News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (December 31,2021 – January 4, 2022)

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• On January 1, 2022, two rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. They fell in the Mediterranean off the Tel Aviv coast. No sirens were sounded and the Iron Dome aerial defense system was not activated (Israeli security forces, January 1, 2022). No organization claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. The joint operations room stated the rockets had been fired by a technical glitch caused by weather conditions (Filastin al-‘An, January 1, 2022). The terrorist organizations often blame the weather when they fire rockets and do not want to claim responsibility. According to “sources,” Hamas told Egypt that if Israel responded to the rocket fire the “resistance” [i.e., the Palestinian terrorist organizations] would react with escalating violence (al-Mayadeen, January 1, 2022).
• According to reports, after the rockets were fired Egypt mediated between Israel and Hamas to keep the situation from deteriorating. It was also reported that neither Israel nor Egypt was convinced by the claim that the weather had caused the rocket fire, which may have been a message related to the administrative detainee’s hunger strike or the delays in rebuilding the Gaza Strip (al-Araby al-Jadeed, January 1, 2022).

The IDF response

• In response to the rocket fire the Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas facility for the manufacture of rockets and IDF tanks attacked Hamas posts along the Gaza Strip border (IDF spokesman, January 2, 2022). Hamas’ al-Aqsa TV reported that SA-7 surface to air missiles had been fired at Israeli helicopters, and that experimental rockets had been fired. “A source in the Palestinian resistance” reported it was not the first time such missiles had been fired, which had been in the hands of the “resistance” since Operation Protective Edge (2014). The source claimed they had successfully hit several Israeli aircraft but Israel concealed the events from the public (al-Quds, January 3, 2022).
• The Palestinian media reported a Hamas military terrorist wing post in western Khan Yunis near the sea had been attacked. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the Israeli attack on several posts and “agricultural fields” was another Israeli “crime” against the Palestinian people. He expressed his admiration for the “resistance” operatives who had repelled the attacks, claiming the “resistance” would continue meeting its commitment to defend the Palestinian people (Hamas Telegram channel, January 2, 2022).

   
Israeli Air Force attacks in Khan Yunis in the security forces (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, Twitter account of Ashraf Amara, January 1, 2022).

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Shooting attacks from the Gaza Strip

• In addition to rocket fire, this past week there were two incidents in which Palestinians shot at Israel twice. It is not known which organization was behind the attacks.
• On December 29, 2021, a sniper shot at an Israeli civilian working on the security barrier along the Gaza Strip border. The bullet hit a piece of heavy equipment and shrapnel hit the civilian. Following the attack Israeli agricultural activity near the border was stopped (western Negev spokesman’s unit, December 29, 2021). In response, IDF tanks attacked Hamas posts in the northern Gaza Strip (IDF spokesman, December 29, 2022). The Palestinian media reported an attack on a post belonging to Hamas’ restraint force in the northern Gaza Strip (Shehab, December 29, 2021) and the wounding of three Palestinian “farmers” (al-Risalah, December 29, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the Palestinian people would not remain silent in the face of Israel’s escalating aggression against the prisoners, the [so-called Israeli] “siege” of the Gaza Strip and the wounding of the three “farmers” (Safa, December 20, 2021).
• On January 3, 2022, machine guns were fired at Israel from the southern Gaza Strip. No casualties or damage were reported (IDF spokesman, January 3, 2022).
• The attacks reinforced the threats of escalated violence made by Hamas and the other Gazans terrorist organizations over the past weeks. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese daily newspaper al-Akhbar, which favors Hamas, the Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip continue their preparations for the next military confrontation with Israel, based on the assumption that Israel will start a new round of fighting to avoid its commitments to the Gaza Strip. The “resistance” is planning for the scenario and plans have been made for striking a blow at Israel’s main cities. The plans include firing hundreds of rockets at various strategically vital areas as the first response to any foolish action Israeli makes, in addition to other “surprises” [sic] (al-Akhbar, January 1, 2022).
• In light of recent tensions, the “sources” reported that two Egyptian delegations would arrive in Israel and the Gaza Strip in the near future in an effort to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. According to the sources, Egypt sent a message with a demand that Israel act with restraint and avoid escalating the situation in the coming days. Egypt also asked Israel to improve the conditions of the Palestinian prisoners. They asked the Palestinian organizations to stop firing rockets (al-Arabiya, January 3, 2022).

