The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers graze their sheep on Palestinian land in al-‘Awja, damaging wheat and barley crops. Israeli settlers also throw stones at Palestinian vehicles and block the road leading to the Huwwara checkpoint. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, causing damage. Israeli settlers also attack a Palestinian home in Khalayl al-Louz. Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians in Huwwara, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also demolish 6 commercial structures in al-‘Awja and issue a stop-work notice for a home in Deir Balut. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seize a tractor in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Israeli forces also close the entrance to Husan. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 25 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Tubas, Tulkarm, Aqraba, Hebron, and Bethlehem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 63 people, including 7 aid workers of Palestinian, Polish, American, British, and Australian nationality from World Central Kitchen in Dayr al-Balah. Israeli forces also withdraw from al-Shifa Hospital after a 14-day siege, leaving it completely destroyed; witnesses say that hundreds of bodies are found in and around the hospital. The Gaza Media Office says that 400 Palestinians were killed during the attack on al-Shifa. In the Naqab, Israeli police arrest the sister of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is an Israeli citizen, in Tel as-Sabi. A drone launched from Iraq damages an Israeli military building in Eliat; no injuries are reported. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq takes responsibility. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Rachaya Al Foukhar. In Jordan, protesters demonstrate near the Israeli embassy in Amman for the ninth day in a row. In Syria, Israeli forces target an Iranian consulate building in Damascus with airstrikes, assassinating Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp senior commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and killing 11 others. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/1; AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA 4/2; AP, UNOCHA 4/3; NYT 4/4)

More than 32,845 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,750 children and 8,900 women, and around 75,392 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 445 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 112 children. More than 4,700 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 254 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,520 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 190 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (AJ, HA, WAFA 4/1; AP, AP, NYT 4/2; UNOCHA, UNOCHA 4/3)

World Central Kitchen (WCK) suspends all operations in Gaza after 7 of its workers are killed in an Israeli airstrike (see above), returning 3 ships docked off the coast of Gaza carrying 240 tons of aid to Cyprus. The organization runs 68 community kitchens in Gaza and has sent some 1,700 truckloads of aid into Gaza. Several investigations into the Israeli bombing of the WCK aid convoy reveal that the 3 vehicles the aid workers were in were targeted in 3 strikes 1.5 miles apart. The 3 vehicles were clearly marked with WCK’s logo on the top of the cars. The Israeli narrative changes several times during the period after the attack, from saying an armed person was traveling with the vehicles to saying the clearly marked vehicles were misidentified. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls the attack “unintended” and “tragic” and says “[t]hese things happen in wartime.” UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese says the Israeli attack was a deliberate effort to starve the population of Gaza. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese calls Netanyahu, expressing “anger and concern” at the killing of the Australian aid worker. U.S. president Joe Biden says he is “outraged and heartbroken,” adding Israel is not doing enough to protect aid workers. The White House claims that there is no evidence that the aid workers were killed deliberately. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since 10/7/2023. Refugees International president Jeremy Konyndyk calls the attack “a clear war crime.” Hamas labels the attack terrorism. (REU 4/1; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, AX, BC, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/2; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; NYT 4/4)

The Israeli Civil Administration announces that it will seize 206.3 dunams (51 acres) of land in Jiftlik, adding it to the settlement council in the Jordan Valley and declare 170 dunams (42 acres) of Palestinian land south of Furaydis near the Etzion settlement bloc as state land. (AJ, PCN, WAFA 4/1; PCN 4/2)

The Knesset passes a law allowing the Israeli government to ban Al Jazeera in Israel in a 71-10 vote. Al Jazeera says Prime Minister Netanyahu, who called it a “terror channel,” is lying about the news organization to justify the killing of its employees. Minister for the development of the Negev (Naqab) and Galilee Yitzhak Wasserlauf calls for the resettlement of Gaza. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, REU 4/1; AJ 4/2)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas speaks with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in a phone call, calling on the U.S. to stop the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The 2 also discuss the new PA government. PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour calls on the UN Security Council to schedule a vote on full Palestinian membership of the UN in April. The UN General Assembly voted to grant Palestine full membership in 2011 but the decision was never discussed at the Security Council. (AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 4/1; AP 4/2)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary Blinken hold a virtual meeting with Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, discussing Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah. A joint statement says Israel has agreed to take U.S. concerns into account. Reuters reports that the U.S. considering approving an arms transfer to Israel worth $18 billion, including 25 F-15 fighter jets. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre says the Biden administration is seeking more information from Israel about footage of executions at al-Shifa Hospital. Jean-Pierre also express concern over Israel’s push to ban Al Jazeera. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 4/1; AJ, AP, HA, NYT 4/2; AX 4/3)

