The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, thousands of Israeli settlers with a military escort toured Jabel ‘Aybal in Area B in an effort to assert their claim to the hill near Nablus. Israeli settlers also vandalized an agricultural structure in Ein al-Beida. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers with a military escort attacked Qusra, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, assaulting 1 and firing tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevented students and teachers from reaching 27 schools in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshippers, citing the Jewish celebration of Sukkot. Meanwhile, Israeli forces erected dirt mounts on 3 roads leading to Sabastia and its Roman ruins, preventing Palestinian travel. Israeli forces also seized 1 tractor in Deir Istiya and 1 car in Khirbet Humsa. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jenin, Ya’bad, Jalazone refugee camp, and Turmus ‘Ayya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers were filmed spitting on Christians in the Old City. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian man in Silwan, causing bruises. Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinian women at the Chain Gate in the Old City near the Haram al-Sharif compound. 4 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya and Silwan, including the son of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/2; HA, HA, HA 10/3; PCHR 10/5)

Jordan condemned the Israeli settler incursions into the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA 10/2)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian man after he allegedly shot and wounded 6 settlers in the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Israeli settlers also erected barbed wire fencing on Palestinian-owned land in al-Maleh. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor after he allegedly tried to stab 2 Israeli soldiers that stopped to interrogate him near as-Samu. Israeli forces also demolished a commercial structure in Deir Balut. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided Sabastia, surveying the town’s Roman amphitheater. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces prevented a Palestinian ambulance from entering East Jerusalem at al-Zaim checkpoint, resulting in the death of a 40-year-old Palestinian man who had suffered a stroke. (AJ, AP, HA, QDS, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/1; MEE, WAFA 8/2; PCHR 8/3; HA 8/5; UNOCHA 8/11)

The Ghaith-Sub Laban family, who were evicted from their home in the Old City of East Jerusalem, received a letter ordering them to pay for their own eviction by paying $4,613 to the Israeli police and $4,500 to the company that carried out the eviction. The family also owe $3,500 in court fees. The Ghaith-Sub Laban family was evicted on 7/11 as Israeli settlers took over their home. (HA 8/11; WAFA 8/13; MEMO 8/14)

The Israeli National Planning and Building Council approved the establishment of 5 new communities in the Naqab, including 4 Jewish communities and 1 for Bedouins. A memorandum discussed in the Southern District Planning and Building Committee last month said the goal of the Jewish communities is to prevent the expansion of Bedouin communities along Routh 25 and to bolster the Jewish presence in the area. (HA 7/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian herders in al-Thaala in the Masafer Yatta area, forcing them to leave their pastures. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and wounded 2 others with live ammunition and 170 with tear gas during a punitive demolition raid in Nablus. The Israeli forces demolished the family home of 1 Palestinian accused of having killed an Israeli soldier in October 2022. Israeli forces also raided Ya’bad, razing a road, damaging 2 vehicles, and raiding the Electricity Authority building. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Bayt Jala. Israeli forces also demolished 8 residential structures east of Tubas, displacing 16. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler threw stones at the Cenacle Christian site, damaging windows. The vandal was released from custody on 6/16 under the condition that he stay away from the Old City for 30 days.  (ABC, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/15; HA 6/18; PCHR 6/22; UNOCHA 7/8)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Chinese prime minister Li Qiang in Beijing. At the end of Abbas’ 4-day trip, the PA and China issued a joint statement where the PA supported China’s treatment of its Muslim minority in Xinjiang, which has been severely condemned by human rights organizations. (AP, WAFA 6/15; AP 6/16)

The UNRWA staff union in the West Bank ended its 4-month long strike and resumed services in the refugee camps. (WAFA 6/15; REU, WAFA 6/16)

The Islamic Supreme Fatwa Council in Palestine issued a fatwa against participation in the upcoming Israeli municipal elections in Jerusalem. (QDS, WAFA 6/15)

A conference on spitting attacks by Jewish people on Christians in the Old City organized by the Center for the Study of Relations Between Jews, Christians, and Muslims at the Open University of Israel was forced to change its venue from the Tower of David Museum in the Old City of Jerusalem after pressure from the Israeli-run municipality, including from the mayor’s office. Jerusalem deputy mayor Arieh King called the conference “anti-Semitic.” Officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Jerusalem municipality were invited to attend the conference but refused. (HA 6/15)

A CNN investigation confirmed Palestinian eyewitness accounts that Israeli forces did not intervene to protect Palestinians from the Israeli settler pogrom in Huwwara on 2/26. An Israeli soldier told CNN that he and the other soldiers knew of the threat posed by the Israeli settlers but chose not to intervene and instead allowed the settlers to enter Huwwara. The CNN investigation also said that Israeli soldiers only intervened to prevent Palestinian residents from trying to repel the settler attack. (CNN, HA 6/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 1 Palestinian shepherd near Madama. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor near the separation wall southwest of Jenin. Israeli forces also razed land in Deir al-Hatab to expand the Elon More settlement and notified Palestinians in Shufa that Israeli will seize 5 dunams (1.25 acres) of land. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers with a police escort marched and assaulted Palestinians in the Old City, Ras al-Amud, and al-Tur, causing injuries and damage to property. Israeli settlers also gathered at the entrances to the Haram al-Sharif compound, chanting provocations at Muslim worshippers for the third day in a row. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of Gaza City and 5 nautical miles northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Tel Aviv, Israelis protested for the twentieth week in a row against the government’s planned judicial reform. (AP, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/20; HA 5/21; PCHR 5/25; UNOCHA 6/2)

Police in Berlin arrested 12 people participating in a Nakba Day rally for chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” The demonstration was a small rally of 400 people arranged by Jewish organizations in Berlin because a larger Nakba Day rally was banned by Berlin police, claiming it could lead to “anti-Semitic incitement.” The ban was upheld by a regional court in Germany. (HA 5/20; HA 5/24; MDW 5/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian shepherd in Ein al-Beida. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 man protesting soldiers beating his son who was arrested during a house raid in Qalandia. The Palestinian man’s wife said her husband had gone outside to stop the soldiers’ assault on their son when he was shot and killed. Israeli forces also shot and killed 2 Palestinians and injured 7 others during a raid in Qabatiya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 agricultural structure in Duma. Israeli forces also issued an eviction notice to a family in Hajja in preparation for a punitive demolition. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Dheisheh refugee camp, ad-Doha, al-Baqa‘a, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers wrote hateful graffiti aimed at Christians on the walls of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate building in the Old City. Israeli forces raided the home of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith, informing him that his ban on contacting PA officials and entering the West Bank had been extended for 6 months. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/12; AP, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR 1/13’ ; UNOCHA 2/16; PCHR 1/19; UNOCHA 2/3)

Peace Now and Bimkom said that a clause in the Likud Party and Religious Zionism Party coalition agreement could see Israel seize 13,000 dunams (3,250 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in the West Bank and 70 buildings in Hebron transferred to settlers as Israel claims that the land and buildings were owned by Jewish people before 1948. The land Israel intends to seize is located near Bethlehem, Nabi Samwil, Battir, and Beit Furik, including land in Area B. (HA 1/12)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh met with U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs Hady Amr in Ramallah. Prime Minister Shtayyeh urged the U.S. to act quickly to end Israeli measures to weaken the PA and undermine the 2-state solution. (WAFA 1/12)

The head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh met with UN Middle East peace process envoy Tor Wennesland in Doha, Qatar. (MEMO 1/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian home in Yatta and 4 homes in Shaab al-Butum in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also closed al-Ibrahimi Mosque for Muslim worshippers. 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Qalqilya, Kafr Qalil, Jenin, and al-Asakra. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in the Old City and al-Ram. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA,, WAFA 1/3; AA, AN, AP, TOI 1/4; PCHR 1/5; UNOCHA 2/16)

The newly appointed Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, prompting widespread condemnation. During the election National Security Minister Ben-Gvir had expressed his desire to change the status quo of the Holy Sites to allow “equal rights for Jews” at the compound. Hamas had warned the Israeli government against the tour of the compound saying it “would lead to an explosion.” In a tweet posted during the visit, Ben-Gvir said that the compound is open to everyone. The PA called the visit a “provocative step against the Palestinian people.” U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said any threat against the status quo is unacceptable. Jordan condemned the “storming” of the compound and said it required “international intervention,” before summoning the Israeli ambassador. France, Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the OIC also condemned Ben-Gvir’s actions. (WAFA 1/1; HA, HA, MEE, WAFA 1/2; AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, ALM, AP, AX, BBC, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, REU, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/3; ALM, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/4; BBC, JP, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 1/5)

