The Palestine Chronology

In an apparent assassination attempt in Gaza, suspected Fatah gunmen fire on Haniyeh’s 10-car convoy, set fire to 1 PA security vehicle, causing no injuries. In Gaza, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun, seals the town, demolishes a workshop, a coffee shop before withdrawing; sends troops into Khan Yunis, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes, bulldozing 6 d. agricultural land. A 15-yr.-old Palestinian is injured when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance nr. Dayr al-Balah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. On the last Friday of Ramadan, Israel allows 180,000 West Bank Palestinians into Jerusalem to worship at al-Aqsa Mosque. 100s of Palestinians denied entry scuffle with IDF soldiers and border police nr. Bethlehem, who fire tear gas, stun grenades. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Hanun, wounding 3 Palestinians. In Khan Yunis, a Fatah mbr. is kidnapped, shot, wounded by unidentified gunmen. (NYT, WP, WT 10/21; OCHA 11/1; PCHR 11/2)

In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike destroying the main access road to Bayt Hanun. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Ramallah, stopping cars for random ID checks; fires on Palestinian farmers attempting to reach their olive groves nr. Tulkarm, wounding 1. Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, wounding 1 Israeli. In Bayt Lahiya, ESF mbrs., Fatah mbrs. exchange gunfire, injuring 3 Palestinians. (PCHR 10/19)

In response to Palestinian rocket fire on 10/13, Israeli DM Amir Peretz approves an escalation in IDF border operations in Gaza. Overnight, the IDF pulls out of Abasan but sends tanks, troops into n. Gaza nr. Jabaliya r.c., exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, conducting air strikes on a house, engaging in armed clashes nearby, killing at least 4 Hamas mbrs., 2 bystanders, wounding 15 before withdrawing; launches air strike on Rafah, which destroys a Palestinian house (warning the residents in advance to evacuate, damaging several nearby houses); bulldozes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanun. The IDF also sets up a new Palestinian detention center inside Israel nr. the Gaza border. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Tubas nr. Jenin, firing on downtown areas, wounding 3 Palestinian children; conducts arrest raids, house searches, random ID checks in and around Hebron. IDF soldiers, Jewish settlers wall off 50 d. of Palestinian land around an IDF base outside Kiryat Arba. (NYT 10/14; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 10/15; PCHR 10/19)

In Gaza, the IDF continues operations in Abasan, directing tank fire at residential areas, killing 1 Palestinian woman inside her home, wounding a man, bulldozing 120 d. of agricultural land; makes an air strike on a car driving in Bayt Lahiya, killing 3 Hamas mbrs. (‘Adil al-Maqusi, Muhammad al-Taluli, Rasim Zhahir) allegedly en route to fire rockets into Israel, wounding 1 bystander; makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating Fatah Mujahiddin Brigades mbr. Raja’i al-Labban, wounding a 2d Fatah mbr.; makes a late-night air strike on Rafah destroying a Palestinian home (after warning residents to leave), severely damaging 5 others, cutting power to some areas; conducts arrest raids in Wadi al-Silqa. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Sederot, lightly injuring 3 Israelis. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts searches in Qabatya, exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, firing on residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian militant; conducts house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Nablus (firing on residential areas, wounding 2 civilians). 100s of angry Palestinians barred by Israel fr. attending Ramadan Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque use makeshift ladders to scale the separation wall and 4 checkpoints around Jerusalem and 1 checkpoint nr. Nablus, fighting with IDF soldiers who disperse them using tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades, rubber-coated steel bullets. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai stone a Palestinian home in Hebron. Jewish settlers nr. Ramallah prevent Palestinians fr. reaching their olive groves; Israeli border police intervene to disperse the settlers. Overnight and throughout the day, Hamas mbrs. angered over the assassination of a local leader on 10/12 engage in fierce clashes with Fatah mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya, leaving a 14-yr.-old Palestinian dead, around 50 Palestinians injured. A Palestinian wounded by IDF fire in Gaza on 10/12 dies. (AP, NYT, REU 10/13; NYT, WT 10/14; PCHR 10/15, 10/19)