Detention of Gazans who tried to enter Israeli territory

• On December 28, 2021, IDF fighters detained two Gazans who tried to cross the security barrier in the northern Gaza Strip and enter Israeli territory. They were carrying knives and wire-cutters (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, December 28, 2021).

Attacks and attempted attacks

Stabbing attack

•  On December 31, 2021, a stabbing attack was prevented at the Gitai Avishar Junction near Ariel. A vehicle drove to the junction, and a Palestinian carrying a knife got out and ran towards the bus stop, where Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers were standing. The soldiers called to him to halt, and when he continued running they shot at him, wounding him mortally; he subsequently died in a hospital. The IDF closed the roads and began searching for the vehicle which had driven the terrorist to the site and then sped away. On January 2, 2022, IDF fighters detained a suspect who had been in the vehicle with the terrorist, and later detained the driver as well. Both were taken for interrogation.

• The Palestinian media reported the terrorist who had attempted the stabbing attack was Amir Atef Khadr Riyan, 36, father of four, from Qarawat Bani Hassan in the Salfit district. His family reported he worked as a painter in a village carpentry shop (QudsN, December 31, 2021). PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh posted his condolences to the family for the [alleged] “execution” carried out as part of the IDF’s new orders for opening fire (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, December 31, 2021). Hamas praised the attack and called for more (Shehab, December 31, 2021).

    
Right: Amir Riyan (Shehab, December 31, 2021). Left: Mourning notice issued by Hamas for Amir Riyan (Palinfo, December 31, 2021).

• The PA foreign ministry condemned the killing, claiming Israel was initially responsible and calling on the International Criminal Court for an immediate investigation of the “occupation’s crimes” (Wafa, December 31,2021). Tareq Izz al-din, PIJ spokesman for Judea and Samaria, condemned the killing, calling Israel’s [alleged] “policy of executions” a war crime (PIJ Telegram channel, December 31, 2021). Hamas called the attempted stabbing attack a “heroic action” and condemned the killing of its perpetrator (Shehab Telegram channel, December 31, 2021). In the Gaza Strip a mourning tent hung with Hamas flags was erected in Riyan’s memory.

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• This past week there was a significant increase in the number of rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads, especially buses. Many of the attacks were carried out in the Hizma area, north of Jerusalem. Several people were superficially injured by flying glass. The more prominent events were the following:^[1]
  • January 4, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Ni’lin, west of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • January 3, 2022: Dozens of Palestinians threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at IDF forces in al-Fawwar, southwest of Hebron. No casualties were reported.
  • January 3, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus in Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • January 3, 2022: A burning tire was thrown on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near Bayt Ummar. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • January 2, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Yitzhar Junction, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The front windshield was damaged.
  • January 2, 2022: A barrier of stones was erected between the Ayal passage and Tzofim, near Qalqilya. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • January 2, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus between Homesh and Shavei Shomron, northwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • January 1, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an IDF post in the Jordan Valley. No casualties were reported.
  • January 1, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an IDF post on the trans-Judea road near the Halhul bridge north of Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • December 30, 2021: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Husan bypass road west of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • December 30, 2021: Paint bottles were thrown at an Israeli bus between Hizma and Anatot, north of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged.
  • December 30, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle between Homesh and Shavei Shomron, northwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • December 30, 2021: A paint bottle was thrown at an Israeli bus on the trans-Judea road between Hebron and Tarqumiya. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged.
  • December 29, 2021: Rocks and Molotov cocktails were thrown at a Israeli vehicle on the Abud bypass road northwest of Ramallah. An Israeli man was superficially injured by flying glass. The front windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • December 29, 2021: Rocks were thrown at two Israeli vehicles, one transporting children, between Hebron and Kiryat Arba. No casualties were reported. The vehicles were damaged.
  • December 29, 2021: Rocks and a bottle of paint were thrown at Israeli vehicles near Deir Nizam, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicles were damaged.
  • December 28, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Mevo Dotan in northwestern Samaria. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • December 28, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Luban al-Sharqia, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • December 28, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Shuqba, northwest of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  • December 27, 2021: Bottles of paint were thrown on the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion road west of Bethlehem. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • December 26, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus southeast of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The vehicle was damaged.
  •  December 26, 2021: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus in Hawwara, south of Nablus. No casualties were reported. The bus was damaged.
  • December 26, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported. The front windshield and roof of the vehicle were damaged.

