Highlights On the night of August 27-28, 2024, Israeli security forces launched counterterrorism operations in Jenin and its environs, in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, and the al-Far’a refugee camp in the Tubas area. The operation in Jenin continues (as of September 2, 2024), while the other two operations have been completed. An IDF soldier was killed and at least ten other members of the Israeli security forces were wounded. During the operation, the forces killed more than 25 terrorist operatives in airstrikes and exchanges of fire, including commanders of terrorist networks in Jenin and Tulkarm, detained wanted persons, located explosives laboratories and large quantities of weapons, and destroyed IEDs planted on traffic routes. Concurrently with the IDF operations, two terrorist attacks were carried out. Two car bombs driven by terrorists exploded in the Gush Etzion area, wounding three security personnel. Three policemen were shot dead in a shooting attack in the South Hebron Hills. A car bomb was found near the community of Ateret. During 2024, some processes and trends can be identified that contributed to the increase in terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria, especially in northern Samaria, which in the ITIC’s assessment are expected to continue even after the activity of the Israeli security forces: efforts by Hamas and Iran to encourage terrorist activity through incitement, directing terrorist attacks, and smuggling weapons and money; cooperation between armed terrorist networks belonging to various Palestinian organizations; increasing use of powerful IEDs for terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria and inside Israel; increase attempts to carry out shooting attacks targeting Israeli communities in the Seam Zone. IDF activity in northern Samaria Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War on October 7, 2023, the Israeli security forces have carried out counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria to prevent the outbreak of a terrorist front in Judea, Samaria, and east Jerusalem, while fighting in the Gaza Strip and on the northern border with Hezbollah. The activity includes daily detention of wanted persons, along with targeted, extensive raids to seize weapons, destroy IEDs and explosive laboratories, and locate incitement materials and funds for financing terrorism. As part of the security activity, aircraft are also being increasingly used to target wanted operatives and terrorist squads preparing to carry out attacks.[1] On the night of August 27-28, 2024, Israeli security forces launched three large-scale counterterrorism operations in northern Samaria: Operation “Summer Camps” in Jenin and its environs (still ongoing, as of September 2, 2024); Operation “Ir Shemesh” in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm (ended August 30, 2024); and Operation “Olim Kita” in the al-Far’a refugee camp in the Tubas area (ended August 29, 2024). The forces killed more than 25 terrorist operatives in exchanges of fire and airstrikes, detained wanted persons, seized large quantities of weapons, located explosive laboratories, and destroyed IEDs hidden on traffic routes. In addition, the Israeli forces surrounded the hospitals in the areas of activity to prevent wanted persons from fleeing. An IDF soldier was killed in an exchange of fire in Jenin and at least ten members of the security forces were wounded in operations in Jenin and Tulkarm (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, August 28 – September 1, 2024). The operations were reportedly launched due to the improvement in IED capabilities after the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv on August 18, 2024, in which an Israeli civilian was wounded in the explosion of a powerful IED carried by a Palestinian terrorist operative from Nablus, and due to the detonation of IEDs against IDF forces and civilians in Judea and Samaria (Israeli media, August 28, 2024). IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevy noted that the activity was intended to prevent an escalation of terrorism in Judea and Samaria. He said the objective was to enter the Palestinian refugee camps, destroy their sabotage capabilities, and thwart terrorist attacks (IDF spokesperson, August 31, 2024). Operation “Summer Camps” On August 28, 2024, the Israeli security forces began a counterterrorism operation in Jenin and its environs. The activity began in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin and the Kasbah and later expanded to the Jenin refugee camp. The forces also operated in the Qabatiya and al-Sila al-Harithiya areas (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, August 28-September 1, 2024). During the operation, the forces killed at least 18 terrorist operatives. On August 30, 2024, Israeli security forces killed the head of a Hamas network in Jenin, Wissam Hazem, in an airstrike on a vehicle in the Jenin area. Two other Hamas operatives, Maysara Masharqa and Arafat Amer, who were involved in shooting attacks targeting Israeli communities in the Seam Zone, were also killed in the attack. Rifles, a handgun, magazines, IEDs, and gas grenades were found in the car, as well as tens of thousands of shekels intended to finance terrorism (IDF Spokesperson, August 30, 2024). Hamas’ military wing confirmed that “commander” Wissam Ayman Hazem from the Jenin refugee camp was killed, along with Maysara al-Masharqa and Arafat al-Amer, in a clash with the Israeli security forces in the town of al-Zababdeh, east of Jenin (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 30, 2024).       