At the UN Security Council, France circulates a draft resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel on 10/7/2023, and demanding immediate access for aid into Gaza. (AP 4/2)

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Israeli failures in Gaza have led to Israel targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus, calling for a serious international response. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi says the attack will not go unanswered. Pakistan and Syria condemn Israel’s attack. Russia requests that the UN Security Council convene on 4/2 to discuss the attack. Axios reports that the U.S. tells Iran that it did not have any involvement in the attack. (AJ, HA, HA, NYT 4/1; AP, AX, HA, REU 4/2; AP, REU 4/3)

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez tells reporters in Amman that he expects Spain will recognize the State of Palestine by July and that many other countries in the EU would do the same. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 4/2)

Sri Lanka donates $1 million to UNRWA. (WAFA 4/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers began constructing a settler road to Givat Allam on land belonging to residents of Khirbet Yanun. Israeli settlers also assaulted Palestinians and stole sheep in Arab al-Milehat. Israeli forces also shot and killed 3 Palestinians, including 2 children, during raids in Beitunia, Tayasir, and Kafr Ein. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 7 Palestinians during raids in Dheisheh refugee camp, al-Arroub refugee camp, Beitunia, and Deir Abu Mash’al. Israeli forces also punitively demolished the family home in Deir ‘Ammar of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli forces on 8/3, damaging nearby homes and shooting and injuring 2. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home in Bani Na’im, displacing 20. Israeli forces also notified residents of Husan, Wadi Fukin, and al-Jaba’ that it will seize 1,500 dunams (370 acres) of land to construct a settler-only road. In Gaza, Israeli forces shot and injured 4 Palestinians trying to reach their homes in northern Gaza. Israel claimed that several Israel soldiers had been injured in 2 separate attacks involving explosives and live ammunition. Hamas its fighters had responded to a “blatant breach of the ceasefire” by Israel. 300 Palestinians who were working in Israel before 10/7 were expelled to Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked Aita al-Shaab. (AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28)

The Gaza Media Office did not update the casualty numbers, leaving the death toll from Israeli attacks at 15,000 as of 11/27, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, and around 35,000 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 234 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 58 children. More than 3,174 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. 75 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.8 million Palestinians, nearly 80% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/18, at least 45,000 housing units had been destroyed and 233,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. 4 trucks carrying fuel and 4 carrying cooking oil entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israel prevented it from bringing fuel for ambulances into northern Gaza. 31 trucks carrying aid entered northern Gaza. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/28)

30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons, 15 women and 15 children, on the fifth day of the prisoner exchange. 12 captives held in Gaza were released to Israel, including 10 Israeli women and 2 Thai nationals. Hundreds of Palestinians cheered the release of the captives, and members of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad were present during the handover to the Red Cross. Israel added 46 Palestinian prisoners to the list of people it is willing to exchange for Hamas-held captives, including 20 Palestinian citizens of Israel who had been arrested after 10/7 on charges of incitement. The Hadash party condemned the Israeli decision, saying it could serve as a justification for the Israeli government to revoke their citizenship. Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar reportedly visited some of the Hamas-held captives on 10/8, telling them they would not be harmed. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said Israel had arrested 168 Palestinians in the West Bank, while it had released 150 as part of the prisoner exchange. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AX, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28; HA 11/29)

The WHO warned that more people could die from disease than from the Israeli attacks if the health and sanitation systems in Gaza are not repaired. (AJ, REU 11/28)

