• Over the past few days, there has been an increase in the intensity of the violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in East Jerusalem that began in the beginning of the month of Ramadan. The epicenter of the conflict is the Al-Aqsa Mosque. There have also been clashes at the Damascus Gate, the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, Issawiya and additional neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. The incidents also led to a flare-up in the Gaza Strip. Rockets were fired at Israel, incendiary balloons were launched, causing dozens of fires in the Gaza envelope area, and night harassment units were deployed along the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
• The height of the incidents was on May 10, 2021, Jerusalem Day in Israel, when thousands of Palestinians in the Al-Aqsa Mosque threw stones at the Mughrabi Gate. The Palestinians clashed with police in the area of the mosque. Hamas later launched massive rocket fire at Israel, including the Jerusalem region (see separate document).
• Israel, on its part, attempted to lower the high level of tension in East Jerusalem. The Attorney General has asked the Supreme Court to postpone the hearing on the petition of Sheikh Jarrah residents, which is expected to decide whether they will be evicted from their homes. The court assented to his request. The postponement of the hearing received extensive media coverage. Israel also banned Jews from visiting the Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day.
• Although the incidents are apparently spontaneous and not organized by any entity or group, there is ongoing incitement behind them by Palestinian organizations and especially Hamas, which encourage the Palestinian public to continue to clash with the Israeli security forces. It should be noted that during clashes in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, many Hamas flags were seen and many calls were made praising Mohammed Deif, head of the Hamas military wing, who also issued an unusual warning message to Israel.
• It appears that the events in Jerusalem have once again placed the Palestinian issue in general and the issue of Jerusalem in particular on the agenda in the Arab and international arena. Many Islamic and Western Arab elements support the PA and criticize Israel’s actions. The PA is taking advantage of the incidents to convene international forums (the UN Security Council, the Arab League, etc.) to bring the issue back to the top of the agenda. It is also probable that they will take advantage of the incidents to bring them before the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC).

Incidents in East Jerusalem

The chain of events

• Over the past few days, there has been a significant increase in the intensity of the violent clashes between police and Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The focal points of the clashes are mainly the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Damascus Gate and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The current wave of clashes began after the end of evening prayers on Friday, May 7, 2021, when Palestinians began throwing stones and objects at a police force in the Temple Mount compound. The police responded by firing stun grenades and sponge bullets at the rioters, who refused to leave the compound, and some of them barricaded themselves in one of the prayer halls. After several hours of clashes, the plaza of the Al-Aqsa compound was emptied and the gates were locked. Simultaneously, clashes broke out at the Damascus Gate and in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 200 Palestinians sustained wounds of varying degrees of severity. A total of 17 policemen were also injured.

     
Violent clashes on the Temple Mount after evening prayers at the site (PALINFO’s Twitter account, May 8, 2021)

• The next day, May 8, 2021 (Laylat al-Qadr), thousands of worshipers were supposed to come to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. To prevent the arrival of worshipers and the recurrence of the clashes, police set up roadblocks along the access roads to East Jerusalem. The roadblocks were later removed. About 80,000 Muslims took part in the Laylat al-Qadr prayer. At night, after the prayer passed relatively quietly, clashes resumed, mainly in the Damascus Gate area. Palestinians threw stones and objects at police and set off fireworks. Police responded through the use of demonstration dispersal measures and by firing stun grenades. According to the Red Crescent, 90 Palestinians were wounded. The clashes spread to other areas as well. According to Palestinian reports, over 60 Palestinians were wounded and at least eight of them were evacuated to hospitals.

    
Worshipers on Laylat al-Qadr on the Temple Mount (QUDSN Facebook page, May 9, 2021)

    
Violent clashes in East Jerusalem on the evening of May 8 (QUDSN Facebook page, May 9, 2021)

• On May 9, 2021, the clashes in the Temple Mount plaza continued. One of the focal points of the incidents was near Hebrew University on Mount Scopus. Palestinian demonstrators from Issawiya rioted at the junction at the entrance to the university and clashed with police. Hundreds of students and lecturers were not permitted to leave the campus for several hours due to the incidents. Clashes also broke out in Sheikh Jarrah and the Damascus Gate area, lasting intermittently until nighttime.

