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)מ"למ( ןיעידומה תשרומל זכרמה רורטלו ןיעידומל עדימה זכרמ

)מ"למ( ןיעידומה תשרומל זכרמה רורטלו ןיעידומל עדימה זכרמ

)מ"למ( ןיעידומה תשרומל זכרמה רורטלו ןיעידומל עדימה זכרמ

)מ"למ( ןיעידומה תשרומל זכרמה רורטלו ןיעידומל עדימה זכרמ

Overview On July 26, 2019, the return march was held in the Gaza Strip with about 4,500 participants

(fewer than in recent weeks). The march was accompanied, as usual, by violence which

included the throwing of IEDs, hand grenades and Molotov cocktails. In addition, attempts

were made to sabotage the security fence and Palestinians crossed the fence into Israel. One

rioter was killed, apparently a Hamas operative. His death was followed by threats of

escalation.

The Israeli security forces exposed an Iranian network that recruited residents if Israel,

Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip to Iranian intelligence. The investigation revealed that the

recruits were in contact with a Syrian operative and the contacts had developed to the level

of the transfer of information. The investigation also revealed the intention to carry out

terrorist attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets.

The destruction of houses in Wadi al-Hums, near Sur Baher, southeast Jerusalem, led to

Mahmoud Abbas announcing that the Palestinian leadership would stop acting in

accordance with cooperation agreements signed with Israel. Mahmoud Abbas announced the

appointment of a "committee of experts" which would implement the decision. At this point

it is unclear whether, how and when the decision will be implemented.

Israel's South The return march of July 26, 2019

On Friday, July 26, 2019, the 68th return march was held in the Gaza Strip with the theme,

"[Palestinian] refugees in Lebanon." About 4,500 Palestinians gathered in the five return

camps. During the demonstrations there was a riot near the security fence which included

burning tires, the throwing of IEDs, hand grenades and Molotov cocktails. In addition,

attempts were made sabotage the security fence, and Palestinians crossed the fence

into Israel.

News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

(July 24 – 30 , 2019)

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Right: Firecrackers explode near the security fence east of Khan Yunis (Facebook page of photographer Mazen Qudih, July 27, 2019). Left: Hand grenade thrown at an IDF jeep east of the

al-Bureij refugee camp (Quds News Facebook page, July 27, 2019).

Young Palestinians cross the security fence east of Khan Yunis during the return march (Facebook page of photographer Mazen Qudih, July 26 and 27, 2019).

Equipment the Palestinians claim was taken by young Gazans who crossed the security fence east of Khan Yunis (Facebook page of photographer Mazen Qudih, July 27, 2019).

A spokesman for the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that 56 Palestinians were

wounded. Later it was reported that one of the wounded had died1 (Ashraf al-Qidra's Twitter

account, July 26, 2019). The Palestinian killed was Ahmed Muhammad Abdallah al-Qara,

who was apparently a Hamas operative and a permanent participant in the return marches.

In October 2018 he was wounded in the leg during a return march.

1The first Palestinian killed since the return march of May 3, 2018).

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His death led to threats against Israel:

Khaled al-Batash, chairman of the Supreme National Authority of the Great

Return March, threatened that if the IDF continued shooting at demonstrators it would

lead to a new round of escalation. He called on Egypt to exert pressure on Israel {"the

occupation") to stop shooting at the demonstrators (Supreme National Authority

Facebook page, July 26, 2019).

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) spokesman Mus'ab al-Brim, speaking at al-Qara's

funeral, said that the "Palestinian resistance" [i.e., terrorist organizations] had to

respond to Israel's actions (al-Manar, July 27, 2019).

The Miles of Smiles convoys announced a project to distribute first aid kits to paramedics in

the Gaza Strip, especially those in the friction areas during the return marches. The project

will be named for Razan al-Najjar, a paramedic killed during one of the marches (Safa, July

24, 2019).

At the end of the activities the Supreme National Authority called on the Palestinian public

to participate in the return march next Friday, August 2, 2019. Its theme will be "Friday of the

massacre in [the neighborhood of] Wadi al-Hums" as a show of solidarity with the

Palestinians whose houses were destroyed in Sur Baher in east Jerusalem (Supreme National

Authority Facebook page, July 26, 2019).

