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))ממ""ללממ(( ןןייעעיידדווממהה תתששררווממלל זזככררממהה ררווררטטללוו ןןייעעיידדווממלל עעדדייממהה זזככררממ

))ממ""ללממ(( ןןייעעיידדווממהה תתששררווממלל זזככררממהה ררווררטטללוו ןןייעעיידדווממלל עעדדייממהה זזככררממ

))ממ""ללממ(( ןןייעעיידדווממהה תתששררווממלל זזככררממהה ררווררטטללוו ןןייעעיידדווממלל עעדדייממהה זזככררממ

))ממ""ללממ(( ןןייעעיידדווממהה תתששררווממלל זזככררממהה ררווררטטללוו ןןייעעיידדווממלל עעדדייממהה זזככררממ

Overview The "return march" of June 29, 2018, was attended by a few thousand Palestinians. While

the number of participants continues to be lower than in the past, there has been a rise in

the number of attempts to break through the fence compared with previous weeks.

Moreover, arson terrorism has increased (on June 29, 2018, there were 15 fires near the

Israel-Gaza border, and 25 fires on June 30, 2018).

This past week there were four attempts to penetrate into Israeli territory in the

northern and southern Gaza Strip, part of the violence accompanying the "marches." IDF

forces prevented the penetrations. In response, the IDF attacked a Hamas vehicle and

observation posts. Hamas retaliated by firing 13 rockets and mortar shells, implementing

its so-called "equation of response," part of its policy of controlled violence ("an attack [in

return] for an attack, blood [in return] for blood").

The Israeli Knesset confirmed a proposal for a law that would freeze the funds the

Palestinian Authority (PA) pays to terrorists and their families from the tax receipts

collected for and transferred to the PA by Israel. PA officials strongly denounced the Israeli

move. They stressed the PA government would not abandon the prisoners and the

families of the shaheeds, and that the payments would continue.

Israel's South Arson terrorism continues

This past week arson terrorism continued with the launching of incendiary kites and balloons

from the Gaza Strip into Israel. It peaked over the weekend. The Israel Fire and Rescue

Services reported that on June 29, 2018, 15 fires had been caused in the western Negev near

the Gaza Strip border, and 25 on June 30. In one instance an explosive balloon was located

near the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, about 30 kilometers (almost 19 miles) from

the border.

News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

(June 27 – July 3, 2018)

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According to data from the Jewish National Fund, since arson terrorism began, nearly

1,000 acres of forests and almost 1,500 acres of fields have been burned. The fires have

caused serious ecologic damage and millions of shekels worth of damage to farmers in

the communities near the Gaza Strip. It will take an estimated ten years to rehabilitate the

forests (Facebook page of the Jewish National Fund, June 25, 2018)

Hamas uses its affiliated media outlets to continue the propaganda campaign

accompanying arson terrorism. It replays Israeli footage of the giant blazes near the Gaza

Strip and pictures of Gazans launching balloons, on which "incendiary balloons" is written in

Arabic (Palinfo Twitter account, July 1, 2018).

Right: A giant blaze near the Gaza Strip caused by an incendiary balloon

(Palinfo Twitter account, July 1, 2018). Left: Hamas picture of masked Palestinians preparing incendiary balloons. The Arabic reads, "incendiary balloons" (Palinfo Twitter account, July 1, 2018).

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Right: IED found near the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, launched into Israeli territory by a helium balloon (Palinfo Twitter account, July 1, 2018). Left: Balloons

bearing pictures of Palestinian shaheeds and terrorist prisoners, in the eastern part of the al-Bureij refugee camp. One is a picture of Yahya Ayash, "the engineer," a leading figure in organizing suicide bombing attacks against Israel in the 1990s

(Twitter account of Mustafa Ayash, director of Gaza al-A'an, June 30, 2018).

"Return march" riots and demonstrations, Friday, June 29, 2018

On Friday June 29, 2018, the routine demonstrations and riots continued near the security

fence. Their theme was "from Gaza to the [West] Bank, one blood and a common destiny."

Prominent were senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) figures, including

Yahya al-Sinwar and Khalil al-Haya (Palinfo Twitter account, June 29, 2018).

Right: "Return march" demonstrators in eastern Khan Yunis. Left: Yahya al-Sinwar participates

in "return march" activities in eastern Gaza City. On the right is senior PIJ figure Khaled al-Batash (Facebook page of the "supreme national authority of the return march," June 29, 2018).

Between 2,000 and 5,000 Palestinians demonstrated and rioted at five locations

along the Gaza Strip border last Friday. While the numbers were relatively low, the IDF

identified an increase in the number of attempts to break through the border fence

compared with previous weekends. Pictures were taken of Palestinians trying to cut through

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the barbed wire near the border fence. During the riots a Palestinian threw a hand grenade at

IDF forces near the fence (Ynet and Walla news, June 29, 2018).