Egyptian intelligence director Abbas Kamal, Mossad director David Barnea, CIA director William Burns, and Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met in Doha, discussing extending the ceasefire and prisoner exchanges. Egyptian sources reported that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend the ceasefire for an additional 2 days from 11/30. Haaretz reported that Israel is not willing to extend the ceasefire beyond 12/3. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT 11/28; HA 11/29)

PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour addressed the UN General Assembly, saying the Israeli government’s “priority is not security, it is the destruction of the Palestinian nation,” calling on the assembly to make Palestine a full member of the UN. (AJ 11/28)

PA health minister Mai al-Kaila and Egyptian health minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met in Cairo to discuss aid to Gaza and treatment of wounded Palestinians in Egypt. (WAFA 11/28)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant spoke with U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, discussing U.S. military assistance to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the German newspaper Die Welt that Israel must “demilitarize” and “de-radicalize” Gaza, like Germany was after World War II. (HA 11/27; AJ, HA 11/28)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on X that stopping the war on Gaza would equal the dissolution of the government coalition. (AJ 11/28; NYT 11/29)

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told UN secretary-general Antonio Gutterres that Israel should be tried in international courts for its war crimes in Gaza. (REU 11/28)

In what appeared to be a call for a permanent ceasefire, U.S. president Joe Biden tweeted, “Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace. To continue down the path of terror, violence, killing, and war is to give Hamas what they seek. We can’t do that.” (AJ 11/28; AJ, NYT 11/29)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, thanking him for “Qatar’s partnership and critical efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the U.S. had airlifted 54,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Egypt for Gaza. U.S. officials said that the Biden administration had told Israel it had to avoid “significant further displacement” in its planned invasion of southern Gaza. (HA 11/27; AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/28; AX 11/29)

U.S. senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in calling for a permanent ceasefire. 40 U.S. senators from both parties viewed a screening of an Israeli film about Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood at the U.S. Capitol. (AJ, HA 11/28)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbed to wounds sustained from Israeli forces last week in Tura. 2 Israeli settlers were injured in what was said to be an attack by Palestinians near the Rimonim settlement north of Wadi as-Seeq. Israeli settlers assaulted 5 Palestinians during raids in Deir Jarir, Qusra, Bethlehem, and Taybeh. Israeli settlers also vandalized homes, stole items, and assaulted Palestinians in Shaab al-Buum and Khirbet Saddet al-Tha’leh in the Masafer Yatta area. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers left leaflets in Deir Istiya warning Palestinians to flee to Jordan before they are forcefully expelled in the “great Nakba.” Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian child and injured another during a raid in Jalazone refugee camp. Nearly 100 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Biddu, Kobar, Arora, al-Mughayyir, al-Bireh, Bethlehem, Hebron, Sanour, and Marda. In Gaza, Israeli attacks killed at least 481 Palestinians, including 209 children. Israeli tanks entered Gaza, killing several people and damaging buildings. Israel also said it used combat helicopters to assassinate 4 Hamas members, Shadi Barud, Tareq Ma’ruf, Rafat Abbas, and Ibrahim Jadbah in Gaza City. Rockets were fired at Israel; no new injuries were recorded. In South Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked Ayta al-Shaab. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/26; HA, UNOCHA 10/27)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 7,028 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 4,000 women and children, and 18,482 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. It is estimated that 1,600 people, including 900 children, were trapped in rubble. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 104 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 30 children. More than 1,956 have been injured. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals; 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. The UN reported that over 1.4 million Palestinians, more than half the population in Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. As of 10/23, at least 27,781 housing units had been destroyed and 150,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. At least 45% of all housing units have been either destroyed or damaged in Israeli airstrikes. 12 truckloads of aid entered Gaza. (AJ, HA, WAFA 10/26; UNOCHA 10/27)

The Gaza Ministry of Health published the names and ID numbers of more than 7,000 Palestinians killed, including 2,665 children, in Israeli attacks since 10/7. The publication of the names comes 1 day after U.S. president Joe Biden questioned the reliability of the ministry’s data. (AJ, NYT 10/26)

PA minister of public works and housing minister Mohammad Ziyara said 200,000 housing units have been completely or partially destroyed by Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. Israel said that 224 people are being held captive in Gaza.  (AJ, WAFA 10/26)

