Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Protest and clashes in Ramallah area July 15-16

Event

A sit-in protest and march were held in Ramallah on Monday, July 16, with demonstrators demanding the return of bodies of Palestinians reportedly killed by Israeli forces. Protesters gathered at Al-Manara roundabout and marched through the streets of the city.

The protest and associated march in Ramallah came after Israeli forces wounded at least ten Palestinians and arrested seven others in clashes in the Jalazoun refugee camp (north of Ramallah) on Sunday, July 15, during an Israeli raid. Additional Palestinian protests and clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians are possible in the West Bank, including in the Ramallah area, in the near-term.

Context

A spike in tensions and protests has been observed in the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize 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 - and would move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The new embassy was officially opened on May 14.

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.