News of Terrorism and the IsraeliPalestinian Conflict
(January 27 – February 2, 2016)
Glorifying an operative in the Palestinian police force who carried out a shooting attack at Beit El.
Left: A cartoon by Hamas-affiliated Omaya Joha of a Palestinian girl saluting Palestinian terrorist
Amjad Sukari. The Arabic reads, "A salute to military [operative] Amjad Sukari" (Facebook page of
Paldf, January 31, 2016). Right: The Palestinian family salutes the terrorist. The Arabic reads, "A
Palestinian policeman shoots at three soldiers of the occupation in the northern [West] Bank and
then dies as a shaheed [martyr]... (Facebook page of Paldf, February 1, 2016).
Overview
n This past week the current Palestinian terrorist campaign continued. There were shooting,
stabbing and vehicular attacks, along with the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails. Prominent
was a shooting attack at a roadblock near Beit El, carried out by a terrorist from the Palestinian
police force (three IDF soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously). The terrorist was shot and
killed by return fire. The Palestinian Authority (PA) held a military funeral for him and he was eulogized
by a senior Fatah figure. Hamas exploited the event to defame the PA's security coordination with
Israel and to call on other security force personnel to "turn their weapons against Israel."
n This past week seven Hamas terrorist operatives were killed when a tunnel collapsed in the
northern part of Gaza City. Senior Hamas figures exploited the opportunity to boast about the
buildup of Hamas' military capabilities and to send a message of deterrence and threat to Israel.
According to senior Hamas figure Ismail Haniyeh, "heroes" toil tirelessly to dig tunnels in the eastern
Gaza Strip [i.e., towards Israel] and test-fire rockets in the west [i.e., towards the sea]. Hamas
spokesmen also praised the terrorist campaign in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem
Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem
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Terrorist Attacks and Attempted Attacks
n February 1, 2016 – stabbing attack: A Palestinian terrorist crossed the border
security fence in the region of the village of Sal'it (northeast of Qalqilya). IDF
soldiers discovered him hiding and tried to detain him. He took out a knife, and the
soldiers shot and killed him. The Palestinian media reported he was Ahmed Hassan
Abd al-Latif Tuba, 19, from Kafr Jamal, south of Tulkarm (Ma'an, February 1, 2016).
Hamas issued a death notice for him (Facebook page of Paldf, February 2, 2016).
The PA held a military funeral for him. His body was carried by operatives of
the Palestinian national security forces (YouTube, February 1, 2016).
Left: The death notice issued by Hamas for Palestinian terrorist Ahmed Hassan Abd al-Latif
(Facebook page of Paldf, February 2, 2016). Right: The military funeral held for him by the PA
(YouTube, February 1, 2016).
n January 31, 2016 – vehicular attack:
• A Palestinian drove a car with Palestinian license plates to a roadblock near
Bayt Ur al-Tahta (west of Ramallah, on Route 443, which links Modi'in with
Jerusalem) and tried to run over soldiers engaged in security activities. There
were no casualties. The terrorist was shot and wounded by the soldiers (IDF
spokesman, January 31, 2016).
• According to the Palestinian media, he was Ahmed Wajia Othman Jadallah,
19 from Bayt Ur al-Tahta (Palinfo, January 31, 2016). The Palestinian media
reported that the day before his death, he had attended the funeral of Ibrahim
Allan, also a terrorist from Bayt Ur al-Tahta, who carried out the stabbing attack
in Beit Horon on January 25, 2016 (Facebook page of Paldf, January 31, 2016).
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Ahmed Wajia Othman Jadallah at the funeral held for Palestinian terrorist Ibrahim Allan, from
his village (Facebook page of Paldf, January 31, 2016).
n January 31, 2016 – shooting attack:
1
• Three IDF soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in a shooting attack at an IDF
roadblock near Beit El (near Ramallah). The roadblock is used exclusively by
senior Palestinian Authority (PA) figures. The terrorist drove to the roadblock and
when stopped and asked for identification, took out a gun and shot at the
soldiers. The soldiers stationed at the roadblock returned fire and killed him.