• On May 10, 2021, the date on which Jerusalem Day is celebrated in Israel, the clashes on the Temple Mount began in the early morning hours. This despite the fact that police forbade Jews from coming to the Temple Mount. Several thousand Muslims who had spent the night in the Al-Aqsa Mosque after making advance preparations (stockpiling stones, blocking doors and gates, sabotaging security cameras) began throwing stones at the Mughrabi Gate (near the Western Wall). In consequence, police entered the Al-Aqsa compound, the Palestinians threw rocks at them, and police responded by firing stun grenades. Loudspeakers were used throughout Al-Aqsa to encourage the rioters and call on more residents to come and join the clashes. At around 12:00, police withdrew from the compound and deployed at the entrance to the Temple Mount and permitted worshipers to enter. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported several dozen wounded, four of them seriously. The riots spread to other sites in East Jerusalem.

   
Palestinian youths preparing for clashes with Israeli security forces on the Temple Mount (PALINFO’s Twitter account, May 10, 2021)

  
Clashes with Israeli security forces on the Temple Mount
(PALINFO’s Twitter account, QUDSN Facebook Page, May 10, 2021)

The Gaza Strip

• In view of the tense situation, Hamas began to stir up the situation and incite the public in East Jerusalem to continue the activity. In this context, the Hamas military wing issued a (rare) official statement by Mohammed Deif, commander of the military wing, in which he threatened Israel. According to the statement, they are closely monitoring the incidents and warn Israel that they will not sit idly by in the face of what is happening and that “Israel will pay a heavy price” (website of the Hamas military wing, May 4, 2021). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem noted that Deif’s remarks represented the entire “Palestinian resistance” and the entire Palestinian people and that Jerusalem was a red line (Al-Ressala.net, May 5, 2021). Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas military wing, later sent a message to the residents of East Jerusalem to the effect that Mohammed Deif’s promise would not be broken.
• At the same time, a number of retaliation operations in support of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem began in the Gaza Strip:
  • Rocket launches: Between May 8-10, 2021, in the morning, three instances of rocket launches at Israel were identified (for the rocket launches that began on the afternoon of May 10, see separate document). A total of six rockets were launched, two of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, and the rest landed in open areas. Two more rockets that were fired landed in the Gaza Strip. Two people were lightly wounded while running to protected areas.
  • The balloon launch units called for general mobilization and resumption of their operations. Over the past few days, dozens of incendiary balloons have been launched, causing dozens of fires in the Gaza envelope, disrupting railway traffic, closing roads and damaging agriculture and wooded areas. Sources in Hamas said that the balloon launches were intended to heat up the border with Israel. They added that assuming the situation in Jerusalem deteriorates, the activity is expected to increase. They also noted the possibility of a resumption of rocket fire (Sawa, May 8, 2021).
  • The night harassment units began operating. They detonated IEDs and grenades at a number of sites near the security fence.

In several sites along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, near the security fence, there were demonstrations by residents. The Supreme Authority for the Return March announced that it would organize a series of protest activities and called on the Palestinian public to support the Palestinians in Jerusalem, go to the points of friction with Israel and clash with the Israeli security forces (Sawa, May 9, 2021).

     
Palestinians demonstrating in front of the security fence east of Al-Bureij and clashing with IDF forces (Ashraf Amara’s Twitter account, May 8 and 9, 2021)

• In response to the incidents, the Coordinator of Government Operations in the Territories announced that after a series of security assessments, it was decided to close the fishing area in the Gaza Strip as of the morning of May 10, 2021. The Coordinator later announced the immediate closure of the Erez Crossing except for the entry and exit of humanitarian and exceptional cases (Al-Munasiq website, May 9 and 10, 2021).
• In light of the escalation in the Gaza Strip, “Hamas sources” reported that secret talks were underway to restore calm and prevent escalation and that in the past few days, Egypt had mediated between Hamas and Israel in order to prevent a deterioration in the situation. According to the same sources, Egypt sent a message to Hamas from Israel to the effect that it was not interested in escalation and was working to calm the situation (Sawa, May 8, 2021). According to another report, Egypt is in contact with Israel and has demanded that it put an end to the escalation in Jerusalem and the eviction of the families from Sheikh Jarrah. Egypt warned that the current escalation could lead to another intifada. At the same time, Palestinian organizations have reportedly been asked to calm the region in order to prevent escalation (Al-Arabiya, May 9, 2021).

