The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF prevents Palestinian farmers fr. Bayt Umar nr. Hebron fr. reaching their agricultural lands located nr. Karme Tzur settlement; conducts late night raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin, arresting 1 Palestinian and summoning 5 others for interrogation. (PCHR 10/29, 11/5)

In Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, Israeli police dismantle a tent and confiscate the possessions of mbrs. of a family evicted fr. their home on 8/2. (OCHA 10/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF prevents Palestinian farmers and international activists fr. reaching agricultural lands nr. Bayt Umar n. of Hebron to cultivate olives, beating 1 Spanish and 1 Israeli activist, and forcing the farmers to leave the area. The IDF also conducts late-night raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c., nr Tulkarm and Jericho, arresting 4 Palestinians and summoning a number of others for questioning (violently beating the father of 1 suspect when he takes too long to open the door). Palestinian sources report that in the previous wk., at least 50 Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Levona attacked Palestinian farmers fr. Sinjil nr. Ramallah headed to their olive fields and were removed fr. the area by the IDF; Jewish settlers fr. the unauthorized settlement outpost of Adei Ad nr. Ramallah cut down 55 Palestinian olive trees in protest at the arrest of 2 other settlers for stealing Palestinian olives. (OCHA 10/22; PCHR 10/29; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 10/09)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians teenagers at Hawara checkpoint nr. Nablus, claiming they are in possession of a knife and metal tools; raid a fuel station in Hebron and check the Palestinian workers’ ID cards, arresting 1. The IDF also raids and searches a number of houses nr. Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Ramallah, arresting 1 Palestinian; enters the Zif area of Hebron, where troops open fire and conduct raids, house-searches, transform the roofs of a number of houses into military outposts. As the Palestinian olive harvest officially begins, the IDF bars Jewish settler access and deploys additional border police to certain areas of the West Bank to prevent clashes. A 17- yr.-old Palestinian shot in the head by IDF troops in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron on 3/4 dies fr. his wounds. (OCHA, PCHR 10/15; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 10/09)

In the West Bank, the IDF bars Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Hebron, arresting 7 Palestinians (including 4 teenagers). (PCHR 10/8)

For a 3d day, Israel allows significant cross-border transit through the Rafah crossing, allowing 600 Palestinians to enter Egypt and 494 to return to Gaza. IDF troops on the central Gaza border e. of Gaza Valley, supported by IDF helicopters, engage in a cross-border exchange of fire with armed Palestinians; the only casualty is a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy seriously wounded by IDF fire outside his home, 1,500 m fr. the border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts a rare daytime arrest raid, house searches in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Balata r.c. and Nablus, in Bil‘in, and nr. Jenin and Qalqilya. The Israeli High Court approves construction of the 1st 50 of 1,450 housing units in Adam settlement nr. Jerusalem, intended to house families to be resettled fr. the unauthorized outpost of Migron, as agreed btwn. the government and settlers in 11/08 (see Quarterly Update in JPS 151). (OCHA, PCHR 7/2)

Hamas mbrs. fire 5 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with 3 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, injuring 4 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who tries to take the gun of a soldier posted outside the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 4 villages nr. Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. and Bayt Umar nr. Hebron. (Israel Radio News 5/6; NYT, PCHR 5/7; OCHA 5/13; PCHR 5/14)

The UN reports that in the previous wk., Palestinians and the IDF exchanged gunfire across the border nr. the Nahal Oz crossing (causing no injuries) and that the IDF fired “randomly” into Gaza nr. the Qarni and Sufa crossings (causing no injuries). In the West Bank, the IDF makes synchronized daytime raids on 4 villages s. of Jenin, patrolling in the streets, firing live ammunition and percussion grenades at residential areas, causing no injuries and making no arrests. The UN reports that over the previous wk. Jewish settlers have razed 200 d. of Palestinian land (including 50 d. of olive groves) w. of Salfit to expand Burkan settlement. A PA court sentences Hebron resident Anwar Breghit to death by hanging, convicting him of selling private Palestinian land to Israelis when he sold a plot in Bayt Umar village to Karme Tzur settlement; the sentence must be approved by PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas. (NYT, OCHA, PCHR 4/29; PCHR 5/7)