Hamas leaders Bassem Naim and Moussa Abu Marzouk and Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Baghiri Kani met with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow. Israel condemned Russia for hosting members of Hamas. Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida said Israeli airstrikes have killed around 50 captives. Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech that Israeli attacks on Gaza will “destabilize the entire region” and that the resistance in Gaza was “doing well.” (AJ, HA 10/26; AP, HA 10/27)

At the UN Security Council, PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said Israel was waging “a war of revenge” with no real objective. Al-Maliki also met with ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in The Hague. The UN General Assembly also convened an emergency session. (REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/26)

The UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and Morocco released a joint statement, condemning the targeting of civilians, forced displacement, and collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza. (AJ, HA 10/26)

EU leaders agreed on a final communique after a 7-hour-long meeting on the Israeli attacks on Gaza, calling for “humanitarian corridors” and “pauses.” (AJ 10/26)

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said of Israeli attacks on Gaza, “it is not war, it is a genocide that has killed 2,000 children.” (AJ 10/26)

A venue in Israel canceled a Palestinian-Jewish conference after Israeli police warned the venue’s owner of “consequences.” The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee said Israel is “persecuting the Arab public, trying to prevent political meetings and silence them.” (HA 10/25; HA, HA 10/26)

The U.S. said it attacked 2 facilities with links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria. The U.S. also deployed 900 troops to the Middle East. A Pentagon spokesperson said that they were not going to Israel. (AJ 10/26; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT 10/27)

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution denouncing anti-Semitism on campuses. In related remarks, senators conflated criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League sent 200 letters to campuses in the U.S. requesting that they investigate Students for Justice in Palestine for possibly violating a law prohibiting support for a foreign terrorist organization. (Congress, HA 10/26; INT 10/27)

A Gallup poll found that U.S. president Joe Biden lost 11 percentage points among Democrats since September and that his overall approval rating has dropped from 41 to 37. (AJ, HA 10/26)

Switzerland suspended financial support for 6 Palestinian and 5 Israeli NGOs, including Adalah, Al-Shabaka, Gisha, 7amleh, HaMoked, Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre, MIFTAH: The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Palestinian NGO Network, Physicians for Human Rights, and the Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling. Switzerland said it would analyze the feasibility of the programs. (HA 10/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Jenin refugee camp, killing 4 Palestinians, including a minor, and injuring more than 30 others using 2 suicide drones and live ammunition. 1 Israeli military vehicle was damaged by an explosive device. The Israeli forces cut off electricity in the camp during the raid. Palestinians demonstrated against PA inaction to protect the residents of the camp after the raid. Defence for Children International said that the minor was chased and killed by Israeli forces after he had seen them sneak into the camp. Israeli forces also raided ‘Anata, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized the rooftop of a Palestinian home in Jalbun, turning it into a watchtower and placing Israeli flags on the building. Israeli forces also raided ‘Urif, taking measurements for punitive demolitions of 3 homes. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters east of Rafah, Gaza City, and Jabaliyya, killing 1 and injuring 8 others, including 3 minors, with live ammunition; others sustained tear-gas related injuries. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/19; AP, DCI, MDW, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA 9/20; AJ, HA, PCHR 9/21; UNOCHA 9/26)

Israeli authorities announced that they will extend the closure of the Gaza crossings indefinitely, barring Palestinian workers from entering Israel from Gaza, citing the protests in Gaza. (AP, HA, HA 9/19; MEE, REU 9/20)

UN humanitarian coordinator Lynn Hastings led a group of diplomats from Australia, Chile, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, and the UK in Gaza to mark World Humanitarian Day. The group met with Palestinians who had their homes destroyed by Israel during the 2021 assault on Gaza. (UNOCHA, QDS, WAFA 9/19)

The Israeli-run Jerusalem municipality inaugurated a newly built intersection in Jerusalem, omitting the names of the Palestinian neighborhoods Sur Baher and Umm Tuba on the highway signs. (HA 9/19)

Islamic Jihad condemned the PA for threatening and arresting its members in Hebron. Hamas also called on the PA to end all arrests of political figures and release political prisoners. (QDS 9/19; MEMO 9/20)

Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech spoke at a fundraising event for the Israeli terrorist Amiram Ben Uliel, who killed 3 Palestinians in an arson attack on the Dawabsheh family’s home in Duma in 2015, calling him a “holy righteous man.” (HA, QDS 9/20; MEE 9/21)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Brazilian president Luiz Inácio da Silva on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting. (WAFA 9/20)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs Barbara Leaf in New York ahead of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting on 9/21. (WAFA 9/19)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the leaders of Turkey, Ukraine, Germany, and South Korea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly annual meeting. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office said he brought up recent developments concerning Palestinians. It was the first time that Erdoğan and Netanyahu had met in person. (HA, HA, MEE, REU 9/19; ALM, HA 9/20; ALM, MEE 9/21; HA 9/22)

Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan was removed from the part of the UN building in New York where the UN General Assembly was meeting after he held up a picture Mahsa Amini who was killed by the Iranian morality police last year and walked out of the auditorium, calling Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi “the butcher of Tehran.” (HA, MEMO 9/20)

American officials told the New York Times that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are in negotiations discussing terms for a mutual defense treaty resembling the U.S. treaties with Japan and South Korea as part of the Israeli-Saudi normalization deal. (MEE, NYT 9/19)

In a letter nearly 80 Jewish American leaders urged U.S. president Joe Biden to ensure that a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia takes Palestinians and the two-state solution into account. (HA 9/19)

An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 40% of Americans describe Israel as an ally but don’t think the 2 countries share U.S. interests and values. 61% of the people polled said they disapprove of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (AX, HA 9/19; AP 9/20)

Azerbaijan launched an attack on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region to ethnically cleanse the area of Armenians. Israel is one of the largest suppliers of weapons to Azerbaijan and arms transfers to the country spiked in the month leading to the attack. (BBC 9/20; HA 9/27; HA 9/28; HA 10/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 2 Palestinians in Beir al-‘Ad in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces raided Nablus after Israeli settlers toured Joseph’s Tomb, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; 2 were injured, including 1 who was hit by a tear gas canister and 1 who was rammed by a military vehicle. Israeli forces also demolished 1 house in ‘Arab al-Frijat, displacing 3, and 2 residential structures in al-Jiftlik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided al-Majaz and Khallet ad-Dabi‘ in the Masafer Yatta area to count the residents of the 2 villages. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Duqqu, Bayt Awa, Ya‘bad, Jenin, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in al-Tur. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/18; MEMO, PCHR 1/19; UNOCHA 2/3)

An Israeli court upheld the decision to demolish an EU-funded school in Badawiya in the Masafer Yatta area. (WAFA 1/18; WAFA 1/19)

35 EU representatives met with the director general of the Islamic Waqf, Azzam Khatib, at the Haram al-Sharif compound for a briefing on Israeli attempts to alter the status quo. (WAFA 1/18)

The Israeli High Court of Justice ruled 10-1 to disqualify Israel’s health and interior minister Arye Dery of Shas from serving as a minister due to his criminal conviction last year, ordering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss Dery. (ALM, AP, AX, BBC, GDN, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU 1/18; AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEMO, NYT 1/19; ALM 1/20)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog during the first day of his two-day visit to Israel. Ahead of the meeting, the Jerusalem municipality’s planning and building committee postposed discussing the expansion of the Nof Zion settlement in Jabel Mukaber. (AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, REU 1/18; HA 1/19)

U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said that free passage in the West Bank for Palestinian Americans is a requirement for Israel being added to the U.S. Visa Waiver program. (MEMO, REU 1/18; MEE 1/19; HA 1/30)

UN Security Council members discussed the punitive Israeli sanctions imposed on the PA in response to the UN General Assembly resolution asking the International Court of Justice to provide a legal opinion on the legality of the Israeli occupation. PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour urged the members to assert their influence to have Israel reverse its sanctions. U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the U.S. opposes unilateral actions that undermines the 2-state solution, including changes “to the historic status quo at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, this includes settlement building and the legalization of outposts, and this includes, annexation, acts of terrorism, and incitement.” (AP, HA 1/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 40 olive tree saplings in Hijja. Israeli forces issued demolition orders for 5 houses and 3 water wells in al-Juwaya in the Masafer Yatta area. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israeli authorities demolished a café in Majd al-Krum. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/8; MEMO, MEMO 1/9; PCHR 1/12; UNOCHA 2/16)