Rioters cut and drag away barbed wire near the security fence in eastern Khan Yunis (Facebook

page of the "supreme national authority of the return march," June 29, 2018).

Palestinian casualties in the "return march," June 29, 2018

Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the ministry of health In the Gaza Strip, announced that

during the "return march" of June 29, 2018, two Palestinians were killed and 415 were

wounded by IDF fire and tear gas inhalation, of whom 136 were treated in hospitals

(Facebook page of the spokesman of the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, June 29, 2018).

An ITIC investigation revealed that the two Palestinians were killed trying to sabotage the

barbed wire near the security fence. One of them was an operative in the Palestinian

police and possibly affiliated with Hamas. The other, a 13- or 14-year-old boy killed near

the security fence, was the son of a senior figure in Hamas' military wing in Khan Yunis.

It was another example of the deliberate use of minors from families affiliated with terrorist

organizations for life-threatening missions near the border fence.1

1 For further information, see the June 5, 2018 bulletin "Inclusion of minors in military activity against the IDF: Saadi Abu Salah, a 16-year-old boy who died when he was sent by Hamas to cut the border fence, belonged to the clan in Beit Hanoun whose members were involved in intensive terrorist activity, some of them as minors (Update to previous publication by the ITIC)."

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Yasser Abu al-Naja (upper left, blue shirt), who was killed near the security fence

on June 29, 2018. He was part of a Palestinian squad that tried to vandalize the barbed wire face, in ITIC assessment, in preparation for penetrating into Israeli territory

(Facebook page of Mus'ab al-Kasas Abu Wadia', July 2, 2018).

The two fatalities were the following:

Muhammad Fawzi Muhammad al-Hamayda, 24, from Rafah, killed by IDF fire in

eastern Rafah (Facebook page of the spokesman of the ministry of health in the Gaza

Strip, June 29, 2018). The Palestinian police force in the Gaza Strip issued a death

notice for him claiming he was one of its operatives (Facebook page of the

Palestinian police force in the Gaza Strip, June 30, 2018). His body was wrapped for

burial in a green Hamas military wing flag, meaning he may have been affiliated with it

(Shehab Twitter account, June 30, 2018).

Right: Muhammad al-Hamayda (Twitter account Mahmood S El-Blbessy, who says he was a friend of Muhammad al-Hamayda, June 29, 2018). Left: Muhammad al-Hamayda (red shirt) sabotages the barbed wire near the security fence in eastern Rafah a few minutes before he was killed by

IDF fire (Facebook page of Kheiri Abu Fires Abu Sinjar from Rafah, June 30, 2018)

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Body of Muhammad al-Hamayda wrapped for burial in the flag of

Hamas' military wing (Shehab agency Twitter account, June 30, 2018).

Yasser Amjad Musa Abu al-Naja, 13 or 14 years old, from the Ma'an region of Khan

Yunis, killed by IDF fire east of Khan Yunis (Facebook page of the spokesman of the

ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, June 29, 2018). His father, Amjad Abu al-Naja, is a

senior operative in Hamas military wing in Khan Yunis. His mother said he joined

the "return march" activities every Friday and was in the front lines of the

demonstrators (Safa, June 30; Palinfo July 1, 2018). A picture was published of him in a

group Palestinians near the barbed wire fence trying to sabotage the security

fence, in ITIC assessment in preparation for penetrating into Israeli territory. The

Hamas leadership, led by Isma'il Haniyeh, Yahya al-Sinwar and Khalil al-Haya,

attended his funeral, as did senior Fatah figure Ibrahim Abu al-Naja (apparently a

relative).

Right: Amjad Abu al-Naja embraces Isma'il Haniyeh. Left: Yahya al-Sinwar, Amjad Abu al-Naja and Isma'il Haniyeh carry the body (Hamas website, June 30, 2018).

Attempts to penetrate into Israeli territory

This past week there were four attempts to penetrate into Israeli territory from the

Gaza Strip:

July 2, 2018 – An IDF force shot at four terrorist operatives who crossed the

security fence and tried to set fire to an abandoned IDF sniper post in the southern

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Gaza Strip. They were equipped with wire cutters and accelerants. The IDF force

pursued and shot at them, killing one and mortally wounding another. A third terrorist

was apprehended and detained for interrogation (IDF spokesman, July 2, 2018).

June 28, 2018 – During the night the IDF prevented an attempt made by two

Palestinians to penetrate into Israeli territory east of Rafah. A tank fired at them.

One Palestinian was critically wounded and later died. Molotov cocktails were found at

the scene (IDF Twitter account, June 28, 2018). The Palestinian ministry of health in the

Gaza Strip reported that the Palestinian who died was Abd al-Fatah Mustafa Abu al-

Azoum, 17, from Rafah (Ma'an, June 28, 2018). His funeral was held in Rafah; there were

no signs or symbols of terrorist organization affiliation.