Right: The weapons and money discovered in the vehicle (IDF Spokesperson, August 30, 2024). Left: Hamas notice of the deaths of Hazem, al-Masharqa, and al-Amer (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 30, 2024) The al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, announced the death of the commander of the battalions in Jenin, Ahmed Hussein Turkman, in a clash with the Israeli security forces in the Jenin district. He was allegedly responsible for several “heroic missions,” including setting fires near the Etzion camp on June 28, 2024 (al-Aqsa TV Telegram channel, August 29, 2024). The Palestinian armed networks, led by the Jenin Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), claimed responsibility for carrying out ambushes, shooting at the Israeli security forces, and detonating IEDs (Quds News Agency, August 28-September 1, 2024). On August 31, 2024, an IDF soldier was killed and another was wounded in an exchange of fire in Jenin. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced that their fighters had set a precise ambush on an Israeli infantry force in the al-Damaj neighborhood of Jenin (al-Arabi, August 31, 2024). It was also reported that for the first time, an RPG rocket was used in fighting against the Israeli security forces in Jenin (Nablus Battalions Telegram channel, August 31, 2024). The Palestinian media reported that at least 17 Palestinians had been killed in the Jenin area since the beginning of the Israeli operation (Wafa, September 1, 2024). Jenin Mayor Nidal Obeidi claimed that the damage after four days of activity had reached NIS 50 million (Fajr News, August 31, 2024). The Jenin municipality claimed that more than 70 percent of the city’s streets had been destroyed and that water had been cut off to 80 percent of the city and the refugee camp (Wafa, August 31, 2024). Operation “Ir Shemesh” Between August 28 and August 30, 2024, Israeli security forces operated in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm. The forces killed five terrorist operatives and detained six wanted persons, located and destroyed dozens of IEDs planted on traffic routes. A suspicious vehicle was identified near the government hospital in Tulkarm, containing an M-16 rifle and a large quantity of weapons (IDF Spokesperson, August 31, 2024). On August 29, 2024, Israeli security forces killed five terrorist operatives hiding in a mosque. Among those killed was Muhammad Jaber, aka Abu Shuja, PIJ Tulkarm Battalion commander in Nur Shams, who was responsible for many attacks, including the shooting attack in which an Israeli civilian was killed in Qalqilya on June 22, 2024. A SWAT soldier sustained minor injuries. Jaber managed to evade Israeli targeted killing attempts and detention attempts by the Palestinian security services several times (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, August 29, 2024). The PIJ announced that Jaber, commander of the Tulkarm Battalion and one of its early founders, had been killed along with “some of his brothers after a heroic confrontation with the occupation soldiers” (Quds News Agency Telegram channel, August 29, 2024). Hamas’ military wing announced that one of its operatives, Muhammad Tawfiq Ofi, from the Tulkarm refugee camp, had been killed along with Jaber (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 30, 2024). PIJ announcement of Jaber’s death (PIJ Tulkarm Battalion Telegram channel, August 29, 2024) The Palestinian media reported five fatalities in the activity of the Israeli security forces in Tulkarm (Wafa, September 1, 2024). After Israeli forces entered the Nur Shams refugee camp, electricity was reportedly cut off, and internet and water networks were damaged. It is also claimed that 30 percent of the residents had left for nearby villages (Radio Alam, August 28, 2024). The head of the Popular Committee in the Nur Shams camp claimed that 35 buildings had been completely destroyed and that 120 structures had been partially damaged (al-Aqsa Radio Telegram channel, August 30, 2024). Operation “Olim Kita” On August 29, 2024, Israeli security forces completed a 30-hour operation in the al-Far’a refugee camp in the northern Jordan Valley. During the operation, the forces surrounded the camp and located an IED laboratory and an operations room operating from a mosque, where ready-to-use IEDs and large quantities of weapons were discovered. In addition, four terrorist operatives were killed (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, August 29, 2024). The Palestinians reported four fatalities in the Tubas area (Wafa, September 1, 2024). Hamas expressed sorrow over the deaths of Ibrahim Abd al-Qader al-Ghanimi, Murad Masoud al-Ja’aita, Ahmad Saleh al-Nabzizi, and a 14-year-old boy named Muhammad Masoud al-Ja’aita (Hamas Telegram channel, August 28, 2024). Tubas Governor Ahmed As’ad claimed that Israeli forces “deliberately destroyed the infrastructure” during the operation (Sabak24 News Agency Telegram channel, August 30, 2024). Israeli forces allegedly surrounded houses and demanded that those inside surrender. It was also alleged that the forces raided the Red Crescent medical point in the camp, attacked the staff, and seized their phones (Radio Alam, August 29, 2024).     