• The terrorist was Amjad Jaser Sukari (Abu Omar), 34, father of four, from the
village of Jama'in, southwest of Nablus. He was a bodyguard for Ahmed
Hanoun, the Palestinian attorney general in Ramallah, and a staff sergeant in
the Palestinian police. As a policeman, his gun was registered and he could pass
through the roadblock without arousing suspicion.
• The PA held a military funeral for Amjad Jaser Sukari. His body was carried
by operatives of the Palestinian security forces. The governor of the Nablus
district attended the funeral. He was eulogized by Mahmoud al-'Alul, a
member of Fatah's Central Committee and in charge of Fatah's organization and
enlistment bureau in Judea and Samaria. Al-'Alul said the Fatah movement was
proud of "the shaheed Sukari" as it was proud of all the shaheeds. He said, "the
occupation does not leave us any choice but to fight against it...The blood of
shaheeds is not lost" (Quds Press, February 1, 2016).
1
For further information, see the February 2, 2016 bulletin, "The social networks as a source of
inspiration and imitation for terrorists: the case study of Amjad Jaser Sukari, the Palestinian
policeman who carried out the shooting attack near Beit El."
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Left: Mahmoud al-'Alul, a senior Fatah figure, eulogizes Amjad Jaser Sukari. Next to him, with
his back to the camera, is Akram Rajoub, the governor of the Nablus district (Facebook page of
Mahmoud al-'Alul, February 1, 2016). Right: The funeral held for Amjad Jaser Sukari. His body
was wrapped in the Palestinian and Fatah flags (Facebook page of Quds, February 1, 2016).
• Senior Hamas figures praised the shooting attack and the terrorist who carried
it out. Fathi Hamad, former minister of the interior in the Hamas administration in
the Gaza Strip, said the attack was a message to the other operatives of the
Palestinian security forces to follow in Amjad Jaser Sukari's footsteps (Dunia alWatan, January 31, 2016). Husam Badran, a Hamas spokesman, said that the
participation of the [Palestinian] security forces in the intifada was an expression
of "the will of the people," and called on all the operatives of the security
forces to turn their weapons against Israel (Dunia al-Watan, January 31,
2016). The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also praised the attack (Paltoday,
January 31, 2016). A spokesman for Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the
Gaza Strip said that the attack was proof of the nationalist sentiments of the [PA]
security forces and their refusal to accept security collaboration with Israel
(Alresala.net, January 31, 2016).
• After the attack the IDF imposed a closure on Ramallah, the first time since
the outbreak of the current terrorist campaign, possibly out of concern for another
terrorist attack. Residents of Ramallah were forbidden to leave the city, with the
exception of Palestinians who had work permits for Israel, humanitarian cases
and senior PA figures. Anyone who was not a resident of Ramallah was not
allowed to enter. After 24 hours and a reevaluation of the situation on the ground,
the IDF lifted the closure (Haaretz, February 2, 2016).
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n January 30, 2016 – stabbing attack: Three Palestinian youths carried out a
stabbing attack near the Nablus Gate in Jerusalem. They attacked two young men
who had just left the plaza in front of the Western Wall, inflicting minor wounds on
one. The three terrorists fled, leaving a knife behind. Several hours later one of the
attackers turned himself in; he was 16, from east Jerusalem. Later another attacker
was detained, a minor less than 12 years old. The following day the stabber turned
himself in; he was 15, from the Shuafat refugee camp.
n January 27, 2016 – stabbing attack: An Israeli was stabbed and seriously
wounded by a Palestinian in the Givat Ze'ev neighborhood northwest of
Jerusalem. The terrorist went to a gas station near the neighborhood and followed
a man and woman he saw there. Before they entered a nearby store the terrorist
stabbed the man and ran away. Civilians who saw the attack chased him. As he ran
he threw a knife on the ground. After about 200 yards the civilians caught up with
and overcame him. Another knife was found at the scene, apparently also belonging
to the terrorist.2
Riots, Clashes and Popular Terrorism
n In the meantime, demonstrations, protest marches, riots, and the throwing of
stones, Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs continue in Judea, Samaria and
Jerusalem. Many of the riots throughout Judea and Samaria were held in support of
Muhammad al-Qiq, a Palestinian administrative detainee who has been on a hunger
strike for more than 60 days. The more prominent events were the following
(including terrorist attacks that were prevented):
• February 1, 2016 – A Palestinian was detained by the Israeli security forces in
Bayt A'innon (near Hebron). A knife was found in his possession. He was taken
for questioning (Facebook page of Red Alert, February 1, 2016).