In the West Bank, a 14-year-old Israeli settler was shot in the head by a stray bullet in the Kiryat Arba settlement. It was reported that the bullet was assumed to have been fired during a wedding celebration. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Sa‘ir, causing damage. Israeli settlers also vandalized 23 Palestinian-owned vehicles in Beit Iksa, slashing tires and writing racist graffiti. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian family harvesting olives near al-Shuyukh with clubs, pipes, and stones, hospitalizing 5 members of the family. Israeli settlers also raided Burin, throwing stones at Palestinian homes, causing damage. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians, including a 14-year-old, and injured 4 others during a raid in Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Beit Duqqu. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 residential structure and sealed 2 water wells in Arab al-Feihat and demolished 2 residential structures in Bruqin. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Sira, Bayt Rima, al-Mughayyir, Aida refugee camp, Fawwar refugee camp, Nablus, Jenin, Kufeirit, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian after he allegedly stabbed 1 Israeli police officer in the Old City; 2 Israeli police officers were lightly injured by shots fired by other police officers. After the incident Israel closed the Haram al-Sharif compound to Palestinians, only allowing Jewish visitors. In Gaza, 4 rockets were fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel, 3 landing inside of Gaza and a 4th being intercepted; causing no injuries or damage. Israel subsequently conducted air strikes on Gaza hitting sites in Maghazi refugee camp, causing damage. It was later reported that Hamas authorities had arrested 2 Palestinians suspected of having fired the 4 rockets. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/3; AA, AJ, AP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, WAFA 11/4; HA, MEE, TOI 11/6; PCHR 11/10; ALM, UNOCHA 11/13; HA 11/18)

Israel said it had lifted all restrictions on movement in and out of Nablus after a 3-week siege of the city. Subsequently, PA prime minister Muhammad Shtayyeh toured the city with 30 representatives from foreign countries. Prime Minister Shtayyeh called the siege imposed on Nablus collective punishment. (HA, WAFA 11/3; ALM 11/4; MEMO 11/5)

Outgoing Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid spoke with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in a phone call. The U.S. State Department said Blinken “underscored the need for all parties to urgently de-escalate the situation” in the West Bank. (HA 11/5)

128 scholars signed a statement urging the UN not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, calling it “divisive and polarizing. The IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism has been criticized for conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. The statement suggested the UN instead use the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism. (JDF, JP 11/1; AJ 11/3)

In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians working their land near Tuba, injuring 1 Palestinian; 1 settler was also reported injured. Israeli forces subsequently arrested 1 Palestinian. A video of the incident showed Israeli settlers firing several shots and aiming their gun at Palestinians. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jenin, Ya‘bad, Jalazun refugee camp, al-‘Amari refugee camp, Qalandia refugee camp, Hebron, Bayt Awa, Bethlehem, and Aida refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Beit Lahiya and northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Dayr al-Balah. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/12; HA, MDW, WAFA 9/13; HA 9/14; HA, PCHR 9/15; UNOCHA 9/16)

The Israeli supreme planning council approved expanding the road leading to the Israeli settlement Har Gilo south of Jerusalem. The widening of the road is a planned precursor to building a new settlement next to Har Gilo, which will completely enclose al-Walaja. The new settlement, if constructed, will add 560 new settlement units next to Har Gilo. (HA 9/12; PCN 9/13)

Religious Zionist party chairman Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to ban Palestinian parties in Israel during a speech on counterterrorism at Richman University. Smotrich’s party list, which is merged with Jewish Power, is polling to become the 4th largest in Israel at the 11/1 elections. (HA 9/12)

Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid met with German chancellor Olaf Scholz and foreign minister Annalena Baerbock during the 2d day of his visit to Germany. Prime Minister Lapid said that the 2 countries are in talks with Germany about buying the Arrow 3 missile defense system from Israel. (ALM, HA, MEE, REU, REU 9/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 1 residential tent and vandalized a fence in Khirbet Martaba. Israeli also settlers assaulted 2 Palestinian minors in Qusra, leading to the hospitalization of 1 of them. Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians in Qusra protesting the settler attack, injuring 22 with baton rounds and tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 7 Palestinians with baton rounds during a raid in Jifna; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Ras Karkar, Beit Fajjar, and al-‘Ain refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces assaulted and detained 4 Palestinians in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/22; WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

A Jerusalem court overturned an Israeli police decision to bar 3 Jewish people from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound after they violated the ban on praying at the Muslim site. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the court decision “a grave assault against the historic status quo,” and Jordan said the ruling violates international law. Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett’s office issued a statement saying that there had been no policy change at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas said that the court decision crossed “all red lines and is a dangerous escalation.” Israeli police appealed the decision on 5/23. (AJ, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI 5/22; CNN, HA, JP, MEE, TOI, WAFA 5/23)

The 6 Palestinians who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6/2021 were sentenced to 5 years in prison for their escape and each fined $1,487. 5 other Palestinian prisoners were sentenced to 4 years for assisting in their escape. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/22)

Hamas imposed a 16.5% tax on 24 products from the West Bank, including bottled water and soft drinks. PA economy minister Khaled al-Osaily called the new taxes “illegal and not permissible within the same nation.” (ALM 6/1)

Hamas and the PA warned Israel, in separate statements, against carrying out the right-wing flag march through East Jerusalem on 5/29. (HA, MEMO 5/22)

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, who on 5/19 announced that she was leaving the Israeli government coalition, said she would resume supporting the coalition after meetings with foreign minister Yair Lapid and several mayors. Rinawie Zoabi’s reversal brought the government coalition back to an equal number of Knesset members to that of the opposition. Rinawie Zoabi told her colleagues on 5/19 that she was leaving the coalition due to Israeli attacks on Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound and at the funeral for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. She further stated that the government coalition is not a government of change but a right-wing government. (AP, AX, HA, MEMO, NYT, REU 5/22; HA 5/23)

In Iran, a colonel in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Forces, Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, was assassinated in front of his house in Tehran by 2 people on a motorbike. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said on 5/23 that the assassination is being investigated and that Iran will revenge the killing. The New York Times reported later, on 5/25, that Israel had told the U.S. that it was behind the assassination of Khodaei. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 5/22; AP, GDN, HA, IN, JP, MEE, REU 5/23; AJ, ALM, AP, HA 5/24; HA, NYT 5/25; HA 5/26; REU 5/29; REU 5/30)

Chairperson of the EU parliament’s relations with Palestine Manu Pineda was forced to cancel a trip to the occupied Palestinian territories with a group of other EU parliamentarians after Israel refused to allow him entry to Israel and his delegation access to Gaza. President of the EU parliament Roberta Metsola said on Twitter that she regretted the decision but that she would continue her visit to Israel. (HA, TOI 5/21; AJ, JP, TOI 5/22; HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/23; MEMO 5/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed Shireen Abu Akleh, a prominent Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist, while her and colleagues, wearing press uniforms, were covering a raid in Jenin refugee camp, 1 other journalist was injured (for more see below). Israeli forces subsequently raided the home of Abu Akleh in East Jerusalem, where her friends and family were gathered; the Israeli forces confiscated Palestinian flags. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian with a baton round in al-Bireh; several others were also injured with baton rounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 19 structures in Masafer Yatta, including 9 residential structures and delivered demolition notices for another 19 structures, including 6 homes. The demolitions followed a high court of justice ruling on 5/4, allowing Israel to displace more than 1,000 Palestinians in the area. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in al-Walaja and 1 Palestinian-owned home in al-Twana. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Nur Shams refugee camp, Beita, and Silwad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian in the Old City, claiming that the man had charged at Israeli police; Israel did not say whether the man was armed. Israeli forces also demolished a commercial structure in Jabel Mukaber. (AA, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, INT, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/11; +972, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, IN, MEE, MEE, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, WAFA, WP 5/12; HA, UNOCHA 5/13; AJ 5/19; AJ, MEE 5/20; UNOCHA 6/4)

After Israeli forces killed Abu Akleh, Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said it was Palestinian gunfire that killed her. Later, after B‘Tselem, among others, had proved that it could not have been the Palestinians Israel claimed had hit Abu Akleh; Israel later acknowledged that it may have been their soldiers that killed Abu Akleh with a shot to the head, as her colleagues and other eyewitnesses had said. Israel said it would investigate the incident and offered that the PA join their investigation, which the PA rejected, calling for an international investigation and referring the case to the ICC. According to the PA, Israel claimed that the PA had rejected the joint investigation before Israel had offered it as a possibility to the PA. PA civil affairs minister Hussein Sheikh said that Israel deliberately had targeted her for assassination. The Israeli diaspora minister Nachman Shai acknowledged in an interview “that Israel’s credibility is not very high in such events.” Several countries called for an investigation into Abu Akleh’s death. Israel later said that its initial investigation into the death of Abu Akleh was inconclusive. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, AX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, INT, MEE, MEE, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/11; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, CBS, CNN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA. HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP, WSJ 5/12; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, JP, LT, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, TIME, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; REU, WAFA 5/14; AP 5/16; MEE 5/19)

