Country Report on Terrorism 2024 - Chapter 1 - Israel, the West Bank and Gaza

Country Overview:  Israel expanded and intensified its war against Hamas in Gaza, taking control of territory and degrading the group’s ability to attack, resulting in the elimination of much of its leadership.  Following months of cross-border fire, Israel responded to Hizballah in Lebanon by eliminating its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, via an airstrike.  Israeli troops invaded Lebanon on October 1 before a U.S.-brokered Cessation of Hostilities took effect on November 27.  For the first time, Iran directly attacked Israel twice, launching two massive barrages (over 200 missiles/drones in April and over 200 in October); Israel, aided by the United States and allies, successfully defeated both.  Prime Minister Netanyahu described the nation’s struggle as a “war on seven fronts,” facing attacks from IAMGs in Syria and Iraq, Houthis in Yemen, and Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank.  Terrorist attacks killed 103 Israelis and foreigners in 2024, marking a significant increase from 2023.  Israeli security forces frequently entered the West Bank to conduct counterterrorism operations and arrests, which often led to clashes with Palestinian militants.

During the year, Israeli security forces frequently entered the West Bank to conduct counterterrorism operations, including arrests of suspected terrorists, which often led to clashes with Palestinian militants.  Israel’s legislature passed a law that permits the deportation of family members of terrorists if they knew of an attack and did not act to prevent it, or if they praised the act of terrorism after it happened.  Following the discovery that some UNRWA staff members participated in the October 7 attack, the Knesset passed two laws in 2024 barring UNRWA from operating in Israel, including East Jerusalem, and affecting its operations in the Palestinian territories.  The second law prohibits Israeli public officials from engaging with UNRWA or entities working on its behalf globally.

Israel’s minister of defense designated 14 entities as terrorist organizations, including Al-Qard Al-Hassan, the IRGC-QF, the Houthis, and ISIS-K.  Israel is a member of the FATF and MONEYVAL (the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism).  The country’s Financial Intelligence Unit, the Israel Money Laundering and Terror Financing Prohibition Authority, is a member of the Egmont Group.

The United States and Israel held a counterterrorism Dialogue in April and shared intelligence and best practices against terrorism throughout the year.  Israel attended the U.S.-sponsored Law Enforcement Coordination Group and the Countering Transnational Terrorism Forum.  Israel held bilateral dialogues with NATO and various European nations.

2024 Terrorism Trends:  103 Israelis and foreigners were killed by terrorist attacks in 2024.  Of the 103 victims, terrorists killed 45 people inside Israel, Hamas killed 13 hostages, and missiles or UAS killed 45 people.  Israeli authorities reported 179 shooting attacks, a decrease from the 289 such incidents reported in 2023.  Most of the shootings occurred as Israeli troops entered Palestinian cities in the West Bank to arrest suspects allegedly involved in terror activities, but many terrorist attacks targeted Israeli civilians.

Hizballah fired a rocket from Lebanon that impacted near a soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, killing 12 children and injuring more than 40 others.  IDF discovered the bodies of six Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas, all of whom had been taken alive on October 7, 2023.  One of the six was a U.S. citizen.  The bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds, indicating the hostages were executed.  Two Palestinian residents of the West Bank killed seven people and injured 16 others at the Ehrlich light rail station in Jaffa.  The terrorists boarded the light rail train and shot four passengers, including a mother and her infant child.  Terrorists then opened fire and stabbed pedestrians near the station, killing three and injuring several others.  An armed civilian and a municipal mobile-patrol security guard returned fire and neutralized the two terrorists.  Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

An Arab citizen of Israel rammed his truck into a bus stop near a military base outside of Tel Aviv, killing one elderly Israeli and wounding 32 other people.  Hamas did not claim responsibility but praised the actions of the attacker.

Associated documents