The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting the occupation in al-‘Arub refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is injured. They also arrest 13 Palestinians and confiscate 1 car during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Nablus, and Jenin; and patrol near Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Hebron. Israeli border police arrest a Palestinian in central Hebron, allegedly when he is found to be carrying a knife. Unidentified Palestinians open fire on an IDF post near Ramallah, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, approximately 62 Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. (TOI, WAFA 11/26; MNA 11/27; PCHR 11/30)

Israeli forces stage a multi-stage “controlled detonation” of an underground tunnel leading from the Khan Yunis area of Gaza into Israel, killing 12 Hamas and PIJ fighters, and injuring at least 18 more. An IDF spokesperson says that the detonation was a preemptive move because the tunnel did not yet pose a threat to Israel, claims that the Palestinians were only killed because they rushed into the tunnel after the detonation and suffered smoke inhalation, and calls the tunnel a “gross violation of Israeli sovereignty.” A PIJ spokesperson says the group is “weighing its options” in response to the attack (PIJ reportedly built the tunnel). (EI, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/30; MNA 10/31; MNA 11/3; HA 11/5)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during early morning raids in Jenin refugee camp, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents. Amid the clashes, Israeli soldiers shoot and injure a Palestinian garbage truck driver. IDF troops also arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Jenin, and patrol in and around Hebron, Salfit, and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinian farmers harvesting olives south of Hebron, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, undercover Israeli forces open fire on 2 Palestinians at the entrance to Qalandia refugee camp, injuring 1 before arresting both. Three Palestinians are injured in the ensuing clashes. Israeli forces also arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan, Shu‘fat, and Hizma, and violently disperse a sit-in and dismantle a protest tent Palestinians set up in al-Bustan in 2009. (EI, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/30; MNA 10/31; PCHR 11/2)

In the West Bank, IDF troops assault and arrest a Palestinian during a patrol in ‘Azun village near Qalqilya. They also arrest 13 Palestinians during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus, and patrol near Hebron. Palestinian youths throw stones at an IDF patrol outside a settlement near Hebron, sparking minor clashes; 1 Palestinian is arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in Qalandia refugee camp and Issawiyya; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest a Palestinian during a late-night raid in the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Bayt Lahiya. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 10/16; PCHR 10/19)

After days of positivity from both Hamas and the PA in the wake of the 10/12 reconciliation deal, a Hamas spokesperson criticizes the PA for not prioritizing the rollback of sanctions on Gaza. “It is not justified to continue the sanctions on Gaza, while the [PA] government is content with talking about getting control of border crossings and exploration for [natural] gas in Gaza,” he writes, on Twitter. His comments come after the Fatah Central Committee neglected to discuss the sanctions at a meeting on 10/15. Meanwhile, the PA’s director of border crossings, Nazmi Muhanna, arrives in Gaza. He says he is there to “to carry out the first article of the reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo [on 10/12] regarding taking over the crossings.” (TOI 10/16; MNA, TOI 10/17)

The Israeli NGO Peace Now reports that the Licensing Subcommittee of Israel’s Civil Administration has approved 31 building permits for new housing units in central Hebron, marking the first approval of new settlement construction in Hebron in 15 years. (AP, PCN, REU, TOI, YA 10/16; TOI 10/17)

A Syrian antiaircraft battery positioned east of Damascus fires on Israeli fighter jets allegedly flying in Lebanese air space, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IAF launches an air strike on the battery. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 10/16)

PA minister of education Sabri Saidam visits the Jubbet al-Dhib school that the IDF dismantled on 8/22 and 9/9 to celebrate its rebuilding and opening. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces confiscate machinery from a Palestinian farm near Tubas. Palestinians throw stones at Israeli forces on patrol in Tulkarm and nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, sparking minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Jenin, and Ramallah, and patrol near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Abu Dis, sparking minor clashes with Palestinian youths; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp on 2 separate occasions, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 9/10; PCHR 9/14)

The PA releases Youth Against Settlement founder Issa Amro on $1,400 bail. He was arrested on 9/4 for Facebook posts criticizing the PA. (AJ, MNA 9/10)

In Cairo, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh chairs the first meeting of Hamas’s top officials since their election earlier this year (see JPS 46 [4] and 47 [1]). They discuss relations with Egypt, the possibility of reconciliation with Fatah, and their regional position. Several Hamas officials then meet with top Egyptian security officers to discuss the Rafah border crossing and other bilateral issues. (TOI 9/10; TOI 9/11)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Bayt Rima near Ramallah overnight, arresting 1 Palestinian and shooting and injuring another. Late-night raids in al-Fara‘a refugee camp near Tubas spark further clashes; 1 Palestinian is injured and 3 are arrested. The IDF arrests 9 more Palestinians during raids in and around Jenin, Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, Hebron, and Bethlehem, and patrols near Hebron and Nablus. Israeli settlers park a number of residential trailers on Palestinian land near Nablus. PASF troops arrest a prominent Palestinian activist, Issa Amro, 1 day after he posted calls for the resignation of PA pres. Abbas and PM Hamdallah on Facebook (Amro is the founder of Youth Against Settlements). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinian youths during a raid in al-Tur. (JDF, TOI, WAFA 9/4; EI, GDN, HA 9/5; PCHR 9/14)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City; at least 11 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in the Burham and Jibiya villages near Ramallah overnight, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in Jenin and Hebron, and patrol near Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during a raid in Shu‘fat refugee camp. (MNA 8/25; MNA 8/26; PCHR 9/1)