The IDF imposes a general closure on the West Bank through 4/29 for Israel’s independence day celebrations, barring all West Bank Palestinians access to East Jerusalem and Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a rare daylight incursion into Rantis village nr. Ramallah, patrolling streets, firing on residential areas, seriously wounding a Palestinian woman; fires on a 62-yr.-old Palestinian man at the Tarqumiyya crossing s. of Hebron when he reportedly ignores orders to stop, wounding him twice in the feet; demolishes a monument in al-Mukabir in East Jerusalem dedicated to Iyad Awaysat, killed by the IDF in East Jerusalem on 4/7; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Khirbat Safa and Bethlehem, nr. Hebron and Nablus. A Jewish settler shoots, seriously wounds a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy cultivating almonds on his family’s land s. of Nablus. At least 15 Jewish settlers fr. Bet Ayn settlement ambush and stone 2 Palestinian men (ages 62 and 69) farming land in Bayt Umar village nearby. (PCHR 4/29)

The IDF lifts the general closure on the West Bank imposed on 4/7 for Passover. In the West Bank, the IDF moves into Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit early in the morning, patrolling streets, occupying homes as observation posts, imposing a curfew, barring Palestinians fr. leaving their homes or entering the area; in the afternoon, the IDF escorts some 6,000 Jewish settlers into the town to hold Passover services at several local shrines; during the 15 hrs. that settlers are in the village, they vandalize Palestinian cars and homes, break windows, and spray graffitti without the IDF intervening. The IDF also imposes a curfew on, patrols in Tuqu‘ nr. Bethlehem, stopping vehicles and checking IDs; conducts synchronized latenight arrest raids, house searches in villages around Hebron and Jenin, firing on residential areas, causing no reported injuries; begins work on a new segment of the separation wall southwest of Hebron on land belonging to ‘Arab al-Ramadin village, leveling land within 65 ft. (20 m) of Palestinian homes; levels 6 d. of Palestinian land in Bayt Umar village n. of Hebron for installation of a new electricity network connecting Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron with Hadar Beitar settlement nr. Bethlehem. (OCHA 4/22; PCHR 4/23)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi r.c. fire on residential areas of the camp, wounding 1 Palestinian. Late in the evening, the IDF makes 2 air strikes on the Rafah border, causing no reported casualties. Israeli naval vessels shell the Bayt Lahiya coast, nearly hitting a police car, injuring 4 Hamas-affiliated police officers. Palestinians fire 5 rockets and mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, all of which land nr. Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. The UN reports that in the previous wk. (including today), Palestinians have fired 29 rockets and mortars into Israel, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a midday incursion into Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, imposing a curfew, raiding and searching homes, temporarily occupying 3 as observation posts, chasing and firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, seriously beating 1 teenager; sends troops back into Bayt Umar late in the evening, imposing a curfew, raiding and searching 10s of homes and shops, occupying several as observation posts, heavily damaging several houses, arresting 25 Palestinians; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. (OCHA 3/11; NYT, PCHR 3/12; OCHA 3/17)

Late in the evening, an IDF drone carries out an air strike on a car in Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c., assassinating Islamic Jihad senior cmdr. Khalid Shalan, injuring 1 other Islamic Jihad mbr. riding with him and 2 bystanders. The IDF also carries out 2 midday air strikes on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts daytime arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin; sends troops into Bayt Umar in the evening, occupying the top floor and roof of a Palestinian home as an observation post, firing on Palestinian stone-throwing youths who confront them, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian teenager with a gunshot to the head, arresting 2; conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids in villages around Hebron and Jenin, and additional late-night arrest raids nr. Nablus and Tulkarm. (PCHR 3/5; NYT 3/6; OCHA 3/10, 3/11; PCHR 3/12)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes an afternoon raid on a home in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, occupying the upper floor and roof as an observation post for 4 hrs., firing tear gas at Palestinian children who throw stones at them. The IDF also pursues stone-throwing children into al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at midday, raiding and occupying a home for several hrs.; fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). A Palestinian, shot and wounded by the IDF in Gaza City on 1/13 during OCL, dies. (OCHA 3/3, 3/4; PCHR 3/5)

Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. the Gaza border fence, sparking an exchange of gunfire with the IDF that leaves 2 armed Palestinians dead. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Qabatya nr. Jenin to arrest a Palestinian; enters Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron to chase several stone-throwing youths, raiding 2 homes and a store, occupying rooftops, and firing on residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian, arresting 2; fires live ammunition, rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 9); fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); uproots 70 olive seedlings on a Palestinian plot nr. Efrat settlement nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas, nr. Bethlehem and Jenin. (OCHA 2/24, 2/25; PCHR 2/26)

After nearly 2 wks. of consultations with top 2/10/08 election vote-getters Tzipi Livni (Kadima) and Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud), Israeli pres. Shimon Peres taps Netanyahu to form a government. Netanyahu quickly opens coalition talks with various parties. (IFM 2/20; NYT, WP 2/21; WP 2/23; NYT 2/24)

Israel announces the complete withdrawal of ground forces from Gaza. Israeli naval vessels direct heavy machine gun fire at beaches in n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries. Israel allows 118 truckloads of goods into Gaza. Hamas mbrs. reportedly begin rounding up alleged collaborators with Israel, including Fatah mbrs. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Qabatya to ambush and arrest local Islamic Jihad leader Salah Kmail, and into Qiffin nr. Tulkarm to raid a carpentry shop, arresting Islamic Jihad mbr. Omar Daoud; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Jenin and nr. Salfit, Tulkarm; fires on Palestinians demonstrating against OCL in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, wounding 2; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 11 Palestinians, including 5 children). (AP, HA, MM, REU 1/21; IDF Radio, IHY, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT, YA 1/22; NYT 1/23; JP, MM 1/26; PCHR 1/29)

In Washington, Livni and Rice sign the MOU on curbing arms smuggling, aimed at facilitating Israel’s acceptance of the EgyptHamas cease-fire offer (see 1/15). Anonymous Israeli military officials state that OCL is “in its final act.”

Combat notes: Early in the day, the IDF pulls back to the outskirts of Gaza City (with reports indicating that Tal al-Hawa has been devastated), but fighting intensifies again in the evening. Intensified IDF ground operations under cover of air strikes and heavy shelling are reported on the outskirts of Khan Yunis. The IDF reports hitting more than 50 targets during the day, including 15 rocket-launching sites, 13 groups of armed men, 4 suspected weapons depots, 2 smuggling tunnels, at least 1 mosque, Hamas’s Asda’ media center outside Khan Yunis (previously hit on 12/27). Air strike target areas include Bani Suhayla, Bayt Lahiya, alBureij r.c., the al-Fukhari area, Gaza City (al-Shuja‘iyya, Tal al-Hawa; al-Tuffah), Izbat ‘Abid Rabbuh, Jabaliya town and r.c., Khan Yunis (white phosphorous suspected), alNasser (n. of Rafah), Rafah, the al-Satar al-Gharbi area (nr. Khan Yunis), and the alTannour area (e. of Rafah). Artillery and tank fire are reported in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, al-Bureij r.c., Dayr al-Balah (white phosphorous suspected), Gaza City (city center and al-Sudaniyya, al-Zaytun), Jabaliya town, Khan Yunis, al-Qarara, al-Shuka, Twam, Wadi alSilqa (white phosphorous suspected). Naval bombardments center on open areas w. of Khan Yunis and in the al-Mawasi area, and in s. Rafah. Ground engagements are reported in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, the al-Fukhari area and nearby Ma’an, Gaza City, al-Mughraqa, al-Zahra’. At least 3 ambulances are hit trying to evacuate the dead and wounded in clashes in central Gaza nr. Shuhada junction and in al-Mughraqa.