400 members of the Nachala settler movement gathered at a conference in the West Bank, discussing plans to erect 10 new settlement outposts on 20 July later his year. (HA 5/14)

Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked signed an order to merge the unrecognized village of Dahmash with the city of Ramle, despite opposition to the merger from the village’s Palestinian residents. The residents of Dahmash had begun making their own plans for merging with Sdot Dan Regional Council because the council includes several farming communities like Dahmash, but the interior ministry advised against this due to Sdot Dan being predominantly Jewish. (HA 5/12)

United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas told reporters that his party would give the Israeli government coalition another chance after temporarily suspending its membership of the coalition last month after days of Israeli-led violence at the Haram al-Sharif compound during the month of Ramadan. (AP, AX, HA, JP 5/11; ALM 5/12; TOI 5/13)

Syria said Israel had attacked 1 target in Khader in the Quneitra province; no injuries were reported. (AJ. HA, REU 5/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized more than 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles in al-Bireh with racist graffiti and by slashing tires. Israeli settlers with military escort brought their cattle to graze on Palestinian lands, leading to a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Burqa and the Za‘atara checkpoint, causing damage. Israeli forces razed an olive grove in Wadi Fukin, uprooting 30 olive trees. Israeli forces also raided Qalandia refugee camp, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and dozens of others with tear gas; 1 was arrested. 9 other Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abu Shukheidim, Jalazun refugee camp, Tuqu‘, Hebron, Nablus, and Awarta. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Silwan. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel stabbed 6 Israeli Jewish people and rammed them with his car in Beersheba, killing 4 and wounding 2 others before he was shot dead by an Israeli bus driver. The Palestinian man, who was a resident of Hura, was said to be a supporter of ISIS and was reportedly arrested in 2015 and 2016 for attempting to join ISIS in Syria. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; HA, HA 3/23; ALM, HA, HA, HA, PCHR 3/24; ALM, HA 3/25; UNOCHA 4/10)

1 Palestinian resident of Sheikh Jarrah was sentenced to 1 year in prison on classified charges. (WAFA 3/22)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan met in Sharm El Sheikh, discussing energy stability, food security, and international issues. (AJ, AX, HA, REU, REU 3/22; HA, HA 3/23)

In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN special rapporteur Michael Lynk charged Israel with committing crimes of apartheid. Special Rapporteur Lynk wrote that Israel has “an institutionalized regime of systematic racial oppression and discrimination ... where Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank live their lives under a single regime which differentiates its distribution of rights and benefits of the basis of national and ethnic identity, and which ensures the supremacy of one group over, and to the detriment of, the other.” (NYT 3/23; HA, WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/25)

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, Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees in Tarqumiyah as part of an effort to make a road to the Telem settlement. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man near a checkpoint in the Nablus area; Israel claimed that the man had attempted ramming soldiers with his car; no soldier was injured. Israeli forces demolished a 2-story house in Nahalin; Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the demolition, causing tear-gas related injuries. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in Jericho. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 5. Israeli forces detained 3 Palestinian minors and seized their Palestinian flags after they had raised the flags on the Haram al-Sharif compound. 4 others were arrested in the Old City. In Israel, the Israeli member of the Knesset from the Religious Zionist party Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened 2 Palestinian Israeli parking garage employees with a gun when the 2 told Ben-Gvir not to park in a prohibited zone. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/21; MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 12/22; MEMO, PCHR 12/23)

Israeli media reported that Israel had handed over 2 Palestinians to the PA. The 2 were allegedly wanted by the PA when they were arrested in Israel. (MEMO 12/23)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with U.S. acting assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs Yael Lambert in Ramallah. (WAFA 12/21)

The Fatah central committee convened without making any significant announcements. (WAFA 12/21)

Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas supports reconciliation talks with Fatah sponsored by Algeria. The talks were 1st announced by Algeria during a meeting between president Abdelmadjid Tebboune and PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Algiers on 12/6. (MEMO 12/22)

United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas said during a conference hosted by the Hebrew newspaper Globes that “Israel was born as a Jewish state. And that was the decision of the Jewish people, to establish a Jewish state. The question is not ‘what is the identity of the state?’ That’s how the state was born, and so it will remain.” Leader of the Joint List coalition Ayman Odeh criticized Abbas’s remarks, saying that “the state’s identity should interest every citizen.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas also criticized Mansour Abbas for his comments, saying that he has abandoned his own people to side with the “Zionist colonial project.” (JP, TOI 12/21; ALM, WAFA, WAFA 12/22; HA, MEMO 12/23; HA 12/25)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog. President Herzog had said before the meeting he would raise with Security Advisor Sullivan his desire to have the yeshiva in the evacuated settlement outpost Homesh remain. 1 Israeli settler was killed at the Homesh outpost on 12/16. Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 13 reported that U.S. president Joe Biden ignored a request from Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett for a phone meeting. (TOI 12/22; ALM 12/28)

AP reported that former head of the Israeli military intelligence directorate Tamir Heyman acknowledged that Israel took part in the U.S. assassination of Iranian general Qassim Soleimani on 1/2/2020. (ABC, HILL, MEMO 12/21)

The Washington Post reported that the UAE had planted NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware on Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s then-fiancée’s phone prior to the killing of Khashoggi. The Post reported that Hanan Elatr’s devices were hacked while she was in Dubai airport due to her job as a flight attendant. While in Dubai airport, Elatr was detained and questioned as agents planted the Pegasus spyware on her devices. The Citizen Lab research group confirmed that the Pegasus spyware had been planted on her phone prior to the killing of Khashoggi. AP also reported that Citizen Lab had found Pegasus spyware on phones belonging to a Polish lawyer and a Polish prosecutor known to publicly oppose the right-wing Polish government’s attempts to undermine the judicial branch of government. (AJ, AP, HA, WP 12/21)

UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland called on Israel to cease settlement activities and displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem during a UN security council meeting. Special Coordinator Wennesland also warned that an increase in settler violence in the West Bank could ignite tensions between Hamas and Israel. (MEMO, MEMO 12/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort attempted to raid a school in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya before they were repelled by Palestinians protecting the students. Israeli forces razed agricultural lands in Birin, uprooting 120 olive and almond trees and demolishing 1 well in Khillat al-Furn. Israeli forces also raided Birzeit University, injuring 1 student with a rubber-coated bullet who was protesting the raid. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Deir Abu Mash‘al, Deir Nidham, Kafr Ni‘ma, Bethlehem, al-Walaja, Sa‘ir, al-Shuyukh, Tarqumiyah, Tulkarm, Far‘un, and Kafr al-Labad; Israel also said that it had arrested 11 students of An-Najah University in Nablus, saying they were connected to a Hamas student network. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the foundations to a house in al-Tur and demolished 1 house near the Old City. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Wadi al-Juz and Isawiya; Israeli forces confiscated 11,500 NIS ($7,300) during a raid in Sur Baher. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles north of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/14; PCHR 12/16)

Israeli Channel 13 reported that a group called Returning to the Mount are praying at the Haram al-Sharif compound by disguising themselves as Muslims while following Islamic practices of prayer, but reciting Jewish prayers. Channel 13 reported that members of the group meet to learn how to appear like Muslim worshippers. (MEMO, TOI 12/14)

The Palestinian prisoners’ club said Israeli prison guards assaulted at least 3 female prisoners in Damon prison when they refused to leave their cell. The 3 prisoners were also transferred to solitary confinement. (MEMO, WAFA 12/19; MEE, MEMO 12/20)

