In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Artas, 1 house under construction in Dayr Sharaf, and 2 warehouses in Anata. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians...
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November 16, 2020
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October 6, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds near Yatta; no serious injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also set up mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land near Bayt Dajan...
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September 23, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers chopped down dozens of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Bidya. Israeli forces demolished 1 wedding hall south of Tulkarm and 1 house under construction, 2 water...
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September 17, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stormed Bidya and leveled 16 dunams of land using bulldozers, destroying some 950 olive, almond, fig, grape, and citrus trees, and 1 caravan, and fenced off some...
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August 5, 2020
In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian was injured by Israeli forces ramming him with a vehicle during a raid in Tubas. Another Palestinian was injured by Israeli forces shooting him in the head near...
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July 29, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized 3 tractors from Palestinian villages in the Jordan Valley. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction in Bayt Awa. Israeli forces also...
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July 21, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 car wash in Bayt Umar, 2 residential tin structures in Bani Na‘im, and 1 house under construction in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Israeli forces also uprooted...
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June 24, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from reaching a rally against annexation and Palestinian officials from reaching a meeting in Fasayil in the Jordan Valley, leading to tear-...
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June 22, 2020
In the West Bank, a Fatah-organized anti-annexation protest in Jericho drew large crowds and several prominent speakers, including PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, UN envoy for Middle East...
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June 8, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian-owned property in al-Sawiya, slashing tires on 12 cars and writing racist graffiti on houses. Israeli forces delivered demolition orders...
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June 7, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers demolished 1 Palestinian-owned stone wall around agricultural lands in Bayt ‘Aynun. Israeli forces demolished several commercial barracks and street-vending...
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June 6, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5. Israeli forces also ordered a stop-work for a school in Kisan and seized 1 bulldozer. 4...
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May 22, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at Palestinian houses and vehicles near Huwwara when Palestinians confronted the settlers. Israeli forces violently...
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May 17, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 40 olive trees in Yatma. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Yatta, and Bethlehem; 1 was...
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May 16, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to seal and conduct house raids in Ya‘bad for the 5th day in a row after 1 Israeli soldier was killed during a late-night raid on 5/12. Dozens of...
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May 1, 2020
In the West Bank, 2 Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition near the separation wall south of Qalqilya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly...
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April 27, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers chopped down 40 olive trees in al-Sawiya. 1 Palestinian was arrested at a checkpoint near Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Issawiyya; during...
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April 26, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed at al-Fawar refugee camp, leading to 6 Palestinians suffering tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work orders...
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April 23, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized a mobile home displacing a Palestinian family near Jericho. 1 Israeli settler shot a gun in the air as he passed Palestinians managing a COVID-19 test post...
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April 12, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians in Hebron with pepper spray. Israeli settlers also uprooted some 400 olive tree saplings in al-Khadir during 2 separate raids. Israeli...
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April 11, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 2 Palestinians, including 1 minor during a late-night raid in Bayt Umar and 1 at a checkpoint in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested...
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March 9, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces uprooted some 400 olive tree saplings west of Bethlehem and seized a residential tent, a generator, and an animal barn in al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces also...
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March 7, 2020
In the West Bank, the governor of Bethlehem ordered a lockdown on the Bethlehem district to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus as 19 confirmed cases had been discovered in Bethlehem. On 3/6,...
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February 27, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 200 olive trees and 80 vine trees in al-Khadir. Israeli forces demolished 2 residential structures and 2 animal barns south of Hebron; and 1 house...
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February 24, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 21 Palestinians during raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jericho, Qalqilya, Tubas, Jenin, and Nablus. Israeli forces injured 2 Palestinians...
