News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
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News of Terrorism and the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
(April 14 – 20, 2021)
Overview
Coronavirus: In the Gaza Strip the scope of the infection decreased although the rate of
positive tests is high (37%), and the number of Gazans hospitalized, including those in
serious or critical condition, is very high. Increasing the strictness of preventive measures is
under consideration. In Judea and Samaria there has been a decrease in infection but
medical sources note it does not indicate an improvement in the situation. The Palestinian
Authority (PA) received its second installment of vaccines, some of which were also
transferred to the Gaza Strip. Mai al-Kayla, PA minister of health, accused Israel ("the
occupation") of allegedly being the main obstacle to the PA's providing medical services to
the villages, towns and refugee camps in Area C. Terrorist attacks: This past week
Palestinians continued throwing rocks and a larger than usual number of Molotov cocktails
and IEDs at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads in Judea and Samaria. In Issawiya in east
Jerusalem a bus driver and his family were attacked. The Gaza Strip is relatively quiet.
Terrorist attacks:
The Gaza Strip: This past week rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel
territory, one on each of two consecutive days. No casualties or damage were reported.
It is not known which terrorist organization was responsible for the rocket fire. In
response Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hamas terrorist targets, among them a
position for firing anti-aircraft missiles (still under construction), a site for the
manufacture of concrete and foundations for a Hamas terrorist attack tunnel,
indicating Hamas' ongoing military buildup.
Judea and Samaria: There was relatively quiet this past week, with the exception of
Palestinians who rioted against police at the Nablus Gate in east Jerusalem. The
reason given for the riot was the Israeli police department's decision, in view of the
coronavirus situation, to put barricades near the steps to prevent crowds from sitting
there during the Muslim religious month of Ramadan.
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2
Palestinian elections: Preparations continue for the elections. Nevertheless, Fatah and
the PA are apparently rethinking holding elections on the designated day because of
concern over the outcome, especially a Hamas victory. Palestinian sources also claim it is
possible Israel will not allow elections to be held in east Jerusalem, which will serve as an
excuse to cancel them. However, the PA continues its efforts to exert pressure on Israel,
which include enlisting the international community to force Israel to allow the elections to
take place in east Jerusalem.
Palestinian Prisoners Day: This past week Palestinian Prisoners Day was marked in
Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. The day provided a stage for senior Palestinian figures
to reiterate their commitment to the release of the Palestinian [terrorist] prisoners held in
Israeli jails and to threaten Israel.
The Spread of Covid-19
The Gaza Strip
In the Gaza Strip there was a decrease in the scope of coronavirus infections. During the week
8,063 new cases were detected, down from 11,120 a week ago. During the 24 hours between
April 19 and 20, 1,556 new cases were detected and 4,194 tests were conducted, with a
positive rate of 37%, up from 33% a week ago. There are currently 19,645 active coronavirus
cases in the Gaza Strip, down from 20,484 a week ago. There are 382 Gazans hospitalized in
ICUs, 267 of them in serious or critical condition. This past week 96 patients died of
coronavirus-related complications, bringing the number of fatalities to 798. So far 33,887
doses of the 40,800 doses of vaccine which have already arrived in the Gaza Strip have been
administered, (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, Twitter account of Dr. Ashraf al-
Qidra, April 20, 2021).
The overall situation
Dr. Majdi Dheir, director of preventive medicine in the ministry of health in Gaza, said the
second wave of coronavirus had not yet begun to wane. He said they were considering the
possibility of enforcing stricter preventive measures to halt the spread of the virus (al-Ra'i
news agency website, April 20, 2021).
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3
Preventive measures, including a ban on vehicular traffic, instituted throughout the Gaza Strip to
halt the spread of the coronavirus (Palinfo Twitter account, April 16, 2021).