PA and U.S. officials held a virtual meeting discussing economic ties. The meeting was headed by PA economic affairs minister Khaled Osaily and acting assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs Yael Lambert. (MEMO, WAFA 12/15; ALM 12/18)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said settler violence is an “insignificant phenomena” in the West Bank, criticizing Israel’s public security minister Omer Bar-Lev, who on 12/13 brought up the issue in a meeting with U.S. state department undersecretary for political affairs Victoria Nuland. Prime Minister Bennett said that the settlers were the victims in the West Bank and needed the support of the Israeli government. Public Security Minister Bar-Lev subsequently reiterated his focus on settler violence during a trip to Hebron, saying that “it is truly difficult for some to look in the mirror” instead of tackling the issue of extremist settlers. (HA 12/14; HA 12/15; ALM 12/17)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate what HRW have found to be organized discriminatory behavior of Israeli law enforcement agencies when dealing with “Jewish ultra nationalist” and Palestinian citizens of Israel during the May 2021 civil unrest. HRW found that Israeli law enforcement used excessive force when dispersing Palestinians in Lydda while “failing to act even-handedly as Jewish ultra-nationalists attacked Palestinians.” (HRW, MEMO, WAFA 12/14)

Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked announced that plans to construct the Trump Heights settlement in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights had advanced. The Trump Heights settlement, named after former U.S. president Donald Trump, will cover 70 acres. The announcement stated that construction of homes, public buildings, industrial zones, and roads can begin. (HA 12/14)

The Knesset passed the 1st reading of a bill that would allow Israeli police to conduct house raids in Israel without a court-issued warrant. An explanatory note to the bill clarified that the bill was intended for the Israeli police to use “in its battle against serious crime, and particularly serious crime in Arab society.” (Knesset 12/14; MEMO 12/15)

The officer of the Knesset granted the leader of United Arab List Mansour Abbas a security detail, as he was receiving a growing number of death threats. (MEMO 12/15)

The UAE said it had suspended talks with the U.S. on buying 50 F-35 fighter jets, citing “[t]echnical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis.” The announcement follows U.S. concerns about the UAE’s relationship to China, including the UAE using Huawei 5G technology. The Trump administration had agreed to allow the UAE to purchase the F-35 fighter jets as part of the UAE’s and Israel’s normalization agreement. The UAE announced on 12/3, during a visit to the country by French president Emmanuel Macron, that it would buy 80 French-made Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters. (AJ 12/3; AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, REU 12/14; REU, REU 12/15)

18 Democratic members of U.S. Congress wrote a letter to the Treasury and State Departments asking them to put sanctions on 4 foreign surveillance companies, including the Israeli NSO Group, citing the companies’ assistance in human rights abuses. Among the signatories were Senate finance committee chairperson Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House intelligence committee chairperson Adam Schiff (D-CA). (AJ, HA, MEMO, REU 12/15; +972 12/17)

Italy contributed $2.25 million to UNRWA programming in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and $1.13 million to UNRWA programming in Syria. (WAFA 12/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers sprayed pepper spray at 1 Palestinian and physically assaulted others in Hebron. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Hebron and al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. (WAFA 10/30; PCHR 11/4)

Israeli forces closed down al-Ibrahimi Mosque for Palestinian worshippers between 3 p.m. on 10/29 and 10 p.m. on 10/30, only allowing Jewish worshippers. (WAFA 10/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas extended the COVID-19 pandemic-related state of emergency by another 30 days. The state of emergency was 1st instated in March 2020. (WAFA 10/30)

In Syria, 5 people were reportedly killed in an Israeli attack near Damascus. Syrian media reported that surface-to-surface missiles fired from Israel killed the 5 people in a daytime attack. (AJ, HA 10/30; TOI 10/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and 30 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 30 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Ras al-Joura and al-Khader, causing tear-gas related injuries. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Husan, Bani Na‘im, Hebron, Tulkarm, Ramallah, and ‘Askar refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler attacked 1 Palestinian activist in Sheikh Jarrah during a protest against evictions in neighborhood. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the demolitions at al-Yusufiya Muslim cemetery, injuring 3 with sound bombs and arresting 7; Israel said that Palestinian stone throwers had damaged 1 police vehicle. 5 others were arrested in Shu‘fat, the Old City, and al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. 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 Israel, Palestinians protested in Umm al-Fahm for the Israeli police’s inaction against gun violence in Palestinian towns and cities. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 10/29; AJ, WAFA 10/31; PCHR 11/4)

Israeli forces closed down al-Ibrahimi Mosque for Palestinian worshippers between 3 p.m. on 10/29 and 10 p.m. on 10/30, only allowing Jewish worshippers. (WAFA 10/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas dispatched the head of the Detainees Affairs Commission Qadri Abu Bakr on a 2-week tour to meet with leaders in Egypt, Belgium, and France in order to gather international support for the Palestinian prisoners hunger striking against their administrative detention. 1 of the prisoners has been on hunger strike for 107 days, another for 101 days, and 3 others for more than 65 days. (WAFA 10/30)

Israel’s president Isaac Herzog apologized, in a speech, on behalf of Israel for the massacre of Palestinians in Kafr Qasim on 10/29/1956. (HA, MEMO 10/29)

Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan tore the UN human rights council yearly report to pieces at the UN general assembly podium. The report condemned Israel’s attacks on Gaza on May, dubbed Operation Guardian of the Wall by Israel. (HA, MEMO 10/30)

ABC News reported that Facebook employees expressed concern over the restrictions on the Palestinian activist Muhammed El Kurd’s Instagram account during Israel’s May assault on Gaza. The document was leaked to ABC News by a congressional staffer after the testimony by Frances Haugen, a Facebook whistleblower. The Facebook employees did not understand why El Kurd’s Instagram story was being limited by Facebook. (ABC, MEE 10/29; WAFA 10/31)

The Texas-based company A&R Engineering and Testing Inc., along with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, filed a lawsuit against the city of Houston and the Attorney General of Texas, saying that the state’s anti-boycott of Israel laws are unconstitutional, citing the 1st and 14th amendments. The lawsuit was filed after the engineering company on 10/13 was told to sign a pledge that the company is not engaging in a boycott of Israel; the company has been providing services for the city of Houston for 17 years. (WAFA 11/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer working his land near Qalqilya. Israeli forces uprooted some 100 olive trees while razing some 30 dunams (7.4 acres) of land in Jayyus. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 10 houses in Ni‘lin and Dayr Qaddis in Area B. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 2 residential tents and 2 agricultural tents, displacing 15 Palestinians in al-Buwayb in the Masafer Yatta area. Palestinians protested Israeli attacks on Palestinian and international journalists at the office of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in Ramallah. 11 Palestinians were arrested, including 10 during raids in and around Bethlehem, Nablus, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bayt Umar, Hebron, Dayr Abu Mash‘al, Idhna, al-‘Amari refugee camp, Dayr Balut, and Surayf, and 1 was arrested at a checkpoint in Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur, Silwan, and the Old City. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian was found dead in rubble resulting from Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 260 to 261, including 67 children and 3 pregnant women. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/31; PCHR 6/3)

In Gaza, electricity remained limited to 6 hours followed by blackouts for 12 hours despite repairs made to power lines that were damaged during the most recent escalation between Israel and Hamas. It was reported that the power shortages were due to Israel continuing to withhold fuel transfers to Gaza’s power plant. It was also reported that Israel continues to prevent Palestinians in need of cancer treatment from traveling to East Jerusalem for chemotherapy. (HA, HA 5/31; MEMO 6/1)

Palestinian prisoners started an open-ended hunger strike for the Israel Prison Service allow family visits, which has been prohibited since March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (WAFA 5/31)

2 Palestinians were charged with terrorism for allegedly throwing stones at 1 Jewish family traveling by car in East Jerusalem on 5/9, a day where more than 330 Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers and police. (HA 5/31)

Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar said Hamas was ready to negotiate the terms of releasing Israeli captives and the bodies of 2 Israeli soldiers held by the organization. The deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, had earlier that day warned Israel not to tie the issue of Israeli captives to aid to Gaza or to Israeli policy on Jerusalem. Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi made the opposite demand during a meeting with Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry on 5/30. Head of Egyptian general intelligence Abbas Kamel also met with Sinwar in Gaza to discuss a long-term ceasefire with Israel. (HA 5/29; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 5/31; MEMO, MEMO 6/1)

Israeli public security minister Amir Ohana backed a call by Lydda councilman Amichai Langfeld to have armed Jewish-Israeli civilians patrol the streets of the city to “protect the Jewish community” there. Jewish-Israeli member of Knesset from the Joint Arab List Ofer Cassif said such calls were incitement. (HA 6/1)

Israel and the UAE signed a tax treaty. (HA, MEMO, REU 5/31)

Israel summoned the ambassador of Mexico to Israel because of the country’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 5/27 to investigate potential Israeli war crimes. On 5/30, Israel also summoned the ambassador the Philippines over his country’s vote at the UNHRC. (JP 6/1)