June 27, 2018 – IDF forces identified three terrorist operatives sabotaging the

security fence in an attempt to penetrate into Israeli territory from the southern

Gaza Strip. The forces shot at the terrorists and prevented the penetration (IDF Twitter

account, June 27, 2018).

June 27, 2018 – IDF forces opened fire at three Palestinians trying to cross the

border fence in the northern Gaza Strip near the Jabalia refugee camp. One of the, a

15-year-old boy, was seriously wounded and evacuated to a hospital for medical

treatment. Two others fled (Walla News, June 27, 2018).

IDF attacks in the Gaza Strip

On the night of June 27, 2018 the Israeli Air Force aircraft and IDF tanks attacked the

vehicle of a Hamas operative who belonged to a squad of incendiary and explosive

balloon launchers. In addition, two Hamas observation posts in the northern Gaza Strip

were attacked. In response Hamas fired 13 rockets and mortar shells at the Israeli

communities near the Gaza Strip. Three rockets were intercepted by Iron Dome Aerial

Defense System. No casualties were reported (IDF Facebook page, June 27, 2018).

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Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 20182

* Minimal number of rockets and mortar shells fired. At this stage the ITIC cannot distinguish between rocket and mortar shell fire.

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

* Approximate number of rockets and mortar shells launched in the two rounds of escalation.

2 The statistics do not include rockets that fell inside the Gaza Strip.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

January February March April May* June*

3 4 0 0

150

67

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

974 7831159925

158 103 375787 845

39373

3852

24 15 29 224

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Judea and Samaria Significant terrorist attacks during the past year 3

Developments in the Gaza Strip Visit of the chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza

Mohammed al-'Amoudi, the chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of

Gaza, arrived in the Gaza Strip for a visit. He presented the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip

with medicines and medical equipment. The gift was part of Qatar's $13.7 million

humanitarian aid package for the Gaza Strip, decided on at the beginning of May 2018. It was

the second aid package given to the Gaza Strip by Qatar this year, after an emergency

donation of $9 million ordered by the emir of Qatar in February. At the presentation

ceremony al-'Amoudi said the committee had allotted $2.5 million for a series of projects to

support health in the Gaza Strip (Facebook page of the Qatar committee, June 30, 2018).

3 A 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

89

6

2 23

5

0

2

6

1

4 4

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Presenting medicine and medical equipment to the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip in the participation of Mohammed al-'Amoudi, chairman of the Qatar Committee for the

Reconstruction of Gaza (Facebook page of the Qatar committee, June 30, 2018).

On June 30, 2018, al-'Amoudi and Khaled al-Hardawi, deputy chairman of the Qatar

committee, attended four ceremonies held at the Islamic University, al-Zahar University, al-

Aqsa University and the University College for Applied Sciences (UCAS). During the

ceremonies al-'Amoudi awarded scholarships worth about $2.5 million to about 6,5000

needy students. The scholarships are part of Qatar's $13.7 million aid package (Facebook

page of the Qatar committee, June 30, 2018).

While in the Gaza Strip al-'Amoudi was interviewed by the Chinese news agency. He said

indirect talks were being conducted by Hamas and Israel to reach a "deal" about the

situation in the Gaza Strip. He said the American administration was aware of the talks, but

that so far no deal had been reached. He said Jared Kushner, presidential advisor, during his

most recent visit to the Middle East, had presented programs for the provision of elementary

services to benefit the Gaza Strip, including electricity, water desalination, the creation of

jobs and rebuilding Gaza's industrial zone.

Mohammed al-'Amoudi added that "We demanded the lifting of the siege and told the

Americans and the Israelis that it had to be done. We are working towards that, but so

far without result." He stressed that Qatar's position was consistent and that all solutions

for the Gaza Strip had to go through the PA, calling it Qatar's "condition." Without the

approval and presence of the PA, he said, Qatar would not intervene (Chinese News Agency in

Arabic, July 1, 2018). Al-'Amoudi left the Gaza Strip on July 1, 2018 (Facebook page of Rafah al-

A'an, July 1, 2018).

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The Palestinian Authority (PA) Fatah activists join the Gaza-launched "national campaign to overthrow the [American] deal of the century"

On June 26, 2018, the so-called "national campaign to overthrow the deal of the century"

was launched in the Gaza Strip. Despite its originating in the Gaza Strip, it made an impact

on the Fatah activists in Judea and Samaria, who organized demonstrations and activities

protesting against "the deal of the century." Fatah spokesman Usama al-Qawasmeh

announced Fatah's complete support for the campaign, which he said was "led by patriots,"

and called on Palestinians from all political factions to join the activities (Wafa, June 26,

2018). The Fatah movement began organizing its own marches and demonstrations to

protest the "deal of the century." On June 26, 2018, the PLO faction in Tubas held a

demonstration of about 1,500 people (Fatah Facebook page, June 26, 2018); on June 28,

2018, Fatah organized a demonstration in Salfit (Fatah Facebook page, June 28, 2018); and

on July 2, 2018, a mass rally was held in Ramallah, where the main speaker was Fatah deputy

chairman Mahmoud al-'Alul (Wafa, July 2, 2018).