Overnight, the IDF raids Abasan nr. Khan Yunis to search for tunnels, exchanging fire with armed Palestinians and firing on residential areas (wounding around 12), making an air strike on Hamas mbrs. (killing 3 Hamas mbrs. and 2 bystanders, including a 13-yr.-old boy; wounding 5 bystanders, 2 Hamas mbrs.), searching and occupying Palestinian homes as operational bases; makes air strikes destroying 2 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya and Gaza City, a metal workshop in Gaza City, warning occupants prior to the attacks; expands operations during the day, firing on residential areas (killing 1 Palestinian civilian), rounding up male residents ages 15–40 for interrogation. The IDF also fires on Palestinian fishing boats off s. Gaza, damaging several but causing no injuries; makes an air strike late in the evening destroying a house in Gaza City in an attempt to assassinate Hamas cmdr Ashraf Farwana, instead killing his brother, 2 bystanders (including a 2-yr.-old girl), wounding 10 bystanders; makes air strikes destroying 2 auto shops in Gaza City. For the 1st time in over 1 mo., Hamas fires 6 rockets into Israel in response, damaging a power line to Sederot. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, firing on residential areas. Also in Gaza, suspected Hamas gunmen fatally shoot a PA General Intelligence Services officer. Late in the evening, suspected Fatah gunmen fatally shoot a local Hamas leader in Bayt Lahiya. In Bayt ‘Umar nr. Hebron, unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a Hamas mbr. Jewish settlers in Hebron prevent local Palestinians fr. harvesting olives. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba stone Palestinian homes in Hebron. (NYT, REU, WP, WT 10/13; OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19)

In an air strike, the IDF destroys the Gaza City home of PC mbr. Mariam Farhat (Change and Reform), warning residents in advance to evacuate, claiming the home was used to store weapons; in a late-night air strike, the IDF destroys 3 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya r.c. after warning residents to leave; makes an air strike destroying a PA security office nr. Jabaliya after warning occupants to leave; fatally shoots a Palestinian who sneaks across the Gaza border into Israel, claims he was wearing an explosive belt. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a predawn raid on Nablus, fatally shooting wanted Palestinian Abdallah Mansur in what may be an assassination; sends undercover units into Jenin r.c., in a car with Palestinian license plates, surrounding a home, interrogating the residents, firing live ammunition at stone-throwing youths who confront them (wounding 2), making no arrests; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Qalqilya. Also in Nablus, a previously unknown group calling itself Ansar al-Sunna (the same name as a group that operates in Iraq, though there is no known connection) kidnaps, holds for several hrs. an American English teacher working for a pro-Palestinian charity, demanding the immediate release of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons, saying it aims to confront the U.S. war on Islam; releases him unharmed and unconditionally after local officials intervene. Jewish settlers march through Hebron, stone Palestinian homes. A Palestinian dies of injuries sustained in Hamas-Fatah clashes in Khan Yunis in 8/06. (REU 10/11; NYT, PCHR 10/12; OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun under cover of artillery fire, forcing a number of civilians to flee, pulls back to the Shurrab Farm area inside the Gaza border (where they have been since 10/1) late in the evening; sends troops into Bayt Lahiya, conducting random ID checks. Palestinians fire at least 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Bita village nr. Nablus in cars with Palestinian license plates, raids a home, arrests 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c. (clashing with Palestinian gunmen, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding a 2d) and nr. Nablus, Tulkarm. In Bayt Lahiya, ESF mbrs. kidnap, shoot, wound a Fatah mbr., sparking clashes btwn. Fatah and the ESF, injuring 4 Palestinians. (NYT 10/10; OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

In Gaza, the IDF partially reopens Rafah crossing as a gesture marking U.S. Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit today; makes an air strike on a car driving nr. Khan Yunis, assassinating Islamic Jihad mbr. Yasir al-Banna, Abu Rish Brigades mbr. Omar al-Zaqzuq. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm and in and around Hebron, Jenin town and r.c. In Qalqilya, 4 unidentified gunmen assassinate local Hamas official Muhammad Odeh; no group takes responsibility. Unidentified gunmen fire on a car carrying PC mbrs. in Gaza City, wounding 1 Palestinian. In Israel, an Israeli border policeman fatally shoots a Palestinian laborer fr. Hebron being detained in IDF custody in Jaffa for working without a permit, claims his gun went off accidentally; the worker was also reportedly severely beaten by 9 policemen; the guard who shot him is placed under house arrest pending an investigation. (NYT, PCHR, REU, WP 10/5; OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into al-Fukhari nr. Khan Yunis, searching and occupying several houses, rounding up men for interrogation, arresting 2 (1 a PA security officer allegedly connected to the AMB), demolishing a Palestinian home, damaging another, bulldozing 5 d. of agricultural land before withdrawing in the evening. The IDF also makes a 2nd air strike destroying a Palestinian house in Rafah targeted on 9/26 (warning the occupants in advance to evacuate), killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a home nearby, wounding 10 bystanders. In the West Bank, the IDF raids an Islamic charitable society nr. Nablus, confiscating a computer, financial documents and vandalizing furniture; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Nablus and nr. Jenin. Israel releases PA Dep. PM Sha‘ir (arrested on 8/17) but bans him fr. going to his Ramallah office for 2 wks. 30 PC mbrs., 4 PA cabinet mbrs. remain in Israeli custody. (NYT 9/27; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 9/28; PCHR 10/5)

In Gaza, the IDF launches an air strike, damaging a Palestinian house nr. the Rafah border. Palestinians fire several rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, injuring 1 IDF soldier in Sederot. PA security forces find, seal 2 smugglers tunnels on the Rafah border. (NYT 9/27; OCHA 9/27; PCHR 9/28)