More than 50 former prime ministers, foreign ministers, and senior international officials wrote an open letter calling for protecting the independence of the ICC and condemning attacks on the court. The letter mentioned Israel-Palestine as a place where, without the ICC, there “is no accountability for grave human rights violations, it is the victims seeking justice and people longing for lasting peace who are paying the price.” The letter also called allegation of anti-Semitism waged against the ICC “unfounded.” (GDN, GDN 5/31; MEMO, WAFA 6/1)

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report that Iran has failed to explain why traces of uranium were found at undeclared sites. (REU 5/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray on 3 Palestinians at the Wadi Qana nature reserve near Salfit and vandalized 5 vehicles. Israeli forces closed all the entrances to Dayr Nidham, closed roads leading to Ya‘bad with concrete blocks and set up a metal gate, and closed access to 7 villages near Salfit. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Kafr Dan, Qabatiya, Ya‘bad, Nablus, Balata refugee camp, al-Twana, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Shaykh Jarrah, injuring 1 with a sound bomb. Israel began allowing Jewish worshipers at the Haram al-Sharif compound for the 1st time since the beginning of Ramadan on 4/12; some 250 Jewish worshipers with military escort visited the compound; 9 Palestinians were arrested for protesting the settler incursion. 10 other Palestinians were arrested during raids in Bayt Hanina, al-Tur, and the Old City. In Israel, 1 Israeli woman succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall while seeking shelter on 5/15, raising the Israeli death toll from the Hamas-Israel escalation to 13. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/27)

PA presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that Israel’s lockdown of Shaykh Jarrah and continued attacks on the Haram al-Sharif compound could lead to an end of the ceasefire, which went into effect on 5/21, and asked the U.S. to intervene to keep the calm. (WAFA 5/23)

Leader of Hamas’s politburo Ismail Haniyeh met with Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, thanking him for Qatar’s support of Palestine. (MEMO 5/24)

Israeli police released a statement saying it had arrested 1,550 people since 5/9 who have taken part in violent and non-violent protest throughout Israel. Over 70% of the people arrested were Palestinian citizens of Israel, prompting Adalah to call it a “war” against Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli police have named the mass arrest campaign “Operation Law and Order.” (AJ, INT, MDW, NYT, WAFA 5/24)

The Jordanian foreign ministry condemned Israel’s continued violations of status quo agreements in East Jerusalem, specifically the continued raids on the Haram al-Sharif compound and policy reversal in allowing Jewish worshipers at the compound. (WAFA 5/23)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said that the Biden administration is committed to “giving Israel the means to defend itself,” despite growing calls among democrats and activists to condition U.S. military aid to Israel. (AJ 5/23)

The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories Lynn Hastings said that the UN would launch an urgent appeal to countries to help rebuild Gaza after Israeli air strikes caused massive destruction during the latest escalation, which ended on 5/21. U.S. president Joe Biden said his administration would work with the UN to send humanitarian aid to Gaza in a way that prevents Hamas from benefiting. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said he will condition any aid that is not for humanitarian relief on the release of Israeli prisoners and the bodies of 2 Israelis to Israel. Defense minister Gantz also said that Gaza should be kept on the “basic humanitarian threshold.” (AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/23; HA 5/24)

Kuwait said it will send 40 tons of aid to the Palestinian Red Crescent to help with its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (MEMO 5/24)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to wounds sustained from Israeli live ammunition on 5/18. Israeli settlers leveled land in Kisan. Israeli settlers also set up mobile homes south of Hebron. Israeli forces also raided Jaba‘, injuring 4, including 1 minor, when Palestinians confronted the forces. Israeli forces also raided ‘Araqa, injuring 1 minor with live ammunition, when Palestinians confronted the forces. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bethlehem, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided al-Makassed Hospital, leaving without making arrests. 8 Palestinians were arrested during raids in the Old City, al-Tur, Silwan, and Shu‘fat. In Gaza, 4 Palestinians were killed and many were injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 232 to 236, including 65 children and 3 pregnant women. The casualties included: 1, and 9 wounded, including 3 children, during an air strike on a house in Khan Yunis; 1, and 1 wounded in an air strike on Bayt Lahiya; 2 in an air strike on a car traveling in Jabaliya. Israeli air strikes also hit power lines near Rafah, causing a total electricity blackout in the city. Israeli forces attacked 1 house in Khan Yunis, causing damage, but the missile remained unexploded as it landed on a bed, saving the family living in the house. 4 factories were also destroyed by Israeli air strikes in an industrial zone east in al-Muntar. In Israel, 1 Israeli soldier was injured by an anti-tank missile rocket fired from Gaza at a military bus. 1 rocket from Gaza hit a house in Ashkelon, causing damage; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces violently dispersed a funeral procession for 1 Palestinian-Israeli who was killed by Israeli police on 5/19 in Umm al-Fahm; 3 were arrested; a general strike was also called in Umm al-Fahm in protest over the killing. (AJ, HA, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/20; MEE, PCHR 5/21; NYT 5/26; PCHR 5/27)

It was reported that a ceasefire between Hamas, Islamic Jihad in Palestine, and Israel had been brokered by Egypt and would take effect at 2 a.m. on 5/21. Prior to the reporting, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called a meeting at the security cabinet. Shortly after the 2 sides announced the ceasefire, U.S. president Joe Biden praised Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for his role in the ceasefire and Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to it. Biden said in remarks that “Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and democracy,” in what can be viewed as a slight shift in the paradigm of U.S. statements on Israel and Palestine. President al-Sisi also praised President Biden for his work on the ceasefire agreement. Several prominent Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate welcomed the news of the ceasefire, but said it was time to do more to resolve the roots of the conflict. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki called for the world to address the core issues, saying that the ceasefire is not enough. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, AX, AX, GDN, HA, REU, REU, WAFA 5/20; AM, AP, CNN, FOX, HA, HA 5/21)

Haaretz reported that 90% of the Israeli citizens charged for the violence in Israeli towns and cities since the start of the Hamas-Israel escalation were Palestinian citizens of Israel. District prosecutors have been criticized for not indicting Jewish-Israelis. (HA 5/20)

Adalah filed a petition on behalf of Palestinians in Shayk Jarrah to have Israeli police remove checkpoints around the neighborhood, which are severely impeding the residents’ freedom of movement. The checkpoints are also meant to block entry of Palestinians who are not residents of the neighborhood, as many residents remain threatened by evictions. (Adalah, HA 5/20)

The Israeli Electric Company said it would not restore the damaged power lines in Gaza until 2 Israelis, believed to be held captive by Hamas, and the bodies of 2 dead Israelis are returned to Israel. (HA 5/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with German chancellor Angela Merkel about efforts to get a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. President Abbas also met with German foreign minister Heiko Maas in Ramallah. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 5/20)

Before the ceasefire was announced, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh wrote a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asking for “mobilization of Arab, Islamic and international support” in ending Israeli air strikes. (AP 5/20)

Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said that the country had reached an agreement in principle with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories about complying with and having the U.S. rejoin the deal. (HA 5/20)

U.S. senator and chair of the Senate budget committee Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said he would introduce a resolution of disapproval of a $735 million arms sale to Israel. (AJ, ALM, HA, REU 5/20)

At the UN, U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the U.S. had “not been silent,” despite blocking UN security council statements criticizing the violence from the latest escalation between Hamas and Israel. UN general-secretary António Guterres said he was “deeply shocked by the continued air and artillery bombardment” of Gaza and said that Gaza’s children lived in “hell on Earth.” No unified statement was released by the UN general assembly. (AJ, AJ, ALM, HA, REU 5/20)

1 Jewish AP reporter was fired after Stanford University College Republicans criticized her for pro-Palestinian activism while she was a student at the school, before she was hired at AP. Later, more than 100 AP journalists wrote an open letter to AP criticizing the decision. (SFGATE 5/20; FOX, MEE, MEMO 5/21; MEE 5/22; MEE 5/24)

