Israel/Palestinian Terr.: IDF arrests two armed Palestinians near Gaza April 24

Event

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel arrested two armed Palestinians soon after they entered Israel from the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, April 24. The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) has since reportedly taken them into custody for questioning. The Palestinian men's motive for crossing the Israel-Gaza border was not immediately announced.

Context

Large-scale Palestinian demonstrations have recently taken place in the Gaza Strip as part of an ongoing six-week tent city protest along the Israel-Gaza border. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others wounded in clashes with IDF personnel since the protests began on March 30. Smaller related protests have taken place in the West Bank.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. 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. Some 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.