Right: An operations room located in the mosque (IDF Spokesperson, August 28, 2024). Left: IDF forces in the al-Far’a camp (IDF Spokesperson, August 29, 2024) Terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria during IDF operations On the night of August 30-31, 2024, a car bomb exploded at a gas station at the Gush Etzion junction. The terrorist driving the car then tried to attack the Israeli security forces, who responded by shooting and killing him. Three officers sustained minor to moderate injuries. At the same time, a terrorist driving a car bomb infiltrated the community of Karmei Tzur. The community’s security guard crashed into the vehicle and killed the terrorist with gunfire. During the exchange of fire, the IED exploded in the car bomb. There were no casualties (IDF Spokesperson, August 31, 2024). The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the double attack, reporting that the perpetrators were Zuhdi Nidal Abu Afifa and Mohammad Ihsan Marqa (al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Telegram channel, September 1, 2024). Hamas’ military wing also announced that the perpetrators of the double attack were its operatives, with Mohammad Ihsan Marqa detonating the car bomb at the gas station and Zuhdi Nidal Abu Afifa detonating the car in Karmei Tzur (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, September 2, 2024). On September 1, 2024, a drive-by shooting was carried out at a police car on Route 35, near the Tarqumiya checkpoint in the South Hebron Hills. Three Israeli policemen were killed. A few hours later, Israeli security forces located the perpetrator, Muhannad al-Aswad, inside a building in Hebron and killed him after an exchange of fire. An M-16 rifle was discovered next to him. Al-Aswad, a resident of the town of Idhna, was reportedly a Fatah operative and previously served in the presidential guard of the Palestinian Authority (IDF spokesperson, September 1, 2024). The Palestinian media confirmed that Muhannad al-Aswad, a resident of the town of Idhna, had carried out the shooting attack and that he had served in the presidential guard until 2015 before he began working as an electrical contractor (Palestinian Media Center Telegram channel, September 1, 2024). The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility, noting that the perpetrator of the attack was Muhannad Muhammad al-Aswad, from the town of Idhna. According to the announcement, the attack was “revenge for the blood of the shaheeds and within the framework of the responsibility of retaliating for the Zionist massacres in the Gaza Strip, for the crimes of the occupation in the occupied West Bank, and for the ongoing violations against al-Aqsa Mosque headed by the criminal Ben Gvir” (al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Telegram channel, September 2, 2024). The scene of the shooting attack near the Tarqumiya checkpoint (Israel Police X account, September 1, 2024) In the early morning hours of September 2, 2024, a report was received of a suspicious vehicle near the community of Ateret in the Binyamin area, north of Ramallah. IDF forces and sappers searched the vehicle. Two gas canisters connected to an operating mechanism were discovered inside (IDF Spokesperson, Israel Police X account, and Israeli Media, September 2, 2024). Palestinian reactions to the IDF activity In their comments, Palestinian officials condemned the IDF activity in northern Samaria and accused Israel of trying to carry out “genocide” and “cleansing” in Judea and Samaria similar to the Gaza Strip. Residents were called upon to “resist” the Israeli forces. The following are notable comments: Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia in view of the beginning of Israeli activity. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas’s office, said that the Israeli actions “will lead to severe consequences that will be paid for by everyone” and that “they are the continuation of an all-out war on the Palestinian people” (Wafa, August 28, 2024). Hamas said the Israeli operations were “a practical attempt to implement the plans of the extremist government and expand the brutal war of extermination in the Gaza Strip to all cities, towns, and refugee camps in the West Bank” (Hamas Telegram channel, August 28, 2024). The PIJ claimed that “the objective of the attack is to shift the weight of the conflict to the West Bank, in an attempt to impose a new reality on the ground that is intended to subdue and annex the West Bank” (Safa News Agency Telegram channel, August 28, 2024).  