Palestinian responses

• In light of the incidents, the PA is working with Muslim, Arab and international entities and has requested the immediate convening of international forums to discuss the situation. Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh reported that Mahmoud Abbas had instructed him to request an urgent session of the Arab League. The Arab League has announced that it will hold an emergency conference on May 10, 2021, which will deal with “Israeli crimes and violations against the holy sites of Islam and Christianity in Jerusalem, and especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” as well as the issue of Sheikh Jarrah (Al-Quds al-Arabi, May 8, 2021).
• PA Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that Mahmoud Abbas had also requested an urgent session of the Human Rights Council and the Islamic Cooperation Organization (Wafa News Agency, May 8, 2021).
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement claiming that Israel was trying to deceive the world and world public opinion. According to the statement, while Israel is working to describe and market what has happened in East Jerusalem as a struggle between the city’s residents and as a property dispute, Israeli government institutions and government ministries actually are behind the activity of the settlers’ NPO and are providing full support, protection and sponsorship for the activity aimed at Judaizing Jerusalem (Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, May 9, 2021).
• The Fatah movement issued a statement to the effect that the battle in which the entire Palestinian public is taking part is a battle for national identity and sovereignty. The statement also warned the Israeli government against continued aggression against the Palestinians. Fatah also thanked the Arab states for objecting to Israel’s steps to Judaize Jerusalem and called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel (Wafa News Agency, May 8, 2021). The Fatah Central Committee, in an attempt to maintain a united front with Hamas, issued a belligerent statement emphasizing the need to continue the public struggle in Jerusalem and the escalation against Israel, noting that Jerusalem is a “conflict zone” with Israel. The Committee also said that the continued aggression against the holy sites and against the Palestinian residents in Sheikh Jarrah would lead to a comprehensive struggle throughout Palestine and a re-examination of relations with the Israeli government. The Committee called for the continuation of the struggle in the Palestinian territories and points of friction with the settlements (Wafa News Agency, May 9, 2021).
• The PA spokesmen praised the steadfastness of the residents of East Jerusalem and encouraged them to remain steadfast. At the same time, they condemned Israel, which they consider responsible for the escalation incidents. In their statements, the spokesmen directly link the escalation with the Israeli operations in Sheikh Jarrah and the Damascus Gate:
  • Mahmoud Abbas praised the Palestinian people in East Jerusalem and everywhere for their courageous stand to defend Jerusalem and to protect the holy sites in general and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in particular, as well as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Sheikh Jarrah. Mahmoud Abbas stated that Israel bears full responsibility for the dangerous developments (Wafa News Agency, May 7, 2021).
  • Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman Nabil Abu Rodeina issued a statement condemning the escalation. He blamed the Israeli government and said that the continuation of Israel’s aggressive policy against the Palestinians would lead to dangerous escalation of the situation. He called on the international community and the US administration to pressure Israel to cease its aggressive behavior (Wafa News Agency, May 7, 2021).
  • Fatah spokesman Osama Qawasmi said that what was happening in Jerusalem was at the highest level of organized terrorism against the Palestinian people on Israel’s part, noting that he placed all the blame on Israel for its aggression against the state of Palestine and against Jerusalem (Wafa News Agency, May 7, 2021)..