The situation in the hospitals
There are 382 Gazans in ICUs, 267 of them in serious or critical condition. This past week
96 people died, an indication of a high rate of infection and the burden on the hospitals. A
new oxygen station in the Shifaa hospital in Gaza City began providing an additional supply
of oxygen for coronavirus patients (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, April 19,
2021).
Right: The new oxygen station in the Shifaa hospital (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page,
April 19, 2021). Left: Testing for the coronavirus in Gaza's central laboratory (Palinfo Twitter
account, April 15, 2021).
Judea and Samaria
In Judea and Samaria the rate of infection declined somewhat. This past week 3,450 new
active cases were detected, down from 6,092 a week ago. Between April 19 and 20, 454 new
cases were detected and 2,461 tests were administered, with a positive rate of 18%. The
number of active cases stands at 9,894, 165 of them hospitalized in serious or critical
condition, 46 on ventilators. This past week 81 patients died, bringing the number of
coronavirus-related deaths to 2,280. The number of active cases in east Jerusalem also
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4
declined and now stands at 164. Nablus remains the main epicenter of the disease. So far
131,759 Palestinians in Judea and Samaria have been vaccinated (ministry of health in
Ramallah Facebook page, April 20, 2021).
The increase in coronavirus infection in Judea and Samaria
(According to the ministry of health in Ramallah)
22,000 20,453
19,427
20,000 18,168
18,000
16,000 14,703 15,094
15,450
14,000 12,013 12,336
12,000 10,137 12,285 9,894
9,688
10,000 10,469
8,000
7,213 5,973
6,000 4,894 6,092
3,736 2,924
4,000 1,941 2,357
3,450
2,000
0
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
1
1
1
1
02
02
02
02
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
.2
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.2
2.
2.
3.
3.
.4
.4
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.2
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.3
.3
.
3.
.
9.
-6
3
0
-2
-2
0
7
6
2
-1
-2
9-
3-
-1
-1
-1
-2
.3
.1
.2
.4
16
23
10
17
4
23
27
24
7.
14
Active Cases New Cases
Number of coronavirus-related death
(According to the ministry of health in Ramallah)
3,000
2,750
2,500
2,280
2,199
2,250 2,099
2,000 1,870
1,746
1,750 1,610
1,510
1,404 1,449
1,500 1,326 1,365
1,250
1,000
1
21
21
21
4
12
1
1
1
1
1
.2
.
02
02
02
02
02
-6
20
20
20
20
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.2
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.2
.3
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2.
3.
-2
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23
.
3.
9.
.2
13
-2
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7
6
2
20
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-2
24
.1
4-
1-
16
23
10
17
27
7.
02
.2
.4
14
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5
The overall situation
Dr. Kamal al-Shakhra, spokesman for the ministry of health in Ramallah, said the
decrease in the extent of the virus does not reflect an overall improvement in the situation.
He said the decrease was for the most part due to the strike waged by the medical
professionals, which influenced the number of tests administered. He said what correctly
reflected the situation was the number of coronavirus-related deaths recorded in Judea,
Samaria and the Gaza Strip. He said the number of hospitalized Palestinians was also high,
as was the percentage of positive test results (35% in the Gaza Strip, 21% in the PA) (Ma'an,
April 18, 2021).
The ministry of health in Ramallah posted an appeal to the Palestinian public on its
Facebook page, asking them to continue following public health guidelines and directives
during Ramadan. Palestinians are asked to maintain social distancing, wash their hands
frequently and wear masks (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 18, 2021).
The ministry of health in Ramallah appeals to the public to continue following public health
guidelines during the Muslim religious month of Ramadan (ministry of health in Ramallah
Facebook page, April 18, 2021).
Many Palestinians who post to the ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page have
criticized statements made by PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh and Mai al-
Kayla, PA minister of health, regarding the flattening of the Covid-19 curve. They claim the
situation today is very serious, the level of coronavirus-related deaths is high, the public
does not follow public health guidelines and the rate of vaccination is slow: with the current
rate of vaccination it will take the PA two years to inoculate the entire population (ministry
of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 18, 2021).
