The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF fires stun grenades, tear gas and beats several Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to the separation wall outside al-Walajah village nr. Bethlehem, injuring 11 demonstrators and arresting 4 (3 Palestinians, 1 international; all are released on bail by evening); conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 2 villages northwest of Ramallah, making no arrests. Jewish settlers in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem beat 2 Palestinian children (ages 8 and 12); Israeli security forces observe but do not intervene. In a separate incident, a Jewish settler in East Jerusalem beats 2 Palestinian women, fleeing when other Palestinians intervene. Jewish settlers burn tires on the Nablus–Ramallah road to deter Palestinian traffic. (OCHA, PCHR 5/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF raids, searches a Palestinian home in Jiftlik village nr. Jericho early in the morning, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches northwest of Jerusalem and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. (PCHR 5/6; OCHA, PCHR 5/13)

Israel deports to the Gaza Strip 2 Gazans found living illegally in Beersheba; the IDF sends them through the Israeli side of the Erez crossing but the men refuse to move through to the 150-m transit area to the Palestinian side, demanding they be allowed to return to Israel; IDF troops fire warning shots at them for more than 2 hrs. before forcing them to enter Gaza. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. The UN reports that since 4/28, 1 Palestinian has been killed in a tunnel collapse and 4 Palestinians have been killed and 9 injured when they were overcome by gas fumes while smuggling fuel through a tunnel. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. the separation wall southwest of Bethlehem, leaving 8 Palestinians homeless; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers set a fire destroying a mosque in Luban al-Sharqiyya nr. Nablus, an act Abbas says may jeopardize proximity talks. Jewish settlers also set fire to a Palestinian olive grove outside Hawara. The attacks are thought to be in response to the IDF demolition of structures in Shavei Shomron settlement on 5/2—part of the settlers price-tag doctrine to retaliate against Palestinians (and occasionally the IDF) in reaction to any attempt to curb settlement activity. (NYT, WP 5/5; OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

U.S. special envoy Mitchell arrives in the region to secure formal PA-Israeli agreement to open proximity talks, but the PA says Israel must halt all new settlement construction and evictions of Palestinians during the 4-mo. duration of negotiations, while Israel says the PA must halt all incitement, especially its boycott of settlement-made goods. (NYT, WT 5/4; WJW 5/6)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF destroys several structures in Shavei Shomron settlement built in violation of the 10-mo. settlement freeze; conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids, house searches in 3 villages nr. Hebron. (NYT 5/5; OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

IDF troops enter the n. Gaza no-go zone nr. Bayt Lahiya to fire on Palestinians (some well over 300 m away fr. the border) scavenging the former Aley Sinai and Dugit settlement sites for construction materials, wounding 1. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists staging a nonviolent march to the separation wall outside Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem, injuring 4 Palestinians (including 1 journalist); conducts late-night patrols in Kfairet village southeast of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron and from settlements nr. Bethlehem, escorted by IDF troops, take over a Palestinian home (belonging to the Salah family, who has lived there since 1967) in keeping with a 12/15/09 court order that ruled in favor of a Kiryat Arba settler who claimed to have purchased the property in 1991. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

Secy. Clinton announces that the Arab League is expected to meet on 5/1 to re-endorse proximity talks and that special envoy Mitchell will return to the region within days with plans to open indirect negotiations. U.S. officials say Abbas has agreed to resume talks after receiving a letter of assurances fr. Pres. Obama (not officially confirmed or released). (NYT, WP 5/1)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 2 Palestinian and 1 Irish journalist are detained) and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (2 Palestinians are injured; 4 Palestinians, 1 Israeli are detained); also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad nr. Qalqilya uproot 30 Palestinian olive trees nearby. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar escorted by IDF troops enter Hawara, vandalize 3 Palestinian homes. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of Gaza’s former Nahal Oz crossing fire on Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, killing a 15- yr.-old Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Ni‘lin and nr. Jenin, Jericho. (PCHR 4/29; OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