• Senior Hamas figures encouraged the residents of East Jerusalem, condemned Israel’s actions and called for escalation in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria (an intifada):
• Ismail Haniya, head of the Hamas political bureau, praised those coming to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and those congregating on the streets of Jerusalem, declaring that the Palestinians would defend Jerusalem and confront Israel with all their might. He stressed that the incidents in Jerusalem are good for the Palestinian people because they are detonating the reservoirs of jihad of the Palestinian revolution and of the resistance that are inherent in the Palestinian people, and not only in Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Haniya noted that what is happening is an intifada that must continue and that they will not permit the Judaization of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and will not allow forces to break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he warned him against playing with fire, stating that this was a campaign he could not win (Al-Aqsa, May 7, 2021). Haniya’s remarks were also heard in the background of a short video posted by Hamas on social media containing edited clips documenting the clashes on the Temple Mount (PALINFO’s Twitter account, May 8, 2021).
• In another statement, Haniya called for a cohesive stance against Israel’s aggression and crimes. He called for the mobilization of international Arab Muslim political and diplomatic elements in order to prevent Israel from continuing its aggressive policy against the Palestinian people and the holy places. According to him, Israel’s actions have crossed all the red lines (Dunya al-Watan, May 9, 2021).
• Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, congratulated the Palestinians in Jerusalem on their steadfastness, noting that Mohammed Deif, commander of the military wing, had made them a promise and he would not break it (Telegram channel of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, May 8, 2021).
• Speaking at a rally in support of Sheikh Jarrah residents, Hamas political bureau member Fathi Hamad said that the people of the Gaza Strip, its children, and its rockets are telling the whole world that they are ready to act in accordance with the words of Mohammed Deif, head of the military wing, and that they are ready to assist the residents of Jerusalem and will not let them confront Israel and the security coordination on their own. According to him, all the brigades of the military wing of Hamas are in a state of alert; Mohammed Deif is in the operations room of the wing together with representatives of the organizations in the joint war room. He noted that they had rockets capable of reaching as far as Jerusalem and that they were ready for the uprising in Jerusalem to become an intifada. He called on the residents of Jerusalem to slit the throats of the Jews with knives that cost only five shekels, and on the Islamic nation to turn the uprising in Jerusalem into a liberation intifada everywhere (Al-Aqsa, May 7, 2021).
• Khaled Mash’al, the leader of Hamas outside the Gaza Strip, said that the issue of Jerusalem unites the Palestinian people and that the anarchy at the Al-Aqsa Mosque is very dangerous. He noted that the residents of Jerusalem are fighting heroically and that no one is evading responsibility (Shehab, May 7, 2021). On another occasion, Mash’al noted that they are in contact with international elements to stop Israeli aggression in Jerusalem and called for a new intifada against Israel (PALINFO, May 8, 2021).
• Hamas’s spokesman outside of the Gaza Strip Hussam Badran said that actions were being taken to unite the efforts and capabilities so that the battle over Jerusalem would be a battle of all the Palestinians. He noted that if Israel thinks that it can isolate Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and take advantage of normalization for its own benefit, the response of the resistance will be different from what Israel expects. (Dunya al-Watan, May 8, 2021).
• Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV launched a series of special broadcasts about the demonstrations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, with the channel’s reporters broadcasting live from the scenes of the various demonstrations. During the broadcasts, the channel tried to incite the Palestinian public to come out and take part in the clashes. The channel also broadcast short clips between programs calling for terrorist attacks, and declarations and calls by senior officials from Hamas and other organizations.

     
Right: Cartoon depicting the volatility of the situation on the Temple Mount: “The occupation is invading the Al-Aqsa [mosque] and [there are] wounded among the worshipers” (Facebook page of Palestinian cartoonist Alaa’ Allaqta, May 7, 2021). Left: Poster disseminated on social media encouraging further violent confrontations (QUDSN Facebook page, May 8, 2021)

• The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) warned Israel against continuing its aggression against the Palestinians, noting that the Israeli leadership must understand the message sent by the resistance leadership. The PIJ called on Israeli Arabs and residents of the West Bank to take action (website of the military wing, May 9, 2021). PIJ Secretary General Ziyad al-Nakhaleh said that it was impossible to remain silent in the face of what was happening in East Jerusalem and that Israel should expect a response at any moment (Al-Mayadeen, May 7, 2021).