The foreign minister of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia visited Israel upon the invitation of Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi to be briefed on the Israeli-Hamas escalation. In meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the 3 foreign ministers were shown parts of a drone that had been shot down on 5/18 that Netanyahu claimed was Iranian. (ALM, HA 5/20)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 1 other when the 2 confronted a group of settlers attempting to set fire to their crops near al-Rihiya, south of Hebron; +972 reported that the settlers mutilated the body of the Palestinian man they had shot dead. 10 Palestinians were killed and 209 wounded by Israeli forces throughout the West Bank. The casualties included: 1, and 39 injured during a protest in Shwaika near Tulkarm; several others were reported injured; 1 protester, and 2 injured in Salem; 1 protester in Asira; 1 protester, and 4 injured in Beita; 1 protester, and 18 others injured by live ammunition in Ya‘bad; 1 protester in Marda; 1 protester in Iskaka; 1 protester, and 4 injured in ‘Urif; 1 protester in Jericho; 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint, who allegedly tried to ram Israeli soldiers near Silwad; 148 protesters injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets during protests in and around Dayr Nidham, Bayt Dajan, Bayt Furik, al-Fawar refugee camp, al-Khadir, Salfit, Tayassir, Huwwara, Aqraba, Ni‘lin, Jenin, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Qusra. 13 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during late-night raids in and around Qalandia refugee camp, Bayt Umar, and Sa‘ir; 7 were arrested during protests at the al-Jalama checkpoint near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and injured 19 Palestinians using live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and sound bomb canisters during protests in and around Shaykh Jarrah, Bayt Hanina, Silwan, and the Old City. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in al-Tur, Silwan, and Sur Bahir. In Gaza, 22 Palestinians were killed, including 6 children, and dozens injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 114 to 136, including 33 children and 2 pregnant women. The casualties included: 9, including 3 children, and 73 injured, including 20 children, in air strikes on buildings in Bayt Lahiya and Bayt Hanun; 4 in an air strike on Gaza City, including 1 child; 3, including 1 child, in air strikes on Jabaliya; 1, and 16 injured, including 2 children, in air strikes on al-Bureij refugee camp; 1, and 1 wounded in an air strike on Abasan; 1 in an air strike while riding a motorbike in Rafah; 1 Palestinian was found dead in rubble from an air strike in Dayr al-Balah on 5/13; 1 Palestinian child succumbed to wounds sustained in an air strike on Gaza City on 5/12; 1 Palestinian succumbed to wounds sustained in an air strike on 5/12 in Bayt Lahiya. Israel also said it had assassinated 3 Hamas operatives, Shadi Abed Al-Hadi, Osama Shehadeh, and Zakaria Zarendah. Israeli air strikes also destroyed an interior ministry building west of Gaza City and 3 poultry farms near Rafah, killing more than 10,000 chickens. Israeli forces also struck the fishing ports in Gaza city and Khan Yunis. Damage to power lines in Gaza was reported, significantly reducing the amount of available electricity. In Israel, Israeli forces killed 2 people after several people crossed from Lebanon into Israel by Metula. Israel also said that 3 rockets were fired at Israel from Syria, with 2 landing in open land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and 1 in Syria. 2 rockets from Gaza hit 2 houses in Sderot, causing damage and 1 injury. 1 rocket from Gaza lightly injured 1 Israeli driving near Beersheba. Israel barred people from outside of Lydda from entering the city from 4 p.m. and barred all its residents from leaving their homes after 9 p.m. 1 Palestinian-Israeli minor was seriously injured, and another minor lightly injured, after a firebomb was thrown at their house in Jaffa; Israeli police claimed without evidence that it was 2 Palestinian-Israeli men that had thrown the firebomb. Israeli forces were filmed kicking Palestinian-Israeli vehicles traveling in Umm al-Fahm and firing stun grenades at them for no apparent reason. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian-Israeli minor in Lydda, claiming he tried to throw a firebomb at them. 5 Palestinian-Israelis were arrested in Umm al-Fahm after a fire was ignited at the town’s city hall. 9 Palestinian-Israelis were arrested in ‘Akka. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters in Kafr Kana, injuring 28. Israel also told international news outlets that it would conduct a ground invasion of Gaza shortly and then later apologized to the news outlets for providing false information; analysts suspected that Israel used the media outlets to lure Hamas militants into tunnels before heavily bombarding said tunnels; Israel said that dozens were killed in the attack on the tunnels. Israel also shot down 1 drone sent from Gaza. 1 Israeli woman succumbed to injuries sustained after falling while running to a shelter in Neta’im on 5/11, raising the Israeli death toll to 9. In Jordan, some 500 protesters tried to enter the West Bank through the Allenby bridge, but were dispersed by Jordanian forces 3 miles from the border. In Amman, thousands of protesters called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and ending the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, PCHR, PCHR, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/14; AJ, AP, AP, GDN, HA, HA, HA, PCHR, PCHR 5/15; TOI 5/16; HA 5/19; PCHR 5/20; MEE 5/21; NYT 5/26; +972 6/8; INT 7/15)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that 42% of the 119 people who have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, at the time of reporting, were women and children. It also said 830 people had been injured. The UN estimated that 10,000 Palestinians have been internally displaced during the current escalation so far. (AJ, HA 5/14)

Spokesperson for PA president Mahmoud Abbas Nabil Abu Rudeineh said that the silence of the U.S. administration was encouraging Israeli war crimes in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. (WAFA 5/14)

Morocco sent 40 tons of emergency aid to Palestine and denounced Israel’s aggression toward Palestinians. (HA 5/15)

The U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Israel and Palestinian affairs Hady Amr landed in Tel Aviv in an attempt by the U.S. administration to deescalate the situation. (AX, HA 5/14; HA 5/15)

A letter co-signed by 11 Jewish Democrats in the house of representatives, led by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), urged the Biden administration to be more active in ending the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas and to do more to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 11 members of Congress also expressed concern about the violence in East Jerusalem and urged Israel to halt the “unjust eviction” of Palestinians from their homes in Shaykh Jarrah, and said that the U.S. must address the deepening occupation. (HA 5/15)

Democrats in the House also debated the attack on Gaza on the floor, with 1 group of 11 speaking in defense of Palestinians and 1 group of 10 defending Israel’s actions. (AJ, HA 5/14)

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that she will continue with her inquiry into potential war crimes committed by Israelis and Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories despite Israel’s refusal to cooperate. Chief Prosecutor Bensouda also said that the investigation will include the current escalation of the conflict. (HA, REU 5/14)

The Italian trade union of port workers said that its members in Livorno had refused to load a shipment of weapons and explosives to be shipped to Israel, citing Israel’s attack on Gaza. (AA 5/15; WAFA 5/16; IN 5/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 solar panel and 15 olive seedlings near ‘Urif. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Dura and Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 13, including 5 with live ammunition and 8 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized a caravan in Sabastiyya. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tarqumiyya and Jenin refugee camp; Israeli forces also seized a vehicle during a house raid in Aqraba. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler rammed Palestinians with his vehicle near the Old City, causing injuries; Palestinians were throwing stones at the vehicle but it was unclear what transpired before the ramming, which appeared in a video. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in Shaykh Jarrah during a tour of the neighborhood by 2 Israeli lawmakers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Israeli forces attacked Palestinian worshipers with tear gas, sound bombs, and rubber-coated bullets at the Haram al-Sharif compound, injuring more than 305 people, including inside of al-Aqsa Mosque where a sound bomb caught a carpet on fire. Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian Red Crescent from entering the compound. Israel also reversed its decision from 5/9 to allow Jewish worshipers to enter the Haram al-Sharif compound for the Israeli celebration of Jerusalem Day. The Jerusalem Day march was later canceled by its organizers as Israeli police decided to prevent the settler march to go through the Damascus Gate plaza. Israeli forces also confiscated the keys to the al-Aqsa Mosque from the Islamic Waqf. Also at the Haram al-Sharif compound, Israeli police were filmed beating up an Israeli-accredited Palestinian journalist covering the events for Anadolu Agency. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 612 Palestinians were injured throughout Jerusalem, including 333 who were hospitalized. In Gaza, Israeli started a military operation later dubbed “Guardian of the Wall” after Hamas fired rockets at Israel, giving Israel hours to leave the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas had earlier in the day warned Israel that it would fire rockets at 6 p.m. if Israel did not remove its forces from the holy places. 20 Palestinians were killed, including 9 children, and dozens were injured. The casualties included: 2, including 1 child, in 1 drone strike at Jabaliya; 10, including 6 children in 2 drone strikes at Bayt Hanun, with 32 others wounded, including 12 children; and 1, with 2 injured, in an Israeli air strike in Khan Yunis. 7 were also killed, including 1 child, and 34 were injured in Jabaliya in an explosion that was not conclusively attributed to an Israeli air strike. Additionally, damage was sustained in al-Bureij refugee camp, al-Qarara, and Rafah. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was shot dead and 1 other injured by 1 Jewish-Israeli in Lydda; 3 Jewish-Israelis were arrested. Israeli forces later violently dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters at the Lydda city hall. In Ramla, Jewish-Israelis threw stones at Palestinian-Israelis and their property and set fire to trash cans. Israeli police dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters in Nazareth, Kafr Kana, Kafr Manda, Shefa-Amr, Majdal Krum, Dayr Khana, Umm al-Fahm, Baka al-Garbiyeh, Taiba, Jaffa, Haifa, and Jaljulya; 46 were arrested. The Knesset was evacuated after a rocket from Gaza landed in the vicinity of Jerusalem. (HA 5/9; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10; ALM, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, PCHR 5/11; ALM, HA, WAFA 5/12; WAFA 5/19; MEE 5/21; NYT 5/26)

