The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently suppressed a demonstration against Israeli aggression in Gaza. In Bethlehem, 1 Italian tourist was injured when he was hit by a tear gas canister; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, in al-‘Arub refugee camp, a Palestinian-owned house caught on fire after an Israeli tear gas grenade landed in it during a raid. Israeli forces also razed some 400 (99 acres) dunams of land in Bayt Umar and demolished a house under construction in Atuf. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Silwad, Jenin, Hebron, and Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian family demolished 4 animal barns to avoid exorbitant demolition fees. 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Kafr ‘Aqab and Issawiyya. In Gaza, for the 2d day in a row, Israel and Islamic Jihad in Palestine exchanged rockets; 16 people were killed in Gaza and at least 40 were injured, making the comprehensive death toll since 11/12 26, including several minors. No Israelis have been reported killed and 1 person was reported injured. Officials in Gaza said that at least 48 housing units had been damaged, some completely destroyed. Hamas had reportedly not been firing any rockets. (AJ, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/13; HA, PCHR 11/14; HA 11/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces dismantled and confiscated a residential tent housing 10 Palestinians in Susiya near Hebron for the 3d time since 4/16. Israeli forces also demolished the home of a Palestinian family near Yatta south of Hebron. Israeli settlers under protection of Israeli forces chopped down at least 150 olive trees in Burqa east of Jerusalem. 17 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces during late-night raids in and around Hizma, Nablus, Jenin, Tubas, Ramallah, and Hebron. In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted limited incursions to perform land leveling east of Gaza City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire of Palestinian fishermen, injuring 1 and detaining 2 others off the shore of al-Sudaniyya. Late at night, Israeli forces fired 5 missiles at targets in Bayt Lahiya, causing damage but no injuries were reported. Israeli authorities claimed that the strikes were in response to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza and landing on Israeli fields, igniting a fire. After the Israeli missiles fired at Bayt Lahiya, Islamic Jihad in Palestine, fired 2 missiles at Israel; no injuries or damage were reported. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 5/1; AJ, HA, MNA, MNA, PNN, WAFA, WAFA 5/2)

The PA rejected a proposal put forward by the EU on 4/30 to accept the Israeli offer of reduced PA tax revenue. Israel is withholding parts of the PA tax revenue, the part that Israel believes the PA spends on Palestinian prisoners and their families. The PA have on several occasions rejected any Israeli transfer that is not the full tax revenue. (HA, 5/1)

Haaretz reported that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally ordered a ban on 181 Palestinian applications from the West Bank wanting to attend a joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day ceremony in Tel Aviv. The event is organized by Combatants for Peace, a group of Israelis and Palestinians working for reconciliation. (HA 5/1)