The Palestine Chronology

The IDF shells Bayt Hanun, cutting its electricity. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (targeting the AMB), in Hebron and Bethlehem. In Khan Yunis, a Palestinian is killed when explosives he is handling detonate prematurely. (OCHA 10/18; PCHR 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)

In Gaza, the IDF closes Erez crossing for unspecified security reasons (the crossing has been open only to select VIPs and medical cases since 3/12); sends additional troops into the Shurrab Farms area nr. Bayt Hanun, firing on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus, firing on residential areas, killing an off-duty PA policeman in his home; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron (searching several mosques and hospitals looking for arms caches, finding none; surrounding several mosques, interrogating worshippers as they leave dawn prayers) in Balata r.c., Ramallah (targeting the AMB), and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Eli nr. Nablus, burn 7 d. of nearby Palestinian olive groves. Jewish settlers fr. Rotem nr. Nablus prevent Palestinian farmers from accessing their fields. (OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

The IDF shells n. Gaza, killing a 15-yr.- old Palestinian farm worker, wounding 3, claiming that the teenager, who was working in a field, approached an abandoned rocket launcher used on 10/7 with plans to retrieve it; in separate incidents fires at 2 Palestinians who stray near the n. Gaza border fence, seriously wounding a mentally handicapped man in his 50s, lightly wounding a 2d man; fires on 2 Palestinians scavenging metal nr. the central Gaza border fence, wounding 1; sends troops into al-Shuka late in the evening, fatally shooting a Palestinian civilian on the street for no apparent reason. In Rafah, a Palestinian is killed when a bomb he is handling explodes prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly attempts to stab an IDF soldier at Hawara checkpoint nr. Nablus; sends undercover units into Qalqilya in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest a Force 17 mbr.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Tulkarm town and r.c. (raiding a store, confiscating money, causing a woman to have a stroke). Jewish settlers march through Hebron, stone Palestinian homes. A Force 17 mbr. dies of injuries received during 10/1 clashes btwn. the PA security forces and Hamas. (NYT 10/10; OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

An IDF air strike destroys the Khan Yunis home of a Hamas mbr.; the IDF warns the residents in advance to leave. In the West Bank, the IDF fires on a car nr. al-Til nr. Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian civilian; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Kfar Ra’i nr. Jenin; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha nr. Nablus steal fruit, olives fr. Palestinian orchards in Kafr Qalil. Palestinians in Jericho, Ramallah observe a general strike to protest intraPalestinian violence in Gaza. (OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

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)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Khan Yunis, searching and occupying several homes, rounding up 53 Palestinians for 18 hrs. of interrogation, bulldozing 3 d. of olive trees; closes the Rafah crossing. A Palestinian is killed when a smugglers tunnel on the Rafah border collapses. The IDF also seals the West Bank until 10/10 for the Sukkoth holidays; sends troops into Bil‘in nr. Ramallah, raiding and searching homes, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them (wounding 1), arresting a Palestinian journalist; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c., villages nr. Jenin (firing on residential areas of Tubas). (OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

Rafah crossing remains partially open. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm (sending an undercover unit into Allar village in a car with Palestinian license plates to raid a Palestinian home), nr. Bethlehem and Jenin, in Balata r.c., Hebron (searching a Palestinian Red Crescent Society clinic, an orphanage run by an Islamic charity). An unidentified Palestinian throws a homemade bomb at a group of ESF mbrs. in Rafah, injuring 4; soon after unidentified gunmen fatally shoot a Fatah mbr. nearby. In Bayt Lahiya, unidentified gunmen fire on an ESF officer, wounding him. An ESF mbr. dies of injuries received in clashes on 10/3. (REU 10/5; Ma’an News 10/5 in WNC 10/6; 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)

