Israel/Palestinian Territories: Protests continue in West Bank, Gaza Strip Dec. 7 /update 4

Event

Protests against the US announcement that it will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and begin making preparations to move the US Embassy to the city continued throughout the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem and violent clashes were reported between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers, on Thursday, December 7. At least 16 Palestinians were wounded in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem on Thursday, according to Israeli media sources. Arab media sources reported on Thursday that over 50 people have been wounded in associated clashes in the West Bank. Among the areas most severely affected by protests and associated clashes are Al-Manarah Square in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, the Shu'afat neighborhood in East Jerusalem, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Al-Bireh, and Khan Younis, among other areas. Israel announced Thursday that it is deploying hundreds more soldiers throughout the West Bank following the US announcement and consequent Palestinian unrest. Israeli authorities also reportedly closed the Gilboa border crossing in the northern West Bank on Thursday following a violent Palestinian demonstration.

The Palestinian Authority (PA), Fatah, and Hamas have called for three "days of rage" in the West Bank from December 6-8 in protest of President Trump's announcement. Hamas also called for a new intifada ("uprising"). Additionally, Fatah and the PA called for a general strike to be held on Thursday, December 7, in protest of the announcement; businesses and schools were closed throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Widespread protests, and consequent transportation disruptions, are expected to continue in the coming days in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The US Department of State has issued a ban on employee travel to East Jerusalem and the West Bank due to heightened tensions and potential security concerns, and has advised all US citizens to avoid crowded areas or areas with an increased military presence. Security measures have been reinforced at US diplomatic missions across the region, including in Israel, and Israeli Defense Forces are reportedly on "high alert" in anticipation of escalating unrest.

Context

On Wednesday, December 6, President Trump announced that the US officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians; no country has an embassy in Jerusalem. Many world leaders had strongly advised the US administration against the move, claiming it would render impossible the establishment of a Palestinian state and would inflame tensions across the Muslim world.

The US Congress passed a law in 1995 stipulating that the US Embassy in Israel be moved to Jerusalem by May 1999; US Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama all issued waivers every six months to delay the move throughout their respective tenures.

Advice

Individuals in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence. A surge in anti-American and anti-Western sentiment is likely in some areas; all travelers, and Westerners in particular, are advised to maintain a low profile (do not discuss sensitive topics, do not stop to take photographs of demonstrations, etc.) and avoid unnecessary movements in the event of unrest.

More generally, due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.