The IDF allows EU monitors to open the Rafah crossing; makes an air strike destroying a storage shed nr. the Rafah border after warning residents to evacuate the area. In the West Bank, the IDF bars all Palestinians fr. entering East Jerusalem until 9/24 for the Rosh Hashanah holidays; patrols in al-Fara‘a r.c., Tamun, Tubas, Yamun nr. Jenin (firing percussion grenades, live ammunition on residential areas); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Jenin town and r.c. Fatah supporters rally in Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c. to protest Hamas’s refusal to recognize Israel. ESF, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Lahiya, wounding 4 Palestinian bystanders. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen shoot, wound a Force 17 officer nr. Rafah Crossing. (NYT 9/23; OCHA 9/27; PCHR 9/28)

In Gaza, the IDF makes an overnight arrest raid into Um al-Nasir nr. Rafah, surrounding a home, exchanging gunfire with wanted Palestinians, firing tank shells at the house, killing 1 wanted Palestinian, 1 female bystander (allowing her to bleed to death over 4 hrs., barring an ambulance fr. reaching her) in what may be an assassination, wounding another 8 Palestinians, demolishing 13 Palestinian homes before withdrawing; shells shepherds tending a flock nr. Jabaliya r.c., killing 3 Palestinian teenagers. A 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy is injured when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance in al-Maghazi r.c. Palestinians fire 4 rockets into Israel, causing damage but no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Dayr Abu Sa’if nr. Jenin in a car with Palestinian license plates, arresting 3 farmers working in a field, quickly releasing 2; patrols in, fires tear gas at residents of Tubas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. and in Nablus, Tulkarm (firing on residential areas, cutting phone service, damaging an electricity transformer) and nearby Bala’a (firing live and rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing youths, wounding 10s of Palestinians). The Israeli Housing Min. approves construction of 164 new settlement housing units in 3 West Bank settlements (Ariel 88; Alfe Menashe 56; Karnei Shomron 20). (PCHR 9/21; NYT, WP 9/22; OCHA 9/27; PCHR 9/28)

In Gaza, the IDF makes 3 air strikes destroying a Palestinian home in al-Shuka, after warning residents and neighbors to leave; later sends troops into al-Shuka, firing on residential areas, rounding up all males over age 13 for ID checks, searching homes, holding 50 Palestinians for several hrs. of interrogation, eventually arresting 3 before withdrawing. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Burkin nr. Jenin in a car with Palestinian license plates, arresting a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr.; patrols, searches businesses, conducts random ID checks in various areas of Hebron and nearby Halhul; patrols in, fires percussion grenades, tear gas, and rifles on residential areas of al-Zababda; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, nr. Jenin. Palestinian gunmen raid WAFA press agency offices in Gaza City, beating a reporter, vandalizing equipment, accusing WAFA of biased news coverage in favor of Abbas, Fatah; no group takes responsibility. Armed, masked Jewish settlers fr. Suissa severely beat a 79-yr.-old Palestinian outside Hebron. (NYT, OCHA 9/20; PCHR 9/21)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz acknowledges that Hizballah has fully abided by the cease-fire and that Israel had detected no significant resupplying of weapons and missiles fr. Iran, Syria. By this date, 4,950 new UNIFIL soldiers fr. France, Italy, Spain and 10,000 Lebanese troops have been deployed in s. Lebanon. Meanwhile, UN relief coordinator in Lebanon David Shearer says that Israel left behind at least 350,000 unexploded cluster bomblets in s. Lebanon, stating that “the outrageous fact is that nearly all of these munitions were fired in the last three to four days of the war.” (NYT, WP, WT 9/20)

The IDF sends troops into the Erez industrial zone, bulldozes 30 Palestinian and Israeli factories and workshops that have stopped operating since the IDF closed the crossings following disengagement; shells areas around Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1 Palestinian inside her home. Palestinians fire several rockets fr. Gaza toward Israel, 1 of which lands in Bayt Hanun, injuring 2 Palestinian girls. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in villages around Jenin (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem and in Hebron, Nablus. Palestinians attack 5 West Bank churches (including 3 in Nablus, 1 in Tubas, 1 in Tulkarm) with fire bombs, gunfire in protest of Pope Benedict’s 9/12 supportive reference to a 14th century Byzantine text stating that Muhammad had brought things “only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached” and the Vatican’s statement today that the pope “regrets that certain passages of his address could have sounded offensive.” (WT 9/17; WP 9/18; OCHA 9/20; PCHR 9/21; WP 9/26)

The IDF raids areas of Hebron, performing random ID checks, searching businesses; patrols in Jenin and Nablus, firing on residential areas; raids the offices of the PSA in Hebron, confiscating files, sealing the office for 2 yrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. (PCHR 9/14)