Israel closed all crossings to Gaza and the sea for fishing as collective punishment for rockets fired at Israel. (PCHR 5/10)

The PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and the PA presidency condemned Israel’s attack on the Haram al-Sharif compound and called on the international community to take action. The PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said the Palestinian leadership is “examining all options to respond to this heinous aggression against the holy sites and the citizens.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas also discussed the situation with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10)

Leader of the Ra’am (United Arab List) Mansour Abbas said that he had broken off contacts with Israeli opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett just before he was to have a joint meeting with them, citing the violence in Jerusalem and Gaza. Mansour Abbas met with Naftali Bennett on 5/9. (ALM, HA 5/10; ALM, HA, MEMO, NBC 5/11)

Israel attacked Syria in the Quneitra region with a helicopter, injuring 1. (HA 5/10)

Iran confirmed that it is in direct talks with Saudi Arabia to resolve the issues between the 2 countries. A Saudi official confirmed the talks on 5/7. (AJ, HA, REU 5/10)

The U.S. said 1 of its Coast Guard ships had fired 30 warning shots at 13 Iranian vessels that came too close to the ship and 6 other U.S. navy vessels. Iran said that it was the U.S. that had acted recklessly in the encounter. (AJ, HA, REU 5/10; AP, MEMO 5/11)

UN security council members met at an emergency session to discuss the situation in Palestine-Israel. No statement was issued after the meeting. U.S. state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. administration wanted to make sure that a statement would “not escalate tensions.” Spokesperson Price also refused to say if the U.S. condemned the Israeli air strike that killed 9 Palestinian children, and suggested that Palestinians, contrary to Israelis, do not have the right to defend themselves, saying that only states recognized by the U.S. have that right. (HA, MEE 5/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and critically injured a 3d after claiming that the 3 had opened fire at Israeli soldiers at an Israeli military installation near Jenin; no Israeli was reported injured. Israeli forces also assaulted Palestinian journalists trying to cover the incident and smashed 1 camera. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also raided the home of an alleged attacker in Turmus ‘Ayya and took measurements for a punitive demolition. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in and around Aida refugee camp and al-‘Arub refugee camp, and 4 at checkpoints in Qalandia and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces attacked Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound, wounding 205 Palestinians, including 88 who were hospitalized and 3 who lost eyes; 17 Israeli police officers were also reported injured. Israeli forces threw stun grenades inside of al-Aqsa Mosque. 17 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Shaykh Jarrah. In Gaza, Israel said incendiary balloons from Gaza had started 7 fires in Israel. (AA, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/7; AJ, MEE, PCHR 5/8; HA 5/10; PCHR 5/11; MEE 5/21; HA 5/31)

The High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel called on Palestinians in Israel to support Palestinians in East Jerusalem after the Israeli attacks on worshipers at the Haram al-Sharif compound and on protesters in Shaykh Jarrah. (MEMO, WAFA 5/8)

The Kahanist lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir from the Otzma Jehudit (Jewish Power) party closed his makeshift office on the opposite side of the street from where Palestinians have been eating iftar meals in protest over Israeli threats of evicting Palestinian families in Shaykh Jarrah. Ben-Gvir said he closed the office after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested he do so. (HA 5/7)

Palestinians reported that information shared about Shaykh Jarrah had been censored by social media companies like Instagram and Twitter and in some instances, Palestinian accounts sharing information about Shaykh Jarrah had been closed by the companies. Instagram and Twitter later blamed technical errors for the problem. (AJ, MEE 5/7; HA 5/10; AJ 5/11; HUFF 5/12)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Israeli aggression in Jerusalem, saying he has called on the PA ambassador to the UN to request an emergency session at the UN security council. (WAFA 5/7)

A Saudi official confirmed that Iran and Saudi Arabia are in direct talks to resolve the issues between the 2 countries. (HA 5/7; MEMO 5/8)

The U.S. issued a statement saying that the country “is extremely concerned about ongoing confrontations in Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount and in Sheikh Jarrah, which have reportedly resulted in scores of injured people . . . It is absolutely critical that all sides exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount—in word and in practice.” The UN also warned Israel that forced evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem could amount to war crimes. (AJ 5/7; HA, WAFA 5/8)

U.S. senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Andy Levin (D-MI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) called on Israel not to evict Palestinians from their homes in Shaykh Jarrah. Representatives Marie Newman (D-IL) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) circulated a letter in congress calling on secretary of state Antony Blinken to pressure Israel not to move forward with the eviction and to stop home demolitions in al-Bustan. (HA, MEE 5/7; HA 5/8; WAFA 5/9)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian school in ‘Ayn Bus was set on fire, damaging classrooms, and racist Hebrew graffiti was painted on the building. Israeli forces seized tracts of land north of Hebron to expand an Israeli settlement. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Biddu, Bethlehem Tubas, Tulkarm, Hebron, and Jenin. During a raid in Jenin, Israeli forces confiscated a vehicle and cash. Palestinians protested the U.S. administration’s version of a peace plan in several places throughout the West Bank; at least 12 Palestinians were reported injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned store in Wadi al-Juz. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during raids in Silwan and the Old City, and 5 at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Palestinians also protested the U.S. administration’s peace plan. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/28; PCHR 1/30)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted in the 3 corruption cases against him. Prime Minister Netanyahu had earlier on that day, before the indictment, withdrawn his request for immunity from prosecution. (AJ, HA 1/28)

U.S. president Donald Trump, flanked by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, presented the U.S. administration’s version of a peace plan, which on all contentious issues took maximalist Israeli positions. The plan presented a vision for 2 states; however, the map of these 2 “states” presented with the plan showed a carved-up West Bank where the majority of Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley were annexed by Israel. A swath of land in Israel, where some 250,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel live, would be annexed to the Palestinian “state.” Some land in Israel along the Egyptian border would also be part of the Palestinian state. Jerusalem would become part of Israel and the Palestinian capitol would be east of Jerusalem on the West Bank side of the separation border. Gaza and the West Bank would be connected by a bridge or a tunnel. The Palestinian state would be demilitarized, including disarming Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine (PIJ). Israel would control all of Palestine’s international borders. There would be no right of return for Palestinians as “[t]heir Arab brothers have the moral responsibility to integrate them into their countries as the Jews were integrated into the State of Israel.” Furthermore, the peace plan would allow Jews to pray on Haram al-Sharif and the PA would have to stop paying stipends to families of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Palestinians, according to the plan, would have 4 years after the “peace deal” was signed to achieve the right to their own state. (BBC, NPR, NYT, REU 1/28; AJ, HA 1/29; HA 1/30)

The Palestinian leadership’s response to the U.S. administration’s vision of a peace plan was condemnation. PA president Mahmoud Abbas said that “Trump and Netanyahu declared the slap of the century, not the deal. And we will respond with slaps.” At President Abbas’s speech were representatives from Hamas and PIJ. Hamas said Abbas had spoken with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and that the 2 had agreed to stand together in unity on the matter. Abbas also called for an urgent session at the Arab League to discuss the U.S. peace plan. (AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 1/28)

Shortly after the U.S. peace plan was released, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that he would convene the Israeli cabinet on 2/1 to start annexing Israeli settlements, the Jordan Valley, and the northern Dead Sea. Jared Kushner, senior advisor to President Trump, said shortly after Netanyahu’s announcement that he did not believe that Israel would start annexing West Bank settlements on 2/1, contradicting the Israeli prime minister. (HA, HA, HA 1/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided a school near Ramallah, claiming that students had thrown stones at Israeli settlers driving on a nearby road. Israeli settlers also clashed with Palestinians after a funeral procession in Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the home of the former mufti of Jerusalem and handed him a summons for questioning. The former mufti and current head of the Higher Islamic Council were later barred from the Haram al-Sharif compound for 1 week after meeting with Israeli police. The Israeli municipality issued eviction orders for 7 families living in the Old City; the evictions cite cracks in the buildings, which the residents claim are due to Israeli excavations under the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmlands on 2 separate occasions east of Khan Yunis. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/19; WAFA 1/20; AJ, PCHR 1/23)