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

Hunger strike of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) prisoner

• Tensions were significantly increased by the deterioration in the health and subsequent hospitalization of Hashem Abu Hawwash, a PIJ terrorist operative administrative detainee who has been on a hunger strike for 140 days to demand his release.^[3] All the terrorist organizations enlisted in a campaign for his release and threatened Israel. The Palestinian social media launched a campaign with the hashtag “#last_warning,” used by the “resistance” to issue a last warning to Israel to release him because he is in danger of dying (Filastin al-Yawm, December 29, 2021). PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh warned of the consequences of his death and called for his release (Wafa, January 1, 2022).
• PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah threatened his death would be considered a deliberate Israeli targeted killing and the reaction would be in accordance with the commitment to respond to every targeted killing (PIJ Telegram channel, December 30, 2021). PIJ spokesman Da’ud Shehab issued a formal statement saying that every hour that passed without ending Abu Hawwash’s suffering meant he was in danger of dying and “every possibility is open and on the table.” He called on the public to confront Israel at the friction points (Filastin al-Yawm, January 1, 2022). PIJ figure Khader Habib said Abu Hawwash’s death would bring the entire region to the boiling point and cause instability (al-Risalah, January 1, 2022). PIJ figure Jamal Alian threatened that Abu Hawwash’s death would mark the beginning of Operation Sword of Jerusalem 2 (Filastin al-Yawm, January 3, 2022).
• The PIJ’s military terrorist wing announced they had exhausted the political means to save his life, was raising the level of preparations, had instituted a general mobilization in the Gaza Strip, evacuated the posts and stopped training exercises (Filastin al-Yawm, al-Mayadeen, January 1, 2022). The PIJ also threatened escalated violence within the jails in Israel. He said the PIJ prisoners would respond if the mediators did not intervene immediately and secure the release of Abu Hawwash. Hamas demanded that Israel release him but without threats (Hamas website, January 2, 2022).
• On January 3, 2022, the commanding ranks of the PIJ and Hamas military terrorist wings held a meeting. According to PIJ figure Khaled al-Batash, they decided that all the organizations, especially the PIJ and Hamas military terrorist wings, would respond to any harm done to any detainee as though it had been a deliberate targeted killing (al-Aqsa, January 3, 2022). Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau then met with Ziyad al-Nakhalah to discuss Abu Hawwash’s condition (Hamas website, January 3, 2022).
• In Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip calls were heard for demonstrations and protests, including confronting the Israeli security forces. Fatah called on the Palestinian public to enlist in support activities on January 5, 2022 and to escalate the confrontation with Israel at all the friction points (al-Quds, January 3, 2022). Demonstrators gathered on the Gazan side of the Erez Crossing to express support for Abu Hawwash (Filastin al-Yawm, December 29, 2021). On January 2, 2022, a protest rally was held in front of the UN commission for human rights in Gaza City. PIJ figure Ahmed al-Mudallal said the “war” for the life of Abu Hawwash was a “war” of the Palestinian people, and threatened that the “resistance” [i.e., the terrorist organizations] had completed its preparations to respond to any harm to his life. A rally was also held in Ramallah (Shehab Twitter account, January 2, 2022).