After receiving assurances and pressure fr. the UN, Israel lifts its naval blockade on Lebanon; says that it aims to complete a withdrawal of troops fr. Lebanon in about 2 wks., as the expanded UNIFIL reaches 5,000 troops. Israel, which has been slowly withdrawing troops, says it controls about 25% of the area of s. Lebanon it controlled on 8/14. (NYT, WP, WT 9/9)

In Gaza, the IDF withdraws fr. Khuza‘a, ending a 3-day operation. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in cars with Palestinian license plates into Qabatya, shoots, wounds 2 Palestinians (at least 1 of whom is a wanted AMB mbr., Rashid Zakarna), also shoots, wounds 2 unarmed Palestinians who come to their aid; the units detain all 4 men, shooting execution style Zarkana and 1 of the men who came to his aid, Kamil al-Lubani; the units then raid a wedding party nearby, firing indiscriminately, wounding 12 Palestinian civilians (1 is declared clinically dead). The IDF patrols in Hebron; raids the Prisoners’ Supporters Association (PSA) offices in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Salfit, confiscating computers and files, sealing the offices for 2 yrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin (also raiding the offices of attorney Fadl Bushnaq, confiscating computers and files, sealing the office for 2 yrs.; bulldozes 50 d. of Palestinian land nr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron for construction of a new settler-only bypass road. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by the IDF, bulldoze a large area of Palestinian land w. of the settlement. In Khan Yunis, unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on a Force 17 officer, wounding a bystander. Elsewhere in Gaza, unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on a PA military intelligence officer, killing a Palestinian bystander. (OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14)

Israel lifts the air blockade on Lebanon but continues to patrol off the Lebanese coast after its self-declared 6:00 P.M. deadline, stating that too few international vessels have taken up patrols to enforce an arms embargo. Israel also continues surveillance overflights of Lebanon, saying it has no plans to end them. (NYT, WP, WT 9/8)

In Gaza, the IDF continues operations in Khuza‘a, wounding 8 Palestinians (including at least 4 civilians), bulldozing areas of agricultural land. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Jenin to assassinate Islamic Jihad cmdr. Mujahid alSabi‘, also firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1; raids Kafr Dan, firing on residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c. and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarm. (PCHR, WP 9/7; PCHR 9/14)

Israel announces that, in a deal brokered by the UN, it will remove its air and naval blockade on Lebanon as of 6:00 P.M. local time on 9/7 as British, French, German, Greek, Italian forces take over naval patrols and assist the Lebanese army in border patrol, but says it will reserve the right to attack any smugglers it detects crossing the Syrian border. (IFM 9/6; NYT, WP, WT 9/7)

The IDF pulls troops back fr. Gaza City ending a 5-day incursion that left at least 19 Palestinians (including 7 civilians) dead, saying troops found 2 smugglers tunnels nr. Qarni crossing. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots AMB field cmdr. Fadi Qaffisha, wounds 6 others (including 2 medics trying to aid Qaffisha) in Nablus in what may be an assassination; sends undercover units into Tulkarm r.c. in a car with Palestinian license plates, arresting 1 wanted Palestinian, shooting and wounding 2 bystanders; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm. Also in Gaza, unidentified gunmen ambush, assassinate Popular Resistance Committee (PRC) district cmdr. Ra’id Nahal in Shatti r.c.; the PRCs blame Israel, but other Palestinian sources say the killing could be the result of intra-Palestinian rivalries. Palestinians fire 7 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In Tel Aviv, 10,000s of Israelis rally for the release of 3 IDF soldiers captured by Hamas, Hizballah. (NYT, WP 9/1; OCHA 9/6; PCHR 9/7)

The IDF turns over a small, 12-sq.-mi. border area of s. Lebanon nr. Metula to UNIFIL, Lebanese army troops in a symbolic gesture of withdrawal. (WP, WT 9/1)

As operations in Gaza City continue, IDF kills 5 armed Palestinians and 2 bystanders, wounds 3 (all bystanders) in air strikes and armed clashes. The IDF announces it has discovered a large tunnel under the Gaza-Israel border nr. Qarni crossing. In the West Bank, the IDF raids the home of Change and Reform PC mbr. Ibrahim Dahbur who has been in Israeli custody since 6/29; patrols in Tulkarm, conducting random ID checks; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Jenin. An Israeli truck driver intentionally runs down a Palestinian car driving on the Nablus–Ramallah road, injuring 4 Palestinians ages 40–80; the Israeli driver is stopped by the IDF. Islamic Jihad West Bank military cmdr. Hussam Jaradat dies in an Amman hospital of injuries received in an IDF assassination attempt in Jenin on 8/23. PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas addresses a crowd of some 3,000 PA civil servants protesting in Ramallah against the PA’s failure to pay salaries, endorses their plans to start an open-ended strike on 9/2. In Gaza, 200 children of civil servants stage a similar demonstration outside Haniyeh’s offices. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights urges Gaza City municipal workers to ease their strike, which began on 8/23, and resume garbage collection, saying the continued pile up of garbage could pose a serious health risk. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/31; PCHR 9/7)