• February 1, 2016 – Policemen on Hagai Street in Jerusalem noticed a 14
year-old Palestinian boy who aroused their suspicions. He was found to have
hidden a knife on his body. He was detained and taken for questioning
(Facebook page of Red Alert, February 1, 2016).
2
For further information, see the January 31, 2016 bulletin, "The social networks as a source of
inspiration and imitation for terrorists: the case study of Obada Abu Ras, the Palestinian terrorist
who carried out the stabbing attack in Givat Ze'ev, Jerusalem."
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• January 29, 2016 – Palestinians threw stones at a bus near Bayt Ummar on
the Gush Etzion-Hebron road. There were no casualties. The bus was
damaged (Facebook page of Red Alert, January 29, 2016).
• January 29, 2016 – Fifteen Molotov cocktails were thrown at Israeli security
forces during an activity in Issawiya. There were no casualties (Facebook page
of Red Alert, January 29, 2016).
• January 28, 2016 – Palestinian terrorists threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at
cars and buses on the road between Bayt Ummar and Karmei Tzur. There
were no casualties. A bus window was damaged (Facebook page of Red Alert,
January 28, 2016).
• January 28, 2016 – Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails at a car on the Gush
Etzion-Jerusalem road. There were no casualties and no damage was
reported. Palestinians also threw stones at a car on the Gush Etzion-Hebron
road south of Karmei Tzur (Facebook page of Red Alert, January 28, 2016).
• January 28, 2016 – An IDF force examined a Palestinian who aroused
suspicion at a junction near Tel Romeida (Hebron). He was found to be carrying
a knife (Facebook page of Red Alert, January 28, 2016).
• January 28, 2016 – Palestinians opened fire at an IDF force engaged in
operational activities in the village of Aqab (Ramallah region). The force
returned fire (Facebook page of Red Alert, January 28, 2016).
Results of the Investigation of the Shooting Attack
in Tel Aviv
n The results of the Israel Security Agency investigation shed new light on the
shooting attack at the Simta Pub on Dizengoff Street, a main street in Tel Aviv, on
January 1, 2016 (Israel Security Agency website, January 27, 2016):
• Nash'at Muhammad Ali Milhem, who carried out the attack, planned and
carried it out alone.
• After the attack he took a taxi on Ibn Gevirol Street, another main street, and
went north to the Mandarin Hotel in northern Tel Aviv, where he shot and killed
the taxi driver. He abandoned the taxi on the Haifa-Tel Aviv main road after he
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had difficulty operating it. He continued to his home village in Wadi Ara with
public transportation.
• On his cell phone, which he lost while in Ramat Aviv on the morning of the
attack, there were videos he took of himself. They indicated he used drugs and
alcohol. In addition to the videos there were Islamic religious materials
material used
for psychological self-preparation before an attack. He used terminology
similar to that used by ISIS.
• After the attack and until he was located, he hid in a number of locations in
his village, and was helped by a member of the family. A limited number of
his relatives knew he was in the village and some of them also helped him. He
asked them to get ammunition for him because he was planning more attacks.
Israel's South
Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire Attacking Israel
n This past week no rocket or mortar shell hits were identified in Israeli territory .
Monthly Distribution of Rocket Fire (2014 – 2016)3
2497
1392
3 0 3 18 650 9 2 52
1
1
0 1
0
0
1 1 4
4
2
2 7 3 1 3 0
*The data include the three rockets launched by ISIS's Sinai Province from the Sinai Peninsula in
July by ISIS's Sinai Province.
3
As of February 2, 2016. The statistics do not include mortar shell fire or rockets which misfired
and fell inside the Gaza Strip.
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Annual Distribution of Rocket Fire in Israel's South4
3852
974
1159
783
925
787
158
103
845
375
373
39
25
3
Riots and Terrorist Attacks near the Border Security
Fence
n This past week Gazans continued rioting near the border security fence in a show
of solidarity with the Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. According to
various estimates, several hundred Palestinians rioted. On January 29, 2016,
clashes developed between Gazans and IDF forces near the Erez crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip (Facebook page of Shihab, January 29, 2016).