   
Right: Demonstration held in Gaza City for the release of the PIJ terrorist prisoner. Left: Protest demonstration held in Ramallah (Shehab Twitter account, January 2, 2022).

•  A delegation from the PA ministry of health medical paid a visit to Abu Hawwash, who is hospitalized in Asaf Harofeh Hospital near Tel Aviv. According to reports, his condition is critical (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, December 30, 2021).

• On January 4, 2022, an arrangement was reached with Hashem Abu Hawwash and he agreed to end his hunger strike; he will be released on February 26, 2022. The PIJ welcomed the agreement, claiming his “victory” proved his “unending determination, which knew neither despair not defeat” (Filastin al-Yawm, January 4, 2022). PIJ military terrorist wing spokesman Abu Hamza said they “praised the amazing victory of hunger-striking administrative detainee Abu Hawwash, who represented the entire Palestinian people.” He said that led by Ziyad al-Nakhalah, throughout the hunger strike they had maintained a high level of alert, adding that Abu Hawwash’s victory strengthened their determination to continue until all the prisoners had been released (Abu Hamza’s Telegram channel, January 4, 2022). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem also welcomed the Abu Hawwash’s release, saying his victory showed the ability of the Palestinian people to stand firm and attain its goals (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades Telegram channel, January 4, 2022).

Ongoing efforts to mediate a lull

• According to the daily newspaper al-Akhbar, the Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip, headed by Hamas, are preparing for another confrontation with Israel, the result of an internal assessment among the organizations that the government of Israel wants a confrontation to avoid meeting its commitments to the Gazans. The organizations have reportedly prepared operative plans for striking Israeli’s most important cities with hundreds of rockets (al-Akhbar, December 29, 2021).
• “Egyptian sources” involved in the mediations revealed that the Palestinian organizations emphasized their objection to any Israeli attempt to delay meeting its commitments to the ceasefire. Reportedly, Hamas told the Egyptians it would be independent of Israel’s position and any future prisoner exchange deal would be subject to Hamas’ “internal equation.” According to the “sources,” Hamas told the Egyptians it would continue preparing to abduct Israeli soldiers [to use as bargaining chips] to release prisoners from Israeli jails (al-Akhbar, December 29, 2021).

Military exercise held by the military terrorist wings of the Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip

• The military exercise held by the joint operations room of the military terrorist wings in the Gaza Strip has ended. On December 29, 2021, the final exercise was held at Hamas’ Shuhadaa [martyrs’] post in Rafah, where prominent representatives of the military terrorist wings, including Hamas’ Ayman Nofal, the PIJ’s Khaled Mansour, and the Popular Resistance Committees’ Abu Muhajed watched the proceedings (al-Jazeera TV, December 30, 2021).
• According to Hamas the military exercise reflected the military wings’ capabilities and preparedness to deal with all possible “aggression” against the Palestinian people, and to defend Palestinians in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and inside Israeli jails. Ayman Nofal said the prisoners were the most important issue for the Palestinian “resistance,” which would have its say on the matter. He said the Israel’s engineering activities along the Gaza Strip border would not protect it. The power amassed by the “resistance” in the Gaza Strip would defend not only the Gaza Strip but the entire Palestinian people, including in Jerusalem (Shehab, December 29, 2022).

