The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians and their property in Hebron and Nablus, injuring 2 in Nablus. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer working his land in ‘Urif. Israeli forces shot and killed 7 Palestinians, including the alleged perpetrator of the killing of 2 Israeli settlers on 2/26 and 1 minor, and injured 25 others during a raid in Jenin. 2 Israeli soldiers were injured. The PA called the raid a “heinous crime,” while the U.S. said Israel had a right to defend itself. Israeli forces also raided ‘Askar refugee camp, arresting 2 sons of 1 of the Palestinians killed during the raid in Jenin. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, BBC, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/7; HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/8; HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 3/9; UNOCHA 3/19)

All crossings to the West Bank and Gaza were closed by Israel for the Purim holiday. The crossings will reopen on 3/8. (HA 3/5)

Israel Hayom reported that Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen was working on normalization deals with Mauritania, Somalia, Niger, and Indonesia. Talks about normalization with those countries were reportedly brought up in conversations that included U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Israel Hayom said Israeli talks with Mauritania were the most advanced of the 4 and that Israel had asked Germany to assist in its efforts. (ALM 3/7)

In Syria, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in Aleppo, damaging the runway at Aleppo International Airport. The Syrian transport ministry said it had to reroute earthquake aid to other airports due to the strike. The U.S. and UN expressed concerns about the consequences of the attack, without mentioning the perpetrator. The airport reopened on 3/10. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA 3/7; REU 3/8; AJ, AP, HA 3/9; AP 3/10)

The Parliament of South Africa voted to downgrade the country’s diplomatic ties with Israel, making the Israeli embassy a liaison office, citing Israeli abuses of Palestinians. The South African government has to adopt the motion for the vote to take effect. (MEE 3/7; ALM, MEMO, WAFA 3/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles parked near Kifl Haris, causing damage. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians, including 1 minor, and injured 3 others during a demolition raid in Kafr Dan. 2 homes belonging to families of Palestinians accused of killing an Israeli soldier on 9/14/2022 were punitively demolished during the raid. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp, 1 other Palestinian was injured by live ammunition. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 8 houses, 1 agricultural structure, and 1 events hall in Deir Balut and 1 house under construction in Maeen in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also shot and injured 7 Palestinians with live ammunition during a raid in Bayt Rima. Meanwhile, Israeli forces fired tear gas at a funeral procession in Beit Umar, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also seized 1 excavator in at-Tuwani in the Masafer Yatta area. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Rima, Ein ad-Duyuk al-Foqa, Hebron, Bethlehem, Za‘atra, Aida refugee camp, al-Am‘ari refugee camp, Turmus ‘Ayya, Nablus, Salfit, Iskaka, and ‘Azzun. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the homes of PA Jerusalem governor Adnan Ghaith and al-Aqsa imam Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, extending Governor Ghaith’s ban from entering the West Bank and meeting PA officials and banning Sheikh Sabri from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound and leaving East Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Khan Yunis. (AJ, AN, AP, HA, MDW, MEE, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/2; AJ, HA, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 1/3; PCHR 1/4; PCHR 1/5; HA 1/14; UNOCHA 2/16)

Israel informed the PA that about 1,000 Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta area will receive eviction notices in the coming days and that they will be forcibly transferred to a different location. In May 2022, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that Israel can forcefully transfer Palestinians living in Firing Zone 918 in the Masafer Yatta area. (BTselem 1/2; MEMO 1/3; AJ 1/4; WAFA 1/5)

Israel Hayom reported that the Israeli police officer charged with the killing of autistic Palestinian man Eyad al-Hallaq in East Jerusalem in May 2020 had signed up for 6 months of service in the police force after finishing his compulsory service. The trial against the police officer is still ongoing. (HA 1/2; HA, MEE 1/3)

The Syrian military said that Israeli airstrikes had killed 2 Syrian soldiers and forced the country to temporarily suspend flights to and from Damascus International Airport. (AJ, AP, DT, F24, HA, MEE, REU 1/2)

Israel’s foreign minister Eli Cohen said that the new Israeli government would “speak less publicly” about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that he would speak with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on 1/3. (HA, TOI 1/2 HA, MEE, MEMO 1/3; AX 1/4)