PA TV reports on Israeli missile defenses without mentioning Hamas missiles
Official PA TV program Reporters in the Field
Official PA TV reporter: “Before the [Israeli] attack on the residential apartment [in Gaza] there was an attack this morning [May 11, 2021] against an apartment or two apartments in an eight-story building, which caused the death as a Martyr of a woman and her disabled son. These Israeli crimes, which we are presenting to the world through the TV cameras, mean that the occupation is targeting the peaceful people in their homesand in residential areas (sic., Israel uses various means such as calling residents to avoid civilian casualties, whereas Hamas knowingly places its terror infrastructure among civilians)…
Following Israeli consultations, the Israeli occupation army again widely reinforced its forces east of the Gaza Strip, from the north to the south, and it also equipped the Iron Dome system launchers on the borders of the Gaza Strip (refers to Israeli defensive actions following Hamas rocket barrages; see note below -Ed.). Shells were also fired in the eastern areas and in the border areas, and also Israeli war ships have not stopped acting since yesterday [May 10, 2021]…
Likewise Israeli decisions were made yesterday to declare a state of emergency in the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip border, in a circle whose diameter is a distance of 80 kilometers, which also reaches Tel Aviv and areas south of it, and this also means the opening of the [bomb] shelters, a ban on gatherings, a ban on activities, and other Israeli measures in the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip. Aside from this, this morning the closure of the schools in a 40 kilometer range from the Gaza Strip border was announced. These decisions also came as a response to the Palestinian resistance (i.e., Hamas rocket barrages) over everything that is happening in Jerusalem, and the situation of ethnic cleansing and Israeli aggression against the Sheikh Jarrah area (i.e., a neighborhood of Jerusalem). In Jerusalem there was a response from the Gaza Strip, anda response towards the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip, and also further than this. (i.e., Hamas fired missiles into Israel /Ed.) There are still Israeli threats of expanding the military activity, and the army said that the activity will continue for days and not hours.”
[Official PA TV, Reporters in the Field, May 11, 2021]
Fatah/Hamas Riot and Rocket War 2021 – On April 30, 2021, facing certain electoral defeat, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas cancelled the first PA elections scheduled in 15 years. Hamas, which expected to win the elections, denounced it as a “coup.” In need of a conflict to divert public discontent, Abbas artificially generated a crisis over Jerusalem. His Fatah party called for "raising the level of confrontation,” and Abbas' spokesman told Palestinians "the battle of all battles is here.” Jerusalem Arabs responded by attacking Jews with rocks and Molotov cocktails. Hamas, Abbas' political rival, could not allow Abbas to lead the battle, so on May 10, 2021, Hamas launched rocket barrages targeting Israeli population centers including Jerusalem. Over the next 11 days, Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired over 4,300 rockets into southern and central Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing 9 Israelis and 3 foreign nationals, and wounding hundreds. In response, Israel launched Operation Guardian of the Walls to target Hamas terror leaders and terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Already in mid-April, a planned eviction of some Palestinian families illegally living in Jewish-owned buildings in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem had led to clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli police. This dispute provided Palestinians with a pretext for violent rioting. Adding to the crisis, Israeli Arabs started rioting throughout Israel, especially in cities with a mixed Jewish and Arab population. Two Jews were murdered and many were wounded. According to Walla, an independent Israeli news site, 10 synagogues were wholly or partly burned down; fires were set in 112 Jewish homes and 1 Arab home mistaken for a Jewish home; 386 Jewish homes were plundered and 673 were damaged; 849 cars were set ablaze; and there were 5,018 rock-throwing attacks. In response, Jews started attacking Arabs and their properties as well, but on a much smaller scale. No mosques were burned; 13 Arab homes were damaged; 13 Arab-owned cars were burned; and there were 41 rock-throwing attacks by Jews. [Walla, May 16, 2021] The fighting between Israel and Hamas ended with a ceasefire on May 21, 2021.