Palestinian social media featured posts and cartoons expressing support for the “resistance” in Judea and Samaria, drawing connections between the war in the Gaza Strip and the “resistance” in Judea and Samaria, particularly in Jenin (a name that means “embryo” in Arabic). Right: The “resistance” in Judea and Samaria “smashes” the Israeli rifle (Emad Hajjaj’s Instagram account, September 2024). Center: Jenin as a womb for the “resistance” (Mohammad Sabaaneh’s Instagram account, September 1, 2024). Left: “Gaza and the West Bank, the wound is one,” cartoon of Mahmoud Abbas (Quds News Agency Telegram channel, August 28, 2024) Processes and trends in terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria during 2024 Hamas and Iran are working to ignite Judea and Samaria Since the beginning of the Iron Swords War on October 7, 2023, the Hamas leadership has been working to ignite Judea and Samaria by carrying out terrorist attacks, including inside Israeli territory, and clashes with the Israeli security forces.[2] The effort is led by Zaher Jabarin, who has served as Hamas’ de facto head of Judea and Samaria since his predecessor, Salah al-Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas’ political bureau, was killed in an attack attributed to Israel in Beirut on January 2, 2024. Following are prominent statements by Jabarin: On April 11, 2024, he called on the residents of Judea and Samaria to “rise up against the occupier and confront him with all your might.” He added that “the residents of the West Bank must continue on the path of resistance” and that “the West Bank is the heart of the battle and the conflict with the enemy” (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, April 11, 2024). On July 25, 2024, in an interview with al-Jazeera, he said that “the West Bank is the soft underbelly of the occupation” and that “the West Bank has a pool of struggle and jihad.” He said, “All the resistance groups on the ground are coordinated and most of them are coordinated and cooperating” and called on all Palestinians to “be involved in the inevitable confrontation” (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, July 25, 2024). Zaher Jabarin (Quds News Agency, January 3, 2024) Concurrently with the public statements, activity was identified on the ground of Hamas’ “West Bank Headquarters” from the Gaza Strip and Turkey to transfer funds to terrorist operatives in Judea and Samaria and carry out terrorist attacks from Judea and Samaria (ISA Spokesperson’s Unit, May 31, 2024). In addition, several terrorist attacks that were in the planning stages were thwarted: Anas Shurman, a Palestinian from Tulkarm who lives in Jordan, was detained in Nablus on suspicion of planning a bombing attack on Israeli territory. The interrogation revealed that he was recruited to Hamas in December 2023 by Imad Obeid, a Hamas operative from Turkey, and agreed to carry out a suicide bombing attack on behalf of Hamas. In addition, several Hamas operatives who belonged to the network in Nablus and were involved in preparing the IED for the attack were detained (ISA Spokesperson’s Unit, June 3, 2024). The Israeli security forces detained a squad of students in a Hamas cell at Birzeit University who were planning to carry out an attack. The interrogation revealed that the suspects acted on behalf of Hamas headquarters in Turkey to provide an infrastructure for activity against Israelis and were engaged in preparing to carry out an attack and transferring money to operatives on the ground. All the suspects were detained, and weapons and large sums of money transferred from Hamas headquarters were found in their possession (ISA Spokesperson’s Unit and Israeli media, July 21, 2024). Iran is working intensively to smuggle weapons and money and carry out terrorist attacks from Judea and Samaria using the IRGC’s Qods Force, to ignite and launch a campaign against Israel from this sector as well, alongside the Gaza Strip and the other fronts of the “axis of resistance.”[3] In recent years, senior IRGC officials have publicly addressed the expansion of the “Palestinian resistance” in Judea and Samaria and the growing challenges facing Israel and the IDF in this arena, and attempts to establish Iranian intelligence infrastructure in Israel and Judea and Samaria, establish terrorist infrastructure under the guise of civilian organizations, and transfer explosives by UAVs have been exposed, including after the outbreak of the Iron Swords War. In March 2024, it was revealed that a large quantity of weapons smuggled into Judea and Samaria had been seized, including fragmentation charges, anti-tank mines, shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles, RPG rockets, and explosives (IDF Spokesperson, March 25, 2024). The activity is led by Munir al-Maqdah, a Fatah operative from Lebanon who works in the service of the Qods Force and Hezbollah together with his brother, Khalil al-Maqdah, who was killed in an Israeli attack in Sidon on August 21, 2024 (ISA Spokesperson’s Unit, August 21, 2024). Perpetrators of the terrorist attacks Terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria is usually carried out by the military wings of the “established” organizations – Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the PIJ’s al-Quds Brigades, and Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. However, there are local networks in which operatives from several organizations collaborate, both in fighting against the Israeli security forces in the communities and in the refugee camps and in carrying out terrorist attacks.