Israel/Palestinian Territories: Bomb defused near Israeli-Gazan border Mar. 1

Event

According to a military spokesperson, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers defused an explosive device found near the southern part of the Israeli-Gazan border on Thursday, March 1. Local sources said the bomb was likely planted by Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) militants, who claimed responsibility for the blast that wounded four IDF soldiers on February 17.

A heightened security presence is expected near the Israeli-Gazan border. Militant attacks and Israeli military strikes are possible in Gaza in the coming days.

Context

On February 17, a bomb exploded along the southern part of the Israeli-Gazan border east of Khan Younis, leaving four IDF soldiers wounded. In response, Israeli forces launched retaliatory airstrikes and fired on six suspected Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militant positions across the Gaza Strip.

The PRC is an umbrella organization of Palestinian militant groups that is active in the Gaza Strip and often carries out roadside bomb attacks on Israeli security forces. In general, rocket fire and airstrikes between Israel and the Gaza Strip have intensified since early December 2017. At least 20 rockets and mortars have been fired from the Gaza Strip, followed by retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. Although the rockets are often fired by independent groups, the Israeli government holds Hamas responsible and regularly hits Hamas positions in retaliation.

Advice

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, some Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.