Before dawn, the IDF sends troops, tanks, helicopters into s. Gaza, leaving at least 2 Palestinians wounded. Later in the day, the IDF fires on Palestinian farmers working their land nr. the central Gaza border, wounding an 11-yr.-old child. Late in the evening, the IDF conducts air strikes, destroying the home of an AMB mbr. in Jabaliya r.c. (the IDF phones residents in advance to warn them to evacuate), damaging 3 nearby houses. Also in Gaza, Palestinian militants blow a hole in the border wall separating Rafah fr. Egypt to try to allow Palestinians stranded on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing to leave for Egypt; the crossing has been open for only a few hrs. since Israel forced its closure on 6/25, barring EU monitors access. Islamic Jihad fires a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and in Hebron, Jenin (firing on residential areas). (PCHR, WP 8/24; NYT 8/25; PCHR 8/31)

In Gaza, the IDF begins allowing limited humanitarian and food supplies through the Kerem Shalom, Sufa crossings (closed since 6/25); sends an undercover unit into Abasan in s. Gaza to capture senior Hamas mbr. Yunis Abu Daka, firing on his home, killing his brother Yusuf Abu Daka, then conducts air strikes on the house causing severe damage (Yunis Abu Daka is not captured). In the West Bank, the IDF sends an undercover unit into Jenin, driving a car with Palestinian license plates, that shoots, seriously wounds Islamic Jihad’s West Bank military cmdr. Hussam Jaradat in an assassination attempt; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and Qalqilya, in Bethlehem and Nablus, nr. Jenin. A previously unknown group called the Holy Jihad Brigade releases a video tape of 2 Fox News journalists kidnapped in Gaza City on 8/14, demanding that the U.S. release all Muslims fr. its jails within 72 hrs., marking the 1st time that a Palestinian militant group has made demands of a foreign country other than Israel, which is not mentioned in the statement; all major Palestinian groups denounce the kidnapping and deny involvement. PA civil servants launch a series of strikes to press PA PM Ismail Haniyeh’s government to take action to pay back salaries. (Miftah 8/23; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/24; OCHA 8/25; PCHR 8/31; NYT 9/1)

Without explanation, the IDF shells Shaba‘ village, inside Lebanon, fr. the disputed Shaba‘ Farms region, causing no damage or injuries. In s. Lebanon, 3 Lebanese troops are killed when they accidentally detonate an unexploded IDF missile that they are trying to disarm; an IDF soldier is killed, 3 are wounded when they accidentally trigger one of the 1,000s of Israeli landmines left over fr. Israel’s previous occupation. (NYT, WP 8/24)

The IDF sends troops into Gaza City to arrest a wanted Palestinian, bulldozing 13 d. of agricultural land belonging to his family, exchanging fire with armed Palestinians, wounding 2; conducts an air strike destroying the home of an Islamic Jihad mbr. in Gaza City, allegedly used as a weapons depot, damaging 2 nearby homes, causing no casualties. (The IDF sends the owners a cell phone text message in advance to warn them to evacuate.) The IDF conducts an air strike destroying the home of a senior Hamas mbr. in Rafah, damaging 5 nearby homes and an Islamist charity (the IDF phones the residents to warn them to evacuate); fires shells at, kills 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. attempting to cross the Gaza border fence nr. al-Qarara. In Khan Yunis, 4 Palestinians, including 2 children, are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Azun to arrest several wanted al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Jericho, and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin. A Jewish settler fr. Haggai injures 2 Palestinian children in a deliberate hit-and-run nr. Hebron. Also in Gaza, 3 Palestinians are wounded in clashes btwn. rival groups of PA security force officers. (WP 8/22; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24; PMG 9/1)

Israel declares that all reservists have been pulled out of Lebanon, leaving 8,000– 10,000 regular troops in place, waiting for the deployment of an expanded UN force. During the day, the IDF shoots, wounds 3 Hizballah mbrs. who approach them in a “threatening manner” (within their rights under the UN-brokered cease-fire; there is no return fire); continues overflights of Lebanon. (AP 8/21; NYT, WP, WT 8/22; NYT 8/23)

IDF troops and Shin Bet agents abduct Change and Reform Palestinian Council (PC) mbr. and PC secy. Mahmud Ramahi nr. Ramallah. Also in the West Bank, the IDF fires on a taxi attempting to bypass Hawara checkpoint nr. Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2; raids, searches an Islamist charity nr. Hebron, confiscating computers, a fax, some files; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm r.c., nr. Nablus. In Gaza, the IDF shells residential areas nr. Dayr al-Balah, damaging a house and car, wounding 2 Palestinians; fires on Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. Erez industrial zone, wounding 1; fires on Palestinian farmers working a field nr. al-Bureij r.c., wounding 2; bulldozes 20 d. of Palestinian olive groves in Rafah. A Palestinian is injured in an exchange of gunfire btwn. rival Fatah factions in Gaza’s al-Maghazi r.c. A Palestinian woman dies of injures received fr. IDF fire in al-Shuka on 8/5. (NYT, WP, WT 8/21; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24)