[4] In addition, there are inter-regional collaborations between the networks. The following are some examples of collaborations: On the evening of August 18, 2024, a powerful IED exploded on Lehi Street in Tel Aviv. As a result, the terrorist carrying the IED on his back was killed, and an Israeli civilian sustained minor injuries (Israel Police X account and Israeli Media, August 18-19, 2024). The Hamas military wing and the PIJ military wing claimed joint responsibility for carrying out the suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 19, 2024). Subsequently, Hamas’ military wing announced that the perpetrator of the attack, Ja’far Saad Manna, was its operative (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 22, 2024). On July 27, 2024, Lua’i Masha was killed in an Israeli Air Force airstrike on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. Both the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades announced that he was their operative (al-Quds Brigades in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, July 27, 2024). On July 23, 2024, the Israeli security forces killed the commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the Tulkarm camp, Ashraf Nafe’, who headed Hamas’ military wing in the camp, Muhammad Awad, commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the camp, and Mohammad Badie, an al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades operative. From right to left: Mohammad Badie, Mohammad Awad, and Ashraf Nafe’ (Quds News Agency Telegram channel, July 23, 2024) On June 22, 2024, an Israeli civilian was shot dead in a shooting attack in Qalqilya. The perpetrators of the attack, Jamal Ibrahim Abu Haniya and Ali Khalil Abu Bakr, were operatives of Hamas’ military wing and were killed in an Israeli Air Force airstrike in Tulkarm on August 3, 2024. Muhammad Jaber (Abu Shuja), who was the head of the network in Nur Shams, directed the attack. On April 12, 2024, Muhammad Omar Daraghmeh, commander of the Tubas Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades, was killed in an Israeli security force operation in Tubas. Daraghmeh was commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Tubas before moving to the Tubas Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades along with operatives of other organizations in the town (al-Jazeera TV website, April 12, 2024). The terrorist networks also use social media, mainly TikTok, WhatsApp, and Telegram, to convey their messages. As a result, the leaders of the networks also become “popular heroes” who receive widespread support. Such an example was on July 26, 2024, when the Palestinian security services tried to detain Muhammad Jaber (Abu Shuja) at the hospital in Tulkarm, but local residents clashed with the security services operatives and Jaber managed to escape to the Nur Shams refugee camp, where he was greeted with cheers (Quds News Agency Telegram channel, July 26, 2024). There is also considerable involvement of operatives of the Palestinian Authority security services in terrorist activity, partly due to Israel’s withholding of funds, which has impacted the salaries of Palestinian Authority employees, including security personnel. On March 28, 2024, three Israeli civilians were wounded in a shooting attack against an Israeli bus and two vehicles on Route 90. The perpetrator of the attack was Abu Rida al-Saadi, a resident of Jenin and an operative in the Palestinian National Security Service; On January 15, 2024, Fares Khalifa, a resident of Tulkarm and a Preventive Intelligence officer, was killed during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp; On March 27, 2024, Hamza Ararawi from the al-Ein refugee camp in Nablus was killed in an Israeli Air Force airstrike. Ararawi was a policeman in the Palestinian customs police and an operative in the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Characteristics of the terrorist attacks Since the beginning of 2024, terrorist activity has focused on northern Samaria, originating mainly from Jenin and the Jenin refugee camp, Tulkarm and the Nur Shams refugee camp, and Nablus and the Balata refugee camp. There was also an increase in terrorist activity in the Qalqilya and Tubas areas. The most common form of attacks has been shooting attacks and IED attacks. The following are examples of prominent terrorist attacks:[5] On August 12, 2024, an Israeli civilian was seriously wounded by gunfire in a garage in Qalqilya (IDF Spokesperson, August 12, 2024). Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for the attack, noting that the perpetrator, Tareq Ziad Daoud, was the commander of Izz al-Din al-Qassam in the Qalqilya district (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 12, 2024). On the afternoon of August 11, 2024, a drive-by shooting targeted Israeli vehicles at the Mehola junction in the Jordan Valley. An Israeli civilian was killed and another was moderately wounded. The Israeli security forces searched for the perpetrators (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, August 11, 2024). The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Judea and Samaria claimed responsibility for the shooting attack (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 11, 2024). On July 23, 2024, two Israeli Defense Ministry contract workers were wounded in an IED explosion near the fence in the Seam Zone, near the community of Merav. Hamas’ military wing in Jenin claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that three IEDs had been activated