The Palestine Chronology

The Palestinian and Israeli negotiators agree on an open-ended cease-fire deal, which PA Pres. Abbas confirms in a brief televised address. The agreement contains 3 points: Israel will permit humanitarian aid and construction material to enter Gaza; Israel will restore the fishing zone from 3 to 6 naut. mi. away from the shore, and gradually extend it to 12 by the end of 2014; and indirect negotiations will continue within 1 mo. in Cairo to deal with the remaining disputes, including Hamas’s demand for sea and airports in Gaza, and the release of recently rearrested prisoners who were released in the Shalit deal. Additionally, talks between Palestinian officials and Egyptian authorities are scheduled to take place soon with the goal of opening the Rafah crossing permanently. Israeli PM Netanyahu agrees to the cease-fire deal without putting it to a vote in the security cabinet, a move reportedly opposed by Economy Minister Naftali Bennett. Haaretz reports that over half of the security cabinet would have voted against the deal. (AFP, AJ, AP, HA, JP, MNA, NYT, WP 8/26)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault and armed Palestinian groups continue firing projectiles into Israel until the new ceasefire goes into effect in the evening. The Israeli air force hits approximately 32 targets, while IDF troops stationed along the border fence open fire on 3 occasions, 2 with artillery and 1 with live ammunition. Six Palestinians die in the attacks, and dozens are injured. Among the targets in Gaza is the so-called Italian building, a 13-story residential and commercial complex. Though the building is mostly empty at the time of the Israeli strikes, its destruction leaves around 70 families homeless. Prior to the cease-fire, the armed Palestinian groups launch more than 180 projectiles into Israel, killing 2 Israelis and wounding 5. In the West Bank, 7 Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian nr. Jerusalem with knives and stones, leaving him unconscious. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in Nablus, 3 villages nr. Hebron, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, Jenin, 1 village nr. Jenin, and Tulkarm, arresting 17; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 2 villages nr. Salfit. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinians gather in Bayt Hanina, al-Tur, and Wadi al-Juz to celebrate the cease-fire announcement and Israeli security forces disperse the celebrations with waste water, sound bombs, and tear gas. One Palestinian is arrested in Wadi al-Juz. (MNA, REU, YA 8/26; HA 8/27; PCHR 8/28)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF and armed Palestinian groups largely hold to the new 5-day cease-fire, though Palestinians fire 8 rockets into Israel and IDF troops conduct a number of air strikes. Meanwhile, 3 Palestinians die of injuries sustained earlier in the Israeli assault. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem during an arrest raid. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Salfit at night; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron and al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas during the day. A Jewish settler runs over a Palestinian nr. Salfit and kills him. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces arrest dozens of Palestinians in Silwan, Shu‘fat, and the Old City, taking the number of those detained since the murder of Abu Khdeir to more than 600. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/14; PCHR 8/15)

Upon his arrival in Gaza from Cairo, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya says that there is “still a real chance to clinch an agreement” for a longer-term deal. An unnamed Egyptian official tells Haaretz that “the emerging agreement will be the most detailed that has been signed between Israel and the Palestinians since the Oslo accords” and that, if successful, it “would set up a new framework of relations between Israel and a Palestinian govt., because without it there will be no way to implement the agreement’s clauses.” Islamic Jihad official Ziad al-Nahla, in Cairo for the talks, says that the long-term cease-fire is a “done deal.” (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/14)

In Tel Aviv, approximately 10,000 Israelis gather in Rabin Square to demonstrate support for the assault on Gaza and call on the govt. to stop rocket attacks. (AFP, AP 8/15)