The Palestine Chronology

For a 9th day in a row, Palestinians across the oPt gather to protest U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Attendance spikes today, as the protests coincide with weekly Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements. Israeli forces violently disperse demonstrations across East Jerusalem, Halhul village near Hebron, 2 areas near Ramallah (outside the Beit El settlement and in Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Tubas, Tulkarm, Huwwara checkpoint near Nablus, and along Gaza’s border near Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis, Jabaliya refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City; 4 Palestinians are killed and approximately 150 are injured. (A video showing a 16-year-old Palestinian girl, Ahed Tamimi, shoving and slapping an Israeli soldier amid clashes in Nabi Salih near Ramallah, will go viral over the weekend. She will be arrested on 12/19). Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians and issue arrest summons to 2 during raids near Bethlehem and in East Jerusalem, and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. Separately, Palestinians throw stones at Israeli vehicles near Jerusalem, injuring 1 settler. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, IMEMC, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/15; PCHR 12/21)

The Israeli authorities announce that the Erez border crossing has reopened for Palestinians to enter and exit, but that the Kerem Shalom crossing is to remain closed indefinitely. Both were closed on 12/13. (TOI 12/15)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin) and Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; no Palestinians are seriously injured. They also arrest 4 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons during late-night raids near Jenin, and patrol near Tulkarm, Salfit, Ramallah, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian outside Kochav Ya’acov, allegedly for planning a stabbing attack. (MNA 11/10; PCHR 11/16)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near al-Bureij refugee camp; at least 2 Palestinians are seriously injured. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers issue 1 Palestinian an arrest summons during a late-night raid near Ramallah, and patrol near Hebron, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers physically assault and moderately injure a Palestinian farmer working near Tubas. (WAFA 11/3; MNA 11/4; PCHR 11/9)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp and al-Bureij refugee camp; 6 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during latenight raids near Jenin and Hebron, and patrol near Qalqilya and Tulkarm. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmland near Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 10/14; PCHR 10/19)

U.S. pres. Trump announces that his administration will not be certifying the 7/14/2015 Iran nuclear deal, triggering a 60-day period for the U.S. Congress to either reinstate sanctions, do nothing, or pass new legislation outside the context of the deal that could change the U.S. position toward Iran. Trump also announces “tough” new sanctions on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps and promises to “work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal’s many serious flaws so that the Iranian regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons.” In response, Iranian pres. Hassan Rouhani says that Tehran will expand its ballistic missile program, yet continue to honor its obligations under the deal. The leaders of the UK, France, and Germany reaffirm their commitment to the agreement. (AJ, BBC, CNN, HA, REU, TOI, WP 10/13)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Khirbat Qalqas near Hebron, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp and al-Bureij refugee camp; 6 Palestinians are injured. Separately, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Bireh overnight, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians; 13 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 3 Palestinians during further raids near Bethlehem and Jenin, and patrol near Tulkarm, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian cars driving near Hebron, causing minor damage to 1 vehicle and lightly injuring a Palestinian child. Later in the day, the IDF closes a number of roads between Ramallah and Nablus, clearing the area for a foot race organized by Israeli settlers. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 10/6; MNA 10/7; PCHR 10/12)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, central Hebron, and along Gaza’s border near al-Bureij refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is injured. Meanwhile, the IDF maintains its general closure of 9 Jerusalem-area villages for a 4th day, following the deadly attack in Har Hadar on 9/26. Israeli soldiers arrest 2 Palestinians, allegedly for placing an explosive device on a road near the Migdal Oz settlement outside Hebron. After an IDF drone goes down in Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers enter the area to search for the device, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 1 Palestinian is injured. The IDF patrols in and around Tulkarm and Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 9/29; MNA 9/30; PCHR 10/5)

Hamas announces that 2 members of its armed wing died this morning in tunnel collapses near Gaza City and Khan Yunis. The group offers no further details. (MNA, TOI 9/15)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Hebron, north of Bethlehem, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp; 6 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct a raid in Bayt Umar near Hebron overnight, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 1 Palestinian and confiscate several surveillance cameras during raids near Ramallah and Salfit, and patrol near Jenin, Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Salfit. Israeli settlers cut down 12 olive trees in a Palestinian orchard near Nablus overnight. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/15; MNA 9/16; PCHR 9/21)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp; 4 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF arrests a Palestinian in central Hebron, allegedly for carrying a knife, arrests 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid near Tulkarm, and patrols near Hebron, Nablus, and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police violently disperse Palestinians protesting outside the Sheikh Jarrah home where a Palestinian family was evicted on 9/5; 3 Palestinians are arrested. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 9/8; PCHR 9/14)