Notice calling on Palestinians to participate in the August 2, 2019, return march, whose theme will be "Friday of the massacre of Wadi al-Hums" (Supreme National Authority Facebook page,

July 28, 2019).

Arson terrorism

This past week no fires were caused by incendiary balloons launched from the Gaza Strip.

The units launching incendiary and IED balloons continue their threats to launch more

balloons.

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The Sons of al-Zawari unit in Khan Yunis announces the launching of incendiary balloons in commemoration of Ahmed al-Qara, an operative who apparently belonged to Hamas and was

killed during the most recent return march (Sons of al-Zawari in Khan Yunis Facebook page, July 26, 2019).

Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire

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

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2018

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Jan-18

Febu

ary

March

April

May

June July

August

Septem

ber

Octob

er

Novem

ber

December

Jan-19

Febu

ary

March

April

May

June July

3 4 0 0

150

67

214 180

040

470

1 2 1

89

1

691

2 2

1,839 rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel since the beginning of the return marches

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Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

\

Other events

On the night of July 27, 2019, the Israeli security forces detained two Palestinians who

crossed the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. They were taken for interrogation (IDF

spokesman, July 27, 2019).

Judea and Samaria Events on the ground

In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at

Israeli security forces and civilian targets (primarily vehicles). Israeli security forces carried

out counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria, detaining Palestinians

suspected of terrorist activity, confiscating funds used to finance terrorist activities, and

seizing military grade and improvised weapons. The more prominent events were the

following:

July 29, 2019 – While securing of the entrance of Jewish worshippers to the precinct

of the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus Israeli security forces found a pipe bomb. During the

prayers Palestinians set tires on fire and threw stones at the IDF forces securing the

worshippers (IDF spokesman, July 30, 2019).

July 28, 2019 –During an activity against Palestinians throwing stones in the

Issawiya neighborhood in east Jerusalem, Israeli police identified the building from

which the stones were being thrown. Policemen entered the building and detained a

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

20062007

2008

Operation Cast

Lead 2009

20102011

2012

Operation Pilla

r of D

efense2013

2014

Operation Protecti

ve Edge 2015

20162017

20182019

974 7831159

925

158 103375

787 845

39373

3852

24 15 29

1,119788

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suspect, leading to Palestinians' gathering around the police. Two policemen and the

detainee were injured (Israel Police Force's media unit, July 28, 2019).

July 28, 2019 – Stones were thrown at an Israeli vehicle north of Kokhav Hashahar

(northeast of Ramallah). No casualties were reported. The front windshield of the

vehicle was damaged (United Hatzalah, July 28, 2019).

July 27, 2019 – Stones were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the village of Azoun

(east of Qalqilya). Three children in the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The vehicle

was damaged. IDF forces searched the area (IDF spokesman, July 27, 2019).

Israeli vehicle damaged by stones (security department of Karnei Shomron, July 28, 2019).

July 25, 2019 – Israeli security forces stopped a vehicle carrying two suspicious

Palestinians near a crossing in Samaria. A weapon was found in the vehicle. The

Palestinians were taken for interrogation (IDF spokesman, July 25, 2019).

July 25, 2019 – Searches for illegal weapons carried out by the Israeli security forces

uncovered an M-16 assault rifle, a hand gun, three locally-manufactured ammunition

magazines and parts of weapons. The security forces confiscated two lathes for the

manufacture of weapons in Nablus (IDF spokesman, July 25, 2019).

July 24, 2019 – The Israeli security forces carried out searches in the region of the

village of Jama'in (southwest of Nablus), seizing tens of thousands of shekels

suspected of being used to fund terrorist activities (IDF spokesman, July 24, 2019).

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Palestinians throw stones at the Israeli security forces during the weekly riots in Kafr Qaddum (Wafa, July 26, 2019).

Significant terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria since June 20172

Exposure of Iranian network

The Israeli security forces exposed an Iranian network that recruited residents of Israel,

Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip to the ranks of Iranian intelligence. The network

operated from Syria under Iranian direction and was headed by a Syrian operative aka

"Abu Jihad." The first contact was made through fake Facebook profiles and later though

message apps.

The recruits were asked, among other things, to collect information about IDF bases,

sensitive security facilities, important people, police stations, hospitals, etc. Their activity was

exposed by the Israeli security forces. From the beginning of April 2019, they began detaining

operatives in Israel, Judea and Samaria. Their interrogations revealed that the contacts

2A significant attack is defined by the ITIC as involving shooting, a vehicular attack, the use of IEDs, or a combination of the above. Stones and Molotov cocktails thrown by Palestinians are not included.