Israel revoked the VIP travel permit for PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki in retaliation for the UN General Assembly vote on 12/30/22 to ask the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the legality of the Israeli occupation. The PA condemned the move and said that Foreign Minister al-Maliki would remain in his position despite the new restrictions on his travel. (AJ, AN, AP, GDN, HA, MEE, REU 1/8)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered Israel’s police commissioner Kobi Shabtai to ban Palestinian flags in public spaces. National Security Minister Ben-Gvir said in a statement that waving a Palestinian flag is an act in support of “terrorism.” (HA, MEE, REU 1/8; AJ, ALM, GDN, MDW, MEMO, SKY 1/9; AI, WAFA 1/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Huwwara, causing damage. 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian man after he allegedly stabbed 2 Israeli settlers and sprayed 5 others with pepper spray near Beit Sira. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man who crashed his car in Huwwara; it was unclear what caused the man to lose control of his car. Israeli forces also shot and injured 3 Palestinians during a raid in Beit Umar. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted 1 Palestinian woman during a house raid in Hebron, causing bruises. Israeli forces also demolished 1 residential structure in al-Rakiz in the Masafer Yatta area, displacing 10. (AP, HA, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/22; PCHR 9/29; UNOCHA 9/30)

1 Palestinian man was released from prison on the condition that he does not enter his own land for 30 days. An Israeli military court said that video evidence of the incident on 9/12 where the man allegedly assaulted a settler complicated the narrative told by the Israeli settlers. The video shows that the man was approached by armed Israeli settlers in al-Twana before they assaulted him, breaking both his arms. 1 Israeli settler was injured in the incident. (HA 9/22)

Israel’s defense minister approved issuing an additional 1,500 work permits to Palestinians in Gaza, raising the number to 17,000. (HA 9/22)

Israel released the imam of the Great Omari Mosque in Lydda, Sheikh Yousef al-Baz, from house arrest. Al-Baz was arrested on 6/17 over claims of incitement. (MEMO 9/23)

A boat carrying between 120 and 150 refugees capsized off the coast of Syria. By 9/24, at least 94 were confirmed dead. Many of the deceased were Palestinian refugees from Lebanon. (REU 9/23; REU, WAFA 9/24)

At the UNGA, Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid said that he supports a 2-state solution and underscored that an Israeli prime minister had not voiced support for a 2-state solution at the UNGA “for many years.” Prime minister Lapid said his condition for a 2-state solution is that “a future Palestinian state will be a peaceful one. That it will not become another terror base from which to threaten the well-being, and the very existence of Israel. That we will have the ability to protect the security of all the citizens of Israel, at all times.” Lapid also called for more Arab and Muslim countries to normalize relations with Israel. U.S. president Joe Biden called Lapid’s statement on a 2-state solution “courageous.” (HA 9/21; AX, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WSJ 9/22; ALM, ALM, F24, HA, HA, HA, HA 9/23; HA 9/24)

It was reported that Israel had agreed to sell Rafael’s SPYDER mobile interceptors to the UAE for its air defense. (HA 9/22; AJ, REU 9/23)

Israeli alternate prime minister Naftali Bennett used his veto to pull Israel out of the EU Creative Europe funding program over the EU demand that funds would not be used for artists in West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights settlements. When the Israeli government provisionally approved partaking in the EU program in June, it also said it would set up a scheme to compensate the occupied areas excluded by the EU. (HA 9/23)

A study commissioned by Meta found that its platforms Facebook and Instagram had silenced some of their Palestinian users during Israel’s May 2021 assault on Gaza and subsequent unrest in Israel and East Jerusalem. “Meta’s actions in May 2021 appear to have had an adverse human rights impact… on the rights of Palestinian users to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, political participation, and non-discrimination, and therefore on the ability of Palestinians to share information and insights about their experiences as they occurred,” the study found. (INT 9/21; AP, MEE, META, WAFA 9/22; WAFA 9/24)