In Gaza, the IDF withdraws troops fr. Bayt Lahiya after 3 days of operations; fires missiles fr. a drone at a car moving btwn. Gaza City and Bayt Hanun, wounding 3 AMB mbrs. (Ahmad Abu al-Kas, Ayman al-Dar‘awi, Haytham Abu Hassanain), 7 bystanders in a failed assassination attempt; makes an air strike destroying the home of a Hamas mbr. in Abasan (warning residents in advance to leave), damaging 6 nearby homes and a kindergarten. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Qalqilya, nr. Jenin (firing on residential areas). Jewish settlers in Hebron throw stones at Palestinians. The AMB threatens to kill 3 senior Hamas leaders (including Damascus-based leader Khalid Mishal, Interior M Siyam) whom they accuse of sedition, “so these filthy people can be made an example.” Scattered Fatah-Hamas violence is reported during the day, with at least 1 Palestinian wounded in Rafah. (NYT, WT 10/4; PCHR 10/5; OCHA 10/11)

In Gaza, the IDF fires a missile at 2 Palestinian boys (ages 13, 16) who approached an abandoned rocket launcher nr. Bayt Hanun, killing both; fires missiles fr. helicopter gunships partially destroying an apartment building in Khan Yunis owned by a Hamas mbr. (warning residents in advance to vacate). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Baqat al-Hatab and Hijja villages nr. Qalqilya, Tubas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (firing on residential areas), nr. Bethlehem, and in Dura nr. Hebron, Jenin town and r.c., Tamun. In n. Gaza, 1,000s of Hamas supporters march in solidarity with Haniyeh’s government. In al-Maghazi r.c., a PSF officer exchanges gunfire with a PRC mbr., wounding 1 bystander. (WP 9/30; OCHA 10/4, PCHR 10/5)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-Fara‘a r.c., firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 2 (ages 11, 14); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, Nablus and in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho, Qabatya (exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, wounding 1), Tubas. As the PA begins paying civil servants another $350 portion of their overdue wages (with aid received fr. Qatar, Saudi Arabia), 100s of Fatah-affiliated PA police demonstrate in Gaza City against the Hamas-led government’s failure to pay their salaries, burning tires, overturning trash bins, blocking roads; the Hamas-led government accuses Abbas of holding back international aid run through his office that could be used to pay more back salaries owed in order to undermine Haniyeh (civil servants have received payments equivalent to 2 mos. salary over the past 7 mos.). A Palestinian dies of injuries received during clashes btwn. Fatah, the ESF on 9/22. (NYT 9/29; WT 10/1; NYT 10/2; OCHA 10/4; 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)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Lahiya to search several Palestinian homes, confiscating phones and money, briefly detaining 4 Palestinians, withdrawing late in the evening. Four unidentified Palestinian gunmen stop, confiscate a UN vehicle in Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus. A delegation of more than 30 Palestinian Christian dignitaries, including Christian mbrs. of the PC, meet with the newly appointed mufti of Jerusalem Shaykh Muhammad Husayn to express thanks for the mufti’s strong denunciation of the 9/16–17 church attacks, to hold talks on Muslim-Christian coordination. (OCHA, Women for Palestine press release 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)

In Gaza, the IDF reopens the Qarni crossing for limited imports; bulldozes 50 d. of agricultural land nr. Dayr al-Balah, additional areas nr. Khan Yunis; fires across the Israeli border into residential areas nr. Khan Yunis, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF raids houses, conducts ID checks nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus and in Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c. Also nr. Nablus, a Palestinian is killed when a roadside bomb he is planting detonates prematurely. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen shoot, wound 2 Palestinian lawyers in Gaza City; no group claims responsibility or gives a motive. (OCHA 9/6; NYT, PCHR 9/14; OCHA 9/20; PCHR 9/21)

In Gaza, an IDF drone fires missiles at a car driving in Rafah in an attempt to assassinate an Islamic Jihad mbr., missing the car and damaging 2 houses but causing no injuries. In an air strike, the IDF demolishes the home of a Hamas mbr. in Gaza City, severely damages several surrounding homes, wounding 4 Palestinians; sends special forces in to al-Shuka, raiding a PA security office, detaining 3 PA security officers for several hrs.; sends troops into Dayr al-Balah reportedly in search of a smugglers tunnel, conducting arrest raids and house searches, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, bulldozing 50 d. of agricultural land and 2 wells but apparently not finding a tunnel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah; demolishes a poultry farm nr. Jenin to make way for the separation wall. A Palestinian teenager is killed in a mysterious explosion nr. Ramallah. Rafah begins receiving electricity fr. Egypt from a 5 MW electricity cable. (OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14)