0123456789

June July

August

Septem

ber

Octob

erNovem

ber

December

Janu

ary

Febu

ary

March

April

May

June July

August

Septem

ber

Octob

erNovem

ber

December

Janu

ary

Febu

ary

March

April

May

June July

89

6

2 23

54

3

6

1

4 45

1

7

4

7

9

5

2

6

3

10

1

8

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with the handler from Syria had developed to the level of transferring information and

even intentions for carrying out terrorist attacks against civilian and military Israeli

targets (Israel Security Agency, July 24, 2019).

Developments in the Gaza Strip The Rafah Crossing

Between July 25 and 28, 2019, pilgrims left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing en

route to Mecca (website of the ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip, July 24, 2019; website

of the Hamas administration information office, July 30, 2019).

Pilgrims leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt and from there to Saudi Arabia (ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip's Facebook page, July 25, 2019).

Water in the Gaza Strip

Mazen Ghoneim, chairman of the Palestinian water authority, announced the

completion of a water desalination plant in Gaza City. It was under construction for three

years. He said the plant could desalinate 10,000 cubic meters of water a day (about 2,640,000

gallons). He said that during the trial period the plant would provide water for more than

200,000 Palestinians in the Gaza City and northern Gaza Strip districts (Dunia al-Watan, July

24, 2019). Mazen Ghoneim also signed a memorandum of understanding to construct another

desalination plant at a cost of £9 million, in collaboration with the British department for

international development (al-Quds, July 23, 2019).

Electricity in the Gaza Strip

On July 26, 2019, the electric company in the Gaza Strip announced it was taking one of the

electric lines (line 8) out of service. The line provides electricity to the Khan Yunis region. The

line is being taken out of service because one of its cables is near the security fence (Amad,

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July 26, 2019). On July 28, 2019, the electric company announced that electricity would be

supplied for eight hours a day (Shehab, July 28, 2019).

Hamas-Iran relations

The Hamas delegation headed by Saleh al-'Arouri, deputy head of Hamas' political

bureau, visiting Iran continued meeting with senior Iranian officials.

Right: The Hamas delegation meets with Ali-Akbar Velayati, advisor to the supreme leader for international affairs (ANA News in Parsi, July 23, 2019). Left: The delegation meets with Ali

Shamkhani, secretary of the supreme national security council (Mehr News Agency in English, July 23, 2019).

The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar reported that Hamas had

expressed satisfaction with the meeting with the senior Iranian officials and with the

strengthening of the movement's relations with Iran. During the meeting Saleh al-'Arouri

gave the Iranians a letter from Isma'il Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau, thanking Iran

for the additional support it gave Hamas in coping with the "siege" Israel had imposed on the

Gaza Strip. He expressed Hamas' solidarity with Iran against American and Israeli policies (al-

Akhbar, July 24, 2019).

The main themes expressed by senior Hamas figures about the visit and its outcome:

Saleh al-'Arouri, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, called the visit "historic

and strategic." He said that without a doubt the visit would have [positive] results. He

said Khamenei was giving the Palestinian people unlimited support, and Iran could and

would provide every kind of aid despite the fact that it was itself under siege. He said

Iran had never asked Hamas to exploit the relations between them to harm an Arab or

Islamic state, which, he said, Hamas would find unacceptable (al-Aqsa, July 25, 2019).

Interviewed from Iran by telephone, Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of the Hamas

political bureau, said Iran was supporting Hamas with weapons, exercises, training

and in other fields. He said Iran spared nothing [in helping] the Gaza Strip. He added

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that although the support from Iran faced difficulties, Iranian aid was "preferable to the

empty words" of those who offered support but never provided it (al-Aqsa, July 24,

2019).

Interviewed from Tehran, senior Hamas figure Isma'il Radwan said that in every

scenario of a confrontation against Israel, Hamas and the "resistance" would be at

the heart of the battle, especially if a war broke out between Israel and Iran (al-

Mayadeen, July 22, 2019).

The visit of the Hamas delegation in Iran was criticized by social network users in

Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Most of the criticism dealt with concern over the

consequences of the visit for support for the Palestinians from the Arab states and Europe.