4
The statistics do not include mortar shell fire or rockets which misfired and fell inside the Gaza
Strip.
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Clashes between Palestinians and the IDF near the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip
(Facebook page of Shihab, January 29, 2016).
Developments in the Gaza Strip
Seven Hamas Operatives Killed in Tunnel Collapse
n On January 27, 2016, the headquarters of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades,
Hamas' military-terrorist wing, said it had lost contact with a squad of operatives from
its tunnel unit after a tunnel collapsed (Al-Aqsa, January 27, 2016). The following day
a formal announcement was issued for the deaths of seven Izz al-Din Qassam
Brigades operatives in a tunnel collapse in the northern part of Gaza City.
According to the announcement, they were part of a group of 11 operatives who were
repairing an old tunnel. The the collapse was caused by weather conditions. Four
operatives managed to escape and seven were killed. Three of them belonged to the
nukhba unit, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades' elite unit (Al-Aqsa, January 28, 2016).
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The announcements issued by Hamas' military-terrorist wing. Left: The announcement of the
death of the seven operatives, with their names, ages and functions (Izz al-Din Qassam
Brigades website, January 28, 2016). Right: The announcement issued the day the tunnel
collapsed and contact was lost with the operatives (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades website,
January 27, 2016).
n On January 29, 2016, funerals were held for the seven terrorist operatives who
had died. The following day Hamas held a memorial service for them. A delegation of
senior Hamas figures headed by Ismail Haniyeh paid condolence calls to the
families of the seven operatives. Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas' political bureau,
contacted the families and sent his condolences (Hamas website, January 30, 2016).
The announcement issued by the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades with the names and pictures of
the seven operatives who died. The Arabic reads, "Men of Allah and the shining
victory...#men_the tunnel" (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades website, January 28, 2016).
n The death of the seven terrorist operatives and the ceremonies held in their honor
provided Hamas with opportunities to boast about its military buildup in the Gaza
Strip and to glorify the role played by the tunnels in fighting against Israel. They
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also provided opportunities to praise the terrorist campaign in Judea, Samaria and
Jerusalem:
• Ismail Haniyeh, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, noted the issue
during his Friday sermon, delivered during the funerals. He claimed that in the
eastern Gaza Strip "heroes" were at work underground digging tunnels,
and in the western Gaza Strip they were at work above ground, test-firing
rockets. He claimed Hamas' military-terrorist wing would continue deploying
above and below ground, on land and at sea, and would not stop until "the
liberation of the holy sites" (Paltoday, January 29d, 2016).
• Abu Obeida, Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades spokesman, claimed the military
wing continued planning, developing and training. He claimed they would
continue an ongoing campaign not influenced by the "siege." He added, if Israel
did something "stupid," the "resistance" would make the ground shake under its
feet. He also claimed the stabbing, vehicular and Molotov cocktail attacks were
no less heroic than the actions of the men of the tunnels (Dunia al-Watan,
January 31, 2016).
Left: Abu Obeida speaks at the memorial service held for the seven terrorist operatives
(Facebook page of Paldf, January 31, 2016). Right: Ismail Haniyeh gives a Friday sermon at the
memorial service (Facebook page of Gaza al-An, January 29, 2016).
• Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, said that in light of the deaths of the
seven operatives, Hamas stressed it would continue its path and continue
planning for Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. He said the seven who had
been killed represented the anonymous Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades fighters
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working day and night to defend the Gaza Strip from Israeli aggression (Qudsnet,
January 28, 2016).
n UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned about recent
statements made by Hamas leaders regarding their intention to continue constructing
tunnels and launching rockets at Israel (UN website, January 31, 2016). In response,
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas condemned the statements
made by the UN secretary general about the tunnels. He claimed the statements
contradicted international law and supported Israel, because the tunnels were
intended to "defend the Gaza Strip" (Hamas website, January 31, 2016).
Examples of notices issued after the deaths of the seven terrorist operatives. Upper left: A
tunnel with the body of a Hamas operative. The Arabic reads, "The shaheeds of
reconstruction...they leave silently...and with their silence they will write history." Upper right:
A picture of the funeral. The Arabic reads, "Men of the tunnel...and the march of the resistance
continues until the liberation of Jerusalem and all the Palestinian land" (Facebook page of the
Islamic Movement in Nablus, January 31, 2016). Lower picture: Hamas infographic listing the
attacks carried out using the tunnels (Facebook page of Gaza al-An, January 29, 2016).
