The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler was injured in a drive-by shooting on a settler running race near the Ofra settlement. Israeli forces subsequently closed down most roads in the Ramallah area. Israeli settlers blocked the DCO checkpoint and threw stones at a Red Crescent ambulance. Israeli settlers also obstructed traffic on a road between Nablus and Jenin. Israeli forces also issued demolition orders for 2 homes in ‘Ain al-Hilweh and 1 in Nueimeh. 3 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Qalqilya and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Bab al-Rahma area of the Haram al-Sharif compound for the third day in a row. (ALM, HA, QDS, QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/25; WAFA 4/26; PCHR 4/27; UNOCHA 5/5)

The PA Foreign Ministry said that 190 Palestinians had been evacuated via bus from Khartoum to Gaza via Egypt. The 190 people, mainly students, were evacuated due to the fighting that broke out between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese military last week. (QDS 4/24; QDS, WAFA 4/25)

The PA Ministry of Education said that most teachers had resumed work in Palestinian public schools after striking since the start of the semester. According to the ministry, the PA granted the public school teachers some concessions, including better pay. (WAFA 4/24; QDS, WAFA 4/25)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki addressed the UN Security Council ministerial meeting on the Middle East and the question of Palestine, calling on its members to help “bring the Nakba to an end.” On the sidelines of the meeting, al-Maliki met with UN secretary-general António Guterres who he briefed on the latest developments and called for accountability for Israel. Al-Maliki also met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. (WAFA 4/24; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/25)

In a statement celebrating Israel’s 75th Independence Day, U.S. president Joe Biden did not mention the two-state solution or Palestinians but said he would work with Israel to “create a more prosperous, peaceful, and integrated Middle East.” (WH 4/25; HA 4/26)

18 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 1 Republican voted against a resolution celebrating Israel’s Independence Day. The resolution did not have any reference to a two-state solution or to Palestinians but instead lauded normalization efforts. 9 other Democrats did not vote. (HILL 4/25; HA 4/26; QDS 4/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian woman, claiming she had stabbed and injured 1 settler near Beit Umar. Israeli forces also assaulted 1 Palestinian after forcing him to stop his vehicle near Jericho. 10 were arrested during late-night raids in al-Bireh, Bayt Rima, Dura, Bethlehem, Aida refugee camp, Tulkarm, and Asira. In East Jerusalem, 2 were arrested during raids. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen and seized their boats. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; WAFA 4/18; UNOCHA 4/20; PCHR 4/27)

The Israeli Border Control Administration denied entry to a Palestinian German teenager at Ben Gurion International Airport. She said she was verbally abused and threatened with violence before she was returned on a plane to Germany after being detained for 32 hours. The German ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert condemned the incident. (HA 4/27)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Jeddah for a visit where he will be meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on 4/18. Abbas was traveling with PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh and the head of the PA intelligence service Majed Faraj. (MEMO 4/16; ALM, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; AJ 4/18)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh led a delegation of Hamas officials to Riyadh. The group was expected to meet with Saudi officials despite the visit being unofficial. (MEE, MEMO 4/16; HA, MEE 4/17)

It was reported that the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities instructed the PA to investigate the incarceration of 2 Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza, saying that both suffer from psychiatric problems, and to present its actions to the committee within 6 months. (HA 4/17)

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang spoke to PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki and Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen in separate calls, informing them that China is ready to support the resumption of peace talks. Qin also expressed concern over the heightened tension between Israelis and Palestinians. (WAFA 4/17; AP, GDN, HA, MEE 4/18)

The EU, France, and Spain donated $29 million for payments to vulnerable families in Palestine through the National Cash Transfer Program. (WAFA 4/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Jaba’, injuring 1 Palestinian whose car was hit by a stone. Israeli settlers with a military escort also threw stones at Palestinians and Palestinian property in Umm al-Khair. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police assaulted and severely beat Christians seeking to attend the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israel had severely reduced the permitted capacity from some 10,000 attendees to 2,200 to the condemnation of Church officials, the PA, and Jordan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. In Tel Aviv, for the fifteenth week in a row tens of thousands of Israelis protested against the Israeli government. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/15; AJ, AJ, AN, GDN, GDN, REU, WAFA 4/16; MDW 4/18; UNOCHA 4/20; PCHR 4/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Husan. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Arroub refugee camp, injuring 1 with live ammunition. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 6 rockets were launched at Israel from Gaza; no damage was reported. Israeli forces conducted airstrikes near Nuseirat refugee camp, causing damage. In Kafr Qassim, Israelis burned 2 Palestinian-owned cars and sprayed hateful graffiti. Israeli police also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the Israeli raids on the Haram al-Sharif compound on 4/4 and 4/5 in Umm al-Fahm, Haifa, Nazareth, Kafr Kanna, and Arraba; 4 were arrested in Umm al-Fahm. In Lebanon, rockets and mortar shells were launched at Israel; no damage was reported. Israeli forces conduct airstrikes in Lebanon, causing damage near Rashidieh refugee camp and al-Kalila. (AJ, HA 4/5; AJ, AJ, ALM, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/6; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, AX, HA, HA, MDW, REU, WAFA 4/7; PCHR 4/13; AP 4/14; UNOCHA 4/20)

The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, saying Israel caused the escalation with its attacks on the Haram al-Sharif compound. It was reported that France was seeking to mediate between Lebanon and Israel while Egypt was in talks with Hamas and Israel to deescalate the situation. (AJ, HA, HA 4/7)

The U.S. prevented a UN Security Council statement condemning the rockets fired between Israel and Lebanon upon request by the Israeli government. (HA, MDW, WAFA 4/6)