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6
Vaccines
On April 19, 2021, the ministry of health reported the delivery of the second installment of
vaccines from COVAX: 72,000 doses, 43,200 for the PA and 28,800 for the Gaza Strip (ministry
of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 20, 2021).
The second installment of coronavirus vaccines delivered by COVAX (ministry of health in
Ramallah Facebook page, April 19, 2021).
Mai al-Kayla said in an interview that the PA had purchased 4.5 million doses of the Pfizer
and Sputnik vaccines at a cost of $27.5 million. She said the PA would coordinate delivery
dates with the companies, adding she hoped the vaccines would arrive as soon as possible.
She said they were worried about the situation in the Gaza Strip because Gazans avoided
being vaccinated, and only 2.2% had received the vaccine, compared with 7.1% in the PA
territories (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 20, 2021).
Marwan Awartani, the Palestinian minister of education, reported on the ongoing
campaign to vaccinate the elementary school staffs. He said that so far 15,000 of the PA's
24,000 elementary school teachers had been vaccinated. After the elementary school staffs
they will begin vaccinating junior high and high school teachers (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, April
18, 2021).
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Coronavirus vaccinations in the Jilazoun refugee camp (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook
page, April 18, 2021).
Blaming Israel
During an online conference held to mark World Health Day, the PA minister of health
again called for a more equal distribution of the coronavirus vaccines and medical services.
She again alleged Israel ("the occupation") was the main obstacle to the PA's providing
medical services in the villages, towns and refugee camps, especially in Area C. She claimed
that despite the difficulties, her ministry was making the best effort possible to provide
medical services to the entire Palestinian population. She thanked the W.H.O. for its aid and
support (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 14, 2021).
Mai al-Kayla, PA minister of health, attends an online conference on World Health Day (ministry
of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 14, 2021).
Foreign aid for the PA
The ministry of health in Ramallah received a shipment of medical assistance from Saudi
Arabia, donated by the King Salman Centre. The shipment included medical equipment,
drugs and 38 ventilators (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 18, 2021).
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8
Medical assistance from Saudi Arabia
(ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, April 18, 2021).
Israel's South
Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel
After a period of relative quiet, during the past week two rocket were fired from the Gaza
Strip into Israeli territory. No casualties or damage were reported. No terrorist
organization claimed responsibility. The last time a rocket was fired was on March 23, 2021,
Israel's election day, targeting the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.
On the evening of April 15, 2021 (Israel's Independence Day) a rocket was fired from the
Gaza Strip at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. It exploded in an open area outside the
town, close to the border security fence. No casualties or damage were reported (Sderot
municipality spokesman's unit, April 15, 2021). In response the IDF attacked a number of
Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including a site for the manufacture of weapons,
a tunnel used for smuggling weapons and a military-terrorist post (IDF spokesman, April 16,
2021).
The Palestinian media reported that IDF artillery attacked two posts of Hamas' restraint
force and UAVs launched two missiles at an "agricultural area" in the Zeitoun neighborhood
of Gaza City and at an open area in the Rafah region. A restraint force post in northeastern
al-Bureij was also attacked (Shehab, April 16, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem
condemned Israel's attacks, which he claimed were carried out during Ramadan fast-
breaking meals (Dunia al-Watan, April 16, 2021). The president of Turkey also condemned
Israel's attack during Ramadan, calling it proof of Israel's position towards Muslims. He also
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9
said that as long as Israel continued its policies, relations between Turkey and Israel would
not reach the desired level (al-Andalou News, April 16, 2021).
On the evening of April 16, 2021, another rocket was fired at Israel, landing in an open area
in the western Negev. No casualties or damage were reported. In response IDF aircraft
attacked a series of terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including a training facility, a position
for firing anti-aircraft missiles (still under construction), a site for the manufacture of
concrete and foundations for a Hamas terrorist attack tunnel (IDF spokesman, April 17,
2021).