The Egyptian authorities partially open the Rafah border crossing, allowing Muslims to return from their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. (MEMO 9/8; OCHA 9/14)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian as he attempts to cross the separation wall into Israel nr. Bethlehem. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF arrests 14 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya; and patrols nr. Hebron. Israeli soldiers also assault and arrest a Palestinian attempting to stop them from arresting his mentally handicapped daughter. Israeli forces demolish 3 homes and a livestock barn in a small Bedouin village nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids in Silwan and the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. (MNA, WAFA 8/14; PCHR 8/17)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for a limited period, allowing 800 Palestinians from Gaza to embark on the pilgrimage to Mecca. (WAFA 8/14; OCHA 8/17)

An Israeli settler driver runs over a Palestinian motorcyclist nr. Bethlehem, causing fatal injuries. The Israeli police describe the incident as a “road accident,” though it is not clear whether the collision was intentional. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinians driving nr. Jenin, breaking the windshield of 1 vehicle. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c. and Gaza City; 8 Palestinians and 1 Korean activist are injured. The IDF arrests 3 Palestinians and issues 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Tulkarm and Bethlehem, and patrols nr. Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 7/7; MNA 7/8; PCHR 7/13)

A Palestinian infant succumbs to injuries sustained amid clashes in Abud village nr. Ramallah on 5/19/2017, when IDF troops fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes during the clashes. The infant inhaled an ultimately fatal amount of gas. (MNA, WAFA 7/8)

A suicide bomber detonates a car at an Egyptian checkpoint in Rafah in n. Sinai, killing at least 10 Egyptian soldiers and injuring 26 others. In clashes sparked by their search for accomplices, Egyptian security forces kill 40 armed fighters affiliated with the Sinai Province of the Islamic State and other Islamist groups in the area, and destroy 6 vehicles. (MNA 7/7)

Despite Israeli and U.S. opposition, UNESCO’s World Heritage Comm. approves a res. inscribing Hebron’s Old City, including al-Ibrahimi Mosque, on its List of World Heritage in Danger. Twelve countries vote in favor of the measure, 3 oppose it, and 6 abstain. (BBC, GDN, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/7; MNA 7/9)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian during a late-night raid of his home in c. Hebron. An IDF spokesperson says that the man pulled a gun on the soldiers, prompting them to open fire. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian at a checkpoint outside Bethlehem when she is found to be carrying a knife. The IDF conducts raids in Bil‘in village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 7 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during raids nr. Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin, as well as in Tulkarm. Israeli settlers set fire to an olive grove outside Burin village nr. Nablus, destroying approximately 400 olive trees. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. and open fire on agricultural lands nr. the Erez border crossing, causing no major damage. (HA, MNA, TOI 6/28; WAFA 6/29; PCHR 7/6)

Hamas announces that it is constructing a new security barrier along Gaza’s border with Egypt, including new guard posts, lighting, and cameras. A Hamas official says that the barrier was specifically provided for in a recent Hamas-Egypt agreement. “These continuing measures are for the sake of achieving control of the s. border and to completely prevent infiltration and smuggling,” he adds. (MNA, TOI 6/28; HA 6/30)

The IDF reopens the area in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights it declared a closed military zone on 6/27. Hours later, errant fire from Syria crosses the border for the 4th time this week. The IDF launches air strikes on Syrian army targets nr. the border, causing damage and a number of injuries. (HA, TOI, YA 6/28)

Israeli police shoot and kill 3 Palestinian youths outside the Old City of East Jerusalem after they attack Israeli guards at Damascus Gate with knives and guns: 1 Israeli police officer is lightly injured and 1 is fatally wounded, succumbing to her injuries later in the day. After the attack, IDF troops conduct raids in the alleged attackers’ village of Dayr Abu Mash‘al nr. Ramallah, imposing a lockdown on the village and sparking clashes with residents; 2 Palestinians are injured. Israeli PM Netanyahu then rescinds all 250,000 permits issued to Palestinians for Ramadan. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 6/16)

While the Israeli authorities ramp up their crackdown, thousands of Palestinians visit Haram al-Sharif on the 3d Friday of Ramadan, and Israeli police deploy additional battalions throughout East Jerusalem. IDF troops shoot and injure 2 Palestinian youths attempting to cross into Jerusalem from Bethlehem to pray at the sanctuary. Separately, IDF troops also violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c., al-Bureij r.c., Rafah, and Khan Yunis; 7 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron and Tulkarm, and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian youths approaching the border fence; there are no serious injuries. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 6/16; MNA 6/17; WAFA 6/19; PCHR 6/22)