In a highly publicized incident, IDF tank shells hit a Gaza City home, killing 4 young girls (3 sisters, 1 cousin). Father of the 3 sisters, Izzeddin Abu al-Aish, a prominent Gazan doctor who appears regularly as a commentator on Israeli TV, phones ITV channel 10’s live broadcast to beg for medical assistance for his injured family, reports that his daughters are dead. In addition, an IDF air strike targets a home receiving condolence visits in Gaza City’s al-Shuja‘iyya neighborhood, killing 10 Palestinians, wounding 7. Another air strike on a home in al-Bureij r.c. kills a mother and her 5 children, ages 7–15. Gazan medical officials put the Palestinian toll at 1,140 dead, more than 5,100 wounded (470 in serious condition).

Palestinians fire 22 rockets and 5 mortars into Israel. Areas hit include Ashdod and Kiryat Gat (where at least 3 Israelis are injured, 1 seriously).

Humanitarian notes: The IDF allows up to 109 trucks of humanitarian aid entry to Gaza during the 4-hr. lull. (AFP, AP, IDF, IFM, ITV, MA, MM, REU, XIN, Zaman 1/16; IFM, NYT, WP, WT, XIN 1/17; NYT 1/18; AY, DUS, ITIC, MM 1/19; PCHR, WT 1/22; PCHR 1/29; ITV, MM 2/4; NYT 2/5)

The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Nablus; fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians who attend nonviolent demonstrations against OCL following Friday prayers in Hebron (injuring 4) and neighboring Bayt Umar (injuring 3), Issawiyya (injuring 4); fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 5 Palestinians, 4 with live ammunition); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent protests against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 12 Palestinians, including 7 children). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians protesting against OCL nr. al-Aqsa Mosque (injuring 1) and in Ras al-Amud neighborhood (injuring 1). (PCHR 1/22)

The IDF launches its deepest ground incursions into Gaza City since OCL began, conducting a 2-front assault from the north and the south; troops pull back to the outskirts of Gaza City by nightfall. To accommodate expanded operations, the IDF commits its first significant influx of reservists into Gaza, numbering in the 1,000s, using them to hold IDF positions, freeing up regular combat troops to thrust deeper into Gaza City.

Combat notes: The intensified IDF assault on Gaza City begins before dawn, with tanks and troops based in the fmr. Netzarim settlement advancing fr. the southwest, supported by helicopter gunships and F16s, resulting in some of the heaviest fighting since OCL began, especially in Shaykh Ajlin. Simultaneously, the IDF steps up attacks on the northern outskirts of the city. The IDF reports (IDF 1/11) finding 10s of booby-trapped houses, buildings, and tunnels, accusing Hamas of booby-trapping 30 homes in one neighborhood (location not given). Ground forces also move into Khuza in s. Gaza under heavy artillery fire, bulldozing several homes and razing tracts of agricultural land before withdrawing late in the evening.

The IDF reports hitting nearly 70 targets across Gaza today and making more than 40 air strikes. Targets hit include 23 smuggling tunnels (including 2 located under the homes of Hamas mbrs.), at least 15 “armed cells,” 11 suspected weapons depots, several rocket-launching sites. Air strike target areas include Bani Suhayla, Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Gaza City (Shaykh Ridwan), Khan Yunis, al-Maghazi, al-Mughraqa, Nussayrat, Rafah, al-Shabura r.c., Yibna r.c., al-Zawayda (c. Gaza). Heavy tank and artillery fire is reported in Bayt Hanun (white phosphorus use confirmed by Amnesty International), Gaza City (al-Shuja‘iyya, Tal al-Hawa, al-Zaytun), Jabaliya, Khuza, Khan Yunis (possibly involving white phosphorous).

Palestinians fire 20 rockets and 8 mortars into Israel, including at least 1 Grad that hits an empty kindergarten in Ashdod (damage but no injuries) and 2 rockets that hit Beersheba (some light injuries). The IDF reports sustaining no casualties but killing around 45 armed Palestinians, bringing the estimated Palestinian toll to at least 876 dead, 3,600 wounded.

Humanitarian notes: The IDF observes the daily 3-hr. humanitarian lull but does not release figures on the number of trucks permitted entry.