The UN reports that Lebanon has deployed only about 3,000 troops to s. Lebanon (2,000 along the border with Syria, 1,000 along the coast). Israel continues daily overflights of Lebanon in violation of the 8/14 truce, IDF troops are still in s. Lebanon, and the Israeli air and naval blockade are still in place, but no new clashes btwn. IDF and Hizballah forces in Lebanon are reported. (AP, NYT, WP, WT 8/21)

In Gaza, the IDF allows EU monitors to open the Rafah crossing in both directions for a day for the 1st time since 8/11. Some 30 Palestinian journalists protest in Gaza City against the 8/14 kidnapping of 2 Fox News journalists, demanding their immediate release; Islamic Jihad also denounces the unknown kidnappers for having “silenced the voice of freedom and justice.” In the West Bank, the IDF makes a predawn raid on the Ramallah home of Palestinian Authority (PA) Dep. PM and Education M Nasir al-Sha‘ir (Hamas affiliated), arresting him without charge; patrols in al-Til nr. Nablus, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 4; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jericho and nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Ramallah; raids an Islamist charity nr. Hebron, confiscating a computer and some files, vandalizing the offices. At a checkpoint outside Nablus, an armed Palestinian fatally shoots an IDF soldier, is shot dead; the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) claims responsibility. In Gaza, 100s of PA security officers storm banks, burn tires, demanding that banks return fees deducted fr. cash advances received on their unpaid wages. (NYT, WP, WT 8/20; WP 8/21; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24)

In an action the UN deems the 1st violation of the 8/14 truce, the IDF stages an overnight helicopter raid on Budai nr. Baalbek, sending 2 helicopters to drop 2 Humvees and more than 100 IDF Sayaret Matkal commandos dressed in Lebanese army uniforms to raid the village, under the cover of sonic booms fr. Israeli warplanes, in an apparent attempt to assassinate or capture senior Hizballah leader Shaykh Muhammad Yazbek, a Budai resident, or to free 2 captured IDF soldiers; the unit attempts to run a Hizballah checkpoint outside the village but Hizballah mbrs. engage them, forcing a retreat, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 2. (Lebanese security reports 3 Hizballah mbrs. are killed; Hizballah does not confirm.) Israel claims that the attack was a defensive action to prevent arms smuggling fr. Syria to Hizballah, that it will continue to conduct such raids until “proper monitoring bodies are established on the Lebanese borders.” Lebanon calls the action a “flagrant violation” of the truce, threatens to halt deployment of the army to the south. (AP, al-Manar TV, Voice of Lebanon 8/19; NYT, WP, WT 8/20; NYT 8/21; WT 8/23)

The IDF fires on several Palestinians grazing sheep nr. the Gaza-Israel border nr. Bayt Lahiya (killing 1 Palestinian), on residential areas of al-Shuka nr. Rafah (wounding 2). In the West Bank, the IDF continues to close all crossings to Jerusalem; patrols in Tamun nr. Jenin; raids, searches an Islamist charity nr. Hebron, confiscating files, computers. In Askar r.c., 2 Palestinians are injured when they accidentally detonate unexploded IDF ordnance. Nr. Jenin, 3 Palestinians are killed when explosives they are handling detonate prematurely. (OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24)

As the quarter opens,Israel’s blockade of Gaza enters its 6th mo., allowing no goods or people out (except for very limited medical emergencies) and letting only limited food and fuel supplies and a handful of diplomats and international aid workers in; Palestinians are receiving on average 6–8 hrs./day of electricity and 2–3 hrs./day of water after Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s sole generator on 6/28. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues Operation Summer Rains (see Quarterly Update in JPS 141), which began on 6/28 after the capture of an IDF soldier in a Palestinian cross-border raid fr. Gaza on 6/25, making occasional ground incursions into Gaza, maintaining troops at the Dahaniyya airport site outside of Rafah. In Gaza, the IDF launches air strikes, destroying a empty Palestinian home in Gaza City, causing no injuries; sends at least 50 armored vehicles into the outskirts of Bayt Hanun, firing on residential areas, bulldozing large areas of agricultural land, ordering residents of 15 houses to surrender for ID checks, arresting 2 before withdrawing across the border. Also in Gaza, 1 Palestinian is killed, 3 are injured when they apparently prematurely detonate explosives they are handling. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Azun nr. Qalqilya (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 2), Fahma nr. Jenin (firing on residential areas, damaging homes), Jenin town and refugee camp (r.c.; wounding 1 Palestinian), al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem (firing on residential areas); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Salfit. In Khan Yunis, a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy is killed in crossfire btwn. Hamas Executive Support Force (ESF) mbrs., Fatah gunmen. (PCHR 8/17; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24)