The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee met in New York. Sweden and Jordan also co-hosted a meeting to find ways to help the UNRWA gap its chronic underfunding. (Reliefweb 9/22; WAFA 9/23)

In the West Bank, unidentified assailants opened fire at a military post and at a settler vehicle near Huwwara; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces demolished 3 structures in 'Arab al-Rashayida. 19 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hizma, Hebron, al-Arroub refugee camp, Yatta, Sa‘ir, Beit Umar, Talfit, and al-Shuyukh. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the home of director of al-Aqsa Mosque Shaykh Omar Kiswani in al-Tur, seizing a laptop and documents and detaining Kiswani for several hours at a police station before releasing him. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/19; MEMO 9/20; PCHR 9/22; UNOCHA 9/30)

Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem observed a general strike in protest over Israeli attempts to censor Palestinian textbooks and introduce Israeli curriculum in the schools. According to the head of the parents committee union, between 90% and 95% of the some 280 Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem observed the strike. (WAFA 9/17; NA, WAFA 9/18; AJ, HA, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/19; MEMO, PCHR 9/20; CNN 9/30)

It was revealed that Israel had installed a remote-controlled gun at a checkpoint on Shuhada Street in Hebron, capable of shooting baton rounds, stun grenades, and tear gas. The gun, which looks like a surveillance camera, was developed by the company Smart Shooter and can target people using artificial intelligence. (HA 9/24; DT, TOI 9/26 MEMO, VICE 9/27)

2 Palestinians were convicted of terrorist offenses for throwing stones at an Israeli car in East Jerusalem in May 2021. 1 baby was injured by a stone during the incident. (HA 9/19)

Representatives from Fatah and Hamas arrived in Algiers for reconciliation talks mediated by Algeria. (MEMO 9/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with prime minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, UN secretary-general António Guterres, and president of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder at the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. (WAFA 9/20)

In Syria, Israeli forces made incursions from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights into areas controlled by Syria, shooting 1 person who was said to be part of a group that threw objects at the border fence. The man was flown to a hospital in Israel for treatment of his injuries. (HA, JP, MEE, TOI 9/19)

Israeli historians Benny Morris and Benjamin Z. Keder published an article “’Cast Thy Bread’: Israeli biological warfare during the 1948 War” in Middle Eastern Studies, saying that declassified materials in the Israeli archives have revealed that Israel used biological weapons against Palestinians and Arab armies during the Nakba. The codename used for the biological weapons campaign used by the Zionist leaders, including David Ben-Gurion was “Cast Thy Bread.” Zionist militias were given typhoid bacteria which they were to put in water wells. Morris and Keder did not specify the number of casualties caused by biological weapons used during the Nakba. (HA 10/6; MEMO 10/11; HA 10/14; NA, WAFA 10/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from working their lands in at-Tabaqa. Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian pupils heading to a school in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, for the 3d day in a row, injuring dozens with tear gas. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bethlehem and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Isawiya, causing tear-gas related injuries and arresting 1 minor. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Silwan during a raid, causing tear-gas related injuries. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/18; PCHR 11/25)

1 Palestinian prisoner ended his hunger strike to protest his administrative detention after 103 days as Israel and his attorney entered an agreement to end his detention. (WAFA 11/18)

Israeli sources said that Israel retroactively edited an intelligence file about al-Jalaa high rise in Gaza, that Israel bombed in May, before handing the file to the U.S. The edited file was given to the U.S. after it demanded a justification for the bombing of the building that housed media offices for the AP and Al Jazeera. (HA 11/18)

Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz said, during a meeting, that settler violence against Palestinians is “a grave phenomenon” and must be “uproot[ed].” Defense Minister Gantz was speaking after being presented with data of recent settler attacks on Palestinians during the olive harvest season. The data showed an increase of around 150% in settler violence against Palestinians compared to 2 years ago. (HA 11/19; GDN 11/28 WP 11/29)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after Turkey released 2 Israelis it had detained for 1 week for taking pictures of the presidential palace. The call between the 2 was the 1st between President Erdoğan and an Israeli prime minister since 2013. Erdoğan also spoke with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog. (AJ, TOI 11/18)