The Palestinian media reported that the IDF had attacked a post of Hamas' military wing in
northwestern Rafah, an open area in eastern al-Bureij and a post in the southern part of
Gaza City (Shehab, April 17, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said it was the second
day the Gaza Strip found itself attacked by the "Zionists" during Ramadan (Dunia al-Watan,
April 17, 2021). In addition, according to reports one Gazan was seriously injured during the
attack on western Rafah (Paldf, April 17, 2021).
The IDF attacks in the Gaza Strip (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Twitter account of
journalist Hassan Aslih, April 17, 2021).
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10
Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire
691
700
600 578
500
400
300
200
122
100 89
6 15 25 15
2 1 1 2 2 14 13 4 1 0 1 3 3 4 4 2 3 0 1 2
0
Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits
5000
4500
3,852
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1,403
1500 1,159 1,119
974 925
1000 783 787 845
375 373
500 158 103 39 24 15 29 195
6
0
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
se
d
ge
ea
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
en
Ed
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Ca
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Op
Op
063-2111
Judea and Samaria
Violence at the Nablus Gate in east Jerusalem
Friday, April 16, 2021, was the first Friday of the Muslim religious month of Ramadan and
several thousand Palestinians came to the Temple Mount for the Friday prayers. Several
thousand also went to the Cave of the Patriarchs. On April 13, 2021, the first day of
Ramadan, before the end of the night prayer, Palestinians rioted at the Nablus Gate in east
Jerusalem. The reason was allegedly the Israeli police decision, in view of the coronavirus
situation, to place barricades to keep people from sitting on the steps to the Temple Mount
compound during the month. The Palestinians threw rocks, Molotov cocktails and small
explosive devices at a police position nearby and at buses driving past. The windows of a
bus were shattered and a policeman was wounded by flying glass; two drivers and three
passengers were also injured. Five Palestinians were detained (Israel Police Force
spokesman's unit, Jerusalem, April 13, 2021).
Confrontations continued throughout the week. On April 18, 2021, a bus was attacked
near the Nablus Gate by rock-throwing Palestinians. No casualties were reported (United
Hatzalah, April 18, 2021). On April 19, 2021, a crowd of about 50 Palestinians threw rocks
and attacked Israeli passersby near the Jaffa Gate in east Jerusalem. The police detained six
suspects who were involved in the attack, and they were taken for interrogation (Israel
Police Force spokesman's unit, Jerusalem, April 19, 2021).
On April 15, 2021, al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, the official PA newspaper, condemned the so-
called "Israeli aggression" against al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, publishing the
following cartoon:
Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda cartoon
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Rock- and Molotov cocktail-throwing, and other events
In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at
vehicles driving on the roads. The more prominent events were the following:1
April 20, 2021: Three Molotov cocktails were thrown at the trans-Benjamin road north
of Jerusalem, causing a fire.
April 19, 2021: A vehicle carrying five Israelis took a short cut and entered the village
of Ein Yabrud northeast of Ramallah. A Palestinian vehicle pursued them and the Israeli
vehicle, in an attempt to escape, overturned. Several dozen Palestinians gathered
around the overturned vehicle and threw rocks. The Israelis were slightly injured and
successfully escaped (Israel Police Force spokesman's unit, Judea and Samaria, April
19, 2021).
The Israeli vehicle that took a short cut and entered the Palestinian village of Ein Yabrud, set on
fire by local residents (Palinfo Twitter account, April 19, 2021).
April 19, 2021: The Israeli security forces detained a wanted Palestinian terrorist
operative in Tulkarm. Local residents rioted, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at
the forces, who defended themselves by firing their weapons. No casualties were
reported. The detained operative was taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force
spokesman's unit, April 19, 2021).
April 17, 2021: Palestinians threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at a vehicle north of
Jerusalem. No casualties or damage were reported.