Two days after an Israel-Hizballah cease-fire went into effect ending 34 days of war (Israel dubbed its offensive Operation Change of Direction; see Chronology in JPS 141), the Lebanese government reaches a compromise agreement with Hizballah under which only the army will be allow to “carry weapons” s. of the Litani (allowing Hizballah to store weapons nr. the border with Israel) and the Lebanese cabinet votes to order the army to prepare to deploy across s. Lebanon (a precondition for an Israeli withdrawal). The UN estimates that since 8/14, more than 200,000 Lebanese have returned to their homes and 60,000 have returned fr. Syria, leaving more than 700,000 still internally displaced. The Lebanese government now puts the comprehensive toll at 1,152 Lebanese killed and some 3,700 wounded, with numbers expected to rise as more bodies are recovered. (UN Information Service, WP 8/16; NYT, WP, WT 8/17)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into ‘Askar r.c. in search of a wanted Palestinian, demolishing his family home and 3 nearby homes of relatives, wounding his sister, arresting 4 relatives, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding 9; a Palestinian woman dies of a heart attack during the raid; the wanted man is not found. Also in the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Zababda nr. Jenin, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin. In Gaza, IDF closes the Qarni crossing; exchanges fire with Islamic Jihad mbrs. nr. Khan Yunis, then moves troops into Abasan to search for the gunmen, patrolling and firing on residential areas, withdrawing late in the evening, leaving 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. dead. Late in the evening, the IDF makes an air strike destroying the Khan Yunis home of an AMB mbr. (residents are warned in advance to leave but are given too little time; an elderly Palestinian and his son are killed, 3 Palestinians are injured, 5 nearby houses are damaged). PA security forces search for 2 Fox News journalists kidnapped in Gaza on 8/14; Haniyeh also appeals for their release. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during an 7/6 IDF attempted assassination in Jenin r.c. (NYT, WP, WT 8/16; PCHR 8/17; OCHA 8/25)

The Israel-Lebanon front remains relatively quiet, with UNIFIL confirming no breaches of the cease-fire, though the IDF fatally shoots 3 Hizballah mbrs. in s. Lebanon in incidents deemed defensive. UNIFIL reports no significant Israeli withdrawals fr. Lebanon, though the IDF does pull several 100 reservists and tanks into Israel. Tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians continue to return to their homes in s. Lebanon, though the IDF drops leaflets warning them to stay away. Hizballah begins disbursing financial aid to displaced families to aid them in their return (reportedly allocating $150 m. to the task); begins recording and assessing damage to personal property and infrastructure, with the aim of executing a long-term reconstruction effort. Now free to move, relief workers in s. Lebanon begin uncovering 10s of bodies buried in the rubble of destroyed buildings. (NYT, WT 8/15; NYT, WP, WT 8/16)

In Gaza, the IDF conducts air strikes destroying the Jabaliya r.c. home of an Islamic Jihad mbr. accused of firing rockets into Israel (residents are warned in advance to evacuate, but 14 bystanders are injured, 11 nearby houses damaged), the Bayt Hanun home of a PRC mbr. thought to be holding a weapons cache (residents are warned in advance to evacuate, but 1 bystander is injured); shells a group of Palestinian civilians nr. Bayt Hanun attempting to cart away a disused rocket launcher to sell as scrap, killing 3 Palestinian civilians, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Shuka;. Palestinians fire 4 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Araba and Fahma, both nr. Jenin, deliberately damaging 35 water tanks atop homes in Fahma; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya, nr. Jenin, in and around Hebron, Nablus; begins bulldozing 250 d. of agricultural land nr. Qalqilya for construction of the separation wall (see 8/10). Jewish settlers fr. Mitzvah Lakhish, Negohot settlements nr. Hebron (escorted by the IDF) bulldoze at least 100 d. of neighboring Palestinian land. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen (suspected PRC mbrs.) kidnap 2 Fox News journalists (1 American reporter, 1 cameraman fr. New Zealand) in Gaza City; no group takes responsibility or issues demands; Hamas condemns the action. (WP, WT 8/15; NYT, WP 8/16; PCHR 8/17; Roadmap Risk Assessment [Jerusalem] 8/19)