IDF troops enter the Erez industrial zone on the n. Gaza border, firing on Palestinians scavenging construction material fr. destroyed buildings, causing no injuries; troops pull back into Israel in the afternoon. The UN reports that 1 Palestinian has been injured in a tunnel collapse on the Rafah border since 4/21. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Hebron as an observation post; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 3 villages southeast of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. The UN reports that in the previous wk., Israeli Jerusalem municipal authorities demolished 1 Palestinian home in the Bayt Hanina neighborhood for construction of the “eastern ring road” (a settler-only bypass road connecting n. West Bank settlements to West Jerusalem). (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make 2 brief incursions into the s. Gaza no-go area nr. al-Qarara and Abasan, leveling lands to clear lines of sight, firing on residential areas during the operations to keep Palestinians indoors (no injuries reported). IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials in the destroyed Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no injuries. Israeli intelligence officers arrest an ailing Palestinian given permission to enter Israel through the Erez crossing for medical treatment; his family believes the permission to travel was granted as a ploy to capture him. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Jenin as a military barrack; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. With Israeli police approval and under police protection, Jewish settlers stage a march through Silwan in East Jerusalem to protest “illegal” Palestinian construction (i.e., without permits); police fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the settlers; at least 29 Palestinians, 2 Israeli policemen are injured. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire on Palestinian, international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, wounding 2 Palestinians, 1 international (from Malta) with live ammunition. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 5 villages south of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night house searches nr. Bethlehem, ordering 1 Palestinian to surrender for interrogation. Palestinians in Hebron stage a nonviolent march and sit-in outside Beit Romano settlement to protest settlement activity in the city; Jewish settlers move in to break up the demonstration but the IDF blocks them and disperses the Palestinians, arresting 3. (OCHA, PCHR, Times of Malta 4/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians of Bil‘in host an international conference calling for peaceful popular resistance against the separation wall. Afterward, participants (including EU special envoy Marc Otte and more than 20 other Arab and foreign diplomats) march peacefully toward the wall; IDF troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at demonstrators injuring 7 (5 Palestinians, including 2 journalists; 1 Israeli; 1 international) and arresting 5 (3 Israelis, including 1 journalist; 1 American; 1 Palestinian). The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (4 Palestinians injured); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and skunk (a foulsmelling liquid) at peaceful Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. Jewish settlers uproot 20 olive trees nr. Salfit. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make a brief incursion into the s. Gaza border area e. of Abasan and Khuza to level lands and clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts early morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem; makes a late-night incursion into Bayt Umar, raiding the homes of Palestinians involved in organizing local separation wall protests, firing stun grenades and tear gas in homes, breaking widows, arresting 5 Palestinians (4 are released on 4/25); conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. the Gush Etzion settlement blocks n. of Hebron pump settlement wastewater into nearby Palestinian land in Bayt Umar, flooding 70 d. of grape vines and washing away 300 m of stone fences; the PA Agriculture Min. believes the land will need to be treated for 2 yrs. before it can be used to grow crops for human consumption. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Bil‘in, and nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Ariel settlement nr. Salfit throw stones at passing Palestinian vehicles, causing no injuries. (PCHR 4/22; OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

Israel imposes a general closure on the West Bank through 4/20 for Israel’s memorial and independence days. In the West Bank, the IDF enters Bayt Umar nr. Hebron at midday to break up a demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and beating some demonstrators, seriously injuring 2 teenagers. The IDF also conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids in Aida r.c., al-Azza r.c. and al-Duha village nr. Bethlehem; conducts separate late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c., Hawara, and al-Thawri neighborhood in East Jerusalem. (OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

IDF troops make an incursion into the no-go zone e. of Gaza City and are immediately fired upon by armed Palestinians, sparking an exchange in which 1 armed Palestinian is killed. In the West Bank, the IDF raids, searches a Palestinian home in al-Walajah village nr. Bethlehem at midday, arresting 3 Palestinians; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both locations); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, protesting the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim nr. Nablus set fire to 2 Palestinian cars in nearby Jinsafut village. (OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

Israel allows 3 truckloads of aluminum, 3 of wood into Gaza for the 1st time since 6/07 and 10/08, respectively. Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF seizes 7 d. of Palestinian land nr. Ramat Yishai settlement in Hebron claiming security reasons; makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding and searching the home of a local organizer of weekly protests against the separation wall, threatening to arrest him if he continues to organize demonstrations. Hamas authorities in Gaza execute 2 Palestinians convicted in a Hamas military court of collaborating with Israel in the assassination of several resistance fighters, marking the 1st executions since Hamas took control of Gaza in 6/07. (JP 4/15; NYT, WT 4/16; OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

The IDF makes a brief incursion 250 m into Gaza e. of Jabaliya to level land along the border to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas and nr. Bethlehem, Ramallah. Jewish settlers vandalize a Palestinian mosque, burn 3 Palestinian cars in Hawara village. (PCHR, WP 4/15; OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

IDF tanks and helicopters on the c. Gaza border fire into the Strip at a group of armed Palestinians laying explosive devices along the border, killing 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and wounding 3; troops then send bulldozers 400 m into the area to level land and clear lines of sight. Late in the evening, Hamas-affiliated police move into the Rafah border area and order Palestinians to shut smuggling tunnel operations until further notice, allowing operators to retrieve food and other perishable goods from the tunnels before cordoning off the area. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. Salfit; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Tulkarm. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur nr. Hebron assault a Palestinian family working the land nearby, firing in the air to scare them off the land. (WP, WT 4/14; OCHA, PCHR, WP 4/15)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinians conducting a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no casualties. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire stun grenades across the border into Umm Nasir village, causing no damage or injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops surround an elementary school in Azun village nr. Qalqilya and request permission of the headmaster to search classrooms for children wanted for throwing stones at their vehicles: the headmaster refuses, and the soldiers do not press the issue. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah; escorts bus-loads of Jewish settlers to Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus to pray, fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries. (JP 4/12; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