Statements from Isma’il Haniyeh

• This past week Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, was quoted on two occasions:
  • At a conference held to discuss Jerusalem, Haniyeh said the West Bank was showing signs of the beginning of an intifada and a reawakening of the “resistance.” He complimented the Palestinian people in the West Bank, who, he claimed, had caused the failure of Israel’s plans, whose goal was to create a “new Palestinian” who would care only about the economy and daily life. He also claimed the “resistance” had changed its stance from defense to offense and was prepared for any future confrontation (al-Aqsa, December 29, 2021).
• During an al-Jazeera interview he spoke about the following issues (al-Jazeera, January 2, 2022).
  • Relations with Iran: Relations with Iran had been strong for the past 30 years, however, Hamas would not fight a proxy war for anyone. Hamas began manufacturing rockets in 2008-2009 immediately after Operation Cast Lead and that Iran and other countries had supported the project. He claimed Iran had supported them by transferring $70 million to Hamas.
  • Relations with Saudi Arabia: Hamas’ relations with Saudi Arabia changed after the country expelled the Muslim Brotherhood and the Saudi Arabian authorities arrested movement members in Riyadh.
  • Relations with Syria: Relations were good and that for a long period of time Syria had provided Hamas with funds.
  • The Israeli prisoners: Hamas’ military wing was holding four Israeli soldiers captive, and if Israel could not be convinced to reach a prisoner exchange deal Hamas would force one on it and abduct more soldiers, because its military wing was deployed everywhere.

Hamas-Hezbollah relations

• Hezbollah sources told representatives of the terrorist organizations in Beirut that it had no interest in holding formal contacts with senior Hamas figures in Qatar and would rather hold them with representatives of the movement in the Gaza Strip (Ra’i al-Yawm, December 29, 2021). That may have been the reason why Hassan Nasrallah refused to meet with Khaled Mashaal, who had recently visited Lebanon.

Hamas delegation visits Algeria

• A Hamas delegation visited Algeria and met with leaders of the country’s parliamentary blocs. The delegation was headed by Sami Abu Zuhri, head of Hamas’ political bureau abroad, and included Muhammad Othman, Hamas representative in Algeria. They welcomed the invitation issued by the Algerian president to hold a meeting of all the Palestinian organizations in Algeria, and thanked the country for rejecting normalization with Israel (Hamas website, December 30, 2021).

New PA government ministers

• PA government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem announced the appointment of two new government ministers: Ziyad Hab al-Reeh, head of Palestinian preventive intelligence, was appointed minister of the interior, and Sheikh Hatem al-Bakri as minister of Muslim endowments (al-Risalah, January 1, 2022). They were sworn in at a ceremony held in Mahmoud Abbas’ office. Muhammad Shtayyeh held both positions since the formation of the PA government in 2019 (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, January 1, 2022). New appointments were authorized by Fatah’s Central Committee in August 2021.
•   Ziyad Hab al-Reeh is a long-time member of Fatah and its Revolutionary Council. He was born in Jenin in 1960 and was prominent during the first intifada. He was detained several times for his intifada activities and imprisoned in Israel for a number of years. Since 2004 he has commanded the preventive security forces in Judea and Samaria (Sawa, January 1, 2022). Sheikh Hatem al-Bakri was born in Hebron in 1964. He is a Sharia judge and delivers sermons in the mosque of Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron (Wikipedia, January 3, 2022).

   
The swearing-in of the two new PA government ministers held in Mahmoud Abbas’ office in Ramallah (Wafa, January 1, 2022).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz

• On December 28, 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met in his home with Mahmoud Abbas. Gantz stressed the importance of security coordination and his intention to continue measures to build trust with the PA. Hussein al-Sheikh, PA minister of civilian affairs, said the two had discussed the importance of creating a political horizon what would lead to a political solution based on international resolutions. They also discussed the tension caused by the activities of the Jewish settlers, and a variety of security, economic and humanitarian issues. Hussein al-Sheikh also reported that 6,000 additional Palestinians would be registered in Judea and Samaria and 3,500 in the Gaza Strip (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, December 29, 2021).^[4]
• The meeting was extensively covered by the Palestinian media, and the fact that it had been held in the home of Benny Gantz was prominently featured. The media not affiliated with Mahmoud Abbas were critical and wondered why Mahmoud Abbas had gone to meet the defense minister in his home. Hamas and the PIJ were particularly critical and described the meeting with terms of “national crime,” “insult to the blood of the shaheeds,” and “a visit serving only the interests of the Zionist enemy.”

  
Right: Benny Gantz presents Mahmoud Abbas with the traditional Palestinian torch symbolizing the establishment of Fatah and wishes him a happy founding day. Left: VIP status in return for continued security coordination with Israel (Palestinian cartoonists’ Facebook page, December 30, 2022).

