the escalation in the gaza strip (an overview updated to ... · with the exception of the...

19-249

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




1Overview Massive rocket fire at Israel from the Gaza Strip continues. Since the beginning of the

events, between 300 and 350 rockets have been fired (as of noon, November 13, 2019).

Most of the rockets were fired at the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip and at

Israel's south. According to the IDF spokesman, 90% of the rockets were intercepted by the

Iron Dome aerial defense system. About 60% fell in open areas. The Palestinian Islamic

Jihad (PIJ) is almost the only the terrorist organization firing rockets. The IDF continues

to attack PIJ terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including rocket launching squads.

On November 13, 2019, the Palestinian ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported 21

fatalities. An initial and partial examination conducted by the Intelligence and Terrorism

Information Center of the names of ten of the Palestinians killed found that six were

operatives of the PIJ's military wing; three were operatives of the al-Aqsa Martyrs'

Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade (an organization that splintered from Fatah and is

apparently participating in the rocket fire at Israel); and one was a Fatah operative.

In the meantime, mediation efforts are being made by Egypt and Nikolay Mladenov, the UN

envoy to the Middle East. So far the efforts have been unsuccessful. PIJ spokesmen

continue warning Israel that the organization's response to the killing of its operatives is

not over (Filastin al-Yawm, November 12, 2019). Note: On the night of November 13, 2019, the

PIJ fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel's southern communities. On the morning of

November 14, 2019, the Arab and Israeli media reported that in the wake of Egyptian pressure,

a ceasefire had gone into effect. The Israeli Home Front announced (07:00) that all the regions

with the exception of the communities near the Gaza Strip could resume their routine daily

lives.

1 This bulletin replaces the ITIC's weekly update. It is a continuation of the November 12, 2019, report on the latest round of escalation from the Gaza Strip.

The Escalation in the Gaza Strip (An overview updated to 15:00, November

13, 2019)

November 13, 2019

2

19-249

The key question is if Hamas will join the current round of escalation. The situation is as

follows:

On the ground during the second day of the escalation, Hamas (and other

organizations) are still standing on the sidelines of the attack. At the same time,

Hamas does not prevent the PIJ from continuing to fire rockets. The PIJ is waging the

attacks almost alone, with the participation of a few insignificant organizations.

In the realm of rhetoric, Hamas (and other organizations) claims the rocket fire

attacking Israel is being carried out by the joint operations room of all the

organizations, coordinated and in cooperation with their military wings. Hamas

spokesman Fawzi Barhoum claimed Hamas would never leave the PIJ to fight against

Israel by itself (al-Aqsa TV, November 12, 2019). However, Hamas' rhetoric is in

contradiction with the events on the ground.

The PIJ leadership and spokesmen are trying to represent the front as including all

Palestinians. PIJ spokesman Musab al-Brim said the PIJ is not alone in the current

confrontation, rather, it is a confrontation of the entire Palestinian "resistance" and

therefore includes all the Palestinian groups that support it (Filastin al-Yawm,

November 12, 2019).

In the meantime, Hamas is sending indirect messages of deterrence to Israel by

threatening to join the confrontation. A senior Hamas figure told a Fox News

correspondent who visited the Gaza Strip, that "If air strikes and aggression continue,

Hamas and the resistance [sic] groups will have to morally respond to and protest the

Palestinian people."

Trey Yingst's tweet (November 13, 2019).

3

19-249

The Rocket Fire against Israel: an Overview On the afternoon of November 12, 2019 rocket fire into Israel continued. After a relative

pause of about seven hours during the night, the rocket fire resumed on the morning of

November 13, 2019. At around 06:30 a barrage of rockets was fired at the southern cities of

Ashqelon and Ashdod, Sderot and Netivot, and at the Israeli communities near the Gaza

Strip (which have taken the brunt of the rocket fire).

So far between 300 and 350 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel (as of the

afternoon of November 13, 2019). According to the IDF spokesman, 90% of the rockets were

intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system and about 60% fell in open areas (IDF

spokesman, November 13, 2019).