The Palestinian Authority
The French Initiative for Israeli-Palestinian
Negotiations
n France is trying to revive its initiative for calling an international conference to
renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. On January 29, 2016, the
French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius,
Fabius declared that if no progress were made
in reaching the twotwo-state solution in the coming weeks France would recognize the
Palestinian state. On January 30, 2016, he said, "France will engage in the coming
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weeks in the preparation of an international conference bringing together the parties
and their main partners, American, European, Arab, notably to preserve and make
happen the two-state solution" (France 24, January 30, 2016).
n In response, at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting Israeli Prime
Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said the French proposal "will be an incentive for
the Palestinians to come and not compromise. The substance of negotiations is
compromise and the French initiative, as it has been reported, in effect gives the
Palestinians in advance reasons not to do so... our position is very clear: We are
prepared to enter into direct negotiations without preconditions and without dictated
conditions" (Website of the Israeli prime minister, January 31, 2016; ITIC emphasis).
n The PA praised the initiative:
• Mahmoud Abbas told participants of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa
that he praised the French initiative and the efforts of the Arabs and Europeans.
He called for an international conference to be held to implement the Arab peace
initiative and the two-state solution. He also called for the establishment of a new
mechanism and international working groups to discuss the issue. He said a new
mechanism had to be formed for an international conference to be held with UN
Security Council participation.
• Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, said they praised the
efforts France invested in ending the occupation and the declaration that France
would recognize the state of Palestine (Wafa, January 29, 2016).
• Yusuf al-Mahmoud, spokesman for the Palestinian national consensus
government, praised the French initiative and said it would bring peace to the
Middle East and realize the two-state solution. He claimed the initiative was the
reward for Mahmoud Abbas's efforts, and a victory for Palestinian policy (Wafa,
January 31, 2016).
• Saeb Erekat, secretary of the PLO's Executive Committee, said the PA
praised France's call to end the occupation. He said to achieve that goal the PA
would continue contacts with France and other international partners (124News
website, January 29, 2016).
• The Fatah movement called on the international community to support the
French initiative, stating that the French position was a victory for Palestinian
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policy and a positive response to the efforts of the PA chairman for Palestinian
independence (Ma'an, January 30, 2016).
n Hamas rejected the initiative. According to Ismail Radwan, a senior Hamas
figure, all the political initiatives seeking to return to negotiations were unacceptable
and useless. He said Hamas objected to a return to negotiations of that type and
considered them absurd and a waste of time (Al-Kofia Press, January 30, 2016).
Cartoon issued by Fatah's information bureau and published in the London-based Al-Quds alArabi. It likens Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to ISIS. The dove whose head
Netanyahu is knocking off is the two-state solution, and the "ISIS flag" reads "The Jewish
State." The Arabic in the upper right-hand corner reads, "Netanyahu: No new withdrawals from
the Palestinian territories" (Website of Fatah's information bureau, January 31, 2016).
Continuing Hunger Strike of Journalist Muhammad alQiq
n On the night of November 21, 2015, the Israeli security forces detained journalist
Muhammad al-Qiq in Ramallah. He was accused of incitement in the Palestinian
media encouraging violence against Israel. A number of days after his detention he
began a hunger strike to protest not being brought to trial. After an extended hunger
strike it was reported that his health had declined. Senior PA figures met with
members of his family (Wafa, January 31, 2014). Ismail Haniyeh, deputy head of
Hamas' political bureau, spoke with members of his family on the phone (Hamas
website, January 26, 2016).
n Al-Qiq's hunger strike and the reports of his failing health led to protests by many
Palestinians. Support rallies and demonstrations have been held throughout Judea,
Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Palestinian web users created a number of pages on the
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social networks to support him. Many people praised him, said Israel was responsible
for his life, and called on the international community and international institutions and
human rights organizations to intervene and exert pressure on Israel to release him
(Wafa and Dunia al-Watan, January 26, 2016). Husam Badran, Hamas spokesman,
threatened his death would lead to a response (Paltoday, January 25, 2016).
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