• Hamas formally condemned the meeting. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the timing of the meeting, which he claimed had been held during “settler attacks,” was another crime committed by the Palestinian leadership and a strike against the intifada. He accused the Palestinian leadership of widening the Palestinian political schism, encouraging regional groups wanting normalization with Israel and weakening the Palestinian position against normalization (Hazem Qassem’s Telegram channel, December 28, 2021). The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip also held a joint meeting to discuss their response to the meeting. They claimed it gave formal cover from the Palestinian people to normalization and called instead for efforts for unity and for a unified national leadership for “popular resistance” (al-Risalah’s Telegram channel, December 29, 2021).
• In response to criticism, Hussein al-Sheikh justified the meeting by saying it had been a great challenge to organize it and it was the last opportunity before an “explosion” and “dead end.” He said it had been a serious and daring attempt to act politically and legitimately in terms of international relations to end the escalating violence against the Palestinian people (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, December 29, 2021).
• Senior Fatah figure Muneir al-Jaghob also justified the meeting, saying the Palestinian people had to “knock on the door.” He said that while Mahmoud Abbas was at the meeting, Mahmoud al-‘Alul, deputy Fatah chairman, had been in the village of Burqa fighting the settlers. He said both acts sent a clear message about the Palestinian people’s determination to “knock on any door” and that all forms of “resistance” and political actions had to be used to end the “occupation” (Quds, December 29, 2021).

Mahmoud Abbas holds telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin

• On December 30, 2021, Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Vladimir Putin. According to Mahmoud Abbas’ office, the conversation dealt with issues that had been raised during the discussion with Benny Gantz. The Palestinian media reported that Mahmoud Abbas warned there would be an “explosion” in the West Bank if Israel continued its unilateral measures. He also stressed that the settlers, the expropriation of land, the destruction of houses and the expulsion of Palestinian residents from east Jerusalem all had to stop. He added that given the lack of a political course, Israel’s ongoing resistance to the two-state solution and the continuing damage done to the Palestinian economy, the Palestinians would have to make unavoidable decisions (Wafa, December 30, 2021).

The PA’s economic condition

• Muhammad Shtayyeh told the weekly PA government meeting that the PA’s economy had improved during 2021. He said that despite its financial hardships, the coronavirus pandemic and Israel’s measures against the PA, in 2021 the Palestinian economy had grown by 6.7%. Exports grew by 14% in comparison with 2020, and the average rate of unemployment dropped by 27.8% (17% in the West Bank and 51% in the Gaza Strip). He said he expected a 4% growth in the PA economy in 2022. He also said that the gap between Palestinians working in Israel and those working in the PA was very wide, which led to a shortage of labor in the local market (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, January 3, 2022).
• Muhammad Shtayyeh met with Khaled al-Asili, the PA minister of the economy, and his aides in the minister’s office. Shtayyeh praised the efforts made by the ministry for the Palestinian economy’s development and economic growth despite the [alleged] “obstacles raised by Israel” and the coronavirus. He said the economy could be used as political leverage and was a tool in the struggle to establish an independent Palestinian state, adding they were continuing their efforts to gradually end Palestinian economic dependence on Israel and strengthen the national product (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, January 2, 2022).

Fatah’s Revolutionary Council meets in Ramallah

• On January 3, 2022, Fatah held the ninth session of its Revolutionary Council. Its slogan was “The session of firm stance and popular resistance.” Mahmoud Abbas opened the session with a speech which again stressed that the Palestinians would continue adherence to their land despite the pressure exerted on them. He also praised the “heroes of the peaceful popular resistance” (his own linguistic invention), who in the villages and refugee camps firmly resisted the settlers’ “terrorism” and aggression protected while by the IDF. As to the PA’s economy and financial hardships, he said they had to deal with the pressure exerted by the “siege,” but would never abandon their shaheeds, prisoners or fighters (a reference to the money paid to their families every month) (Mahmoud Abbas’ Facebook page, January 3, 2022).

