Overview

The American president’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority was exploited by terrorists to launch five rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. Two of the rocket landings were identified inside Israel; one of them hit a house in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. In response Israel temporarily closed the Kerem Shalom crossing and reduced the size of the fishing zone used by Gazans. The rocket barrage was the first of its kind since the end of Operation Pillar of Defense. A network in the Gaza Strip affiliated with the global jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.

A number of Palestinians belonging to terrorist networks were apprehended in Judea and Samaria. One of them belonged to Fatah/Tanzim and its activities included throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting at Israelis. In addition, a group of young Palestinians was detained. They threw stones causing a car crash near the Judean city of Ariel in which seven Israelis were injured (one of them a three year-old girl, was critically injured).

Hamas’ Shura Council extended Khaled Mashaal’s term as chairman of the movement’s political bureau. While in Egypt, the Hamas leadership met with Raafat Shehata, director of Egyptian general intelligence. Among the topics discussed were the Hamas-Israel lull agreement, Hamas-Egypt relations and promoting the internal Palestinian reconciliation.

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