The Middle East Quartet released a statement after an in-person meeting in Oslo, calling for alleviating the PA fiscal crisis, easing access of people and goods coming in and out of Gaza, and curbing Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Quartet envoys also urged respect for civil society groups, hinting criticism at Israel’s decision to designate 6 Palestinian rights groups as terrorist organizations. (WAFA, WAFA 11/18; AP, HA, MEMO 11/19)

The 2d committee of the UNGA passed a draft resolution reaffirming the rights of the Palestinian people over their natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the Arab population in the occupied Golan Heights. 157 voted in favor, 14 abstained, and 7 voted against, including Canada, Israel, and the U.S. (WAFA 11/18; MEMO, MEMO 11/19; WAFA 11/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 2 Palestinians and injured 5 others with stones near Khalat al-Daba; 3 cars were also damaged. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Ur al-Tahta, al-Bireh, Jenin, Bethlehem, Husan, Dura, and Fawwar refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the home of 1 Palestinian prisoner in Wadi al-Juz and ordered its occupants to demolish it; municipality workers demolished parts of the inside of the home before leaving. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 11/10; HA, PCHR, WAFA 11/11)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh told reporters during a press conference in Ramallah that if Israel does not embrace a 2-state solution, it will result in a 1-state reality of “apartheid.” Prime Minister Shtayyeh reiterated his charge against Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, accusing him of a 3-no mantra: no to meeting PA president Abbas, no to peace negotiations, and no to a Palestinian state. (AP, HA 11/10)

Palestinian politician, nephew of Yasir Arafat, and former chairman of the Arafat Foundation Nasser al-Kidwa charged PA president Mahmoud Abbas with destroying the Arafat Foundation in an advance statement for the anniversary of Arafat’s death. Al-Kidwa said that President Abbas is destroying the foundation by dismissing its board and canceling its independence from the PA. (MEMO 11/11)

Israel claimed to have new evidence against the 6 Palestinian rights organizations recently deemed terrorist organizations by the state, based on a plea deal from a Spanish citizen who worked for Health Work Committee, which is not 1 of the 6 rights organizations in question. According to the indictment, some money raised by the woman was transferred to the PFLP without her knowledge. The woman, however, only said that she had suspected the organization acted on behalf of the PFLP. (AP, HA, JP, TOI 11/10; +972, MEE 11/11)

Israel, the U.S., Bahrain, and the UAE participated in a joint military drill in the Red Sea. The naval drill is scheduled to last for 5 days. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO 11/11)

6 progressive-leaning members of U.S. congress, including Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CT), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), and Mark Pocan (D-MN) met with Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett during a J Street-sponsored trip to Israel and Palestine. Representatives Bowman and Pocan also visited Hebron and Susiya with Palestinian activist Nasser Nawajah and the executive director of Breaking the Silence Avner Gvaryahu. A bipartisan group of House representatives and senators led by Chris Coons (D-DE) also met with Prime Minister Bennett and PA prime minister Shtayyeh. Senator Coons said the group had asked Israel to provide more evidence against the 6 Palestinian rights organizations (see above). Members of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Bowman is a member, debated whether to expel Bowman due to his participation in the meeting with Naftali Bennett and his association with J Street. In the end, the Democratic Socialists of America did not expel Bowman but said that it expected to see significant movement from him on Palestine if it was to endorse him for the 2022 elections. (HA, TOI, WAFA 11/10; HA, MEMO 11/11; FOX, HA, MDW 12/1; HA 12/3)

The U.S. Biden administration reverted to the voting pattern of the Obama administration on UNGA resolutions pertaining to UNRWA. The U.S., Cameroon, Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Uruguay abstained on 1 resolution in support of Palestinian refugees’ right of return, while Israel was the only country that voted against. The U.S. and Israel were the only 2 countries to vote against a resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights. The U.S., Canada, Hungary, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Israel also voted against a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity and evictions in East Jerusalem. (MEMO, WAFA 11/10; FOX, JNS, JP 11/11)