In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Artas, 1 house under construction in Dayr Sharaf, and 2 warehouses in Anata. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians during a raid in Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 10 Palestinians were arrested, including 9 during late-night raids in and around Kaubar, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bayt Umar, and Sa‘ir, 1 Palestinian was arrested at the Qalandia checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers interrupted a press conference held by EU members in the area where Israeli announced plans to construct more than 1,200 settler units on 11/15; among the disrupters was West Jerusalem deputy mayor Arieh King. The EU delegation eventually gave up carrying out its press conference at the site and moved it to the EU offices. 6 Palestinians were arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (HA, Twitter, Twitter, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/16; WAFA 11/17, PCHR 11/19)
In an ad for an upcoming route to Tel Aviv, the UAE-owned airline Etihad featured a drawing of the 2d Temple as point of interest for visitors. The 2d Temple was destroyed in 70 CE and was located where the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque are now. Etihad later pulled its ad from Twitter. (HA 11/16)
The foreign minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said, during a virtual conference on security, that Sudan, Bahrain, and the UAE normalization deals with Israel undermines efforts to create a Palestinian state. (HA, REU, TOI 11/16)
4 Republican senators sent a letter to U.S. president Donald Trump, urging him to change the guidelines on how products from the West Bank are to be labeled when entering the U.S. The 4 senators, Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), wrote that products from “Judea and Samaria” should be allowed to be labeled as “Made in Israel.” (Senator Tom Cotton 11/16; ALM, WAFA 11/19)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds near Yatta; no serious injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also set up mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land near Bayt Dajan and set up tents on Palestinian-owned land east of Hebron. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Hebron, Jenin, and al-Bireh. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya refugee camp and Bayt Lahiya within the allowed fishing area; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/6; PCHR 10/8)
Israel’s justice ministry dropped its investigation into Israeli police officers who planted a gun in an East Jerusalem house belonging to a Palestinian family for Kan TV’s reality show Jerusalem District to stage a house arrest. (HA 10/6)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers chopped down dozens of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Bidya. Israeli forces demolished 1 wedding hall south of Tulkarm and 1 house under construction, 2 water wells, and 15 electric poles in Bayt ‘Awa. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jenin, Tubas, Bayt Fajjar, and Hebron. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level agricultural land east of al-Maghazi. Israeli forces also opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/23; PCHR 9/24)
Senior officials from Fatah and Hamas met for the 2d day in Turkey to continue talks about reconciliation between the 2 parties. (AJ 9/24)
Sudanese and U.S. officials in the UAE discussed advancing Arab-Israeli peace and removing Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, according to the Sudanese sovereign council. Sudan has been rumored to join the U.S. recent push for Arab and Muslim countries to normalize ties with Israel. (AJ, HA 9/23)
The virtual meeting platform Zoom canceled a webinar hosted by San Francisco State University called “Whose Narratives? Gender, Justice and Resistance” because of pro-Israel activists lobbying against the webinar as 1 of the speakers would be Laila Khaled. Khaled was part of 2 PFLP hijackings in 1969 and 1970. (JP, TOI 9/23)
The student government at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign voted for a resolution calling for the school to divest from companies that contribute to American and Israeli military, prisons, police forces, or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE. (MDW 9/30; WAFA 10/2)
The EU contributed $35.6 million to UNRWA programs in Lebanon. (WAFA 9/23)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stormed Bidya and leveled 16 dunams of land using bulldozers, destroying some 950 olive, almond, fig, grape, and citrus trees, and 1 caravan, and fenced off some 20 dunams (4.95 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in Kisan. Israeli forces demolished shacks used for farming in Tarqumiyya and ordered stop-work on 1 house in Taqqua, seizing 1 concreate mixer. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian-owned house in Bayt Sira. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Yatta, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In Israel, Israeli forces raided cells and assaulted Palestinian prisoners in Megiddo prison. Israeli forces also demolished the Bedouin village al-Araqib for the 178th time since 2000. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/17; PCHR 9/24)
In Lebanon, leaders of Hezbollah’s political wing accused the U.S. of obstructing the formation of a new Lebanese government as a deadline for forming a government passed on 9/15. (HA 9/17)
A bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution supporting the normalization deal between Bahrain, the UAE, and Israel, and called on other Arab and Muslim countries to join. The resolution also called on the U.S. government to ensure that U.S. weapons sales does not harm Israel’s qualitative military edge. (HA 9/18)