Reactions in Arab countries

• The incidents in Jerusalem received widespread media coverage. The Arab media networks broadcast ongoing footage documenting the events. The coverage included live images of what was happening and comments by reporters. Most of the speakers also mentioned the eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah.
• The Jordanian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the police for breaking into the Al-Aqsa compound, stating that this was a blatant violation and “wild and obscene behavior.” Jordan demanded that the police be removed immediately and worshipers be permitted to exercise their freedom of worship during the nights of Ramadan. The spokesman warned Israel of the consequences of the dangerous escalation and also condemned the attacks against the residents of Sheikh Jarrah. Jordanian King Abdullah II spoke with Mahmoud Abbas. The Jordanian Foreign Minister spoke with his Palestinian counterpart to coordinate regional and international steps against Israel’s actions in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount. The Jordanian Foreign Minister emphasized that Jordan would continue to make every effort to protect the holy sites, maintain the status quo and fight against Israeli violations (Jordanian State News Agency, May 9, 2021).
• The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the Israeli police forces for breaking into the mosque and the attack on East Jerusalem residents and worshipers. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmad Hafez noted that Egypt was strongly opposed to illegal measures violating the rights of the Palestinian people, including further construction in the settlements, their expansion, land expropriation and the eviction of Palestinians from their homes. At the same time, Egypt is also working with Israel and Hamas to calm the situation in the Gaza Strip.
• The United Arab Emirates has expressed concern over the incidents in East Jerusalem. Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marri said that the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the Israeli authorities for breaking into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the eviction of the Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah. He stressed that Israel must take responsibility under the rules of international law to protect its Palestinian citizens and their right to practice their religion (Sky News in Arabic, May 8, 2021)
• Senior Turkish government officials severely criticized the incidents. Turkish President Erdoğan tweeted a condemnation message in Hebrew on his Twitter account, calling Israel’s actions “abominable attacks.” Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın said that it was a disgrace for Israel and a disgrace for those who remain silent in the face of the attacks, calling for steadfastness in the face of “the occupation policy and aggression of the apartheid state.” He further noted that “the occupying forces that do not respect the sanctity of these days must leave the Al-Aqsa Mosque immediately” (RT in Arabic, May 8, 2021).

Comments in the West

• Countries in the West also criticized Israel’s actions, drawing a parallel between the incidents and the eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah. Palestinian commentators expressed satisfaction with the US response. They see it as an unprecedented statement stressing, for the first time in public, US concern over the eviction of Palestinian families. They also expressed satisfaction with the EU’s responses and messages from European countries. Hani al-Habib, a commentator from Gaza, noted that what is happening supports the PA’s position to turn to the International Criminal Court in The Hague and brings the Palestinian issue back to the priorities of the international community (Al-Ghad, May 8, 2021).
• US Department of State Spokesman Ned Price issued a statement calling on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to act to calm the situation and curb the violence. According to the statement, it is critical for the parties to show restraint. The statement also notes that the US is concerned about the potential eviction of families from Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan and emphasizes that “it is critical to avoid steps that exacerbate tensions or take us farther away from peace” (US Department of State website, May 7, 2021).
• The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union also expressed concern in the face of rising tension and violence in East Jerusalem. According to the announcement, both sides must pay the price for their actions. The EU called on the authorities to act urgently to reduce tension in Jerusalem, avoid violence in the Al-Aqsa Mosque area and honor the status quo. The announcement also states that the possible eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and other areas in East Jerusalem is also a cause for concern, since these actions are illegal under international humanitarian law (EU Foreign Affairs Council website, May 8, 2021).
• An official statement issued by the Quartet envoys stated that the envoys were concerned about the situation and the provocative declarations, rocket launches and continued launching of incendiary balloons from Gaza towards Israel, as well as attacks on Palestinian agricultural land in the West Bank. They called on Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from taking measures that would exacerbate the situation. They also called on both sides to respect the status quo in the holy places (EU Foreign Affairs Council website, May 9, 2021).
• UN Envoy to the Middle East Tor Wennesland issued a statement expressing concern over the difficult situation that has prevailed since the beginning of Ramadan, adding that over the past few days, civilians on both sides have been killed due to this situation. He called on the Israeli government to end the destruction and uphold its commitments in accordance with international law (Sawa, May 6, 2021).
• The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern and called on the sides to refrain from escalation. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a statement condemning the clashes and noting that Russia is concerned about the developments and calls on all sides to refrain from any action that will exacerbate the violence even further. He also noted that land expropriation in East Jerusalem is illegal and a violation of international law (Al-Arabiya in English, May 8, 2021).