April 17, 2021: Palestinians rioted at the Nablus Gate in east Jerusalem, throwing
rocks and shooting fireworks at police. One suspect was detained and taken for
interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman's unit, Jerusalem, April 17, 2021).
1
All information and reports are from Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria unless otherwise
noted.
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April 14, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle southwest of Hebron. No
casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
April 14, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Gush Etzion-Jerusalem
highway. No casualties or damage were reported.
April 13, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus northeast of Hebron. No casualties
or damage were reported. An IDF force ambushed and caught a suspect, who was
taken for interrogation.
April 13, 2021: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near the Cave of the Patriarchs
in Hebron. No casualties or damage were reported.
Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January
20202
8 7 7
6 6 6 6 6
6
4 4
4 3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0
0
October
October
December
December
March
March
March
August
June
January
June
August
January
April
February
April
January
April
February
February
July
July
September
September
November
November
May
May
2
A significant attack is defined by the ITIC as involving shooting, stabbing, a vehicular attack, the use of
IEDs, or a combination of the above. Stones and Molotov cocktails thrown by Palestinians are not
included.
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Palestinians confront Israeli security forces during the weekly riot in Kafr Qadoum (Palinfo
Twitter account, April 16, 2021).
Developments in the Gaza Strip
Hamas-Iran relations
The Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen TV station broadcast a three-part mini series called
"Qassem Soleimani, shaheed of al-Quds." It dealt with Qassem Soleimani, former
commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' Qods Force, and his support for the
Palestinian struggle. According to the program, Soleimani was responsible for the
coordination between the Qods Force and the Palestinian [terrorist] organizations. In
addition, Iran helped the Palestinians ignite the first intifada by issuing videos showing how
to manufacture explosive devices. During the program interviews were held with senior
Palestinian figures, who praised Iran's help for the Palestinian struggle. Among them were
Isma'il Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau; senior Hamas figure Musa Abu Marzouq;
senior Fatah figure Abbas Zaki; Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah;
Akram al-Ajouri, also a senior PIJ figure, and others (al-Mayadeen, April 16, 2021).
063-2115
Pictures commemorating the "shaheed of al-Quds," Qassem Soleimani. Left: Ziyad al-Nakhalah,
PIJ secretary general, during an al-Mayadeen TV interview (al-Mayadeen TV, April 16, 2021).
Right: Qassem Soleimani and Ali Khamenei.
A few days after the broadcast, Mohammad Hijazi, deputy Qods Force commander, died
of a heart attack. Isma'il Haniyeh contacted Esmail Ghaani, commander of the IRGC's
Qods Force, and offered his condolences. Haniyeh told Ghaani that Hamas valued the role
played by Iran in supporting the Palestinian people and their "resistance" (al-Mayadeen,
April 19, 2021).
The Palestinian Authority (PA)
Ongoing preparations for the elections
The PA continues its preparations for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections,
set for May 22, 2021. The election court announced that all the objections lodged against
candidates running for office in the PLC had been rejected (Quds, April 18, 2021). The
Central Elections Committee's director general confirmed that the elections would be held
simultaneously to ensure they were properly conducted (Wafa, April 19, 2021).
The Committee also began holding training sessions for 200 local election observers.
According to the Committee, 8,800 local and 300 foreign observers will participate, and
election propaganda will begin at the end of April 2021 (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, April 18, 2021).
063-2116
The Palestinian Central Elections Committee trains local election observers (al-Hayat al-
Jadeeda, April 18, 2021).