In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian was injured by Israeli forces ramming him with a vehicle during a raid in Tubas. Another Palestinian was injured by Israeli forces shooting him in the head near Nablus; Israeli authorities later said it was a mistake and that the Israeli forces thought the man to be someone else. Israeli forces uprooted and seized some 100 palm trees in Jiftlik. Israeli forces also razed land in Dura. 19 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Tubas, Ramallah, Jalazun refugee camp, Bethlehem, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 3 Palestinian-owned homes and 1 store in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands on 3 separate occasions east of al-Maghazi and Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/5; HA 8/7; PCHR 8/13)
In Lebanon, the Lebanese government declared a 2-week state of emergency in Beirut in the wake of the deadly blast on 8/4, which killed more than 135 people and wounded more than 5,000. The president of Lebanon Michel Aoun said the government would initiate a transparent investigation into what could have happened. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called President Aoun to express his condolences and to offer assistance. (AJ, REU, WAFA 8/5)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized 3 tractors from Palestinian villages in the Jordan Valley. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction in Bayt Awa. Israeli forces also delivered 36 demolition notices for Palestinian homes in Farasin near Jenin; if carried out, the demolitions would displace some 200 Palestinians. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Anata, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Hebron, and Khirbat Makhul. In East Jerusalem, Israel summoned the PA deputy governor of Jerusalem Abdullah Siyam and 3 leading Fatah activists for questioning. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported, (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/29; PCHR 8/13)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 car wash in Bayt Umar, 2 residential tin structures in Bani Na‘im, and 1 house under construction in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Israeli forces also uprooted more than 200 olive trees in Dayr Istya. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bayt Jala, Jalazun refugee camp, and Hebron. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/21; PCHR 7/23)
In an interview with the Guardian, Jordanian prime minister Omar Razzaz said that if Israeli annexation of the West Bank closes the door for a 2-state solution then he would support a 1-state solution with equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians. (AJ, Guardian, HA 7/21)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from reaching a rally against annexation and Palestinian officials from reaching a meeting in Fasayil in the Jordan Valley, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also demolished 1 house under construction in Bayt Sira and 1 house in Beitunia. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered an eviction notice to 1 Palestinian in al-Khadir. Israeli settlers destroyed 85 Palestinian-owned olive trees near Bardala. 22 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Qalqilya, ‘Azun, Jenin, Awarta, Nablus, Baytin, Ramallah, Hebron, and Qalandia. In East Jerusalem, Israeli setters seized a tract of Palestinian-owned land in Issawiyya. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/24; PCHR 6/25)
The Jerusalem district court denied a request by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate to void the sale of its property in the Old City to the settler group Ateret Cohanim, ending a 16-year-long legal battle. (HA 6/26)
U.S. president Donald Trump aide Kellyanne Conway told reporters that President Trump will have “a big announcement” about the U.S. position on Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank after White House officials met for a 2d day in a row to discuss the issue. Conway also characterized concerns over potential reactions in the Middle East to Israeli annexation as overblown. (AJ 6/24; HA 6/25)
At a virtual UN Security Council meeting, the UN secretary general António Guterres called on Israel “to abandon its annexation plans.” After the meeting, the current and incoming EU members of the UN security council—Germany, Ireland, France, Estonia, Belgium, and France, as well as the UK and Norway—released a joint statement supporting Secretary General Guterres’s “grave concern.” Separately, more than 1,000 European parliamentarians from 25 counties signed a letter denouncing Israel, saying “[a]cquisition of territory by force has no place in 2020 and must have commensurate consequences.” Meanwhile, U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo told reporters that decisions about annexations are “for Israelis to make.” (AJ, BBC, German Foreign Ministry, HA, REU, REU, WAFA 6/24; AJ 6/25)
At an extraordinary meeting hosted by Sweden and Jordan to fundraise for UNRWA, 75 governments and non-governmental organizations pledged $130 million to the UNRWA budget. (WAFA 6/24)
In the West Bank, a Fatah-organized anti-annexation protest in Jericho drew large crowds and several prominent speakers, including PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, UN envoy for Middle East peace Nickolay Mladenov, and other foreign diplomats. Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from other parts of the West Bank from reaching Jericho, leading to clashes in the northern part of the Jordan Valley where 8 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces using rubber-coated bullets and tear gas. Israeli settlers threw stones on Palestinian vehicles traveling between Nablus and Jenin, causing damage. Later, Israeli settlers raided Nablus, leading to confrontations between Palestinians and the Israeli forces escorting the settlers; 1 Palestinian was injured by rubber-coated bullets, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 16 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Jalazun refugee camp, Kobar, Ramallah, Jenin, Tubas, Tulkarm, and Bayt Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were hospitalized after Israeli forces fired tear gas outside their house in Issawiyya. 1 Palestinian was arrested in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (HA 6/21; HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/22; WAFA, WAFA 6/23; PCHR 6/25)