In Gaza, IDF troops in Dahaniyya airport fire tank shells at al-Shuka village, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding another Palestinian who strays near the border fence; sends troops, drones into Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, conducting arrest raids, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes, damaging a 3d house, bulldozing 79 d. of agricultural land and a water network, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tamun; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Tulkarm town and r.c., nr. Hebron and Jenin. A 9-yr.-old Palestinian boy is injured in Balata r.c. when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance. A Jewish settler driving nr. Qalqilya deliberately hits and injures a 10-yr.-old Palestinian girl walking home fr. school; the IDF arrests the driver. The High Court of Israel rejects 7 Palestinian petitions regarding the route of the separation wall northwest of East Jerusalem, accepting the existing plan, stating that “the purpose of the construction of the wall is to protect the lives of Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks, so its expected benefit is great” and that Palestinian needs had been adequately addressed. (WP 9/11; OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14; Independent 9/19)

The IDF sends troops back into Khuza‘a (see 9/7), raiding and occupying several homes; demolishing 1 Palestinian home, damaging several others; bulldozing 150– 200 d. of land, including 23 greenhouses, 3 poultry houses, water and electricity networks, and a family cemetery; exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, wounding 1; withdrawing by evening. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Anabta nr. Tulkarm (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1), Jenin (firing on residential areas), Nablus (firing percussion grenades). Late at night, Jewish settlers fr. Gush Etzion and Karme Tzur settlements break into the al-Nabi Yunis Mosque in Hebron, conduct prayers. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in an IDF air strike in Khuza‘a ca. 9/6. (OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14)

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)

The IDF fires across the Israeli border into central Gaza, wounding 1 Palestinian inside his home; makes a helicopter rocket strike destroying a Palestinian home in Jabaliya r.c. after warning residents to leave; sends special forces into Khuza‘a village nr. Khan Yunis, searching greenhouses, interrogating a 60-yr.-old farmer for several hrs. before withdrawing; bulldozes agricultural land of unknown size southeast of Bayt Hanun. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron (raiding and searching a PA Preventive Security Forces [PSF] office in Tarqumiyya) and Nablus, nr. Jenin (exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, wounding 1), in Qabatya (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 3 with live ammunition); issues military orders confiscating 152 d. of land nr. Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall, a settler-only bypass road. (WT 9/4; OCHA 9/6; PCHR 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)

In Gaza, the IDF sends troops fr. Dahaniyya airport, escorted by helicopters and drones, into al-Shuka to conduct arrest raids; fires on Palestinian fishermen on the Gaza beach, injuring 1. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a major raid on Nablus, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding at least 11, demolishing 4 Palestinian homes before leaving without making any arrests. The IDF also patrols in Ras ‘Atiya nr. Qalqilya, conducting random ID checks, firing on residential areas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus area fire on Palestinian children in Bayt Furik, seriously wounding a 12-yr.-old boy. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a local Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leader in Jabaliya r.c. (AP, IMEMC, NYT 8/27; WP 8/28; OCHA 8/30; PCHR 8/31; PMG 9/1)

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)

In Gaza, the IDF sends troops, tanks into Khuza‘a nr. Khan Yunis allegedly to look for smugglers tunnels, ordering farmers to leave the area, bulldozing 20 d. of agricultural land, opening fire on residential areas and on a camera crew covering the incident, injuring 1 Palestinian; sends troops into Gaza nr. the Qarni crossing, conducting house searches and arrest raids, wounding 5 Hamas mbrs. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron (raiding, temporarily occupying a PA police office as an observation post), nr. Tulkarm. (AP, REU, WP 8/22; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 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)