Those who were critical argued that the Khamenei's statement about arming the Gaza Strip

with precision weapons was liable to lead to "a step up in Israel's aggression" towards the

Gaza Strip.

Criticism of Hamas

Ahmed Yusuf, a senior Hamas figure who lives in Palestinian Authority (PA) territory,

wrote an article criticizing the conduct of the Hamas administration, and proposing ways to

improve it (Dunia al-Watan, July 28 2019). He wrote that since Hamas took control of the Gaza

Strip [2006] it had not managed to forge ties with countries in the region and did not

have political achievements for lifting the "siege" on the Gaza Strip. He also wrote that

the "conspiracy" of Israel and the West to make Hamas fail did not justify its failure to

formulate an effective model for governing. According to Ahmed Yusuf, the public in the Gaza

Strip welcomed the rise of Hamas to power and expected a new and better era. However,

after more than a decade Hamas rule was a disappointment and had become "a burden

and a disaster." He said the failure was the result of wrong choices, lack of professionality

and the appointment of untrained people to unsuitable duties.

He suggested a number of ways he thought the situation could be improved. They included:

To avoid the use of "extremist," "belligerent" language, which presents Hamas and

the Gaza Strip as "a power" despite the fact that it has very few capabilities.

To promote a political agenda appropriate for Hamas. The Hamas political document

[published on May 1, 2017] is a good basis for a political party.

To make the internal Palestinian reconciliation the top priority and to prepare the

ground for implementing it.

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To adopt democratic methods and initiate elections without a connection to the

reconciliation with the PA.

Summer camps in the Gaza Strip

Hamas

On July 25, 2019, pictures were published of the last day of the first session of the Pioneers of

Liberation camps in the various Gaza Strip districts. A video documented the activities of the

Pioneers of Liberation camps in Hamas' Rafah Brigade, showing participants emerging

from a tunnel, storming an IDF tank and abducting an IDF soldier. The second session

began on July 27, 2019 (Pioneers of Liberation Facebook page, July 25 and 27, 2019).

Right: Children practice shooting at the camps in the Khan Yunis Brigade. The targets are pictures of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kokhavi. Left:

Shooting range in the Northern Gaza Strip Brigade. A Magen David is painted on one of the targets (Pioneers of Liberation Facebook page, July 25, 2019).

Pictures from the video: practicing taking control of an IDF tank and abducting an IDF soldier, at the Pioneers of Liberation camp of the Rafah Brigade (Muqawama Twitter account, July 22,

2019).

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

The PIJ in Rafah began another round of summer activities. Ahmed Abd al-'Aal, director of

the camps, said activities would begin on July 27, 2019, and last for five days. The activities

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will take place in ten mosques and there will be 1,500 participants between the ages of 13 and

18. He said they would participate in a variety of activities, the most prominent of which

would be raising awareness of the security situation, the Palestinian cause and the

challenges it faces (Filastin al-Yawm, July 27, 2019). As opposed to the previous round of

summer camps, this time the PIJ did not relate to the military activities that take place

in its summer camps.

Right: Participants in PIJ summer camps in Rafah. In the top row, center (white shirt) is PIJ senior operator al-Gadhafi al-Qutati (Abu Jihad) (al-Qutati's Facebook page, July 27, 2019). Left:

A summer camp activity held in a mosque (PIJ in Rafah Facebook page, July 28, 2019).

The Palestinian Authority (PA) Ongoing protest against the destruction of buildings

The destruction of the houses in Wadi al-Hums, near Sur Baher in southeast Jerusalem,3

continues to provoke rage. At the center of the reactions was Mahmoud Abbas' decision to

stop implementing the provisions of agreements signed with Israel.

On July 25, 2019, Mahmoud Abbas called an emergency meeting of the Palestinian

leadership. He ended the meeting by saying that "in light of Israel's stubbornness in reneging

on all agreements signed with it" the Palestinian leadership decided to stop acting

according to the provisions of cooperation agreements signed with Israel. The

Palestinian National Council (PNC) supported the decision. According to Salim Zanoun, PNC

chairman, the decision signaled the beginning of a new era in the struggle against Israel

(Wafa, July 26, 2019).