Overnight, the IDF continues air strikes on s. Beirut and in the Biqa‘ Valley, killing at least 7 Lebanese, while Hizballah fires rockets into n. Israel. Minutes before the 8:00 A.M. local (1:00 A.M. ET) truce deadline, violence quiets. During the day, 10,000s of Lebanese displaced by the fighting begin returning to their homes to assess damage, although IDF warnings on vehicular movement in s. Lebanon remain in place; 1,000s of Lebanese begin returning fr. Syria. In a televised address, Nasrallah promises Lebanese that Hizballah will provide funds to rebuild; on the ground Hizballah mbrs. in areas of s. Lebanon and s. Beirut take charge of clean-up and rescue efforts, with the help of Lebanese civil defense teams and army units. During the day, Hizballah holds its fire, whereas the IDF fires on groups of Hizballah mbrs. in 5 incidents, killing at least 5 Hizballah mbrs. it claims posed an immediate threat (permissible defensive action under UN Res. 1701); flies drones around s. Lebanon, monitoring the situation. At least 5 Lebanese civilians are killed by accidentally detonating unexploded IDF ordnance. (WP 8/14; NYT, WP, WT 8/15)

IDF troops inside Israel fire across the border into Gaza at Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. Bureij r.c., wounding a Palestinian woman and 12-yr.-old child. The IDF also shells residential areas of al-Shuka, destroying 1 Palestinian home. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into the industrial zone nr. Hebron, searches 20 industrial facilities, holding workers for several hrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Nablus and nr. Hebron, Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack Palestinian homes in Hebron for a 2d day. Nr. Jenin r.c., Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot a Palestinian whom they accuse of being a collaborator; no group takes responsibility. (PCHR 8/17)

The Israeli cabinet accepts (24–0, with 1 abstention) UN Res. 1701, but separately Israeli DM Peretz warns that “there is no situation in which Hizballah fires at [Israeli] forces that we will not retaliate,” and Israeli officials warn that the IDF will continue to destroy Hizballah assets in areas it controls until those areas are handed over to the Lebanese army or UNIFIL. In anticipation of the 8/14 truce, both Israel and Hizballah intensify attacks. The IDF escalates air and artillery strikes, particularly on s. Beirut (leveling an area of several 100 sq. yds., including 8 apartment buildings); also hits 50 villages and towns across s. Lebanon, focusing on areas around Tyre (targeting gas stations), Ali al-Nahri in the Biqa‘ Valley, Tiri in s. Lebanon; expands ground offensives in an attempt to take control of as much land as possible by the truce deadline, engaging in major clashes outside Tyre, in Aita alSha‘b, Bint Jubayl, and Rashaf in central s. Lebanon, and in Dayr Sirin, al-Ghanduriyya, Khiyam, Qantara further northwest; shoots down 2 Hizballah drones heading for Israel. At least 20 Lebanese civilians, 2 Lebanese soldiers, 5 IDF soldiers are killed, and 25 IDF soldiers are wounded. Hizballah fires 220–250 rockets into n. Israel, the most in 1 day to date, mostly targeting Haifa (killing 1 Israeli civilian) but also hitting Kiryat Shimona, Yaara. (IFM 8/13; NYT, WP, WT 8/14; NYT 8/15)

In Gaza, IDF troops occupy the Dahaniyya airport, seal the Rafah crossing (reopened on 8/10), raze large areas of agricultural land, destroy several greenhouses and sites used by the PA security forces, blow up what it says is a smuggler’s tunnel. In the West Bank, the IDF raids 2 hospitals in Hebron, conducts random ID checks on the streets in search of wanted Palestinians, but makes no arrests; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Azun, Jenin; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack Palestinian homes in Hebron. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a PA General Intelligence officer in Gaza City. (OCHA 8/16; PCHR 8/17)

Hizballah, the Lebanese government endorse UN Res. 1701, Hizballah says it will maintain its “natural right to resist” in keeping with international law as long as IDF troops “are practicing an occupation and acts of aggression” inside Lebanon. Meanwhile, the IDF continues heavy air and artillery strikes across Lebanon, mostly targeting infrastructure and roads, including destroying electricity plants nr. Sidon, a Lebanese army base in the Biqa‘ Valley, 2 homes nr. Bint Jubayl (killing at least 15 Lebanese civilians); air strikes are concentrated around Sidon and Tyre (cutting electricity to Tyre), in the north btwn. Akkar and Arida, and in central s. Lebanon nr. Bint Jubayl. The IDF also rapidly expands ground offensives in the south, sending in additional troops and artillery, with heavy clashes reported in the Bint Jubayl area, in Ghanduriyya and Dayr Sirin s. and w. of Marja’uyun, and s. of Tyre. Hizballah continues to fire rockets into n. Israel (hitting targets in Kiryat Shimona, Ma’alot, Safad and nearby Amirim) and downs an IDF helicopter, killing 5 IDF soldiers (including Israel’s 1st female combat fatality). The casualty toll during the day includes 24 IDF soldiers dead (2 when an IDF tank rolls over them) and 70 wounded, and at least 26 Lebanese civilians, 1 Lebanese soldier killed; the IDF claims to have killed 50 Hizballah mbrs. in the previous 24 hrs. (al-Manar TV 8/12; NYT, WP, WT 8/13)