The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers grazed their cows on Palestinian-owned land in Khirbet Samra, destroying crops. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets, including 1 minor, and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 14 with rubber-coated bullets, including 1 medic, others with tear gas, and damaging 1 ambulance. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/28; PCHR 2/3)

The New York Times reported that the Israeli government under then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu used authorization of the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware as a bargaining chip for foreign policy gains in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, India, Hungary, and Poland, among many other countries. 1 example from the NYT reporting was the reinstating of the NSO license to Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which was directly linked to Saudi Arabia opening its airspace to Israeli flights. Saudi Arabia regained its Pegasus license the same day as Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman called Prime Minister Netanyahu, striking the deal to open Saudi air space to Israel. Similarly, the UAE restarted cooperation with Israel on security issues in 2013 after being offered Pegasus spyware. The UAE had severed ties with Israel in 2010 after Israel assassinated Mahmoud al-Mahbouh at a Dubai hotel. Another example brought out of the investigation is a correlation between Panama and Mexico changing their votes at the UN after gaining access to Pegasus spyware. The NYT also said that the NSO Group had sold its Pegasus spyware to the FBI and tried to sell a special version of its spyware product to the FBI, called Phantom. The Phantom spyware is able to hack into American phones, unlike the Pegasus spyware. The Finnish foreign ministry also said that Finnish diplomats working at Finnish missions outside of Finland were targeted by the Pegasus spyware. (AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, NYT 1/28; HA 1/31)

A federal court in Texas blocked the state from enforcing its anti-BDS law against 1 Palestinian American business owner. The man filed a lawsuit against the state in October due to its requirement that he promise not to boycott Israel. (AX 1/29; WAFA 1/30)

It was reported that the African Union will vote on 2/2 to decide if Israel will have its observer status revoked. Israel was readmitted as an observer state in July 2021. (HA 1/28; JP 1/30; F24 2/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians at a market in Hebron City, injuring 1 and causing damage to a ceramic store; Israeli forces dispersed Palestinians with tear gas who attempted to fend off the settlers. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian herders with clubs in the Masafer Yatta area, causing injuries. 20 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in al-Tur, displacing 20 Palestinians; 9 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces while protesting the demolition. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian bird hunters east of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Beit Lahiya; no injuries were reported. 2 Palestinians were arrested while trying to enter Israel via the Gaza fence. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/25; PCHR 1/27)

Israel said it had sentenced an Israeli soldier who uploaded a video of himself firing shots into Gaza from Israel with 10 days in prison. The soldier uploaded the video to the social media platform TikTok. (MEMO 1/25)

Unidentified perpetrators attacked a UNIFIL patrol in Ramyah, injuring 1 UNIFIL soldier and damaging 2 vehicles. Lebanese forces intervened on behalf of the UNIFIL soldiers. (MEMO 1/26)

A bipartisan group of 42 members of the U.S. house of representatives wrote to secretary of state Antony Blinken urging him to lobby against the UN human rights council’s inquiry into human rights violations in Israel, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, set up after the Israeli attacks on Gaza in May 2021. The group, led by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), argued that the inquiry has a “disproportionate focus on Israel,” calling it “outrageous and unjust.” (HA 1/27; MEE 1/28)

It was reported that the U.S.-based venture capital firm Integrity Partners are in talks with the NSO Group to acquire the company in 2022–23. NSO Group is an Israeli spyware company responsible for the hacking of the accounts of rights activists and politicians around the world with its Pegasus spyware. Integrity Partners says they will restructure the company to only allow the governments of New Zealand, the U.S., Australia, the UK, and Canada to use its spyware. The 5 countries have an intelligence-sharing program called Five Eyes. (HA 1/25; REU 1/26; MEMO 1/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers let their cattle graze on Palestinian farmland in Makhoul, destroying crops. Israeli settlers with military escort also raided Huwwara, throwing stones at Palestinian shops and vehicles, injuring 3 Palestinians and damaging 20 cars and 2 stores. Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for 4 houses under construction in Rujeib. Dozens of Israeli soldiers also raided al-Ibrahimi Mosque, closing it off to Palestinian worshippers. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni‘lin, Kharbatha al-Misbah, Jaba‘, Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, Hebron, and Qalandia; Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the raid in Qalandia, injuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in al-Tur and Silwan, including 3 minors. (AP, HA, JP, MEMO, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/24; IN, JP 1/25 CNN 1/26; PCHR 1/27)

Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Russian and Syrian militaries will start patrolling the air space along the Golan Heights. (HA 1/24)

The UAE said it had intercepted 2 ballistic missiles targeting Abu Dhabi, allegedly fired by the Yemeni Houthi movement. The UAE and Saudi military coalition attacked Houthi-held areas of Yemen on 1/21, killing more than 80 people in Saada and Hodeida and cutting off internet access in the country. (HA, MEMO 1/21; AJ, AP 1/22; AP 1/23; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, REU 1/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians gathered near a checkpoint in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. 2 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli municipality hung notices that it intends to confiscate 150 dunams (37 acres) of land for the Givat Hamoz settlement; the notice said the Palestinian landowners had until 3/20/2022 to appeal. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 1/22; PCHR 1/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Israeli activists from Rabbis for Human Rights working with Palestinians in Burin to plant trees; 7 were injured by the settlers with clubs and other improvised weapons and 1 car was set on fire. Rabbis for Human rights posted a video of the incident on Twitter. Israeli settlers also fenced off 4 dunams (1 acre) of Palestinian land in Kafr ad-Dik and planted it with trees. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized some 300 olive tree saplings in Deir Sharaf. Israeli settlers also vandalized 90 olive trees and olive saplings in Yasuf and Bidya. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian man and attempted to set his car on fire in Deir Istiya. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, inuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 9 with rubber-coated bullets and 52 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 17 with tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian man in Sinjil, detaining him before allowing Palestinians to take him to a hospital in Ramallah. Meanwhile, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet and others with tear gas. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in Sinjil and Jannatah and 4 during a house raid in Zeita. PA forces arrested 3 members of Islamic Jihad during a raid in Beita, including Abdul Raouf al-Jaghoub, a local Islamic Jihad leader. Hamas and Islamic Jihad slammed the PA for the arrests. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers led by deputy mayor of Jerusalem Aryeh King assaulted 1 Palestinian and set up barbed wire around a plot of land belonging to the Salem family, who are threatened by eviction in Sheikh Jarrah; Israeli forces also confiscated Palestinian flags from protesters. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire and fired tear gas at Palestinian farmers east of Dayr al-Balah, Abasan, and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/21; MEMO 1/22; ALM 1/25; PCHR 1/27)

Israel’s public security minister Omer Bar-Lev called the incident where activists from Rabbis for Human Rights were attacked by Israeli settlers near Burin “actions of a terror organization.” Public Security Minister Bar-Lev further stated that it is difficult to apprehend the attackers. No arrests were made as of 1/22. (HA, MEMO 1/23)

The Qatari foreign ministry said it had signed a deal to cover the cost of supplying Gaza’s power plant with gas through an escrow account. (HA 1/21; ALM, MEMO 1/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers blocked the main entrance to al-Naqura. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man, alleging that he had tried to stab a soldier at the Gush Etzion Junction between Bethlehem and Hebron. The PA called it an extrajudicial execution. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kobar, Kafr Ni‘ma, Ni‘lin, Beita, Izbat al-Tabib, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces evicted the 18-member Salhiya family from their home in Sheikh Jarrah, leading to a standoff where members of the family threatened to blow up a gas container on top of the house if the Israeli forces proceeded to demolish their home. A large crowd protested in support of the family. Several European representatives to Palestine and Israel, with some present at the scene, also condemned the eviction and called on Israel to stop it immediately. 1 Palestinian demolished his own commercial structure in Sheikh Jarrah. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land north of Beit Lahiya. Israeli forces also opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (+972, AJ, AJ, F24, HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, Twitter, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 1/17; EI, MEMO, MEMO 1/18; MEMO 1/19; PCHR 1/20)

Palestinian news outlet Safa and Israeli Channel 12 reported that the PA had frozen its work on preparing material for the ICC as a result of agreements made between PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz. (MEMO 1/18)

Israeli media reported that Libyan warlord and presidential contender Khalifa Haftar’s plane landed at Ben Gurion airport for a couple of hours before taking off again. In November it was reported that Haftar’s son and advisor Saddam Haftar had visited Israel for meetings with Israeli officials. (MEMO 1/17)

A possible drone attack in the UAE killed 3 Indian and Pakistani nationals and wounded 6 others at an oil facility and started a fire at the airport in Abu Dhabi. The Yemeni Houthi group said it was behind the attack. In a letter by Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Israel offered the UAE “security and intelligence support” after the attack, saying “Israel stands with the UAE.” The UAE has been conducting air strikes with its coalition partner Saudi Arabia for years in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, causing many civilian deaths. (AJ, HA, MEMO 1/17; AJ, AJ, ALM, HA, MEMO, REU, REU 1/18; AJ, AP, MEMO 1/19; HA 1/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian surveyor in Kafr Qalil, causing injuries to his head. Israeli settlers with military escort made roadblocks around Sabastia. Israeli forces arrested and assaulted 1 80-year-old Palestinian American man in Jiljilyya during a late-night raid, leading to his death; the man was found dead by Palestinians in an empty house in Jiljilyya after being arrested by the Israeli forces; the U.S. called for an investigation into his death. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work notices for 2 houses and for work on the electric grid in Bayt Dajan. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house, 2 water wells and 2 agricultural structures in al-Fakhit. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian journalist with a rubber-coated bullet during a raid in Beitunia. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Halhul, Hebron, Asira ash-Shamaliya, and Silat al-Harithiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities delivered a demolition notice for a mosque in Isawiya and demolished 2 retaining walls in al-Walaja. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles off the coast; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 5 Palestinians were arrested for burning tires in Tel as-Sabi in protest over the Jewish National Fund’s forestation project on land Bedouins use for agriculture. Radical Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir was among the people planting trees on the Bedouins’ land. (ALM, ALM, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, TOI, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 1/12; AJ, AP, MDW, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/13; HA 1/14; HA, WAFA 1/15; WAFA 1/16; NYT 1/20)

British consul general in Jerusalem Diane Corner met with Palestinians threatened by eviction in Sheikh Jarrah. (WAFA 1/13)

Haaretz reported that U.S. military personal charged with training Palestinian forces were given a tour of Hebron, including of al-Ibrahimi Mosque by settler advocate Noam Arnon. The tour was arranged by the Israeli military’s central command leader Yahuda Fuchs. (HA 1/12)

The Israeli supreme court reduced the sentence handed to an Israeli settler who had thrown a stun grenade at a Palestinian home in Sarta from 20 months to 12 months, reinstating a plea agreement a lower court had deemed too lenient. (HA 1/12; MEMO 1/13)

The United Arab List (UAL) boycotted sessions in the Knesset today in protest over a Jewish National Fund (JNF) forestation project in Bedouin-inhabited areas of the Naqab desert. In wake of the UAL boycott, the Israeli opposition passed 5 bills in preliminary votes. Labor minister Meir Cohen and UAL leader Mansour Abbas later came to an agreement that future work by the JNF must be negotiated by the coalition partners. (AP, HA, REU 1/12; ALM, HA, HA, HA 1/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided al-Mughayyir, killing 3 sheep and injuring 3 others. Israeli settlers with military escort also raided a tree-planting event in Burqa, leading to clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes in Hebron. Israeli forces seized 1 excavator in Madama. 2 Palestinians were arrested during a house raid in Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers raided Isawiya, chanting racist slogans at Palestinians. Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, entering al-Aqsa Mosque. 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Sur Baher, displacing 10. In Israel, Israeli forces raided Megiddo prison, damaging Palestinian prisoners’ belongings. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara, Maghazi, and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/9; MEMO, MEMO, MEMO 1/10; PCHR 1/13)

Hamas’s Interior Ministry said 1 person was arrested for the assassination of Palestinian engineer Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh in Malaysia in 2018. Hamas alleged that the person, who was arrested upon entering Gaza, had confessed to the assassination and that the person was carrying out the assassination in coordination with the Mossad. (HA, MEMO, TOI 1/9; MEMO 1/10)

Hamas’s Health Ministry called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow more oxygen and ventilators to enter Gaza, saying the hospitals in Gaza will not be able to cope with the increase in COVID-19 virus cases because of the spread of the highly infectious Omicron strain. (HA 1/10)

In the West Bank, PA forces arrested 3 Palestinians in Jenin, leading to gunmen opening fire at a PA office in the city; the 3 Palestinians were released shortly after by the PA. Armed Israeli settlers raided Susiya, chanting racist slogans and throwing stones, injuring 1 Palestinian man. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in al-Bireh, injuring 1 journalist with a rubber-coated bullet; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 12 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in Qalqilya, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets. Separately, Israeli forces confiscated 1 excavator in Kuseis near Dura. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Beita and Aida refugee camp and 3 at a checkpoint near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished parts of their own home in Ras al-Amud. 1 Palestinian was arrested at the Damascus Gate plaza. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Fukhari, Dayr al-Balah, and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/7; HA, JP, TOI 1/8; PCHR 1/13)

