The past week started off with continued shelling of Gaza by Israel as Hamas and other factions fired rockets into Israel while Egypt was trying to facilitate a ceasefire between the two sides. A series of protests were also held in many cities across the West Bank during the Gaza siege in which some of these protests ended in clashes with Israeli soldiers. Two Palestinians: Hamdi Mohammad Jawwad al-Falah, a 22-year old from Hebron and Rushdi Tamimi, a 33-year old from Nabi Saleh were shot dead by Israeli soldiers who were trying to suppress the protests. The Israeli army used tear gas, rubber bullets and in some cases live fire to disperse crowds gathered for the burial procession of the two and in other places where protests continued.
The ceasefire between the two sides was then achieved on Wednesday 21 November evening where both sides agreed to halt all hostilities. Earlier in the day, a bus explosion in Tel Aviv injured 24 people, which Hamas took responsibility for saying it was in retaliation of continued Israeli shelling of Gaza.
The Gaza crisis ended with the diplomatic assistance of Egypt and endorsement and pressure from the US and UN on both sides. UN secretary Ban-Ki-Moon and US Secretary Hillary Clinton were two of the dignitaries who flew over to the region to urge the two sides to come to a truce. The crisis which was concluded with the ceasefire on Wednesday 21 at 9pm local time has claimed the lives of 158 Palestinians in Gaza and six Israelis in southern Israel. Some Palestinian estimates put the number of Palestinians killed over 160. According to OCHA, 103 of the 158 Palestinians who were killed in the offensive were civilians including about 30 children and 13 women, while two of the six Israelis were soldiers and four civilians.
Thousands in Gaza took to the streets in celebration at signing the ceasefire on 21 November where they fired shots of celebration. One man is reported to have died after being shot by a stray bullet during celebration. Small protests were held in some communities in southern Israel such as Kriyat Malachi where three of the casualties were, in which the protestors denounced the ceasefire and called for harsher Israeli military action in Gaza.
Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian faction leaders have taken the signing of the ceasefire as an opportunity to call for Palestinian political unity in order to strengthen the resistance to the Israeli occupation. In a rally held in Gaza on November 22, the leaders and thousands of people marched in celebration of the end of the deadly fighting. Fatah leader from the West Bank– Nabil Shaath was among those who gave a speech on unity, in the Hamas led Gaza Strip. All major factions are also reported to back Abbas’ bid for an upgraded status at the UN which is expected to be voted on at the end of this month.
If the agreement on a ceasefire is upheld by both parties, both sides are to end all hostilities and Israel would facilitate the opening of Gaza’s border crossings as well as easing restriction on the movement of people and goods. However, shootings and confrontations between Palestinians around the Gaza fence and Israeli soldiers on Friday, November 23 has made many question how sustainable the agreement is. The shooting killed 20-year old Anwar Qdeih and injured 19 around Khan Younis, near the border with Israel. An Israeli military spokeswoman said the soldiers first warned the group of people that came towards the fence that separates Gaza from Israel and then fired at the feet of people to disperse the crowd of around 300. Medics in Gaza and Palestinians however said the groups of people were in their farms and preparing to pray when the shooting happened and claimed the life of Qdeih, who was shot on the head. Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour has filed a complaint saying Israel has broken the ceasefire while Hamas has deployed its security forces around the border fence to prevent people from getting close to the fence.
Meanwhile in the West Bank, Israel detained 28 Palestinians from around the West Bank on Friday 23 November. The detainees, who are affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, include five PLC members. A similar round of arrests took place the previous day, during which Israel detained about 50 people overnight in the West Bank in what it said was related to “recent violent and terrorist activity”. Most of the 50 detained are members and officials of Hamas, Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
In related news, Israel arrested a Palestinian-Israeli man on 23 November, suspected of involvement in the bus bombing in Tel Aviv on the 21st, a few hours before the agreement for a ceasefire was signed. An Israeli military spokeswoman said it was committed by “an Arab-Israeli from Taybeh and a member of Hamas” who coordinated with Hamas militant cells in the West Bank.
As the ceasefire comes into effect and stability is achieved, Palestinians are garnering support for their bid for a status upgrade later this month. France and China, two of the five member states of the UN Security Council have indicated this week that they support the Palestinian statehood and status upgrade in the UN. The bid for a status upgrade will be voted on by the 193 member UN General Assembly and only needs a simple majority to be accepted.
Late President Yasserr Arafat’s body is scheduled to be exhumed for testing on November 27, as French forensic experts arrived in the West Bank on November 22. The investigation, which is now needed for a murder inquiry in a French court, came after a Swiss institute said it found traces of highly radioactive polonium in the clothing of the late leader. The exhumation and forensic testing would be overseen by Palestinian and French experts but has sparked debate and protest from some of Arafat’s direct kin, who said the investigation is unnecessary given the “real truth” that he was “assassinated by Israel with poison”.