The Palestine Chronology

The IDF continues its assault of the Gaza Strip, killing 64 Palestinians, primarily in the s. Khan Yunis area. The IDF says that it is hitting “concealed rocket launchers, terror tunnels, militant compounds, and terror activity posts located within the premises of al-Wafa hospital.” Severe shortages in electricity, water, and medical supplies continue to affect Palestinians in Gaza, with the UN estimating that the total number of displaced has risen to 118,300. Palestinians kill 3 Israeli soldiers inside the Gaza Strip, and severely wound another 2, in an attack claimed by al-Quds Brigades. Armed Palestinian groups fire rockets into s. Israel at a diminished rate relative to previous days, causing no damage and killing 1 Thai worker nr. the border fence. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill 1 Palestinian man during clashes that break out after a protest in Husan village nr. Bethlehem. Clashes also break out in Silwad, and IDF troops injure 2 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Nablus. (AFP, AP, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/23)

The FAA extends the previous day’s ban on U.S. airline flights to Ben-Gurion Airport for an additional 24 hours. (AFP, AP, JP 7/23)

In a televised speech from Doha, Hamas leader Mish‘al responds to the international calls for a cease-fire, saying that Hamas “cannot accept any proposal that does not include the lifting of the siege.” Mish‘al also calls for a “humanitarian truce” of a few hours “to evacuate the wounded and assist in the relief.” (AFP, AP, HA, MNA 7/23)

In response to an Israeli request on 7/20, the U.S. Defense Dept. agrees to resupply the IDF with arms from the War Reserves Stockpile based in Israel. Details of the sale are not reported until 7/30. (AFP, AP 7/23; Guardian 7/30)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry holds talks with UN Secy.-Gen. Ban in Jerusalem, their 2d meeting of the week. Kerry says afterward that “we have certainly made some steps forward, but there is still work to be done.” Kerry also meets with Pres. Abbas in Ramallah and then with Israeli PM Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, before returning to Cairo with no sign of an imminent breakthrough that might enable a cease-fire. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 7/23)

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva passes a res., 29–1–17, condemning Israel’s occupation and the current assault on Gaza, as well as commissioning an investigation into potential war crimes committed during the current Gaza conflict, with the U.S. casting the sole “no” vote. Israeli PM Netanyahu calls the vote a “travesty,” while Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni responds on Facebook with the comment: “Get lost.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says that there is a “strong possibility” Israel is committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, YA 7/23)

The IDF continues its assault on the Gaza Strip, killing 61 Palestinians. Local officials say targets struck include 5 mosques and a soccer stadium, in addition to other Palestinian infrastructure and multiple tunnels. Prolonged Israeli shelling of Khan Yunis kills at least 6 and wounds more than 20. Also, the IDF strikes a UNRWA-run school in c. Gaza. Palestinian fighters kill 2 Israeli soldiers overnight and fire approximately 67 rockets and mortar shells into Israel, with 18 projectiles intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. In the West Bank, an Israeli citizen shoots and kills a Palestinian man between al-Ram and Hizma checkpoint n. of Jerusalem, reportedly after the Palestinian man threw stones at the Israeli’s car. IDF troops shoot and injure 5 Palestinians in ‘Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, during clashes in an arrest raid. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus and 2 villages nr. Ramallah at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces clash with Palestinians in at-Tur, Shu‘fat r.c., and Issawiyya, causing no serious injuries. (AFP, AP, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/22; PCHR 7/23)

After 1 rocket lands nr. Ben Gurion Airport, the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) bans flights to and from Israel for at least 24 hours, and the European Aviation Safety Agency advises all carriers to avoid Tel Aviv “until further notice.” Israel’s Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, in a statement, says “there is no need for U.S. carriers to suspend flights and reward terrorism.” U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and PM Netanyahu later discuss the FAA ban on a phone call. (AFP, AP, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/22)

At a monthly meeting of the EU Council, the 28 EU FMs issue a statement that “strongly condemns the indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and militant groups in the Gaza Strip” and also “condemns calls on the civilian population of Gaza to provide themselves as human shields.” Meanwhile, Secy. of State Kerry meets with Egypt’s Pres. al-Sisi in Cairo to discuss Gaza, and afterward, affirms that “there is a framework available to end the violence, and that framework was the Egyptian initiative.” Senior Fatah official al-Ahmad flies in to Cairo to also meet with Kerry. In Israel, UN Secy.-Gen. Ban meets with PM Netanyahu and at a Tel Aviv press conference, Ban condemns the rocket attacks, while the Israeli leader accuses Hamas of committing a “double war crime” of targeting Israeli civilians while using Palestinian civilians as human shields. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/22)

In the Gaza Strip, armed Palestinians fire 4 rockets into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with 8 air strikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting military training sites belonging to Hamas’s Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades, and the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRC) in the c. Gaza Strip, Rafah, and Khan Yunis. Damage is sustained, and 2 civilians are wounded when they are hit by shrapnel in separate attacks. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy dies, succumbing to injuries sustained in an Israeli air strike on 6/11. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Ramallah and 8 villages nearby, Nablus and 4 villages and ‘Askar r.c. nearby, Tulkarm and 3 villages and Nur Shams r.c. nearby, Tubas and 1 village and al-Fara‘a r.c. nearby, Jenin and 1 nearby village, Jericho and ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nearby, 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Jerusalem, and al-Bireh at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho, 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian vehicles nr. Nablus, injuring 3 and causing damage. Separately, Jewish settlers throw stones at Palestinians and their homes in Susia nr. Hebron. (HA, JP, MNA 6/14; PCHR 6/19)

Israeli PM Netanyahu announces that the Israeli govt. holds the PA responsible for the fate of the 3 missing Israeli teenagers, since “the terrorists originated from Palestinian territory.” Anonymous PA officials tell the media that Abbas has instructed his security services to help in the manhunt. Meanwhile, the IDF continues intensive sweeps of the s. West Bank, and wideranging arrest raids, which pick up 80 Palestinians, including 4 mbrs. of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The IDF also imposes a closure on the s. West Bank, from Bethlehem to the Hebron region. IDF sources tell the media that the working assumption is that the youth are alive. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 6/15)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on farmers working on agricultural land close to the border fence nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Separately, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion nr. Bayt Hanun to level land. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian-owned structures in Khirbet Yerza in the Jordan Valley, displacing 5 families. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village and Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, and in Nablus, at night; patrols in Hebron and 2 nearby villages in the afternoon, and in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 5 structures belonging to the Bedouin al-Jahalin community in al-‘Izzariya, displacing 55. (MNA, WAFA 2/17; PCHR 2/20)

Iran’s Amb. to Moscow Mehdi Sanaei says that Tehran is looking to commission Russia to build a 2d nuclear power reactor in exchange for oil shipments, and that negotiations over the exchange began when Russian pres. Vladimir Putin met with Iranian pres. Hassan Ruhani in 9/2013. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tells a crowd in Tabriz, n. Iran, that while he does not oppose continued talks with the international community, he does not believe they will lead anywhere. (AFP, REU 2/17)

Jordanian soldiers shoot and kill a gunman who opened fire on their position while attempting to cross the border from Syria. (AP 2/17)

Egyptian forces shoot and kill 5 fighters reportedly connected to “terrorist” groups in Shaykh Zuwayd and Rafah in n. Sinai, according to military sources. Meanwhile, security forces also destroy 21 tunnels under the border with the Gaza Strip. (MNA 2/18)