The Directorate of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem said Israel is preventing the implementation of a Waqf decision to increase the number of Waqf guards at the Haram al-Sharif compound. The Waqf said it needs to increase the number of guards due to the increase in Israeli settlers touring the compound. (MEMO 1/8; WAFA 1/10)

Norwegian representative to the UN Mona Juul said that she will use her time as president of the Security Council to prioritize the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by elevating a meeting on the issue on 1/19 to the ministerial level. (WAFA 1/7)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler rammed by car 1 Palestinian man walking at the Beit Sira checkpoint, killing the man; it was unclear whether the settler rammed the man intentionally. Israeli settlers also tried to attack a car repair shop in Bazariya, but were repelled by Palestinians. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a late-night raid in Balata refugee camp; Israel claimed the man had opened fire at Israeli soldiers raiding the camp; no Israelis were injured. Israeli forces also seized 1 excavator in Dura. 8 Palestinian minors were killed in a traffic accident in the Jordan Valley; PA president Mahmoud Abbas declared a day of national mourning after the accident. 21 Palestinians were arrested in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, al-Far‘a refugee camp, and Tulkarm; during the raid in al-Far‘a refugee camp, Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet and others with tear gas. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah and Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/6; PCHR 1/13)

Israeli deputy economy minister Yair Golan from the Meretz party called Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians a pogrom, in relation to attacks near at the Homesh settlement outpost. Deputy Economy Minister Golan was condemned by many Israeli politicians for his comments, and for calling the settlers “subhuman,” including by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who said Golan’s remarks were “bordering blood libel” and that “[s]ettlement activity in the West Bank represents modern-day pioneering.” (AP, HA, TOI 1/6; HA, MEMO 1/7; HA, MEMO 1/8)

The Dutch government announced that it will no longer provide funding to the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC). Israel put UAWC, along with 5 other Palestinian rights organizations, on its terror list on 10/22/2021, claiming that the organizations are linked to the PFLP. The international community, including the EU, has criticized the terror designations for the organizations, saying Israel have not provided any evidence to support its claims. The Dutch government’s decision follows an external review predating the Israeli terror designation, which found that UAWC employees have personal ties to members of the PFLP, but that no funding has been used for PFLP purposes and that there are no organizational links between the PFLP and UAWC. The PA condemned the Netherlands’ decision to end funding, calling it pandering to anti-Palestinian sentiments. (AJ, ALM, AP, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 1/6; AJ, WAFA 1/10; MEMO 1/11)

The Israeli military attorney told Adalah that it would not hand over the alleged evidence against the 6 rights organizations deemed terrorists by Israel, saying that the evidence is classified. (Adalah, WAFA 1/6)

Israeli Walla News reported that Israel’s director of European affairs at the foreign ministry, Aliza Bin Noun, shouted at European diplomats during a meeting where the Europeans complained about Israeli plans to build new settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. (MEE, MEMO 1/7)

A U.S. district judge in New York dismissed a lawsuit brought against the PLO and PA for the stabbing of 1 American man in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank in 2018. The judge called the U.S. law the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act of 2018, that allows individuals to sue the PLO and the PA, unconstitutional. (REU 1/7; WAFA 1/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian herders near Khirbat Samra, forcing the Palestinian herders to leave the area. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian homes in Hebron, causing damage. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 at a checkpoint near the Beit El settlement and 2 during a late-night raid in Anabta. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israel carried out air strikes, hitting 2 sites near Khan Yunis and other sites near Beit Hanun and Beit Lahiya, causing damage. It was reported in Palestinian media that Palestinian militants had fired anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli helicopters conducting the missile strikes, but they had missed their target. In Israel, Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinians demonstrating in Umm al-Fahm against the administrative detention of a Palestinian who has been on hunger strike for 139 days; several Palestinians were assaulted and 4 were arrested. (HA 1/1; AJ, HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 1/2; PCHR 1/6)

Egyptian mediators called on Hamas and Israel to show restraint after 2 rockets were launched from Gaza, landing in the sea on 1/1, and Israel conducted air strikes in Gaza, causing damage shortly after. (AP, HA, IN, TOI 1/2)

A delegation of right-wing members of Knesset from Likud, Shas, and the Religious Zionist party visited the Homesh settlement outpost, calling for it to be legalized. (TOI 1/2)