Events marking the anniversary of the founding of Fatah

• The Fatah movement marked the 57^th anniversary of its founding with rallies and other events in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinians would not accept the continuation of the “siege,” construction in the settlements, the Judaization of Jerusalem or attacks on Muslim holy sites, regardless of the number of [Palestinian] victims sacrificed. He said Fatah would continue its efforts to form a national unity government which would include Palestinian organizations committed to the principles of national and international institutions. He also said their hand was extended to establishing a just, comprehensive peace as part of an international committee and under the aegis of the International Quartet with the objective of ending the “occupation” (Wafa, December 31, 2021).
• Fatah issued an announcement supporting the internal Palestinian reconciliation and called on Hamas and the other organizations to act according to national interests. Fatah called for the continuation of the popular struggle against Israel and stressed the need to influence world opinion, adding that it had successfully painted Israel’s image in the international arena as a racist, apartheid regime of slaughter, war crimes and crimes against humanity (Wafa, December 31, 2021).
• To mark the anniversary, rallies were held in Tulkarm, Bethlehem, Jenin, Hebron and Jericho. At the rally in Hebron, Mahmoud al-‘Alul, deputy Fatah chairman, said Fatah still adhered to the idea of establishing an Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. At the rally in Jericho, Jibril Rajoub praised the shaheeds and the Palestinians who adhered to their lands in the Jordan Valley (Wafa, January 1, 2022).

    
Right: Masked Fatah operatives hold a demonstration in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem (Wafa, January 1, 2022). Left: The PA security forces mark the anniversary in Jericho (Wafa, December 31, 2021).

• In the Gaza Strip Fatah’s reform faction, headed by Muhammad Dahlan, held their own event where Saleh al-Awisi, secretary general of the Fatah/Muhammad Dahlan faction, criticized Mahmoud Abbas, calling on him to come to the Gaza Strip and restore unity to the Palestinian people. He also praised the military wings of the organizations in the Gaza Strip (Sawa, December 31. 2021). Fatah also held a rally.

  
Fatah demonstration in Gaza City (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, December 31, 2021).

Local Palestinian elections, phase two

• The PA’s Central Elections Committee announced Hamas had responded to the Committee’s statement regarding Hamas’ conditions for participation in local elections. Committee chairman Hana Nasser said the demands were political and meeting them was beyond the Committee’s authority and rested with the PA government. Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, formally confirmed the report. He said they had told Hana Nasser they would participate in the local elections only if it was part of a wider endeavor which would include general elections and only if Hamas received guarantees that Mahmoud Abbas would not cancel the elections at the last minute (Dunia al-Watan, January 2, 2022).

Judea and Samaria

• According to data from the ministry of health in Ramallah, on January 3, 2022, there were 1,898 active coronavirus cases, down from 2,199 on December 27, 2021. There were 57 Palestinians in ICUs, 17 of them on ventilators. Dr. Kamal al-Shakhra, spokesman for the ministry of health in Ramallah, reported the detection of ten additional cases of the omicron variant in Judea and Samaria, bringing the total number of 76 in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, January 2, 2022).
• Mai al-Kayla, PA minister of health, said the PA had received 453,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine through COVAX, donated by Germany and Italy. They will be used to complete the national vaccine campaign, she said (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, December 30, 2021).

The Gaza Strip

• On January 4, 2022, the ministry of health in Gaza reported 1,411 active cases in the Gaza Strip, down from 1,620 on December 28, 2021. Of the 1,323 tests administered during the 24 hours between January 3 and January 4, 103 new cases were detected, an 8% positive rate. So far 1,711 Gazans have died of coronavirus-related causes, up from 1,696 on December 28, 2021. There are 65 hospitalized Gazans, 44 in serious or critical condition. So far 547,448 Gazans have been vaccinated, up from 539,340 on December 28, 2021 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, January 4, 2022). Khaled Mashaal reportedly contracted Covid-19 and is quarantined at home (Hamas Telegram channel, January 4, 2022).