he said they had no interest in transferring the confrontation to the rest of the world, and so far they had been careful not to carry out attacks abroad. However, he said, if Israel wanted to start a religious war Hamas might alter its position and could attack Jewish holy sites. As for launching a barrage of 1,111 rockets, referring to the date of Yasser Arafat’s death, he said it was a renewed call to Fatah to return to the ranks of the “resistance” instead of maintaining security coordination with Israel. He also called the issue of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails a “deposit” given to the Hamas leadership [and which could be redeemed], and therefore the leadership of the Palestinian organizations had decided to abduct more Israelis to use as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners. He said the number of Israeli prisoners in Hamas’ hands was larger than what it had been in 2011 [the year of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal] (al-Jazeera, May 1, 2022).
• Senior PIJ figure Musab al-Brim praised Yahya al-Sinwar’s speech, claiming it expressed the message of the “resistance” (al-Aqsa TV, April 30, 2022). Senior Fatah figure in Jerusalem Rif’at Alian, said, regarding the figure 1,111, that al-Sinwar was a determined, militant figure and loyal to the Palestinian cause. In the name of Fatah, he said he was happy with the gift al-Sinwar was planning to give it (Felesteen, May 1, 2022).

Hamas delegation visits Iran

• A delegation of the Hamas leadership, led by Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, arrived in Tehran at the invitation of the Iranian international committee for the support of the Palestinian intifada (IRNA, April 17, 2022).

UNRWA considers transferring the issue of the Palestinian refugees to international agencies

• On April 23, 2022, UNRWA Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini formally announced his concern over the security situation in the West Bank (including east Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. He said he was aware that the recovery of the Gaza Strip from the most recent confrontation was proceeding more slowly than expected. He added that during the past decade UNRWA had suffered from a hard financial crisis and was on the verge of collapse. He complained that every year they had to plead with the donor countries to contribute funds. He therefore proposed the services UNRWA provided be transferred to other organizations. He also said the next session of the General Assembly would raise the issue of UNRWA’s mandate (UNRWA Arabic website, April 23, 2022).
• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh called on Lazzarini not to take steps that would adversely affect the rights of the Palestinian refugees. He demanded Lazzarini not transfer UNRWA services to international organizations, a step which, he claimed, would violate UN Resolution 302, which established UNRWA (Wafa, April 27, 2022).
• On April 25, 2022, a demonstration was held in front of UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City to protest the delay in rebuilding the houses destroyed during Operation Guardian of the Walls (May 2021) and the recent statements from the UNRWA commissioner regarding the possibility of transferring its services to other organizations (Paldf Twitter account, April 25, 2022).

   
Tires burn at the protest demonstration held in front of UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City
(Paldf Twitter account, April 25, 2022)

Hamas-Turkey relations

• The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar published a report about Hamas-Turkey relations in light of Turkey’s renewed détente with Israel. According to the report, relations were tense, as could be seen by disagreements within the Hamas leadership regarding how to deal with Turkey’s new policy toward Israel. The report stated that behind closed doors Turkey had exerted pressure on the Hamas leadership and had not allowed certain senior figures to return to Turkey after having left. Turkey also did not allow its senior officials to meet with senior Hamas figures in Turkey. It was also reported that in February 2022 a Hamas delegation met with representatives of the Turkish regime, who made it clear they were forced to carry out changes in the country’s international and regional relations which might influence the presence of Hamas operatives in Turkey. A “well-informed source” was quoted as saying that it was not a question of an essential change which would force Hamas operatives to leave the country, but rather an agreement that the sides had formulated according to which heads of Hamas in Turkey promised not to carry out political activity that would threaten the country’s stability and would not deal with “security” or military [sic] activity on Turkish soil. Turkey’s position was transmitted to the heads of the Hamas political bureau and military wing. Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau and his deputy, Saleh al-‘Arouri, discussed the issue (al-Akhbar, April 26, 2022).
• Note: During the violence in Jerusalem, Turkish President Erdogan gave a speech in the Turkish parliament noting that Turkey could not ignore the “attacks in Palestine,” and would continue to support the Palestinian cause. He also said Israel was aware of the Turkey’s sensitivity regarding Jerusalem, and therefore Turkey’s support for the Palestinian objective did not mean the destruction of its relations with Israel (world now Twitter account, April 20, 2022).

Gazan killed in a clash with ISIS operatives in the Sinai Peninsula

• Muhammad Iyad (Abu Lafi), from the al-Islam neighborhood of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, was killed in a clash with ISIS operatives in the Sinai Peninsula. He joined the Bedouin militia operating alongside the Egyptian army in its war on ISIS. According to tribal sources, Iyad was responsible for collecting intelligence about the location of ISIS operatives in the Sinai Peninsula.
• Tribal sources in the Sinai Peninsula reported that news of Iyad’s death was leaked despite attempts made not to report it, following pressure from the family in Rafah to have the body transported to the Gaza Strip. According to the sources, Muhammad Iyad went to the northern Sinai Peninsula in coordination with the Sinai tribal union about a month before his death. He was killed in the first days of the attack on the village of al-Muqata’a in the northern Gaza Strip. The sources added that several Palestinians were fighting in the ranks of the tribes opposing ISIS (al-Araby al-Jadeed, April 30, 2022).