• For the past 24 hours there has been continuous, massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip targeting Israel. During the night longer-range rockets were fired, reaching the center of the country. As of noon, May 12, 2021, five Israelis had been killed and scores wounded. In the morning an anti-tank missile was fired (the second since the escalation began), killing one person and wounding two. Throughout the morning hours the terrorist organizations continued firing rockets, most of them targeting the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip.
• Hamas regards the events that have unfolded so far as a “victory.” Hamas gave Israel an ultimatum, carried out its threats, caused loss of life and property damage, and significantly disrupted the fabric of daily life in Israel. The rioting Israeli Arabs add to Hamas’ claim of victory.
• Israel has signaled that its response will not be proportional or be limited in duration. Israeli aircraft has carried out massive attacks, destroying several high-rise buildings in the Gaza Strip where senior Hamas operatives lived, and killing senior operatives in the military-terrorist wings of both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Rocket Fire

• During the past 24 hours rocket fire attacking Israel increased significantly and spread from the south to the center of the country. As of noon, May 12, 2021, according to the IDF spokesman, more than 850 rockets had been fired at Israel, and 200 additional rockets were fired but landed inside the Gaza Strip. The Iron Dome aerial defense system successfully intercepted between 85% and 90% of the rockets (IDF spokesman, May 12, 2021).

• Five Israelis were killed by the rocket fire: two women in Ashqelon, a father and daughter near Lod, and a woman in Rishon LeTzion. Several dozen people were treated at hospitals, most of them for superficial injuries and shock.
• On the afternoon of May 11, 2021, an exceptionally large barrage of rockets was fired at the southern coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashqelon. One rocket hit a fuel tank near Ashqelon, setting it on fire. It burned for several hours until it could be extinguished. Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for the rocket hit on the fuel tank (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades’ Telegram channel, May 11, 2021).
• The military-terrorist wing claimed it was using a new tactic by firing Sejil rockets at Ashqelon, which successfully evaded the Iron Dome aerial defense system and killed and wounded Israelis (Sawa, May 11, 2021).

• At 19:00 on May 11, 2021, Hamas’ military-terrorist wing threatened Israel, saying that if Israel continued attacking residential buildings in the Gaza Strip Tel Aviv would be hit hard (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades’ Telegram channel, May 11, 2021). After the IDF destroyed the Hanadi Tower, a 13-story building in Gaza City, the military-terrorist wings of both Hamas and the PIJ threatened Tel Aviv would be attacked at 21:00. At 20:45 the terrorist organizations fired dozens of rockets at the Tel Aviv and coastal plain region. Hamas rushed to announce that 130 rockets with heavy warheads had been fired in the largest attack ever carried out against Tel Aviv. A similar barrage was fired at 03:00, May 12, 2021, at the Tel Aviv and coastal plain regions, Beersheba, Dimona and other cities.
• Hamas’ military-terrorist wing revealed that SH85 rockets had been fired in the attacks on Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion International Airport. The rockets are named for Muhammad Abu Shamala, a senior Hamas terrorist operative who was killed in Operation Protective Edge. Other types of rockets fired were J80, M75, A120 and J90.^[1] Hamas also said Beersheba had been attacked with Sejil rockets (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades’ Telegram channel, May 12, 2021).

    
A bus in the central Israeli city of Holon takes a direct rocket hit
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, May 11, 2021).

  
Right: Direct hit on a house in Givatayim in the greater Tel Aviv area
(QudsN Facebook page, May 11, 2021). Left: Direct hit on a vehicle in Ashqelon
(Magen David Adom spokesman’s unit, May 11, 2021).

• Hamas and the PIJ noted their satisfaction with firing rockets at the center of Israel:
  • The joint operations room of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip said in a statement that on the second day of “Operation Sword of Jerusalem” the Israeli leadership had not predicted the degree to which the “resistance” [i.e., the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip] had prepared itself. According to the statement they fired more than 300 rockets, the largest barrage of rockets in the history of the conflict, particularly at targets in and around Tel Aviv (Shehab, May 12, 2021).
  • Khaled Mashaal, a senior Hamas figure living abroad, said the Palestinian people were proud of the “resistance’s” ability to strike deep within the Israeli homeland and undermine its security (Shehab, May 12, 2021).
  • Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the “resistance” was designing its “struggle” to defend the Palestinian people and their holy sites. He said the strikes deep inside Israel stressed the Palestinians’ total willingness to sacrifice themselves to defend the Palestinian people’s principles (al-Aqsa, May 11, 2021).
  • Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Israel had failed and had not been able to deal with the rockets. He said the barrage targeting Tel Aviv was the largest and most significant in Israel’s history. He claimed they had fired 150 rockets in a number of minutes and the Iron Dome aerial defense system was helpless against them (al-Aqsa, May 11, 2021).
• The PIJ praised Hamas for the attack on Tel Aviv, saying the Palestinian “resistance” had proved its capabilities and its strength was equal to Israel’s (al-Mayadeen, May 11. 2021).