against Israeli security forces (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, July 23, 2024). On April 27, 2024, Palestinian terrorist operatives fired at the Salem camp (northwest of Jenin). An IDF force killed two of the attackers and the rest fled the scene. Two M-16 rifles used by the terrorists were found at the site (IDF spokesperson, April 27, 2024). Another prominent feature of terrorist activity in northern Judea and Samaria was planting powerful IEDs under and alongside traffic routes in Palestinian communities and refugee camps to target Israeli security forces. The following are notable cases: On the night of June 26-27, 2024, an IDF soldier was killed and 16 others were wounded in an operation in Jenin when two IEDs planted deep underground exploded. The PIJ’s Jenin Battalion claimed responsibility (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, June 27, 2024; Jenin Battalion Telegram channel, June 27, 2024). On July 1, 2024, an IDF soldier was killed and an officer was wounded when an IED detonated against an armored military vehicle exploded in an operation at Nur Shams camp in Tulkarm. The Tulkarm Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, July 1, 2024; Tulkarm Battalion Telegram channel, July 1, 2024). In addition, there was increasing terrorist activity in the Seam Zone, mainly in the Tulkarm area. The activity was characterized mainly by attempts to carry out shooting attacks against Israeli communities, but in most cases, there were no casualties or damage. Here are some notable examples: On July 23, 2024, Israeli security forces located rockets inside a vehicle in the Tulkarm refugee camp, along with explosives and IEDs. According to “sources” in the Palestinian security services, PIJ operatives tried to launch rockets at Israel from the Tulkarm area but failed. The Palestinian security service personnel located the launcher (Israeli media, July 23, 2024). On June 23, 2024, shots were fired at the Israeli community of Bat Hefer from the Tulkarm area, after which two IEDs exploded near the wall separating the communities (Israeli media, June 23, 2024). The IDF Spokesperson said an IED had exploded from the Palestinian side of the Seam Zone, hundreds of meters from the wall, to draw the Israeli security forces to the scene. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (IDF Spokesperson’s website, June 24, 2024). The Tulkarm Battalion of the PIJ’s military wing claimed that its operatives had ambushed IDF forces in Bat Hefer and detonated remote-controlled IEDs against them (Tulkarm Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades Telegram channel, June 24, 2024). On the night of June 3-4, 2024, two armed terrorist operatives were identified approaching the fence in an attempt to carry out a shooting attack against Israeli communities. IDF soldiers killed them (IDF Spokesperson’s website, June 4, 2024). On May 29, 2024, three Hamas operatives from the Tulkarm refugee camp documented themselves firing at the community of Bat Hefer (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the Tulkarm refugee camp Telegram channel, May 29, 2024). The Israeli security forces detained Omar Nasr Allah, from the Tulkarm refugee camp, who admitted that he was a member of a terrorist squad that carried out shooting attacks at Israeli communities near the fence (IDF Spokesperson, June 26, 2024). Izz al-Din al-Qassam operatives document themselves allegedly shooting at Bat Hefer (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the Tulkarm refugee camp Telegram channel, May 29, 2024) The terrorist activity in southern Judea and Samaria focuses on the Hebron area, including perpetrators of terrorist attacks inside Israel. The following are prominent incidents (apart from the terrorist attacks on August 31 and September 1, 2024): On July 31, 2024, an Israeli civilian was seriously wounded in a shooting and stabbing attack on Route 60, between Kiryat Arba and the Beit Einun junction (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, July 31, 2024). Hamas’ military wing in Hebron claimed responsibility for the shooting attack near Kiryat Arba and for shooting at IDF forces near the Cave of the Patriarchs (Hamas Telegram channel, July 31, 2024). On April 22, 2024, three Israeli civilians were injured in a vehicular ramming attack in Jerusalem. One of two Palestinians in the vehicle attempted to fire an improvised submachine gun but experienced a malfunction. The two were detained a short time later in possession of knives (Israel Police Force Spokesperson’s Unit, April 22, 2024). The Palestinian media reported that the perpetrators of the attack were Hatem al-Qawasmeh and Mu’tazz Abu Gholmeh, residents of Hebron and sons of well-known families in Hamas’ military wing (Ma’an, April 22, 2024). On January 15, 2024, a combined vehicular and stabbing attack was carried out in Ra’anana, in which a woman was killed and about 20 others were wounded (Israeli media, January 15, 2024). The perpetrators of the attack were Mahmoud Ali Zidat and Ahmad Muhammad Ali Zidat, relatives from Bani Na’im, east of Hebron, who were in Israel without permits (Ma’an, January 15, 2024). The post Escalation and Thwarting of Terrorism in Northern Samaria appeared first on The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.