According to Haaretz sources, the Trump administration is considering green-lighting an Israeli plan for annexation of parts of the West Bank which would be rolled out over several installments rather than in 1 sweep. The plan is perceived as able to curb some of the criticism that Israel has received from several staunch supporters of Israel within the Democratic party since announcing its annexation plans. (HA 6/21)
120 Republican members of the U.S. House signed a letter to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing their support for Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank. The letter said that the Republican lawmakers believe that “Israel has the right to make sovereign decisions independent of outside pressure.” The signatories represent a majority of the 198 republicans in the House. (HILL 6/22; HA 6/23)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian-owned property in al-Sawiya, slashing tires on 12 cars and writing racist graffiti on houses. Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for 1 park, 1 unpaved road, retaining walls, 1 playground, and 1 storage space in Haris; for several residential structures, 1 barn, and 1 water well south of Hebron; demolished and seized residential shacks and tents south of Hebron; and demolished and seized 1 greenhouse in Sawahara al-Sharqiyya. Thousands of Palestinians protested in Ramallah against Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the West Bank. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around al-‘Izzariya, al-Khadir, Bayt Fajjar, and Qabatiya. In East Jerusalem, 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur, Wadi al-Juz, Silwan, Issawiyya, and the Old City; during a raid in al-Tur, Israeli forces seized 1 vehicle. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/8; PCHR 6/11)
PLO secretary general Saeb Erakat, in an op-ed in Haaretz, called on the international community to begin imposing sanctions on Israel to force Israel to back away from annexing parts of the West Bank. (HA 6/8)
In an interview with the New York Times, Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the PA’s general authority of civil affairs, said that if Israel moves ahead with annexing parts of the West Bank the financial repercussions for the PA would mean it would have to cut its $105 million a month in payments for salaries and medical expenses in Gaza. Al-Sheikh also said that the PA forces no longer would extradite Israelis arrested in PA controlled areas and that these would be tried in PA courts. (NYT 6/8)
An Israeli border police officer was convicted of assault and reckless use of a weapon after a court found that she had shot a Palestinian man using a rubber-coated bullet in the back “for fun.” (HA 6/8)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers demolished 1 Palestinian-owned stone wall around agricultural lands in Bayt ‘Aynun. Israeli forces demolished several commercial barracks and street-vending stalls in al-Ram and delivered demolition notifications for 2 Palestinian-owned homes east of Yatta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces set up mobile homes and tents near Bayt Furik. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in Bayt Fajjar and 3 at checkpoints near Ramallah, Nablus, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 6 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in Issawiyya and the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/7; PCHR 6/11)
The PA ministry of awqaf and religious affairs said in a report that Israeli authorities prevented the call for prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque 54 times in May. (WAFA 6/7)
A 2d plane from the UAE carrying COVID-19-related aid materials landed in Tel Aviv. When the 1st flight landed on 5/19, the PA refused the aid as the UAE had not coordinated with the PA beforehand; the aid instead went solely to Gaza. PA prime minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said that the PA again had not been informed about the aid shipment. (HA, REU 6/9)
More than 1 week after Israeli police killed 1 unarmed Palestinian man with autism on a street in East Jerusalem, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the killing for the 1st time, calling it “a tragedy.” Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet that he expects “complete examinations into this matter.” (HA, REU 6/7)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5. Israeli forces also ordered a stop-work for a school in Kisan and seized 1 bulldozer. 4 Palestinians were arrested at military checkpoints near Bethlehem and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested in Issawiyya and 2 Palestinians were handed notices that they were banned from the Haram al-Sharif compound for 4 and 5 months. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles off the shore west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands and shepherds east of al-Maghazi and Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 6/6; PCHR 6/11)
The former leader of Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Ramadan Shalah, died after having been in a coma for more than 2 years. PA president Mahmoud Abbas expressed his condolences to the Shalah family and said Palestine had “lost a great national figure.” (AJ, WAFA 6/7)