Anti-tank missile fired from the northern Gaza Strip at an Israeli vehicle

• On the morning of May 12, 2021, an anti-tank missile (the second since the beginning of the attacks) was fired from the northern Gaza Strip at an Israeli vehicle near the border. At the same time mortar shells were fired at the site, making it difficult for rescue workers to evacuate the wounded. One man was killed and three were wounded. Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for the attack (the previous anti-tank missile attack was claimed by the PIJ). According to Hamas, a Kornet anti-tank missile was fired at an IDF jeep to the north of the Gaza Strip (QudsN Facebook page, May 12, 2021).

UAV from Gaza crosses the border and is intercepted

• A UAV launched from the Gaza Strip was intercepted by IDF aerial defense forces after it crossed the border into Israeli territory. The forces monitored it from the time it was launched until it crossed the border.

Israel’s Response

• Throughout the day the IDF attacked terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, primarily those belonging to Hamas and the PIJ. As of noon, May 12, 2021, the attacks continued. So far the IDF has attacked more than 500 terrorist targets, focusing during the past 24 hours on the following (IDF spokesman, May 12, 2021):
  • Houses of military-terrorist wing operatives – Mainly buildings in Gaza City where Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure structure is located. For example, on May 12, 2021 a multi-story building that housed Hamas’ intelligence, media, West Bank and Gaza Brigade headquarters was attacked.
  • Underground targets – Facilities used by Hamas terrorist operatives.
  • Senior military-terrorist operatives – Cleared for publication was the information that in Gaza City and Khan Yunis the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency had killed a number of senior Hamas terrorist operatives who belonged to Hamas’ so-called “general staff forum” and were close associates of Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing (IDF spokesman, May 12, 2021). Before the Israeli announcement the PIJ reported the deaths of three of its commanders in an attack on the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. They were Sameh Fahim Hashem al-Mamluk, responsible for the organization’s rocket firing unit in the northern Gaza Strip; Muhammad Yahya Abu al-Issa, a rocket unit commander and brother of the commander of the organization’s northern military-terrorist wing, who was killed in a targeted attack on November 12, 2019; and Kamal Taysir Suleiman Qriqa, field commander of the rocket launching unit of the Gaza Brigade. Hamas‘ military-terrorist wing reported the deaths of two of its commanders in the IDF attack on Tel al-Hawa. They were Hassan al-Qahwaji and Wa’el Issa (Paldf, May 12, 2021).
  • Rocket launching pits – On May 11 and 12, 2021, IDF aircraft attacked dozens of rocket launching pits in the Gaza Strip which had been used to fire rockets at Israel.
  • Houses of military-terrorist wing operatives – IDF aircraft attacked the houses of Hamas operatives who had gone underground so they would have nowhere to return to. For example, on May 12, 2021, the house of senior Hamas operative Salah Dahaman, which also served as a weapons storehouse, was attacked.
  • A Hamas squad preparing to launch a UAV into Israeli territory.

    
IDF attacks in the Gaza Strip (Palinfo Twitter account, May 12, 2021)

   
Right: Jabalia refugee camp after IDF attack (Palinfo Twitter account, May 12, 2021). Left: Targeted killing of terrorist in Beit Lahia (northern Gaza Strip)
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, May 12, 2021). 

  
Right: Hanadi Tower in Gaza City after IDF attack (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, May 11, 2021). Left: Al-Johara building in Gaza City after IDF attack
(Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, May 12, 2021).

• The announcement made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his intention to escalate Israel’s response and increase the attacks was widely covered by the Palestinian, Arab and international media. Journalists in the Gaza Strip reported that the consequence of the announcement would be that the organizations would increase the range of their rockets to include Ashqelon and Ashdod.