The rockets are being fired by the PIJ's military wing, which has officially claimed

responsibility for dozens of barrages of rockets targeting the Israeli communities near the

Gaza Strip and a number of Israeli cities. According to the claim, rockets have been fired at

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Hadera, Ashqelon and Netivot (Note: No rockets have been fired at

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Hadera).

According to the Israeli Magen David Adom, its medical teams have treated several dozen

people, most of them suffering from shock. Property was damaged. On November 13, 2019, a

rocket hit a factory in Ashdod, damaging it. Another rocket hit a main water pipeline in the

western Negev.

Monthly distribution of rocket fire since January 20182

2 The graph is based on the launching of 250 rockets during the most recent round of escalation. During November 13, 2019 dozens of rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel, thus the number can be expected to rise .

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Jan-18

Februa

ryMarch

April

May

June July

August

Septem

ber

Octob

erNovem

ber

December

Jan-19

Februa

ryMarch

April

May

June July

August

Septem

ber

Octob

erNovem

ber

3 4 0 0

150

67

214180

040

470

1 2 1

89

1

691

2 2 14 13 3

262

4

19-249

Annual distribution of rocket fire

Israel's Response Israeli Air Force aircraft continue to attack PIJ terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. Most of the

targets were PIJ operatives who were preparing to fire rockets or had fired rockets at

Israel. Israeli Navy vessels attacked PIJ vessels used for training purposes in preparation for

naval attacks. The IDF is operating in the Gaza Strip against PIJ terrorist targets and is careful

not to hit the civilian infrastructure or the infrastructures of Hamas and other terrorist

organizations, so far successfully.

The targets attacked (IDF spokesman, November 13, 2019):

Terrorist operatives preparing to launch rockets and squads that launched rockets at

Israel, and underground launching sites.

Operations rooms, observation posts and training compounds, including a training

compound of the PIJ's naval force.

An underground weapons storage site, a workshop for long-range rockets, a terrorist

tunnel shaft.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

2006

2007

2008

Ope

ratio

n Ca

st L

ead

2009

2010

2011

2012

Ope

ratio

n Pi

llar o

f…

2013

2014

Ope

ratio

n…

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

974 7831159

925

158 103375

787 845

39373

3852

24 15 29

1,1191,075

5

19-249

IDF attacks in the Gaza Strip. Right: Attack on the house of the Abu Hadayid family in northern Rafah. Abu Hadayid is an operative in the Jerusalem Brigades' rocket unit and his house serves as

a weapons storehouse (QudsN Facebook page, November 13, 2019, IDF spokesman; November 13, 2019).

Aerial photograph of the PIJ's workshop for the manufacture of rockets located in northern Rafah, attacked by the Israeli Air Force (IDF spokesman, November 13, 2019).

IDF attack on a terrorist target in the Gaza Strip (QudsN Facebook page, November 13, 2019).

The Palestinian media reported attacks on posts, observation posts and other PIJ facilities

(Shehab Twitter account, alresala.net, Dunia al-Watan, November 12, 2019). The ministry of

6

19-249

health in the Gaza Strip reported 21 fatalities (including Bahaa Abu al-Atta and his wife)

and 69 wounded to various degrees (Ashraf al-Qidra's Twitter account, November 13, 2019).

The public atmosphere in the Gaza Strip

A correspondent for the Jordanian al-Ghad TV channel in Gaza reported an atmosphere of

tension, fear and uncertainty among local residents regarding the continuation of the current

escalation. She said traffic is light and most of the residents are staying at home. The schools,

universities and government offices are closed. Stores, commercial centers and banks are

also closed (al-Ghad TV by YouTube, November 13, 2019).

The al-Ghad correspondent reports from the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City on the morning of November 13, 2019 (al-Ghad TV by YouTube, November 13, 2019).