In Israel, thousands of protesters demonstrated against the Israeli government’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. During the protest, a video message from U.S. democratic senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) urged protesters to stand up against authoritarian leaders and annexation and called for an end of the occupation of the West Bank. According to Sanders’s foreign policy advisor, Matt Duss, Sanders made the address following a request by Israeli-Palestinian MKs Ayman Odeh and Aida Touma-Sliman. (HA, REU, TOI 6/6; AJ, HA, HA, HA 6/7)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at Palestinian houses and vehicles near Huwwara when Palestinians confronted the settlers. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya‘bad. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA 5/22; PCHR 5/28)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 40 olive trees in Yatma. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Yatta, and Bethlehem; 1 was arrested at a checkpoint between Nablus and Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israel’s outgoing public security minister Gilad Erdan ordered 1 nonprofit organization helping Palestinian children from single-family homes with schoolwork to close because of alleged ties to the PA. The institution in charge of the organization, Volunteer for Hope, denies that the organization received any funds from the PA. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Bureij and al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 person crossing from Lebanon. (HA, WAFA 5/17; PCHR 5/21; HA 5/22)
The new Israeli government was sworn in. The new government is headed by Benjamin Netanyahu and has 36 ministers and 16 deputy ministers from 9 different parties. Benny Gantz will be deputy prime minister and defense minister for 18 months, when the coalition deal stipulates that Gantz will become the prime minister for the 2d half of the government term. During his speech to the Knesset, Netanyahu said of annexing Israeli settlements in the West Bank, “[i]t’s time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism.” (AJ, HA, REU 5/17; NPR 5/18)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to seal and conduct house raids in Ya‘bad for the 5th day in a row after 1 Israeli soldier was killed during a late-night raid on 5/12. Dozens of Palestinians were temporarily detained during the raids. Israeli forces also raided al-‘Arub refugee camp, leading to clashes with Palestinians, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli settlers cut down some 40 olive trees in Nahalin. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian near ‘Aynbus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi, Dayr al-Balah, and Juhur al-Dik; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/16; PCHR 5/21)
In Syria, 7 people were killed during air strikes in eastern Syria; the perpetrator of the air strikes was not identified. (HA, TOI 5/17)
In the West Bank, 2 Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition near the separation wall south of Qalqilya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum; 6 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets, including 3 minors. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition notice for a punitive demolition of the family home of an accused Palestinian attacker during a late-night raid in Tulkarm; during the raid, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Sira. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of Rafah and at agricultural lands east of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 5/1; PCHR 5/7)
Israel attacked at least 1 position in Syria. Israeli military helicopters fired rockets at targets in Qunaytra, causing damage. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that Israeli jets struck an ammunition depot east of Homs and that there were civilian losses. (REU 4/30; HA, REU 5/1; HA 5/5)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers chopped down 40 olive trees in al-Sawiya. 1 Palestinian was arrested at a checkpoint near Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Issawiyya; during the raid, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 4/27; WAFA 4/28; PCHR 4/30)
Israel conducted air strikes on Syria in a Damascus suburb from Lebanese air space. Sources differed on the number of people killed, ranging from 3-7 and at least another 4 injured. (AJ, HA, TOI 4/27; JP 4/28)
A U.S. state department spokesperson said that “we are prepared to recognize Israeli actions to extend Israeli sovereignty and the application of Israeli law to areas of the West Bank that the vision foresees as part of the State of Israel.” (AJ, WAFA 4/28)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed at al-Fawar refugee camp, leading to 6 Palestinians suffering tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work orders for 22 structures in the Salfit area. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Issawiyya and the Old City; 1 was arrested during a daytime raid in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 4/27; PCHR 4/30)
A court in Jerusalem ruled to seize $128 million in PA tax revenue for payments to families of Israelis killed by Palestinians. (WAFA 4/26)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized a mobile home displacing a Palestinian family near Jericho. 1 Israeli settler shot a gun in the air as he passed Palestinians managing a COVID-19 test post near Husan. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Taqqua, Hebron, Tulkarm, ‘Araba, ‘Azun, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Silwan and Issawiyya leading to clashes with Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of al-Zaytun. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinian shepherds and agricultural land east of al-Maghazi and Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/23; HA 4/27; PCHR 4/30)