3Hums -On July 22, 2019, the Israeli security forces demolished 12 buildings in the Wadi al

neighborhood, near Sur Baher in southeastern Jerusalem. The buildings were constructed in a location forbidden because of its proximity to the security fence. They were demolished after the

Israeli Supreme Court authorized their destruction.

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Mahmoud Abbas announces the PA will no longer act according to the provisions of cooperation agreements signed with Israel (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, July 25, 2019).

In order to suspend the agreements with Israel, Mahmoud Abbas declared he was

appointing of a committee of experts which would implement the decision (Palestinian

TV, July 25, 2019). On July 28, 2019, the committee met. Its members split according to areas

of operation and each group will examine ways to stop cooperation. Reportedly, the agenda

agreements relating to security and the recognition of Israel. A senior PLO figure reported

that the committee will operate according to schedule and the suspension of agreements will

be carried out gradually (al-Quds al-Arabi, July 29, 2019).

At this point it is unclear if the decision will also include the suspension of security

coordination with Israel. Regarding security contacts, Majed al-Fityani, secretary of Fatah's

Revolutionary Council, said security contacts would be conducted at the lowest possible

level, so that it would be impossible to claim that security connections existed between the

Palestinians and Israel (Sawa, July 29, 2019).

In the meantime, additional measures were taken, including the following:

Mahmoud Abbas visited Amman and met with Abdallah, the king of Jordan. They

discussed ways to deal with Israeli actions, especially the destruction of the buildings

in Wadi al-Hums. Mahmoud Abbas said the destruction of the buildings was a serious

blow to the rights of the Palestinian people and that a clear stand had to be taken

(Palestinian TV, Wafa, July 24, 2019).

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Mahmoud Abbas meets in Amman with the king of Jordan (Mahmoud Abbas' Facebook page, July 24, 2019).

Fatah activists toured Wadi al-Hums with representatives of the Central Committee,

the Revolutionary Council and the heads of the district branches. Jamal Muhsein, a

member of Fatah's Central Committee, condemned Israel's action, which he called a

"humanitarian crime" because the buildings were located in Area A (Wafa, July 24,

2019). Muhammad Hussein, the Mufti of Jerusalem, also visited the region with other

senior figures (Ma'an, July 25, 2019).

At the weekly Palestinian government meeting, Muhammad Shtayyeh ordered a

legal committee to be appointed, composed of representatives of the relevant

ministries. They were to investigate the destruction of the houses in Wadi al-Hums and

to present their findings to the Palestinian courts. He said the committee would begin

operating in the coming days (Wafa, July 29, 2019).

Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem said the government had

formulated two plans to support the residents of Wadi al-Hums. The first, short-

term plan, included finding lodging for the residents of the houses that had been

demolished. The second, long-term plan, would include constructing houses on the

ruins (Sawa, July 24, 2019).

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Sign hung in the return camp in eastern Gaza City in response to the destruction of buildings in Sur Baher. The Arabic reads, "We will erect tents on the ruins...and by Allah, we will not leave"

(Supreme National Authority Facebook page. July 26, 2019).

Fatah and PLO members visit Damascus

Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, visited Damascus as head of

a PLO delegation. He said that in accordance with a decision made by Mahmoud Abbas and

the PLO's Executive Committee, visits to Damascus would continue and would be used to

meet with the Syrian leadership for bilateral coordination. Azzam al-Ahmed said Mahmoud

Abbas was in contact with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and would visit Syria in the near

future (al-Watan TV, July 25, 2019). Mahmoud al-Habash, Mahmoud Abbas' advisor for

religious affairs, visited Syria and met with senior Syrian officials. During the visit he gave the

Syrian president a letter from Mahmoud Abbas (al-Mayadeen, July 28, 2019).

The tax revenue crisis

On July 28, 2019, Muhammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian prime minister, held the first

meeting devoted to discussing legal avenues to cope with the crisis of the withheld tax

revenues. He told the participants, who were both government and non-government figures,

that the objective was to form a legal strategy to deal with Israel's "violations" of

international law and of signed economic agreements. Reportedly, at the meeting a

number of local and international legal recommendations were made which, said

Muhammad Shtayyeh, would be presented to Mahmoud Abbas (Wafa, July 28, 2019).

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Muhammad Shtayyeh holds a meeting to discuss legal avenues to cope with Israel's withholding of tax revenues (Wafa, July 28, 2019).