The Palestine Chronology

The IDF escalates its n. Gaza incursion, sending troops deep into Jabaliya r.c., occupying several homes as outposts, sparking clashes with Palestinians, shelling and conducting at least 5 air strikes on residential areas, leave at least 27 Palestinians dead (including 15 armed Palestinians; 12 unarmed bystanders, including 10 killed by IDF shelling at an UNRWA school) and more than 131 wounded; 6 IDF soldiers are also wounded. Troops also demolish at least 22 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya to allow better access for military vehicles, occupy a UN school and a PA security office. Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot 2 IDF soldiers, 1 Jewish settler jogger outside Jabaliya nr. Aley Sinai settlement, before being shot dead by troops. In the evening, Sharon’s security cabinet approves a plan, codenamed Days of Penitence, for a major, prolonged ground offensive in n. Gaza. Elsewhere in Gaza, the IDF bulldozes 2 d. of greenhouses and apiaries in Dayr al-Balah; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, fires on residential areas in Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF declares the northern and central Jordan Valley a closed military zone; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun, Dura, Faqqu’a and Yamun nr. Jenin, Hebron, Qalandia r.c. (AP, HA, MM 9/30; AFP, VOI, VOP 9/30 in WNC 10/2; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 10/1; QA 10/1 in WNC 10/5; PCHR 10/7)

The IDF shells Tal al-Sultan, hitting an UNRWA school, injuring 2 students in their classroom; raids Qabatya nr. Jenin, surrounding and firing on a home sheltering a wanted AMB mbr., then firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 5, arresting the wanted man; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes, 7 shops, 2 poultry farms completely, 6 homes partially in Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hazma nr. East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around ‘Ayn Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho, Bayt Sahur nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Nablus, Tulkarm; fires on residential areas of Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone, wounding him; dynamites an apartment in Tulkarm, severely damaging 3 other units in the building; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets into Israel, damaging a building in an industrial park in Sederot but causing no injuries. Some 130 PA security officers and personnel hold a sit-in outside the Force 17 offices in Dayr al-Balah to protest corruption and mistreatment by their superiors and their impossible working conditions, saying it is impossible to do their jobs for lack of equipment, training, means of communications. (AP, HA 6/1; VOP 6/1 in WNC 6/3; UNRWA press release 6/2; PCHR 6/3; PR 6/9; MEI 6/11)

The IDF fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone nr. Khan Yunis; fires on residential areas of Nablus, Rafah (killing 1 Palestinian), Tulkarm r.c.; demolishes 5 Palestinian homes nr. Gaza City, 2 nr. Dayr al-Balah, 2 in Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Araba nr. Jenin. The UNRWA estimates that btwn. 5/17 and 5/24 the IDF demolished or damaged beyond repair 167 Palestinian homes and bulldozed 725 dunams of Palestinian land in Rafah. (PCHR, WP 5/27; PCHR 6/3)

The IDF continues operations in Bayt Lahiya, clashing with stone-throwing youths and some armed Palestinians, fatally shooting 9 Palestinians and injuring more than 50, firing on and disabling 1 ambulance and injuring 2 medics. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in and around Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids and house searches, bulldozes 48 dunams of land nr. Dayr al-Balah. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar set up tents btwn. the settlement and nearby Palestinian village of Burin, throw stones at Palestinian houses and cars. UNRWA resumes food aid to Gaza (suspended 4/1), saying that Israel has eased restrictions on the import of food to the Strip in the past 2 wks., is generally being cooperative. Overnight, armed Palestinians storm the PA’s Saraya Prison in Gaza City, free 3 PRC mbrs. being held in connection with the 10/03 Erez roadside bombing that killed 3 U.S. security officers. (VOP 4/21 in WNC 4/23; NYT, PCHR, PRCS, WP, WT 4/22; Guardian 4/23; PR 4/28; PCHR 4/29)