Israel/Palestinian Territories: Hamas calls for "day of rage" on May 26

Event

Hamas, the Palestinian fundamentalist organization and de facto government of the Gaza Strip, released a statement on May 24 calling for Palestinians in the West Bank to “spark clashes” with Israeli security forces on Friday, May 26, in a “day of rage.” The action is in support of the more than 1000 prisoners currently on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. Clashes are very likely on May 26 across Israeli and Palestinian territories. Remain vigilant.

Context

On April 17, Palestinian Prisoners Day, Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons began a hunger strike to protest their conditions. According to Israel’s prison service, 1187 Palestinian detainees were participating in the strike at that time under the leadership of Marwan Barghouti, a popular political figure who remains influential in Fatah (Palestinian National Liberation Movement) from within prison. Current reports indicate as many as 1500 prisoners are now participating.

So-called days of rage have been sponsored by multiple groups since the hunger strike began, with the largest being organized by Fatah on April 28 when several thousand Palestinians clashed with Israeli security personnel at different points around the West Bank.

Longstanding political and social tensions between Israelis and Palestinians contribute to frequent security incidents of varying severity. Israel claims that these incidents are largely the result of the Palestinian Authority (PA) fueling social unrest with calls to protest, whereas Palestinians criticize what they describe as an illegal occupation by the Israeli population. Tensions have been mounting since a December UNSC resolution condemned Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories as illegal; meanwhile, Israel continues to regularly demolish homes owned by Palestinians.

Advice

Individuals in the region should anticipate disruptions and avoid all forms of demonstrations, protests, and gatherings due to the risk of violence.

On a separate note, due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Israel should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to 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, festivals, etc.).