With tensions continuing to escalate in the Gaza Strip and Israeli prisons holding Palestinian prisoners, Hamas is calling for deadly terrorist attacks in the West Bank.
It has been over six months since anything “too serious” has escalated into violence between Israel and Palestine. Hamas is beginning to think terrorism is the best means of forcing Israel to concede.
Since May’s eleven days of fighting between the two were brought to a ceasefire, the South has been reasonably quiet. Still, there have been almost a dozen Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians over the last six weeks in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Two of the attacks have led to fatalities. Eli Kay was shot and killed by a Hamas member in Jerusalem. Also, Yehuda Dimentman was shot and killed near Homesh. Palestinian Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the second mentioned attack.
Hamas has made it clear to Egyptian mediators that they are not accepting Israel’s connection of reconstructing the coastal enclave with a deal to trade prisoners. According to reports, there was also a warning of a new round of hostilities over “foot-dragging” by Israel regarding the reconstruction of Gaza and lifting the blockade.
On Monday, the Al Mayadeen television channel in Lebanon quoted a Hamas source, “The situation in Gaza is heating up fast, and there may be escalation measures in the near future.”
Along with the continual testing of rockets, Izzadin al-Qassam, the so-called Hamas “military” wing, launched a drill in the Gaza Strip, “Shield of Jerusalem” last week to “raise combat readiness and simulate different scenarios.”
IDF officers and senior Defense Ministry officials say that Israel will continue maximizing humanitarian aid to Gaza while ensuring there’s no benefit to Hamas through the materials or funds that could be used by their military.
In return for the bodily remains of two Israeli soldiers that were killed during Operation Protective Edge back in 2014, along with the release of two Israeli civilians who have been held by Hamas since they entered the Strip, there have been Israeli links of the reconstruction of Gaza and its economy. However, Hamas is still saying that a prisoner exchange and reconstruction of Gaza are two separate issues.
Both the IDF and Hamas have specific demands, and neither seems willing to budge. On that note, the terrorist group that rules Gaza Strip warns they wit not idly sit and have used attacks in the West Bank to pressure Israel.
The Jerusalem Report published an article on a recent agreement between Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for increased coordination amongst “military” wings. Palestinians in the West Bank have been praised by both groups for forming “Popular Resistance Committees to confront attacks by settlers and occupation soldiers.”
While the IDF doesn’t consider the increase in violence a “wave,” it’s been reported that Israel has, or is threatening, to resume targeted assassinations throughout Gaza Strip as a response to the attacks in the West Bank.
There has also been an increase in Israeli troop presence, along with overnight raids throughout the West Bank. There have been over 100 Hamas operatives arrested throughout the Hebron region in the southern West Bank. This has happened in recent days. The men who have been arrested had plans of carrying out terrorist attacks against Israelis with military-grade weapons, according to reports from Channel 13 last Monday.
The IDF, Israel Security Agency, and Israel Police learned of a Hamas cell with plans of carrying out kidnappings, shootings, suicide bombings, and several other kinds of attacks. Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip and Turkey led the 50-person cell. The day after Kay was killed in Jerusalem’s Old City, this was made public.
Hamas has continued to negotiate with Israel during all of this through Egyptian mediation. Bettering Palestinian lives in the blocked Gaza Strip and the enclave’s reconstruction has been the center of negotiations.
While Hamas is bragging about their willingness to finally discuss politics, they continue to demonstrate that terrorism and attacks are not out of the question. They will continue encouraging West Bank Palestinians to attack Israelis.
Jeffrey Stevens is a Senior Writer with ThinkCivics News and a freelance journalist with The Jerusalem Post, focusing on the Vatican’s involvement in world politics. In addition, he is a published author and the founder of Gospel Grammar. Jeffrey is currently pursuing a second degree in theology from Aidan University in Jacksonville, Florida.