The Hamas ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip published instructions for local

residents. They called on residents not to gather at places where the IDF carries out attacks

but rather to keep away from them, for fear of more attacks. They were also told not to gather

near hospitals and emergency rooms, to enable medical teams to perform their duties

(Palinfo Twitter account, November 13, 2019). Hamas used its newspaper, al-Risalah, to

publish guidelines which included advice for parents on how to cope and calm their children

during the escalation (al-Risalah, November 13, 2019).

7

19-249

Right: Instructions from the ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip for residents during the escalation (Palinfo Twitter account, November 13, 2019). Left: Advice for parents on how to calm

their children during the escalation (al-Risalah, November 13, 2019).

Mediation Attempts to End the Round of Escalation Almost from the inception of the escalation, mediation efforts were held to bring the

escalation to an end. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Akhbar in Lebanon, in the early

morning hours of November 12, 2019, Egyptian General Intelligence officials held talks with

representatives from the terrorist organizations, especially Hamas and the PIJ. However, the

organizations [i.e., the PIJ] claimed it was too early to talk about a lull and no lull would be

achieved before there had been a "broad, large response" to the killing of Bahaa Abu al-

Atta (al-Akhbar, November 13, 2019). PIJ spokesman Musab al-Brim said that although his

organization respected every Arab effort, it was pointless to talk about mediation. He said

that only after the organization's "message of response" had ended would it be possible to

talk about a lull (Shehab Twitter account, November 13, 2019).

On the morning of November 13, 2019, Egyptian General Intelligence officials informed

senior Palestinian Authority figures that their attempt to reach an understanding to end

the rocket fire had failed (Anbaa Binaa Facebook page, November 13, 2019). However, the

Egyptians' efforts continue. Reportedly, Nikolay Mladenov, the UN envoy to the Middle East,

arrived in Cairo for an urgent visit in an effort to achieve a lull along with the Egyptian

mediators. Note: As noted above, a ceasefire was reportedly achieved as of the morning of

November 14, 2019.

8

19-249

Appendix A Palestinians killed in IDF attacks during the escalation (an initial and partial report)

An initial ITIC examination of the names of ten Palestinians who were killed during IDF

attacks revealed the following: six were operatives in the PIJ's military wing; three were

operatives in the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade (a network that

splintered from Fatah) who apparently participated in the rocket fire at Israel; and one was a

Fatah operative (it is unclear if he was a military operative).

The following are the interim and partial findings of the examination of the names of

Palestinians killed and their organizational affiliation (the names of the others are still being

investigated):

Muhammad Atiya Muslih Hamouda

• Personal information: 20 years old, lived in Jabalia

• Circumstances of death: Killed in an IDF attack on November 12, 2019, against

two operatives riding on a motorcycle in western Beit Lahia (Paltoday,

November 12, 2019, i24News TV website, November 12, 2019).

• Organizational affiliation: The Fatah branch in the northern Gaza Strip issued

a mourning notice for him, saying he was an operative of the organization

(Facebook page of fateh.m.n.nother.gaza, November 12, 2019).

Right: The mourning notice issued by Fatah for the death of Muhammad Hamouda (Facebook page of Usama al-Shawish, November 12, 2019). Left: The body of Muhammad Hamouda wrapped

for burial in the Fatah flag. His funeral was held in Jabalia (Facebook page of Ahmed bin Mahmoud, November 12, 2019).

9

19-249

Ibrahim Ahmed Abd al-Latif al-Dhabous

• Personal information: 26 years old

• Circumstances of death: Died of wounds incurred during an IDF attack on

November 12, 2019, that targeted two operatives riding on a motorcycle in

western Beit Lahia.

• Organizational affiliation: The Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ's military wing,

announced that Ibrahim al-Dhabous was an operative in its rocket unit in the

northern Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

Ibrahim al-Dhabous wearing a Jerusalem Brigades uniform. He was an operative in the rocket unit (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, November 12, 2019).