In Gaza, Islamic Jihad says that Hamas-affiliated police have recently detained several of its fighters as well as mbrs. of other factions and made them sign pledges that they would not stage cross-border attacks on Israel. In the West Bank, an IDF military order goes into effect under which anyone living in the West Bank without a proper Israeli permit (not clarified) could face expulsion within as little as 3 days or face 7 yrs. in prison. The IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jericho, Ramallah. (AP, HA 4/11; NYT, WP 4/12; WT 4/14; OCHA, PCHR 4/15; OCHA 4/19)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent march in ‘Ayn al-Bayda nr. Hebron to protest the separation wall and settlement activities, arresting 6 Palestinians (including a journalist) and 5 internationals (all released on bail by 4/12); conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids, house searches in Aida, al-Azza, and Dahaysha refugee camps nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo nr. Ramallah attack, damage a Palestinian car driving nearby, causing no injuries. (OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent weekly demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli arrested) and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones, taking part in weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (7 Palestinians injured); conducts late-night patrols in Bayt Liqya nr. Ramallah, making no arrests. (OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into Gaza along the border e. of al-Qarara, leveling land to clear lines of sight; during the operation, the IDF moves tanks into the area, firing several shells, damaging 2 Palestinian homes but causing no injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 3 mortars and 2 rocket-propelled grenades at an IDF unit patrolling the c. Gaza border inside Israel, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding the home of 2 local organizers of weekly demonstrations against the separation wall, interrogating them, accusing them of incitement, and warning them against holding more protests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Jenin. Some 5,000 Jewish settlers guarded by IDF troops enter Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit, enter Islamic sites, vandalize homes; the IDF seals and restricts Palestinian movement inside the village while the settlers are present. (HA 4/8; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion 500 m inside the Gaza border e. of Jabaliya and Gaza City to level land to clear lines of sight. Unidentified Palestinians fire 6 mortars toward Israel, but all land inside Gaza, 1 hitting a home, injuring 6 Palestinians (1 seriously). In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah. (BBC, HA, YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians staging a nonviolent march to the border to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no casualties. A Palestinian is killed in a smuggling tunnel collapse on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. an unauthorized outpost in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem assault local Palestinians and international activists; the IDF removes the settlers fr. the area. (PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

Islamic Jihad pledges to halt its rocket fire fr. Gaza into Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an afternoon raid into Bayt Fajjar nr. Bethlehem, arresting 3 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c. and al-Azza r.c., both nr. Bethlehem (HA, YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine fires a mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian students protesting the fatal hit-andrun of a Palestinian by a settler on 4/1 (no injuries, 1 arrested); also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinians fr. Iraq Burin staging a nonviolent protest against settlement expansion (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Hawara (see 4/2) and nr. Hebron. (Gulf Times, YA 4/4; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

In response to recent escalating rocket and mortar fire, IDF warplanes and helicopters carry out 7 early morning air strikes on 2 caravans nr. Khan Yunis (no injuries), a cheese factory in Gaza City (injuring 3 Palestinian children nearby), and a metal foundry in Nussayrat r.c. (no injuries) that Israel claims were weapons factories and arms depots, warning of broader retaliation if rocket attacks continue. The U.S. urges both sides to display restraint. Hrs. later, Hamas issues a statement saying it is working with Gaza factions to reimpose the cease-fire with Israel before it escalates out of control, but also condemns the Israeli air strikes for aggravating the situation and calls on the international community to press Israel to keep retaliation in check. (Salafist groups opposed to Hamas refuse to participate in the ceasefire.) In the West Bank, Palestinians stone a settler vehicle outside Hawara village nr. Nablus, causing it to crash (no word on injuries); the IDF sends troops into Hawara in pursuit of the stone throwers, arresting 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent weekly demonstrations against the separation wall and settlement expansion in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli is arrested), Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (3 Palestinians injured), al-Ma‘sara (where only Palestinians demonstrated; 4 injured), and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. (AFP, JAZ, NYT, YA 4/2; NYT, WP 4/3; YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials from the industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no casualties. IDF troops make a brief incursion 300 m into Gaza e. of al-Qarara to level land to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late night arrest raids, house searches in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah, Bethlehem, Dayr Nizam. Palestinians report that in the previous wk. the IDF confiscated 2.5 d. of land in Awarta village nr. Nablus for construction of a new military outpost. (PCHR 4/1; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)