Possible delay of elections
Despite formal election preparations and Mahmoud Abbas' announcement (at the
beginning of a PLO Executive Committee conference) that they were determined to hold
them on time (Wafa, April 18, 2021), concerns apparently arose in Fatah and the PA
regarding the possible outcome, especially a Hamas victory after the Fatah movement
divided into three parties. According to sources in Fatah and the PA, internal deliberations
have been held in recent days regarding the issue. There are also Palestinian claims that
Israel's lack of response to allowing Palestinians to vote in east Jerusalem will be used as an
excuse to cancel the elections (al-Akhbar, April 19, 2021). Senior Fatah figures imprisoned in
Israeli jails issued a call not to hold the elections without their being held in Jerusale
At a press conference held by the civilian social institutions, warnings were issued that the
elections would be cancelled Israel refused to allow Palestinians to vote in east Jerusalem,
noting that cancelling the elections would have consequences for Palestinian politics (al-
Quds, April 13, 2021).
In addition, a "knowledgeable source in the United States administration" reported the
administration would understand a postponement of the PLC elections because of the
challenges facing the Palestinians. According to the source, the United States had not yet
received a formal request to exert pressure on Israel regarding the elections in east
Jerusalem (al-Quds, April 15, 2021).
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Due to the PA government's efforts to hold elections in east Jerusalem, Palestinian TV changed
its Facebook page homepage picture and added the comment, "Palestine votes, and Jerusalem
first of all" (Palestinian TV Facebook page, April 14, 2021).
Israel's position and the issue of voting in east Jerusalem
In the meantime, the Palestinians continue their efforts to exert pressure on Israel,
including through the international community, to allow the elections to be held in east
Jerusalem. Many spokesmen noted that if the elections were not held in east Jerusalem
they would not be held at all. Calls were also heard at Palestinian Prisoners Day events in a
number of cities for Israel to allow Palestinians to vote in east Jerusalem (Wafa, April 18,
2021).
Fatah's Central Committee, which met in Ramallah on April 19, 2021, stressed the necessity
for having the international community, including the UN, the EU, Russia and China, exert
pressure on the Israeli government to honor its commitments to agreements signed with
the PLO, which include elections in the PA territories, east Jerusalem among them.
According to the Central Committee, the Palestinian people will not accept any kind of
Israeli veto of the Palestinian elections, stressing that "Jerusalem and its inhabitants are a
red line that cannot be crossed or toyed with" (QudsN website, April 19, 2021).
Jibril Rajoub, secretary of Fatah's Central Committee, said the Palestinian leadership was
trying to exert international and regional pressure on Israel to allow elections to be held
throughout "occupied Palestine," especially in Jerusalem. He said all the Palestinian
organizations agreed on three principles: the elections were the way to end the internal
schism, the elections were part of the struggle against Israel and they would be held in all
the Palestinian territories within the 1967 borders, especially in east Jerusalem (Wafa, April
13, 2021).
Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
called on the countries of the International Quartet and others to exert pressure on Israel to
063-2118
agree to elections' being held in east Jerusalem in accordance with signed agreements
(Wafa, April 15, 2021).
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki went to Europe to hold discussions with
leaders regarding the responsibility of the international community for the PA elections and
to have them exert pressure on Israel to allow Palestinians to vote in east Jerusalem (Wafa,
April 19, 2021). His first stop was Belgium, where he met with André Flahaut, a member of
the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. Riyad al-Maliki asked him to exert pressure on
Israel to honor the agreements it had signed and to allow elections to be held in Jerusalem
(Wafa, April 19, 2021).
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki's meetings in Brussels. Right: Riyad al-Maliki with the
Belgian foreign minister. Left: Riyad al-Maliki with André Flahaut (PA foreign ministry Facebook
page, April 19, 2021).
Hamas' position
Sources in Hamas reported that during the visit of the Egyptian General Intelligence
delegation to the Gaza Strip on April 12, 2021, senior Hamas figures gave the delegation a
communiqué for Israel which contained the threat that they would cause a military-political
explosion in the Gaza Strip and use force if Israel prevented elections from being held,
especially in Jerusalem. The communiqué was transferred by the Egyptians to Tor
Wennesland, the UN envoy to the Middle East peace process, to present to Israel (Sawa,
April 13, 2021).
