Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Protests and clashes in West Bank and Gaza March 16 /update 6

Event

Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Friday, March 16, protesting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In the West Bank, associated clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel were notably reported in Bethlehem, Hebron, the village of Budrus (west of Ramallah), Al-Ras, Kafr Qaddum, and at the entrance of the town of Beita (south of Nablus). In the Gaza Strip, similar clashes broke out along the Israeli-Gazan border, notably east of Khan Younis and Jabalia, wounding several protesters. At least two IDF soldiers and some 20 Palestinian protesters were wounded in the clashes throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

On a related note, a vehicle-ramming incident that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded two others near the Mevo Dotan settlement (west of Jenin) earlier on Friday was later publicly deemed an intentional attack by IDF officials. Additional clashes and vehicle-ramming attacks are possible in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks.

Context

Mass protests and clashes between Palestinian protesters and IDF personnel have taken place in the Palestinian Territories on a regular basis since US President Donald Trump announced the US's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6, 2017. The March 16 protests marked the 15th consecutive Friday on which such protests have been held, and the 100-day anniversary of Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. On February 23, American officials announced that the Embassy will open in a temporary location in Jerusalem by mid-May 2018, ahead of the anticipated schedule.

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 to be anticipated 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.