The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 4 houses, displacing 44 Palestinians in al-‘Awja. Israeli forces also demolished 1 shed and seized 1 tent in al-Mughayyir. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished a tract of land planted with olive saplings near Qalandia. Israeli forces also prevented teachers and farmers from getting to their work at a flying checkpoint east of Yatta. 13 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bayt Umar, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Nablus; during a raid in Bayt Umar, 1 woman was injured when Israeli forces broke through her door. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan and Issawiyya. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/8; PCHR 12/10)

The PA health minister Mai al-Kaila said that the PA had signed an agreement with the World Health Organization for the UN organ to provide 20 percent of the West Bank and Gaza’s needed COVID-19 vaccines. It is unclear when the vaccines will arrive. On 12/7, Britain started vaccinating its population with a Pfizer-made vaccine and Israel is scheduled to receive the 1st shipment of the Pzifer-made vaccine on 12/9. Health Minister al-Kaila also said the PA was looking at either buying vaccines from the company Covax once the free vaccines are out of stock or to buy the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. (F24, TOI 12/9)

More than 20 EU representatives visited Gaza for the 1st time since 2016. The delegation visited the European hospital in Rafah and an EU-funded desalination plant in Dayr al-Balah. (WAFA, WAFA 12/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli forces, raided al-Twana and injured 1 Palestinian. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during raids in and around Tulkarm, Yatta, Kafr Qaddum, Jenin, and Qalqilya; 2 were arrested at checkpoints near Nablus and Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during raids in Issawiyya, and 1 at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 1 rocket was launched at Israel, hitting 1 building; no injuries were reported. Israel subsequently shelled a number of buildings in Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Yunis, causing damage; no injuries were reported. (GDN, WAFA 11/21; AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 11/22; PCHR 11/26)

The mayor of Bethlehem Anton Salman said that the yearly Christmas celebration will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (WAFA 11/21)

In Israel, some 2,500 people protested outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence demanding his resignation over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, and his corruption cases. This was the 22d Saturday in a row that Israelis protested Prime Minister Netanyahu. (HA, WAFA 11/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used dogs to attack Palestinian farmers near Yatta. Israeli forces seized 4 Palestinian-owned tractors in al-Hadidyya. Israeli forces also fired tear gas at Palestinians trying to enter Israel near al-Midya. The Nablus governate was placed on a partial lockdown for 5 days after a rise in COVID-19 cases. The PA asked residents to stay inside between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. 2 Palestinians were arrested; 1 during a late-night raid in Hebron and 1 at a military checkpoint near Nablus. In Gaza, Hamas launched 2 rockets at Israel, both landing in open areas, and Israel fired missiles at Gaza, causing damage near Rafah, Bayt Hanun, and Khan Yunis. A source from Hamas said that the rockets were launched by mistake due to lighting and that Hamas does not seek an escalation of violence. Israel later said it believed the claim that the rockets were launched by mistake. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/15; HA, PCHR 11/19)

The Israeli Lands Authority issued tenders for construction of a new settlement, Givat Hamatos, in East Jerusalem, dubbed the doomsday settlement as it would cut East Jerusalem off from Bethlehem and cut Bayt Safafa off from its surrounding towns. Tenders for a total of 1,257 settler units were issued. Israel’s plans drew condemnation form the PA, and the international community. The Israeli anti-occupation organization Peace Now called the plans a “lethal blow” to the 2-state solution. The EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement that he was “deeply worried” about the decision and that “Israel should instead show vision and responsibility and reverse these negative decisions at this critical and sensitive time.” The UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Nickolay Mladenov also condemned the plans, saying “settlement construction is illegal under international law and I call on the authorities to reverse this step.” (AJ, EEAS, HA, PCN, REU, WAFA, WAFA 11/15; AJ, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/16; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/17; SG, WAFA 11/18; WAFA 11/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Qusra, damaging 2 poultry farms, killing some 200 chickens, setting fire to 1 tractor, and damaging water tanks; as clashes erupted, Israeli forces intervened on behalf of the settlers, injuring 2 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets; Israeli settlers alleged that Palestinians had set fire to a settler-owned vineyard. Israeli forces violently dispersed protests in Kafr Qaddum, shooting 5 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed during an Israeli raid in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also seized 1 concrete pump and 1 concrete mixer near Yatta. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, thousands of protesters called for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation in front of his official residence, despite lockdown restrictions. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/26; AJ, HA, WAFA 9/27; PCHR 10/1)

The Czech Republic signed a deal with Israel to buy 4 SPYDER anti-aircraft batteries for about $430 million. (HA 9/25; TOI 9/27)

The prime minister-designate of Lebanon Mustapha Adib resigned as he was unable to form a government. (AJ, HA, REU 9/26; REU 9/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds near Yatta; cut more than 100 olive trees near Susiya; and set up a mobile home on Palestinian-owned land near Beita. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 2 buildings northeast of Bethlehem. Israeli forces also violently suppressed a Palestinian protest in Kafr Qaddum using rubber-coated bullets and tear gas; 1 Palestinian was injured by a rubber-coated bullet, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in Issawiyya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also stormed an engagement party near the Old City, assaulting several guests and arresting 3. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired missiles at southern Gaza east of Rafah and Khan Yunis causing damage, after claiming that 1 rocket was fired toward Israel. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis, Bayt Hanun, and al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya. In Israel, thousands of protesters continued their calls for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down outside of his official residence. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/22; HA, HA 8/23; HA 8/24; PCHR 8/27)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdoğan discussed UAE’s decision to normalize ties with Israel, a move which Turkey has denounced. (WAFA 8/22)

In Lebanon, 1 Israeli drone crashed. It was shot down by Hezbollah, according to the group. (HA 8/22; AJ 8/23)