The International Committee of the Red Cross donated a ventilator, monitors, defibrillators, suction devices, and pumps to Palestinian hospitals in Gaza. (REU 4/23)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians in Hebron with pepper spray. Israeli settlers also uprooted some 400 olive tree saplings in al-Khadir during 2 separate raids. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian trying to enter Israel near Qalqilya; he was hit with 3 rubber-coated bullets. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in and around Qalqilya and Bayt Umar, and 3 were arrested during raids in and around ‘Azun and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed during a raid in Issawiyya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a, Bayt Hanun, al-Maghazi, and Abasan; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen on 2 separate occasions 3 nautical miles from Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 4/12; WAFA 4/13; PCHR 4/16)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 2 Palestinians, including 1 minor during a late-night raid in Bayt Umar and 1 at a checkpoint in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a raid in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah, Khuza‘a, and al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported.(WAFA 4/12; PCHR 4/16)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces uprooted some 400 olive tree saplings west of Bethlehem and seized a residential tent, a generator, and an animal barn in al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces also arrested 15 Palestinians during raids in and around al-‘Arub refugee camp, Ramallah, Baytin, Tulkarm, Jenin, and Nablus. In Gaza, the death toll from the fire in a bakery on 3/5 rose to 13 after 2 more people succumbed to their injuries. Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 2 miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/9; PCHR 3/18)
Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett announced that the Israeli government had approved to build a separate road for Palestinians to connect the northern and southern parts of the West Bank as Israel is moving forward with building 3,500 settler units in E-1 near East Jerusalem. Defense Minister Bennett said that Israel is “applying sovereignty [over the West Bank] in deed, not words.” The PA foreign Ministry said in a statement that, with the move, Israel is seeking to close the door for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. (HA, JP, WAFA 3/9; AJ 3/10)
Qatar donated $10 million worth of medical equipment to help the PA combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the West Bank. There are 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the West Bank. (WAFA, WAFA 3/9)
In the West Bank, the governor of Bethlehem ordered a lockdown on the Bethlehem district to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus as 19 confirmed cases had been discovered in Bethlehem. On 3/6, the city of Bethlehem was sealed off. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian-owned houses in Madama, leading to confrontations with Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries occurred when Israeli forces intervened. A similar incident occurred hours later when settlers from the same settlement threw stones at Palestinian houses in Burin. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were injured by sound bomb shrapnel and dozens of Palestinians suffered tear-gas related injuries during clashes with Israeli forces in Issawiyya. 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, the death toll from the fire in a bakery on 3/5 rose to 11 after 1 more person succumbed to his injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces attacked Palestinian fishermen using live ammunition and water hoses 3 nautical miles off the northern coast of Gaza. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/7; PCHR 3/18)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 200 olive trees and 80 vine trees in al-Khadir. Israeli forces demolished 2 residential structures and 2 animal barns south of Hebron; and 1 house and 1 workshop in al-Walaja. 12 Palestinians were arrested in and around Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya, and Ramallah. 1 Fatah official from Jericho was placed in 6-month administrative detention without charges. During a raid in Jenin, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed; 1 Palestinian was injured by a rubber-coated bullet. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian minor was arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah and al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/27; PCHR 3/5)
In Syria, an Israeli drone strike killed 1 person near Quneitra. Syrian opposition media reported that the man was a Hezbollah operative, while Syrian state media said he was a local policeman. (HA 2/27)
Japan donated $22.4 million for various UNRWA projects throughout Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. (WAFA 2/28)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 21 Palestinians during raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jericho, Qalqilya, Tubas, Jenin, and Nablus. Israeli forces injured 2 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets during a raid in Bayt Sira. In East Jerusalem, 15 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya. In Gaza, the rocket exchange continued from 2/23; there were no reports of casualties but reports of damage in Gaza, including to the power grid in Khan Yunis. A truce between Islamic Jihad in Palestine and Israel was implemented at the end of the day. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (AJ, BBC, CNN, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/24; AJ, HA 2/25; PCHR 2/27)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered 12 West Bank settlement outposts, deemed illegal by Israel, to be connected to Israel’s electrical grid. The Israel Lands Authority also issued tenders for the construction of 1,077 housing units in the East Jerusalem settlement Givat Hamatos. (HA, HA 2/24)
The PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called on all Palestinians working in Israeli settlements to stop working there. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, around 23,000 Palestinians work in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (WAFA 2/24)