On Friday, July 12, 2019, return march events were held in the Gaza Strip with about 6,500 participants (slightly more than on July 5). The level of violence was higher than in previous weeks: Palestinians threw hand grenades, IEDs, and Molotov cocktails, one of which damaged an IDF vehicle. There were attempts to sabotage the security fence and cross into Israeli territory.

In recent weeks there has been a significant decrease in the number of incendiary and IED balloons launched into Israel, but the launchings continue. (This past week a number of fires were caused by incendiary balloons.) The incendiary and IED balloon-launching units continue threatening to expand their activities.

Two other events were notable this past week: on July 11, 2019, the IDF accidentally shot and killed a Hamas military wing operative (from the “defenders of the frontier” restraint force) near the security fence. Hamas announced it would respond. On July 12, 2019, two rockets landed in Israeli territory, possibly motivated by the killing of the Hamas operative.

This past week an Egyptian General Intelligence delegation visited the Gaza Strip and held a series of talks with senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) figures, and with representatives of other terrorist organizations. According to reports, the Hamas leadership accused Israel of delaying the implementation of the lull understandings. Sources in the PIJ again threatened an escalation.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR