In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in al-Mazra‘a al-Gharbiya, injuring 2. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Arroub refugee camp, injuring 3 with...
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December 20, 2022
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October 17, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli forces assaulted 5 Palestinian journalists from Palestine TV in Deir Sharaf. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Husan, al-Bireh, and Hebron. In East...
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September 29, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Burqa, causing damage. 1 7-year-old Palestinian child died during an Israeli house raid in Taqqua; the boy’s uncle said...
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September 14, 2022
In the West Bank, 2 Palestinians, including a member of the PA security service’s intelligence branch, and the Israeli deputy commander of the Nahal brigade’s special reconnaissance unit, were...
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September 5, 2022
In the West Bank, 4 Israeli soldiers were injured by an explosive device thrown at them at a military checkpoint near Nabi Saleh. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near the...
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July 29, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a settler incursion into al-Mughayyir. Israeli soldiers were present at the killing, but eyewitnesses say the shots...
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June 13, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a late-night raid in al-Bireh. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting a raid in...
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May 24, 2022
In the West Bank, 3 Israeli settlers, including 2 minors, were injured by Palestinians throwing stones at their vehicle near Huwwara. Israeli settlers vandalized 140 olive and almond trees and...
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May 23, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray on a Palestinian family at a checkpoint near Burqa, injuring 3, including 1 infant; the infant was rushed to a hospital. Israeli forces shot...
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April 27, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes in Kafl Haris, injuring 2. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and wounded 4 others during a raid in Jenin refugee...
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April 19, 2022
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April 17, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians marking Prisoners’ Day in Hebron and Bethlehem, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas in Bethlehem and 1 with...
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April 15, 2022
In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to injuries sustained by Israeli forces during a raid in Kafr Dan on 4/14. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qarawat Bani...
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April 10, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Jenin, attempting to arrest the brothers of 1 Palestinian man who was shot and killed in Jaffa after he allegedly killed 3 Israelis and wounded 10 others in...
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March 31, 2022
In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian man after he had stabbed and injured 1 other Israeli settler with a screwdriver in a bus near the Efrat settlement south of...
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March 17, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli forces sealed off parts of the Old City in Hebron and forced Palestinian shops to close. Israeli forces also delivered a stop-work order for 2 houses in Kafr ad-Dik. 16...
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March 15, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Burqa but were chased away by Palestinian residents; no injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also uprooted some 200 olive tree saplings in Khallet...
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March 6, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli MK Itamar Ben-Gvir drew a gun at Palestinians, claiming they were throwing stones at settler vehicles near al-Arroub refugee camp; no injuries or damage were reported....
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January 6, 2022
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...
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in al-Mazra‘a al-Gharbiya, injuring 2. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Arroub refugee camp, injuring 3 with live ammunition and others with tear gas and baton rounds. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Umar, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Abu Dis, injuring 1 minor with a baton round to his head and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Husan and Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolished 6 residential structures in Wadi Juheish near Yatta. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, Qabatiya, and Salfit. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/20; MEMO, MEMO 12/21; PCHR 12/22; UNOCHA 1/16)
The Palestinian prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid died of cancer in an Israeli hospital while incarcerated on 7 life sentences. Abu Hamid was sentenced in 2002. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Administration said Abu Hamid died due to Israeli medical neglect. The PA called for a day of mourning and condemned Israel’s decision to hold Abu Hamid’s body for future negotiations. There were rallies in several cities throughout the West Bank and Gaza mourning Abu Hamid. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/20; AN, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 12/21)
In Syria, Israeli forces conducted air strikes south of Damascus, killing 2 people. (AP, HA, MEMO 12/20)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces assaulted 5 Palestinian journalists from Palestine TV in Deir Sharaf. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Husan, al-Bireh, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound on the last day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday; the compound was closed to Palestinian men under the age of 50. 1 Palestinian was arrested at the compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian farmers east of Gaza city, forcing them to leave the area. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/17; HA, WAFA 10/18; PCHR 10/20; UNOCHA 11/1)
Israel closed the crossings to the West Bank and Gaza for the Jewish Sukkot holiday. (HA 10/7)
The Lebanese army said that Israeli naval vessels had violated its territorial waters for a 2d time in a week. Israel denied the allegation. (HA, REU 10/18)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Burqa, causing damage. 1 7-year-old Palestinian child died during an Israeli house raid in Taqqua; the boy’s uncle said the child died of a heart attack when the Israeli forces entered his home and that he did not have any prior medical history. The U.S. state department called for “an immediate and through investigation” into the incident but later clarified that it believed Israel’s investigation was sufficient. Israeli forces also seized 1 bus in Ras al-Ahmar. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians during a raid in Dura. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian home in Artas. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Biddu, Beit Umar, Hebron, and Qalqilya. A general strike was observed in Jenin in protest over the killing of 4 Palestinians on 9/28. In East Jerusalem, 15 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya, al-Tur, Sheikh Jarrah, Wadi Juz, and Silwan. (AA, AP, AX, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/29; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, NA, NAT, TOI, UNOCHA, WAFA 9/30; HA 10/2; MEE 10/3; AP, PCHR 10/6; MDW 10/7; UNOCHA 10/16)
The Israeli military announced that it will supply settlement outposts, deemed illegal by the Israeli government, with observation and warning systems, lighting, public address systems, and firefighting equipment. The move was approved by the Israeli ministry of justice. (HA 9/29)
The Israeli interior minister Ayelet Shaked informed 17 Palestinians, who are relatives of a Palestinian accused of killing 4 Israeli soldiers in 2017, that if they do not leave East Jerusalem for the West Bank by 10/7, they will be forcefully removed by Israeli forces. Interior Minister Shaked also told public security minister Omer Bar-Lev to prepare for the forced expulsion. (HA 9/29)
The Israeli central election committee barred the Palestinian party Balad from running in the upcoming Israeli parliamentary elections. Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh said his party will appeal the decision, which he called “an attempt by Gantz and Lapid to engineer the Arab leadership according to their political needs. Just like the party came out stronger following previous attempts to disqualify us and to disqualify our platform, it won't work this time as well.” Balad was banned from running based on its platform, which calls for Israel to be a state for all its citizens and thus not a Jewish state. The Israeli attorney general had on 9/27 presented an opinion that Balad should not be banned from running. The election committee also rejected a request to bar Ra’am from running. (HA, WAFA 9/29; MEMO 9/30)
Al Monitor reported that Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid’s office had rejected a request by PA president Mahmoud Abbas’s office to arrange a phone call between the 2 on the occasion of the Jewish new year on 9/25. (ALM 9/29)
The Lebanese parliament failed to elect a new president of the country as more than half of the votes by 128 members were blank. (AP, HA, MEMO, REU 9/29)
In the West Bank, 2 Palestinians, including a member of the PA security service’s intelligence branch, and the Israeli deputy commander of the Nahal brigade’s special reconnaissance unit, were killed during an exchange of gunfire near the Jalamah checkpoint. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades said the 2 Palestinians were members of its organization. Israeli forces raided Burqa, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also demolished 2 agricultural structures and 20 olive trees in Rujeib, delivered stop-work notices for 1 house and 1 agricultural structure in Husan and demolition notices against 3 residential tents in Ras al-Ahmar. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 2 residential tents in the Masafer Yatta area. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jamma‘in, ‘Ayn Bus, Nablus, al-Janiya, Silwad, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 at a checkpoint and 1 in Isawiya. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/14; HA, PCHR 9/15; UNOCHA 9/16; UNOCHA 9/30)
Israel shut down the Jalamah and Salem checkpoints and prohibited Palestinians from Kafr Dan from entering Israel as a punitive measure for the early morning shooting (see above). Both the Palestinians killed were from Kafr Dan. (HA 9/14)
It was reported that Palestinian children in Tuba had been unable to attend school for 2 days as Israeli soldiers began refusing escorting the children to their school. Since 2004, Israeli soldiers have escorted children in Tuba to their school to protect them from settler attacks. Residents in Tuba said they believe canceling the escorting of the children was related to an incident on 9/12 where 1 Israeli settler was reported injured nearby after armed Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians working their land. The Israeli military said that they had not changed their policy, but had decided to temporarily cancel the escorts. (HA 9/14)
The U.S. senate foreign relations committee passed an amendment to the Manager’s package of the State Department Authorization Act, requiring secretary of state Antony Blinken to submit a report on the circumstances surround the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. (HA 9/15; WAFA 9/16)
U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs Barbara Leaf told reporters that the U.S. is concerned about the security situation in the West Bank and cited economic conditions as a direct factor. (AX, HA 9/14; MEMO 9/15)
Axios reported that the EU special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process Sven Koopmans had complained to the Israeli foreign ministry that his requests for meetings with prime minister Yair Lapid, president Isaac Herzog, and defense minister Benny Gantz had been denied. (AX 9/14)
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Point, Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani dismissed the idea of normalizing relations with Israel, saying “are things normal in Israel? No! There are still occupied Arab lands, refugees who have not been able to return to their homes for over 70 years, Muslims and Christians, living under siege in Gaza.” Sheikh Al Thani further called the “Israeli-Palestinian question” the most important, saying there will not be peace in the Middle East without it being solved. (HA, LePoint 9/14)
UN commissioner Lynn Welchman criticized Israel for its air strike on the Damascus Airport in June, which suspended UN deliveries of humanitarian aid to Syrians. (AP, HA, REU 9/14; MEE 9/15)
The Washington Post reported that in the upcoming book, The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, it is said that former U.S. president Donald Trump offered King Abdullah II of Jordan the West Bank. According to the authors’ sources, King Abdullah said he thought he was having a heart attack when he was made the offer. (WP 9/14; HA, JP, MEE, TOI 9/15)
In the West Bank, 4 Israeli soldiers were injured by an explosive device thrown at them at a military checkpoint near Nabi Saleh. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near the Ofra settlement, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 1 other during a raid in Qabatiya; 5 were arrested. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition notice against retaining walls in al-Khader. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, al-Bireh, Nablus, Qabalan, Hebron, and Bani Na’im. (ABC, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, NA, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/5; PCHR 9/8; UNOCHA 9/16)
Israel said its probe into the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh found that an Israeli soldier “highly probably” shot and killed Abu Akleh in Jenin on 5/11. The Israeli army claimed that Abu Akleh likely was shot by a soldier using a telescopic scope, misidentifying Abu Akleh as a Palestinian militant during crossfire. Abu Akleh was wearing a vest and helmet clearly marking her as a journalist and eyewitnesses and several independent investigations have concluded that no crossfire happened during the killing of Abu Akleh. The Israeli military advocate general’s office said that it will not open an investigation into any potential wrongdoing by any of the soldiers involved. PA president Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel’s report, calling it “another Israeli attempt to evade responsibility for murder.” U.S. state department spokesperson Ned Price said “[w]e welcome Israel’s review of this tragic incident, and again underscore the importance of accountability in this case, such as policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.” (AA, AJ, AJ, AJ, AX, DW, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEMO, NBC, NPR, NYT, REU, TOI, SKY, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WSJ 9/5; AJ, AP, CNN, HA, HA, JP, MEMO, REU, WAFA 9/6; ALM, GDN, MEE, MEMO 9/7; AP, HA 9/8; HA 9/12)
Haaretz reported that the Israeli civil administration was seeking to legalize 30 of 35 agricultural settlement outposts using a new regulation that allows legalizing outposts on “state land.” The move will need the approval of the defense minister and justice ministry. (HA, HA, MEE 9/5)
The Jerusalem municipality planning and building committee approved construction of 700 new settlement units in East Jerusalem in the Givat HaShaked settlement adjacent to Beit Safafa. In addition to the housing units, a school and commercial buildings were also approved. (ABC, AP, HA, PCN 9/5; MEMO 9/7)
Israel delayed the implementation of new regulations for foreigners visiting the West Bank outside of Israeli settlements after criticism from the U.S. and others. The coordinator of government activities in the territories (COGAT) also updated the new regulations called “Procedure for entry and residence of foreigners in the Judea and Samaria area,” scrapping some of the most controversial new rules, such as forcing foreign spouses of Palestinians to leave the West Bank for a minimum of 6 months for a “cooling off” period and requiring foreigners to tell the Israeli government if they have started a relationship with a Palestinian resident of the West Bank. U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides expressed concerns regarding Israeli limitations to who can study and teach at Palestinian academic institutions. The regulations were originally released by COGAT in April. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called the regulations racist and said they were aimed at Palestinians with foreign passports. (MEE, TOI, WAFA 9/3; JP, MEMO, TOI 9/4; AJ, AJ, AP, CNN, MDW, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 9/5; HA 9/7)
The EU provided $35 million to the PA to help pay for salaries and pensions for August. (WAFA 9/5)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a settler incursion into al-Mughayyir. Israeli soldiers were present at the killing, but eyewitnesses say the shots were fired by Israeli settlers. Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians at a checkpoint near Nablus, claiming that the Palestinians had opened fire at Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 11 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kafr Qalil, Tell, Hebron, and al-Maniya. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/29; NAT, WAFA 7/30; WAFA 7/31; PCHR 8/4; UNOCHA 8/5)
The Ramallah-based group Lawyers for Justice said that the PA had arrested at least 94 people for political reasons in the past 2 months. None of the people arrested were charged with any offenses and most were released within days. A representative for Lawyers for Justice said the latest arrest campaign is the biggest since 2012 and that detainees have reported maltreatment and torture. Most of the people arrested were affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. (AJ 7/29)
The UN Committee against Torture issued findings from its review of the State of Palestine, saying it was “seriously concerned about the causalities caused by the excessive use of force, particularly the use of lethal weapons by security forces and unidentified armed elements during demonstrations on the postponement of national elections in April 2021 and about Nizar Banat’s death in custody in June 2021.” It also urged the PA to investigate allegations of torture and ill treatment by security forces and intelligence officers in prison and jail facilities in the West Bank and Gaza. (OHCHR 7/29; MEE 8/2)
The Israeli defense ministry released transcripts from the trial related to the 1956 Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Kafr Qasem. In the transcript, a commander is recorded saying that his superior, Colonel Issachar Shadmi, had told him that it would be “desirable that there be some fatalities” in Kafr Qasem. The commander also said that he had been ordered to kill Palestinians violating the curfew, even if he believed that they had not been informed of the curfew. (HA, MEE 7/29; WAFA 7/30; HA 7/31; HA, MEMO 8/1)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a late-night raid in al-Bireh. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting a raid in Jalazun refugee camp, injuring 1 minor with a baton round. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian home under construction in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian home and delivered a stop-work notice to another in al-Twana in the Masafer Yatta area. 15 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Bireh, Silwad, ‘Askar refugee camp, Beita, Qabatiya, al-Arroub refugee camp, Hebron, al-Ubeidiya, Beitunia, Silwad, and Fasayil. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers raided Silwan, leading to a confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli police; 3 were injured by shrapnel from tear gas canisters and 2 were arrested. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/13; PCHR 6/16; UNOCHA 6/17)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Nicosia, Cyprus, for a 3-day trip. President Abbas is scheduled to meet Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades, other government officials, and church leaders. (WAFA 6/13; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/14; WAFA, WAFA 6/15)
An Israeli public opinion poll conducted by Channel 12 found that 56% of Israelis are opposed to having a Palestinian party as a member of the Israeli government coalition, while 31% was found to be in favor. (HA 6/13)
The U.S. White House announced that president Joe Biden will visit Palestine, Israel, and Saudi Arabia on 7/13-7/16, after the trip was postponed. The trip was originally scheduled for June. During his trip, President Biden is scheduled to meet with PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, and Saudi crown price Mohammed bin Salman. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, REU, REU, REU 6/14; WAFA 6/15)
Iran’s Fars News reported that 1 employee at the Semnan Space Center was killed while on a mission. The reporting followed the death of an Iranian aerospace expert working for the Revolutionary Guard on 6/12. The initial reporting said the man was killed in a car accident. Several Iranians linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, nuclear, and missile programs have been killed or mysteriously died in the past weeks. The New York Times reported that Iranian officials believe that Israel poisoned 2 Iranian scientists who died earlier this month after falling ill in May. (AJ, HA, HA, NYT 6/13; HA 6/14)
In the West Bank, 3 Israeli settlers, including 2 minors, were injured by Palestinians throwing stones at their vehicle near Huwwara. Israeli settlers vandalized 140 olive and almond trees and water tanks in Qaryut. Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including a minor during a raid in Jenin; 1 Palestinian security officer was also arrested during the raid. Israeli forces also demolished 2 agricultural structures in the Masafer Yatta villages of al-Twana and al-Juwaya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces erected a watchtower in Hebron. Israeli forces also demolished 1 mosque under construction in Arab al-Ramadin, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; 3 were injured with live ammunition and baton rounds, and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abu Dis, Ras Karkar, Harmala, Surif, Dura, and Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated their boats within 6 nautical miles northwest of Rafah; the 2 were released through the Erez crossing on 5/25. (JP, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/24; AJ, HA, PCHR, TOI 5/25; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)
A CNN investigation confirmed eyewitness reports and other independent investigations that Israeli forces shot and killed Palestinian American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/11 in Jenin refugee camp and that her killing was likely deliberate. CNN’s investigation was based on 11 video clips, forensic findings at the scene of the murder, audio analysis of the gunshots, and 8 eyewitness testimonies. Explosive weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith found in his analysis that the markings from the shots near the body of Abu Akleh indicated that the murder was deliberate as they did not suggest they were a result of a burst of automatic fire, but intentionally targeted. CNN further confirmed through eyewitness accounts that there was no crossfire in the area where Abu Akleh was killed, as Israel continues to claim. Israel has refused to open a criminal investigation into the killing. (AP, CNN, HA, MDW, TOI 5/24; HA, JP, MEMO, WAFA 5/25)
Israel’s civil administration retroactively legalized the Mitzpe Lachish settlement outpost and approved construction of 158 new settlement units near Dura. (WAFA 5/24; MEMO 5/25)
The U.S. announced sanctions against 1 individual alleged to have raised money for Hamas and on Hamas’s Investment Office, which holds assets in Sudan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the UAE. (ALM, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU 5/24)
Referencing the U.S. decision to delist Kahane Chai from its list of foreign terrorist organizations on 5/13, the PA called on the U.S. Biden administration to remove the PLO from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations. (WAFA 5/24; MEMO 5/25)
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) slammed the EU for withholding aid from the PA due to 1 Hungarian Commissioner’s dissatisfaction with PA school textbooks. The NRC said the withholding of aid is jeopardizing the life of more than 500 cancer patients that have been unable to access proper treatment at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem and have led to salary cuts and cuts in aid to the most vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The EU is withholding some $230 million in aid. (AJ, WAFA 5/24; MEMO 5/25)
Former Israeli foreign minister and prominent MK of the Likud party Israel Katz boasted that he had threatened Palestinian students in Israel with a 2d Nakba if they continue to wave Palestinian flags at universities. Katz said, “Remember our independence war and your Nakba, don’t stretch the rope too much. [. . .] If you don’t calm down, we’ll teach you a lesson that won’t be forgotten.” (MDW 5/24; HA 5/26)
Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in Israel for a 2-day visit to Israel, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Turkey’s and Israel’s normalization efforts were reported as a way for Turkey to strengthen its relations with the UAE and Egypt, for Israel and Turkey to cooperate in Syria to build a gas pipeline between the 2 countries, and for Israel to incentivize Turkey to take a tougher stance on Hamas. During the 1st day of his trip, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu met with PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah, voicing support for a 2-state solution and criticizing Israeli settlements. Çavuşoğlu also met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas. The Turkish and Palestinian officials signed 9 cooperation agreements, including on economics, trade and infrastructure, and for developing an industrial area in Jenin. (AJ, ALM, AP, F24, HA, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 5/24; HA, HA 5/25)
President Abbas met with president of the EU parliament Roberta Metsola in Ramallah. (WAFA 5/24)
Politico reported that U.S. president Joe Biden, in a 4/24 phone call to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, had assured him that the U.S. administration would not take Iran’s Revolutionary Guard off the U.S. list of terrorist organizations. President Biden’s decision was seen as an obstruction in finding common ground between the U.S. and Iran with the U.S.’s reentering the Iran Nuclear Deal. Prime Minister Bennett’s office confirmed the reporting. (HA, JP, POL 5/24; AX, MEMO 5/25; HA 5/26)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray on a Palestinian family at a checkpoint near Burqa, injuring 3, including 1 infant; the infant was rushed to a hospital. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor at a checkpoint near Ras Kaskar. Israeli forces also demolished 3 agricultural structures in Kafr ad-Dik, 2 residential structures near Jericho, and delivered demolition notices for 3 residential structures in al-Juwaya in the Masafer Yatta area. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni‘lin, Kafr Ni‘ma, Karbatha al-Misbah, Birzeit, Harmala, Tuqu‘, Hebron, Balata refugee camp, Jenin, and Rumana. In East Jerusalem, 2 Israelis were detained at the Haram al-Sharif compound after engaging in Jewish prayers. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/23; HA, WAFA, WAFA 5/24; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)
2 Palestinians said that they were tortured for a month by the Shin Bet before confessing to throwing stones at Israeli forces, leading to 8-month sentences. The alleged torture included stress positions, solitary confinement, sleep and food deprivation, and denial of bathroom access. (HA 5/23; HA 5/24)
Haaretz reported that an Israeli probe into the death of a Palestinian man who was attacked by Israeli police in April at the Haram al-Sharif compound but died on 5/14 stated that the man had not been hit by an Israeli baton round; instead, the 21-year-old man had a heart attack that led to head trauma. (HA, TOI 5/23)
The PA foreign ministry said it had submitted a file to the ICC prosecutor documenting Israeli violations of international law, including the killing of Palestinian American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative Mustafa Barghouti also called out the international community’s double standard in sending 42 ICC investigations to Ukraine to document violations of international law there while not starting an investigation into violations by Israel in Palestine. (AJ, MEE, WAFA 5/23)
Axios reported that the U.S. Biden administration is leading negotiations between Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt over Tiran and Sanafir Island in the Red Sea, which have been subject to dispute between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Axios said that the negotiations are part of the U.S. and Israeli efforts to normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan said later, on 5/24, that Saudi normalization with Israel is dependent on an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Haaretz later reported that Saudi Arabia directly approached Israel in 2017 about the status of the 2 islands because a transfer of the 2 required Israeli approval due to the Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement of 1979. (AX 5/23; MEE, MEMO, TOI 5/24; HA, MEMO 5/25; INT 5/27; HA, HA, HA 5/29; MEE, REU 5/30)
Israel Hayom reported that Israel and Morocco had signed 13 memorandums of understanding on issues pertaining to technology, agriculture, and climate at a conference in Casablanca dubbed Connect to Innovate. (ALM 5/26)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes in Kafl Haris, injuring 2. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and wounded 4 others during a raid in Jenin refugee camp. 6 were arrested during the raid and a punitive demolition notice was posted on the family home of 1 Palestinian who allegedly killed 3 Israelis on 4/7 in Tel Aviv. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, Hebron, and Beit Duqqu. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah, arrested 6, and seized 1 boat. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEE, PCHR, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/27; MEMO, PCHR 4/28; UNOCHA 5/13)
1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegedly planning an attack in Jerusalem in November 2020. According to the Israeli prosecutor, the man admitted that he wanted to harm Israeli soldiers but not civilians. (HA 4/27)
A 97-page Israeli document called “Procedure for Entry and Residence for Foreigners in Judea and Samaria Area,” originally published in February, surfaced in the media. The document, which will replace a 4-page ordinance on entry to the West Bank on 5/22, further complicates travel to the West Bank, especially for Palestinians. Palestinians holding foreign citizenship must, according to the new ordinance, include names and ID numbers of all relatives and people they might stay with while traveling to the West Bank. Palestinians must also declare if they own property in the West Bank or stand to inherit. Foreigners visiting Palestinians in the West Bank must also be given prior permission while those visiting settlers do not have to. Israel will also limit the number of foreign students at West Bank universities to 150; this will not apply to settlement universities. (AJ 4/27; AP 5/5)
In Syria, 9 people were killed, including 5 Syrian soldiers, during an Israeli air attack near Damascus. The 4 other victims were described as soldiers of other nationalities. (AP 4/26; AJ, AP, HA, MEMO 4/27; MEMO 4/28)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Jordanian king Abdullah II in Amman. The 2 discussed the recent events at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA 4/27)
In the West Bank, 1000s of Israeli settlers with military protection marched to the partially evacuated Homesh settlement outpost, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians protesting the march; 79 Palestinians were injured. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz had originally warned that Israeli forces would not protect the settlers, but reversed that decision. The march was attended by Yamina MK Idit Silman and Religious Zionist MK Itamar Ben-Gvir. Israeli settlers also vandalized 40 olive trees in Jaba‘. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized solar panels, electric poles, and a water tank in Wadi Qana. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man using live ammunition in Hebron. 2 Palestinians were arrested in Wadi as-Samen. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Haram al-Sharif compound to make way for Israeli settlers touring the site. Around 622 Israeli settlers visited the compound. 2 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur and the Old City. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 4/19; WAFA 4/20; PCHR 4/21; HA, HA 4/25; UNOCHA 5/13)
The UAE summoned the Israeli envoy to the country, demanding that Israel cease to put Palestinian lives at risk at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, JP, MEMO, REU, WAFA 4/19; ALM 4/21)
U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi, and Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid in an effort to calm the situation at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spoke with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog about the situation at the compound. According to President Erdoğan’s Twitter account, he told President Herzog that he was “very upset” about the events at the compound over the weekend. (HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU, WAFA 4/19)
The UN security council convened to discuss the Israeli incursions into the Haram al-Sharif compound, which led to nearly 200 Palestinian injuries over the weekend. The meeting was requested by Jordan. (HA 4/19)
Citizen Lab found that spyware from the Israel company Cytrox was found on a CNN Greece journalist’s phone. The journalist was working on covering a Greek corruption scandal when his phone was infected with the spyware known as Predator. (HA 4/19)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians marking Prisoners’ Day in Hebron and Bethlehem, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas in Bethlehem and 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas in Hebron. Israeli forces also confiscated 1 excavator in Deir Istiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound and inside al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring 17 Palestinians, including 5 who were taken to hospitals for treatment. More than 728 Israeli settlers toured the compound. Palestinians threw stones at buses carrying Israeli settlers to the compound, injuring 7 settlers. 18 Palestinians were arrested. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Tur, injuring 1 with a baton round. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; HA, WAFA 4/18; PCHR 4/21; UNOCHA 4/23)
The Jordanian foreign ministry said “Israel’s measures to change the status quo on the Haram al-Sharif compound are a dangerous escalation. Israel bears full responsibility for the consequences of the current escalation that is thwarting efforts invested to bring about calm,” in response to the many Palestinian injuries at the compound in the past days. The spokesperson for King Abdullah II also called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its escalation at the holy site. PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who condemned the Israeli violence. Hamas and Islamic Jihad also slammed the Israeli-led violence on the compound. The PA also warned that Israel is attempting to spatially divided the Haram al-Sharif compound like it has done to al-Ibrahimi Mosque. (HA, HA, HA, JP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; MEMO, MEMO 4/18)
The United Arab List (UAL) froze its membership of the Israeli coalition in response to Israeli punitive measures against Muslim worshippers at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Members of the UAL are expected to start working with the government coalition again after the end of the month of Ramadan, which is before the Knesset recess ends on 5/8. (AJ, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU 4/17; MEMO 4/18)
In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to injuries sustained by Israeli forces during a raid in Kafr Dan on 4/14. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qarawat Bani Hassan, injuring 1 Palestinian minor with live ammunition and others with tear gas; the minor was also arrested. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qaryut, Beita, and Bazariya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound, including inside al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring more than 152 Palestinians with baton rounds, batons, and tear gas, including 8 who were admitted into intensive care facilities. Several Palestinian journalists at the compound were violently beaten by Israeli police, causing broken limbs. 3 Israeli police officers were lightly injured. Some 470 Palestinians were arrested at the compound before noon prayers, where some 50,000 worshippers were praying, about half from the West Bank. Around 440 were released within 24 hours, some of whom were banned from entering the compound until after the end of Ramadan. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/15; MEMO, REU 4/16 HA 4/18; PCHR 4/21; UNOCHA 4/23)
Hamas, the PA, Jordan, Morocco, UAE, Bahrain, the United Arab List, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the Israeli-led violence at the Haram al-Sharif compound (see above). The U.S. state department released a statement urging “all sides to exercise restraint, avoid provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.” The spokesperson for UN secretary general António Guterres expressed grave concern about the situation in Jerusalem. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/15; HA, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/16)
Palestinians in the West Bank are under an Israeli-imposed curfew for the Jewish holiday of Passover, beginning at 4 P.M. and continuing until 4/17. Crossings between Gaza and Israel are closed. (HA 4/14; HA 4/15; HA 4/16)
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke to Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit about the Israeli attacks on Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Haniyeh also spoke with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and speaker of the Kuwaiti parliament Marzouq al-Ghanim in separate calls. (MEMO 4/16)
At a Passover seder hosted by U.S. vice president Kamala Harris and 2nd gentleman Doug Emhoff, the couple served wine made by the settler winery Psagot Winery in the West Bank. The senior advisor for communications to Vice President Harris said in a tweet that “the wine served at the Seder was in no way intended to be an expression of policy.” (HA, MDW 4/17; MEE 3/18)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Jenin, attempting to arrest the brothers of 1 Palestinian man who was shot and killed in Jaffa after he allegedly killed 3 Israelis and wounded 10 others in Tel Aviv on 4/7; Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor who was selling hot drinks near the raid. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians in Ya‘bad, injuring 6. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian in al-Khader, who they claimed had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the Israeli forces during a raid on the town. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian woman who allegedly stabbed 1 Israeli soldier in Hebron. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian widower and mother of 6 who the forces claimed had acted in a “suspicious manner” in Husan. The woman was unarmed. 20 were arrested during raids in Ya‘bad, Jenin, and Nur Shams refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (ABC, AJ, AP, CNN, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/10; AA, AJ, AP, CBS, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 4/11; HA 4/12; CNN, MEE 4/13; HA, PCHR 4/14; UNOCHA 4/23)
The Israeli supreme court ruled that the PA may by liable for damages to Israeli victims of attacks by Palestinians, citing payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families by the PA. The PA called the supreme court decision “piracy.” (HA, TOI 4/10; MEMO, WAFA 4/11; AN, MEMO 4/12)
The Israeli cabinet voted to form a committee to study the possibility of revoking social benefits from Palestinian citizens and residents of Israel who are related to Palestinians charged with committed terror activity. The proposal was made by prime minister Naftali Bennett, foreign minister Yair Lapid, and labor minister Meir Cohen. (HA 4/10)
In a video recorded at the Damascus Gate plaza, MK and leader of the Joint List Ayman Odeh called on Palestinian citizens of Israel in the Israeli forces to lay down their arms and leave their posts in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. (ALM, HA, MEMO 4/11; HA 4/12)
In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian man after he had stabbed and injured 1 other Israeli settler with a screwdriver in a bus near the Efrat settlement south of Bethlehem. Israeli settlers threw an incendiary device at 1 Palestinian minor in Jinba, causing burns to his face and hands. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian herder near Fasayil, throwing stones and releasing a dog on him, causing injuries. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and injured 14 others during a daytime arrest raid in Jenin refugee camp. Israel said that the arrest raid was related to the attack on 3/29 in Bnei Brak in which 5 were killed; 31 were arrested during the raid. PA president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the raid, saying Israel wants to escalate tensions ahead of the start of Ramadan. During the raid, Palestinian patients at a nearby hospital suffered tear-gas related injuries. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Aida refugee camp, Bayt Jala, Husan, al-Ubeidiya, Wadi Abu Freiha, Hebron, al-Ramadin, Dura, Qalandia refugee camp, al-Zawiya, Salem, al-Far‘a refugee camp, Jenin, Ya‘bad, Nabi Elias, and Azzun. In East Jerusalem, far-right Israeli MK Itamar Ben-Gvir toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. The Joint List party and PA president Mahmoud Abbas criticized the Israeli government for allowing Ben-Gvir to tour the compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmlands east of Abasan; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/31; WAFA 4/1; HA 4/2; MEMO 4/5; PCHR 4/7; UNOCHA 4/10)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces sealed off parts of the Old City in Hebron and forced Palestinian shops to close. Israeli forces also delivered a stop-work order for 2 houses in Kafr ad-Dik. 16 Palestinians were arrested, including 15 during late-night raids in Dura, al-Arroub refugee camp, Aqraba, Beita, Tulkarm, Qabatiya, and Sa‘ir, and 1 was arrested at the Container checkpoint near Bethlehem; Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian protesting the raid in Aqraba, claiming he had opened fire on the Israeli soldiers. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, 3 Palestinians were arrested in the vicinity of the Gaza fence. (MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/17; MEMO 3/18; PCHR 3/24; UNOCHA 3/25)