Palestinian casualties

• Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, claimed that as of 12:00 noon, May 12, 2021, 43 Gazans had been killed, 12 of them allegedly children, and 296 had been wounded. According to reports, at least two of the children were killed by improvised rockets that blew up inside the Gaza Strip (Twitter account of DCIPalestine, May 11, 2021).

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Reactions

• Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, who resides in Qatar, said the Palestinians were currently beginning a new chapter in the confrontation with Israel and that they had been victorious. He claimed that today the Palestinian forces had a new balance of power which the “resistance” would use in every form in the al-Aqsa mosque compound and in the “resistance” of rocket fire. He claimed that Hamas’ activity on three fronts, Jerusalem, Gaza and the internal front, which included Israeli Arabs and the Palestinians in the West Bank, who were the core of the internal front (al-Aqsa, May 11, 2021).
• Usama Hamedan, in charge of Hamas’ external relations, said in the past Israel had attacked the Gaza Strip without a Palestinian response, but now there was a new equation, and the resistance would respond to any aggression against the Palestinian people. He said the battle was only beginning and Israel had to decide if it wanted to end the battle and pay the price, or if it was prepared to take a step back and admit it had made a stupid mistake (Filastin al-Yawm, May 11, 2021).

     
Right: The terrorist organizations boast of their capabilities (al-Araby al-Jadeed, London, May 12, 2021). Left: The terrorist organizations boast of their achievements in the current round of escalation. The Arabic reads, “Gaza enforces a new equation on Israel” (Alaa’ al-Laqta’s Facebook page, May 12, 2021).

Appeals to Israeli Arabs and Palestinians in Judea and Samaria

• Hamas spokesmen, headed by Fawzi Barhoum, and al-Aqsa TV issued incitement to violence throughout the day and called on Israeli Arabs and the residents of Judea and Samaria to take to the streets, burn vehicles and “resist” Israelis for the sake of victory in east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. During the evening Israeli Arabs did in fact riot in mixed Jewish-Arab and Arab cities throughout the country.
• Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, called on Israeli Arabs to continue the uprising (al-Aqsa, May 11, 2021). He also called on all the Palestinians, regardless of where they were, to stand firm and struggle against Israel. He praised the Palestinians in every arena, stressing that the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades were at the beck and call of the Palestinians and would answer every call for help in the struggle (al-Aqsa, May 12, 2021).
• Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem praised the rioting of Israeli Arabs in Lod, saying the flame that had been lit in Lod was the same flame that had been lit in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem (Hamas website, May 12, 2021).
• The PIJ called on all the forces in Judea and Samaria to begin a new intifada, and called on the Palestinian Authority to end its security coordination with Israel. He said an intifada was necessary because of Israel’s attacks on al-Aqsa mosque and escalation in the Gaza Strip (Filastin al-Yawm, May 12, 2021).

Judea and Samaria

•  Demonstrations were held in Jenin and Jericho to protest Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and in support of al-Aqsa mosque. In Hebron and Bethlehem Palestinians rioted against the Israeli security forces (Wafa, May 11, 2021).

   
Protest demonstrations in Jericho (left) and Jenin (right) (Wafa, May 11, 2021).

Mediation Attempts

• On the morning of May 11, 2021, the Hamas leadership told the Egyptians they would refuse to negotiate with Israel as long as it did not meet Hamas’ demands for a withdrawal of Israeli forces from al-Aqsa mosque, the release of the Palestinians detained because of their participation in the riots on the Temple Mount and the reversal of the decisions related to Sheikh Jarrah (al-Araby al-Jadeed, May 11, 2021). At a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Arab League, Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian foreign minister, said they had been in contact with Israel during the past few days to reach a lull and prevent the situation from deteriorating further, but Egypt had not received the response it wanted (Sky News, May 11, 2021).
• In the evening sources reported to al-Arabiya that Egypt was working for a lull in the Gaza Strip and was in contact with the “organizations” to achieve a ceasefire. It was also reported that Egypt asked Israel to stop its attacks unconditionally. Sources reported that Egypt, Qatar and the UN were holding intensive contacts to achieve a lull. According to other reports, Hamas told the mediators that Israel had to stop its attacks before Hamas would talk about a lull (al-Jazeera, May 12, 2021).
• PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah said mediation efforts were meaningless as long as Israel continued its “aggression” in Jerusalem (Filastin al-Yawm, May 11, 2018).