Mahmoud Abbas visits Jordan

• Mahmoud Abbas visited Jordan and met with King Abdallah. He was accompanied by Hussein al-Sheikh, PA minister of civilian affairs, and Majed Faraj, head of Palestinian general intelligence. The visit, which was held on the night of Laylat al-Qadr, was extensively covered by the media. According to reports, the issues discussed were the situation in east Jerusalem, and ways to defend it and the holy sites of Islam and Christianity (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, April 27, 2022).

    
Right: Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdallah of Jordan (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, April 27, 2022). Left: The Jordanian helicopter that flew Mahmoud Abbas and his entourage to Amman (Paldf Twitter account, April 27, 2022)

PA appeal to the American administration

• The PA foreign ministry appealed to the American administration to exert pressure on Israel to stop its “collective punishment” of Palestinian civilians and for the administration to put its declared positions into practice. The foreign ministry said the American administration’s desire for its efforts to calm the situation had to be translated into practical measures (Wafa, May 1, 2022).

The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) conference in Brussels

• In preparation for the AHLC conference, which is planned for Brussels at the beginning of May 2022, Muhammad Shtayyeh met with several important representatives, among them the EU representative to the PA, to discuss plans for the conference. He stressed the importance of transferring the aid of the donor countries to the PA’s budget, especially in light of its present crisis, caused by Israel’s refusal to transfer the tax funds it collects for the PA and the need to exert pressure on Israel to transfer the money (Wafa, April 27, 2022).

   
Right: Muhammad Shtayyeh meets with the representatives of the most important donor nations. Left: Muhammad Shtayyeh meets in his office in Ramallah with the British consul to Jerusalem (Wafa, April 28, 2022)

Hamas establishes its status in Judea and Samaria

• The Hamas-affiliated media outlets recently issued pictures showing Hamas continued to establish its status on the Palestinian street. For example, on April 29, 2022, operatives of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing in the Jenin refugee camp were seen distributing water and dates to passersby in preparation for breaking the Ramadan fast (QudsN Twitter account, April 29, 2022). On May 2, 2022, with the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, Hamas flags and a Hamas welcome sign were hung in the village of Surif, north of Hebron (Paldf Twitter account, May 2, 2022). On another occasion, in a vilalge northwest of Ramallah, it was reported that Hamas and PIJ flags were rehung after the Palestinian security forces removed them (Paldf Twitter account, May 2, 2022).

  
Right: Hamas military-terrorist operatives in Jenin distribute water and dates
(QudsN Twitter account, April 29, 2022)

• According to an editorial in al-Ra’i al-Yawm, “an important person in the Palestinian resistance camp in Lebanon” claimed that the two rockets fired from Lebanon to northern Israel on the night of April 24, 2022, were a message from Hezbollah informing Israel that the “resistance” [i.e., Hezbollah] in Lebanon was prepared to respond with force if Israel’s “invasions” of al-Aqsa mosque continued. The source added that Hezbollah did not ignore the developments in and around Jerusalem and had appointed a committee to monitor events, and it was not impossible that the rockets were a part of it. It was also noted that the Israeli media’s hypothesis, that the rockets had been launched by Hamas, should not be believed, because its objective was to insert a wedge between Hezbollah and Hamas. The editorial stated that nothing happened in south Lebanon without Hezbollah’s knowledge and approval, and the level of coordination between the Palestinian organizations and Hezbollah was extremely high (al-Ra’i al-Yawm, April 27, 2022).

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads.^[3] The more prominent attacks were the following:
  • May 2, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle from a passing Palestinian car near the Tapuah Junction, south of Nablus. One Israeli was injured and the vehicle was damaged.
  • May 1, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus between Hizma and Anatot, northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • May 1, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle in Arab Tekoa, southeast of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported. In another attack an Israeli was injured by flying glass.
  • May 1, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near Bayt Ummar, north of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 29, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near the Ma’aleh Amos junction, northeast of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 29, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on route 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in road. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 29, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Dir Nazem, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
  • April 29, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Beit Horon, west of Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
  • April 28, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Bayt Ummar. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 28, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle at the Jit Junction, near Qadumim, east of Qalqilya. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 28, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on route 446, near Dir Qadis, northeast of Modi’in. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 27, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus west of the Har Gilo traffic circle, southwest of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • April 27, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Burqa, east of Ramallah. The bus driver was wounded by flying glass; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • April 27, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 27, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 27, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus near Izhar, south of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 26, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Funduq, east of Qalqilya. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 26, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between the Karmei Tzur Junction and Bayt Ummar. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 26, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Ma’aleh Amos Junction. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.