Saleh al-'Arouri, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, said elections had to be held in
Jerusalem as they would be held in all Palestinian cities. Therefore, he said, Hamas would
oppose [Israel] "with every form of resistance" [i.e., of terrorism]. He also said that Israel
("the occupation") would not succeed in its attempts to force its will on the Palestinian
people and determine how their elections would be held. He added that all the
organizations participating in the elections agreed that struggle in east Jerusalem was
063-2119
against the "occupation" and that holding them in Jerusalem was a way of challenging the
"occupation." If Israel refused to allow elections to be held in Jerusalem, he said, it would
pay a steep price because an intifada would break out in Jerusalem and in every other
location (al-Aqsa, April 19, 2021,)
"Presidential" elections
Nasser al-Qidwa, a nephew of Yasser Arafat running at the top of a separate ticket,
arrived in the Gaza Strip along with Fadwa Barghouti, wife of Marwan Barghouti. Al-Qidwa
held a press conference where he said that Marwan Barghouti would run against Mahmoud
Abbas in the presidential elections (Dunia al-Watan, April 14, 2021). In the meantime, Dr.
Muhammad al-Hadad, a Palestinian doctor living in Saudi Arabia, announced he was also
planning to run for president (Dunia al-Watan, April 18, 2021).
PA-United States relations
Mahmoud Abbas, in recorded statement read at a meeting of the J Street lobby, called on
the American administration to ease the limitations put in place by the previous president
on PA-American relations. He stated that the PA was committed to democracy and had
signed agreements with Israel declaring its desire to reach an arrangement through
negotiations, which were the only way to achieve a peace based on international
resolutions and agreements signed in the past (al-Quds, April 19, 2021).
Palestinian Prisoners Day
Palestinian Prisoners Day was marked in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip on April 17,
2021. Rallies and demonstrations were held in support of the prisoners in Ramallah, Nablus,
Jenin and Bethlehem. Public participation in the events was relatively low, with only a few
dozen Palestinians present, mostly relatives of prisoners in Israeli jails. Speakers from the
various Palestinian organizations said the release of the prisoners was currently their top
priority and that Israel was responsible for the prisoners' welfare (Wafa, April 18, 2021).
Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas abroad, said Israel would only release the prisoners if it
were forced to, not though negotiations or bargaining, but by means of all forms of the
"resistance," from "military" [i.e., terrorist] to popular activities (al-Aqsa, April 18, 2021).
Senior PIJ figure Ahmed al-Mudallal, speaking at a demonstration in Rafah, said the
campaign against Israel ("the Zionist enemy") would continue until the liberation of the
prisoners and al-Aqsa mosque. He added that the "resistance" would use all the means at
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its disposal to achieve an honorable prisoner exchange deal through which it would be able
to "clean out" all the jails (Filastin al-Yawm, April 18, 2021).
Support for Palestinian Prisoners Day in Bethlehem (right) and Nablus (left) (Wafa, April 18,
2021).
Support for Palestinian Prisoners Day in the Gaza Strip (al-Ahed News, April 17, 2021).
Campaign against Israel's activities in Jerusalem continues
Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda's YouTube channel issued a short video warning of a "new nakba"
["disaster"] in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood which would lead, according to the channel,
to the expulsion of many residents. According to the video, since 2009 [Jewish] Israeli
residents had taken control of the houses of 30 Arab families, especially members of the al-
Kurd clan, leading to their eviction (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda on YouTube, April 20, 2021).
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Screen capture from the video (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda on YouTube, April 20, 2021).
The Palestinian media reported that the Israeli police had dispersed an election meeting in
east Jerusalem and detained three Fatah candidates. Senior Fatah figure Mahmoud al-'Alul
said Israel's actions in east Jerusalem were intended to change the current [demographic]
situation and establish new conditions (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, April 18, 2021).
The police disperse a crowd of election supporters in east Jerusalem (al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, April
18, 2021).
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