Zaki Muhammad Adnan Ghanam


• Circumstances of death: On November 12, 2019, Israeli Air Force aircraft

attacked a number of operatives of the PIJ's rocket unit in the northern Gaza

Strip. The operatives were preparing to fire rockets (IDF Twitter account,

November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media reported that the attack was directed

against a group of "resistance" operatives in Beit Lahia (Ma'an, November 12,

2019).

• Organizational affiliation: The PIJ's military wing announced that Zaki

Muhammad Adnan Ghanam was an operative in the rocket unit of the northern

Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

10

19-249

Zaki Ghanam wearing a Jerusalem Brigades uniform. According to the Arabic, he was an operative in the rocket unit (Twitter account of Filastin al-A'an, November 12, 2019).

Abdallah Awadh Sakab al-Balbisi


• Circumstances of death: Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked two operatives of

the PIJ's rocket unit in the northern Gaza Strip. The operatives were preparing

to fire rockets (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian

ministry of health reported he died in a drone attack in Beit Hanoun (QudsN,

November 12, 2019).

• Organizational affiliation: The PIJ's military wing announced that Abdallah

al-Balbisi was an operative in the rocket unit of the northern Gaza Strip

brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

Jerusalem Brigades operative Abdallah al-Balbisi (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

Abd al-Salem Ramadan Ahmed Ahmed


• Circumstances of death: Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked two operatives of

the PIJ's rocket unit in the northern Gaza Strip. The operatives were preparing

to fire rockets (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media

reported he died in a drone attack in Beit Hanoun (QudsN, November 12, 2019).

11

19-249

• Organizational affiliation: The PIJ's military wing announced that Abd al-

Salem Ramadan Ahmed Ahmed was an operative in the rocket unit of the

northern Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

Jerusalem Brigades operative Abd al-Salem Ramadan Ahmed Ahmed (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 12, 2019).

Wa'el Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Nabi (Abu al-Abd)


• Circumstances of death: Killed in an Israeli Air Force aircraft attack in the

northern Gaza Strip. He was an operative in a squad that launched rockets at

Israeli territory (IDF Twitter account, November 12, 2019). The Palestinian media

reported that he was killed in an attack on a "resistance" post in northern Beit

Lahia (Dunia al-Watan, November 12, 2019).

• Organizational affiliation: The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi

Brigade (a network that splintered from Fatah) announced he was the

commander of a rocket launching unit (website of the al-Aqsa Martyrs'

Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade, November 12, 2019).

Rani Bayiz Rajub Abu al-Nasr (Abu Usama)



northern Gaza Strip. He was an operative in a squad that launched rockets into





Brigade announced he was an operative in a rocket launching unit (website of

the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade, November 12, 2019).

12

19-249

Jihad Ayman Ahmed Abu Khater (Abu Elias)



northern Gaza Strip. He was an operative in a squad that launched rockets into





Brigade announced he was an operative in a rocket launching unit (website of

the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi Brigade, November 12, 2019).

Left to right: Nidal al-Amoudi fatalities: Rani Abu Nasr (Abu Usama), Wa'el Abd al-Nabi (Abu al-Abd) and Jihad Abu Khater (Abu Elias) (website of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades/Nidal al-Amoudi

Brigade, November 12, 2019).

Khaled Muawad Salem Faraj


• Circumstances of death: Killed in an attack on November 13, 2019 in the al-

Mughraqa region, south of Gaza City (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13,

2019).

• Organizational affiliation: The PIJ's military wing announced he was a

commander in the central Gaza Strip brigade (Jerusalem Brigades website,

November 13, 2019).

13

19-249

Khaled Faraj (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, November 13, 2019).

Alaa Jabr Ashtiwi


• Circumstances of death: Killed on November 13, 2019, in an attack in the al-

Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City (Jerusalem Brigades website,

November 13, 2019).

• Organizational affiliation: Was an operative in the Gaza brigade of the PIJ's

military wing (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13, 2019).

Alaa Ashtiwi (Jerusalem Brigades website, November 13, 2019).

the escalation in the gaza strip (an overview updated to ... · with the exception of the...

Documents