Of note: Today’s IDF air strikes on tunnels along the Rafah border damage 10 homes in Egyptian Rafah, seriously wound 2 Egyptian border policemen and lightly wound 1 border policeman, 2 Egyptian children (ages 2 and 5). Egyptian security officials say that the Israeli drones and planes have violated Egyptian air space daily since OCL began and that previous Israeli air strikes during OCL have damaged buildings and 1 mosque, shattered windows, and caused power shortages inside Egypt. (AFP, HA, IDF, WP 1/11; IDF, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/12; WT 1/13; PCHR 1/15; ITIC 1/19; MM, QA 1/22)

The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Umar and Sa’ir, both nr. Hebron. (PCHR 1/15)

The Israeli security cabinet reportedly begins internal debate on opening phase 3 of OCL, which would involve deep incursions into Gaza’s built-up areas to deal a crushing blow to Hamas. Israeli military and intelligence sources warn that the new goal would require deep, sustained incursions into Gaza’s densely populated areas, likely resulting in months of combat and heavy casualties.

Combat notes: Heavy IDF aerial, naval, and ground assaults across Gaza continue. The IDF reports carrying out more than 110 air strikes, in many cases to support troops battling on the ground. Targets include 20 “terror operatives” (possibly assassinations), more than a dozen rocket-launching sites and squads, more than 20 suspected weapons depots (including homes of 3 Hamas mbrs.) and other outposts, at least 10 homes and 1 apartment building, 2 tunnels on the Rafah border, a market in Bayt Lahiya, 1 ESF post in Gaza City, a mosque in Dayr al-Balah. Target areas include Abasan, Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, al-Bureij r.c., Dayr alBalah, Gaza City (city center and al-Nasser, Shaykh Ridwan), Jabaliya town and r.c., Khan Yunis, Khuza, Nussayrat, al-Qarara, Rafah, Shati’ r.c., open areas in central Gaza.

At least 1 air strike on a residential area e. of Jabaliya involves white phosphorous munitions that cause extensive fire damage to 4 homes. Another air strike hits the rooftop of a Gaza City building housing the offices of some 20 international press agencies, destroying broadcasting equipment and wounding 1 journalist.

IDF ground forces take up new positions in Juhur al-Dik and al-Mughraqa in c. Gaza, and al-Shuka in s. Gaza (bulldozing 13 homes). Heavy tank and artillery fire are reported in Bayt Lahiya, Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City (al-Shuja‘iyya, alTuffah, al-Zaytun), Jabaliya. Heavy closequarter combat is reported in Gaza City and nr. Bayt Lahiya, with Palestinians firing antitank weapons and mortars and sniping at ground troops, moderately wounding 1 IDF soldier and lightly wounding 7.

Palestinians also fire 30 rockets and 1 mortar into Israel (including several Grads that hit Ashqelon), causing no reported damage or injuries.

At least 35 Palestinians are killed during the day, bringing the estimated Palestinian toll to around 795 dead and 3,300 wounded.

Humanitarian notes: The UN and other relief groups resume humanitarian aid transfers after receiving assurances fr. the Israeli government that they will not be targeted. During today’s 3-hr. humanitarian lull, Israel allows 41 trucks carrying food and medicine into the Strip. (Committee to Protect Journalists, Daily News, IDF, MA, MM, YA 1/9; IDF, NYT, WT, WP 1/10; NYT 1/11; PCHR 1/15)

Israel seals the West Bank through 1/10 citing unspecified security concerns. The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinians demonstrating against OCL after Friday prayers in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron (injuring 2), Hawara s. of Nablus, Hebron (injuring 4), Issawiyya, Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem; also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists attending weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 3 Palestinians, arresting 5), Jayyus (injuring 9, including 2 wounded by live ammunition, which is not used at the other rallies), Ni‘lin (injuring 5 Palestinians); conducts late-night house searches in Azmut nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo nr. Ramallah beat and fire on 2 Palestinians collecting water at a well nr. the settlement, wounding 1. (IDF 1/9; PCHR 1/15)