Israel/Palestinian territories: One Palestinian killed in West Bank January 15

Event

One Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli security forces amid clashes in Jayus, West Bank, on January 15. This is the fourth such death since the beginning of the year.

The incident followed a weekend of mass protests in Israel and the Palestinian Territories over the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Clashes erupted in various places, leaving at least 176 people with injuries.

Protests, a heightened security presence, and consequent traffic disruptions are expected to continue in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the coming weeks.

Context

A spike in tensions in Israel and the Palestinian territories has been observed in the wake of Trump's December 6 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. At least 17 Palestinians have died in subsequent incidents of violent unrest. Additionally, on January 15 Palestinian leaders voted to suspend the recognition of Israel, which de facto cancels the Oslo Agreement signed in 1993 between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Advice

Individuals in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid all demonstrations due to the risk of violence. A surge in anti-American and anti-Western sentiment is likely in some areas; all travelers, and Westerners in particular, are advised to maintain a low profile (do not discuss sensitive topics, do not stop to take photographs of demonstrations, etc.) and avoid unnecessary movements in the event of unrest.

More generally, 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.