In a ruling that could affect some 700 Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, a Jerusalem court ruled in favor of a Jewish settler organization evicting a Palestinian family on property that was owned by Jews prior to 1938. 700 Palestinians live in Batn al-Hawa, which was owned by a Jewish property trust before 1938 when British Mandate authorities evicted the Jewish residents. Israeli law allows Jews to “reclaim” property in East Jerusalem but does not allow Palestinians to do so in Israel. (HA, WAFA 1/20; JPOST 1/21)

In the West Bank, 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 7 during late-night raids in and around Bayt Awa, Yatta, and Bethlehem; 1 at a flying checkpoint near Jenin. 1 Palestinian teenager was hospitalized after being beaten by Israeli forces during a daytime raid near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during daytime raids in the Old City and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 12/1; PCHR 12/5)

Israel’s defense minister Naftali Bennett ordered the “planning processes to be advanced” for new settler housing in Hebron. The plan includes development of a closed fruit and vegetable market for settler housing. According to Defense Minister Bennett, the new settlement housing “will create territorial continuation from the Cave of the Patriarchs [al-Ibrahimi Mosque] to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, and double the number of Jewish residents in the city.” PLO’s secretary general Saeb Erakat said in a tweet that Bennett’s announcement was the “first tangible result of the U.S. decision to legitimize colonization,” referring to U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s announcement from 11/18 that the U.S. no longer considers the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Defense Minister Bennett also sent a letter to the Palestinian municipal government of Hebron demanding consent for the demolition of the fruit and vegetable market, threatening that Bennett would start legal proceedings to lift the municipality’s protected status over the site. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/1; HA 12/8)

The Israeli cabinet approved an allocation of 40 million shekels ($11.5 million) for construction of 1st-aid stations and security in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The chairperson of the Joint Arab List Ayman Odeh subsequently sent a letter to the Israeli attorney general demanding an examination of the constitutionality of the allocation, saying that the approval “raise[s] a grave suspicion of a budget allocation in exchange for a political favor.” (HA 12/1)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. president Donald Trump spoke on the phone and, according to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the 2 discussed recognizing the Jordan Valley as Israel’s official eastern border in addition to a defense pact and Iran. (HA, TOI 12/2)

In the West Bank, al-Ibrahimi Mosque was closed to Muslim worshipers due to Israeli restriction during the Jewish Sukkot holidays. Israeli settlers vandalized 6 Palestinian-owned cars in Dayr ‘Ammar. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Burin and al-Jaba‘. During the attack in Burin, 1 pro-Palestinian Israeli activist suffered broken bones and a settler set fire to some trees. 15 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Abu Dis, Ramallah, Hebron, and Qalqilya. During a raid near Tulkarm, Israeli forces seized 10,000 NIS ($2,800) in cash. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian trying to enter Israel southwest of Jenin. In East Jerusalem, for the 2d day in a row, a natural spring was opened for Jewish visitors only; Israeli forces guarded the spring and closed a road leading to nearby Palestinian towns. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during raids in Issawiyya; 1 preacher of the al-Aqsa Mosque was arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land northeast of Jabalia. In Israel, Israeli forces attacked bedouins in southern Israel. (WAFA 10/15; HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, +972, WAFA 10/16; PCHR 10/17; HA 10/23)

Led by Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, dozens of right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler sprays anti-Palestinian graffiti on walls outside the Old City. Israeli forces arrest Adnan Ghaith, the PA’s governor of Jerusalem, during a raid in Silwan (Ghaith has been arrested several times in the past few months on allegations related to Palestinian land sales to Israelis in East Jerusalem). The Israeli police say that Ghaith’s arrest today is related to “fraud and forgery.” Israeli forces also arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya. In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to Palestinians building a new agricultural road near Hebron. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians and confiscate 1 vehicle during raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Bayt Hanun and open fire on Palestinian farmland near Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In the evening, hundreds of Palestinians gather along the border fence near Gaza City to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse them, injuring 4 protesters. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; MNA, MNA, TOI 2/27; PCHR 2/28)

A member of Hamas’s military wing dies in a “resistance tunnel” accident near Khan Yunis, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza. (MNA 2/27)

A senior Japanese official announces a grant of $83,651 to install a solar panel system at a hospital in Gaza. (WAFA 2/26)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-‘Arub refugee camp near Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of the area; there are no serious injuries. They arrest 18 Palestinians during further raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli MK Yehuda Glick leads more than 100 right-wing Jewish activists on a tour of Haram al-Sharif. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 12/23; PCHR 12/27)

PLO secretary general Saeb Erakat says that the decision, announced on 12/22, to dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council “goes hand in hand with efforts of transition from the period of the Palestinian Authority to into the State of Palestine period.” (MNA 12/23)

In the West Bank, IDF troops open fire at a Palestinian vehicle driving outside Silwad village near Ramallah, injuring the driver. They also shoot and critically injure a Palestinian minor during clashes sparked by an alleged stone-throwing attack outside Qalqilya. IDF raids in al-Khadir near Bethlehem and Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah spark additional clashes; 1 Palestinian is injured and 7 are arrested. IDF troops arrest 11 more Palestinians during further raids near Salfit, Ramallah, Hebron, and Tulkarm; and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving between Nablus and Ramallah, between Nablus and Tulkarm, and outside Hebron, causing minor damage to several. Three settler families set up makeshift homes on Palestinian-owned land outside the Kiryat Arba settlement in protest of the recent Palestinian attacks on their fellow settlers. Unidentified assailants throw stones at Israeli settlers driving near Nablus, moderately injuring 1 settler. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Meanwhile, an Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian near the Old City. Israeli forces then arrest the Palestinian victim of the assault and a 2d Palestinian during raids in Silwan. A Palestinian demolishes his own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/16; MNA, MNA 12/17; HA 12/18; PCHR 12/20)

Following a week of escalated tensions and violence across the West Bank, Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett leads a rally outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem calling for a stronger crackdown on the occupied Palestinian territories. Bennett accuses the “security establishment” of choosing “the rights of Palestinians over the security of Israelis.” The crowd chants slogans calling for Netanyahu to resign. Meanwhile, the Israeli cabinet unanimously votes to back a piece of legislation, dubbed the “Young Settlement Bill,” which would direct the government to administer 66 illegal settlement outposts as it would legal settlements for a period of 2 years. During that time, the government would be directed to figure out a way to retroactively authorize the 66 outposts. (TOI 12/16; FMEP 12/21)

The IDF announces that it has discovered a fourth Hezbollah-built tunnel leading from southern Lebanon into northern Israel in the context of Operation Northern Shield. (HA, TOI, WP 12/16; TOI 12/18)

Approximately 1,500 right-wing Jewish activists visit Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian residents of the area; 20 Palestinians are injured, including 2 journalists. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops raid a Palestinian boys school near Nablus, sparking minor clashes; there are no reported injuries. They also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron and Tulkarm. Separately, PA security forces arrest dozens of Hamas affiliates during raids across the West Bank. The raids come one day after Hamas security forces summoned dozens of Fatah members for interrogation in Gaza. In East Jerusalem, approximately 1135 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif to commemorate Sukkot, sparking minor confrontations between their Israeli security escort and Palestinian worshippers; there are no reported injuries or arrests. Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Biddu, and the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct limited incursions to level land near Khan Yunis and Bayt Lahiya. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 9/27; PCHR 10/4)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN General Assembly in New York City, calling on the Trump administration to reverse its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reinstate aid to UNRWA, and oppose Israel’s settlement enterprise. “It is ironic that the [Trump] administration still talks about what they call the ‘Deal of the Century,’” he says. “But what is left for this administration to give to the Palestinian people?" He also calls on Hamas to implement their 12/7/17 reconciliation agreement and give up control of Gaza to the PA. In response, Hamas releases a statement calling Abbas’s speech a “declaration of failure” on the stalled Palestinian reconciliation process. (HA, TOI, YA 9/27; DPA, HA, HA, JP, MNA, MNA, TOI, YA, YA 9/28)

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi says that Germany, Sweden, the EU, Japan, and Turkey, as well as a number of other countries, collectively pledged $118 million to UNRWA at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City this week. Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, the main policy-level fundraising body for the Palestinians, meets in New York to discuss an proposed humanitarian aid package for Gaza. (HA, JP, MNA 9/28; TOI 9/29)

After meeting with Rwandan president Paul Kagame, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces that Israel and Rwanda will soon open embassies in each other’s countries. Netanyahu also says Kagame wants to start a direct flight between Kigali and Tel Aviv. (TOI 9/29)