Right: Notice from the "national campaign to overthrow the deal of the century." It reads in

Arabic and English, "Palestine is not for sale"(Fatah Facebook page, June 29, 2018). Left: Fatah notice with a picture of Jared Kushner. The Arabic reads, "The deal of the century is too weak to

stand in face of the willpower of Palestine" (Fatah Facebook page, June 27, 2018).

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Activities protesting the "deal of the century" in Ramallah. The speaker at the right is Mahmoud

al-'Alul, deputy chairman of the Fatah movement. To his left is Jamal Muheisen, a member of Fatah's Central Committee and a representative of Fatah's bureau of mobilization and

organization, and to his right is Laila Ghannem, governor of the Ramallah district. Members of the audience at the left hold yellow Fatah flags (Wafa, July 2, 2018).

Reactions to the Israeli law freezing funds paid to terrorists and their families from tax money collected by Israel and transferred to the PA

On July 2, 2018 the Israeli Knesset confirmed a proposal for a law that would freeze the

funds the Palestinian Authority (PA) pays to terrorists and their families from the tax

receipts collected for and transferred to the PA by Israel: "The bill...proposes that from the

funds that Israel transfers to the Palestinian Authority each month, pursuant to the

agreements between them, a sum equivalent to 1/12 of the total funds that the Palestinian

Authority paid out to [convicted] terrorists and their families in the previous year shall be

frozen, pursuant to a report to be prepared by the Minister of Defense on this issue and which

is to be approved by the cabinet. According to the bill, if it shall be established in the Minister

of Defense’s report that the Palestinian Authority has ceased to make payments to

[convicted] terrorists and their families, the cabinet shall be authorized to decide if and when

to transfer the frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority" (Israeli Knesset website, July 2,

2018).

Some of the Palestinian reactions were the following:

PA spokesman Yusuf al-Mahmoud denounced the Knesset decision, calling it

persecution of "our national symbols and the symbols of the defense of freedom and

honor." He stressed the PA government would not abandon the prisoners and the

families of the shaheeds "who sacrificed years of their lives and the lives

themselves for the sake of the people, the homeland and all of humanity because

they confronted the Israeli occupation, which is part of the oppression that harms

mean all over the world" (Wafa, June27, 2018).

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Intissar al-Wazir (Umm Jihad), chairwoman of the "institution for the families

of shaheeds and wounded," said the decision was "an inhuman act that harms the

lives and livelihood of thousands of Palestinian families that lost their breadwinners

and sacrificed the lives of their sons and their freedom for the sake of resistance to the

occupation. This is piracy and state [sponsored] terrorism." She said the allotments

given to the families of the shaheeds, the prisoners and the wounded were paid as a

matter of social and economic principle. She told the families of the shaheeds,

prisoners and wounded that the payments would continue, noting that "the

institutions operating in the sector continue their activities, and the measures

taken by the occupation will not deter them from continuing their humanitarian

and social roles" (Wafa, June 28, 2018).

The authority for prisoners and ex-prisoners affairs denounced the Israeli

Knesset decision, saying it was piracy and the highway robbery of Palestinian money.

According to the authority, Israel persecutes the Palestinians' national symbols. The

authority emphasized that the PA government, the Palestinian leadership and the

Palestinian people will not abandon the prisoners and the families of the shaheeds

"who sacrificed years of their lives and the lives themselves for the sake of the people,

the homeland and all of humanity... " (website of the authority for prisoners and ex-

prisoners affairs, June 27, 2018).

The Battle for Hearts and Minds The flotilla to the Gaza Strip – update

The al-Awda reached the Sardinian port of Cagliari on July 2, 2018 (Facebook page of

the Sardinia-Palestine Friendship Association, July 2, 2018). The Huriya was supposed to

arrive on July 3, 2018 (Twitter account of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, July 2, 2018). The two

boats are expected to remain in Cagliari until July 8 (Facebook page of the Sardinia-Palestine

Friendship Association, June 23, 2018). The small boats Falestine and Mairead left Lyons on

June 30, 2018 and are currently sailing towards Marseilles, and from there to Ajaccio in

Corsica (Facebook page of Flottille de la Liberté pour Gaza – France, June 30, 2018).

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The al-Awda anchored in Cagliari in Sardinia on July 2, 2018 (Facebook page of the Sardinia-Palestine Friendship Association, July 2, 2018).