Haaretz reported that Israel is allowing Israelis to do their national service through pro-settler organizations that police settlement outposts to protect Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The Israelis doing their service in settlement outposts have been reported to prevent Palestinians from cultivating their nearby lands. (HA 3/17)
Jewish Currents and the Guardian published a memo from top-level Anti-Defamation League (ADL) staff to the organization’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt from June 2020, which recommended that the ADL ends its police exchange program between the U.S. and Israel. The memo said that the program was “highly controversial” and that the trips to Israel could lead to police misconduct in the U.S. (GDN, JC, 3/17)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Burqa but were chased away by Palestinian residents; no injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also uprooted some 200 olive tree saplings in Khallet Hassan and stole 4 sheep in Kafr Malik. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 6 others with live ammunition during a raid in Qalandia refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor and injured 3 others with live ammunition and a concussion bomb during a raid in Balata refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 7 Palestinian-owned homes west of Jericho and razed lands in Beit Safafa. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Balata refugee camp, Jenin, Salfit, Ramallah, Hebron, and Bethlehem. In the Naqab, Israeli undercover forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during an arrest raid in Rahat; an autopsy later contradicted the Israeli forces’ explanation that the man was pointing a gun at them when he was killed, as it revealed that he was shot twice in the back. Israeli authorities also demolished 2 Palestinian-owned homes in Umm al-Fahm. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/15; MEMO, MEMO, MEMO 3/16; HA, PCHR 3/17; UNOCHA 3/25)
The security coordinator at the Gilad settlement outpost was arrested by Israeli forces on suspicion of having aided settler vandalism in Fara‘ata in the West Bank on 3/14. Another security guard at the settlement was also arrested for partaking in the vandalism. (HA 3/17)
The Israeli supreme court voted to uphold the Israeli ministry of justice’s decision to seize 7.5 acres of land owned by residents in the Israeli town of Taibeh, using the Absentee Property Law despite the Palestinian owners not having left their property during the Nakba. The ministry of justice decided to seize the land in 2017 after the owners applied to fill a quarry to convert into agricultural lands. Furthermore, the 3 supreme court justices ruled that the families must pay $9,100 in court fees. (HA 3/15; HA 3/18)
The EU delayed its annual $236 million aid to the PA and various Palestinian civil society projects, as a Hungarian representative wanted to condition the aid on removing “incitement” from Palestinian schoolbooks. The European Commission will have to rule on the Hungarian demand before the aid can be released to the PA. PA representatives told Haaretz that the Hungarian delegate is behaving like the Israeli far-right by raising demands on conditioning aid to Palestine. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki has told the Hungarian delegate that the PA will not accept the demand. (HA 3/15; WAFA 3/16)
U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides told Americans for Peace Now, during a virtual event, that he is infuriated by Israeli settlement expansion but that he is unable to stop it. He further stated that he did everything in his capacity to stop Israeli plans to construct settlements in the E1 area. Ambassador Nides also said that the U.S. wants to reopen its consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem but that the Israelis are “aggressively” opposing it and that both Israel and the PA are making “too big a deal” over the issue. Lastly, Nides rejected the idea that the Palestinians can be bought off by economic incentives as they do not see this as a trade-off for political negotiations. (JP 3/16; MEMO, WAFA 3/17)
More than 500 Google employees signed a petition in protest over Google’s decision to relocate 1 Jewish employee from the U.S. to Brazil after she voiced criticism of Google’s contract with the Israeli cloud server Project Nimbus. The Google employee said the company was attempting to force her out of her job by giving her 17 days to agree to relocate to São Paulo. (LAT 3/15; JP, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 3/17)
In the West Bank, Israeli MK Itamar Ben-Gvir drew a gun at Palestinians, claiming they were throwing stones at settler vehicles near al-Arroub refugee camp; no injuries or damage were reported. Later in the day, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting Ben-Gvir’s actions, injuring 1 with live ammunition. Israeli settlers also stole around 200 olive trees and saplings in Kafr ad-Dik and vandalized an agricultural structure. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor in Abu Dis, claiming he had thrown a Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers while they were raiding the village. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Aida refugee camp, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 2 Israeli settlers were arrested for allegedly damaging church property in the Old City. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian, saying he had stabbed 2 Israeli police officers in the Old City; Israeli forces later arrested his brother during a house raid in al-Tur where Israeli forces took measurements for a punitive demolition. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (ABC, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/6; JP, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, WAFA 3/7; PCHR 3/10; UNOCHA 3/11)
The Israeli military spokesperson claimed that Israel had intercepted 2 Iranian drones in March of 2021, which Israel claimed to believe were transporting weapons to Gaza. (HA, MEMO 3/7)
Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked said at the Knesset that too many Ukrainian refugees that are not Jewish have entered Israel since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 2/24. Interior Minister Shaked said she was working on an approach to bring in more Jewish Ukrainian refugees. (HA 3/6; HA, JDF 3/7)
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)