The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces issued a notification to the Deir Istiya municipality that Israel will seize 45 dunams (11.2 acres) of land. Israeli forces also issued stop work notices for 8 residential and commercial structures in Deir Balut. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Arrabah, Ajjah, Bir al-Basha, Bani Na’im, and Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen 6 nautical miles west off the shore; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/5; PCHR 2/9; UNOCHA 2/21)

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party resigned his seat in the Knesset, allowing fellow Religious Zionist Party member Zvi Sukkot to take his place. Sukkot, who lives in the Yitzhar settlement, is one of the founders of the Evyatar settlement outpost and has been arrested for terrorist attacks on Palestinians and temporarily expelled from the West Bank for planning terrorist attacks against Palestinians. (HA 2/5; HA 2/7)

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, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian man after he allegedly stabbed and injured 1 other Israeli settler near the Mitzpe Eshtemoa outpost south of Hebron. Israeli settlers also vandalized 30 olive tree saplings in Qusra. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a late-night raid in Balata refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished 1 house and 1 house under construction in Bireen, displacing 8, demolished 3 houses under construction in al-Baqa‘a, issued a demolition notice for 1 house and 1 agricultural structure in al-Juwaya, and issued stop-work orders for 3 agricultural structures in Jayyus. 23 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Nil‘in Beit Duqqu, Sur Baher, Tuqu‘, Dheisheh refugee camp, al-Khader, Yatta, Surif, Bayt Awa, Fahma, and Jericho. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/11; ALM, HA, MDW, PCHR 1/12; UNOCHA 2/16; UNOCHA 2/3)

Israeli media reported that the Israeli military began to prepare the eviction of more than 1,000 Palestinians from the Masafer Yatta area 2 months ago and that it had presented the plans to the new Israeli government after it was sworn in at the end of December. The Israeli Supreme Court greenlit the evictions in May last year, accepting the government’s position that there were no permanent structures in the area when Israel declared it a firing zone. (AN, HA 1/11)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with UK minister for the Middle East Lord Tariq Ahmad in Ramallah. (WAFA, WAFA 1/11)

The Knesset approved the preliminary reading of 7 draft laws that will revoke citizenship and residency status from Palestinians living in Israel that receive funds, directly or indirectly, from the PA after being convicted of terrorist acts. (HA 1/11)

The Israeli justice ministry released a draft of its proposed overhaul of the relations between the judicial and legislative branches of the Israeli government. If enacted the Knesset will be able to amend Basic Laws without Supreme Court interference and allow the government to freely appoint Supreme Court justices. (AX, GDN, HA, MEMO, NYT, TOI 1/11; IN, TOI 1/12)

The new Turkish ambassador to Israel Şakir Özkan Torunlar presented his credentials to Israeli president Isaac Herzog in a ceremony in Jerusalem. The previous Turkish charge d’affaires in Israel was recalled by Turkey in 2018 due to Israel’s deadly response to the Great March of Return protests in Gaza. (ALM 1/11)

EU commissioner for crisis management Janez Lanericic said that Israel must pay reparations for structures it demolishes that are funded by the EU. Commissioner Lanericic said that the EU “repeatedly requested that Israel compensate for the loss of European taxpayers' money,” but that diplomatic efforts have been ineffective. (HA, WAFA 1/11; MEMO 1/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians with live ammunition during a raid in Aqraba. Israeli forces also issued a demolition notice for a house in Idhna, giving the family 8 days to demolish their home. Elsewhere, Israeli forces fired tear gas near a school in Silwad, causing tear-gas related injuries to students and staff. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abu Dis, Tulkarm, Nablus, Jifna, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Isawiya. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/9; PCHR 1/12; UNOCHA 2/16)

The Israeli prison service began transferring Palestinians to different prisons in Israel to impede contact between them. 70 Palestinian prisoners, including Palestinian presidential candidate Marwan Barghouti, were transferred to the Nafha prison. A total of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners will, according to the plans, be transferred from the prison they are incarcerated in to a new location. (HA, WAFA 1/9; ALM, MEMO 1/10)

Israel Hayom reported that Israel forces had demolished 2 structures at an archeological site in Khirbet Tarfin in Area B on 11/24/2022. The demolition was approved by then Defense Minister Benny Gantz. (HA 1/10)

Likud Party MK Hanoch Milwidsky told the Knesset during a debate on revoking citizenship for Palestinians convicted of terrorism that he prefers Jewish terrorists and will not seek to revoke their citizenship. The proposed legislation Milwidsky was defending would see Palestinians receiving prisoner stipends from the PA, or through a foreign body, having their citizenship revoked. Midwidsky said, “I prefer Jewish murderers to Arab murderers and as a general rule in the Jewish state I prefer Jews to disloyal Arabs here.” (HA, TOI, WAFA 1/9; MEE 1/10)

Representatives from the U.S., Israel, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Morocco met in Abu Dhabi for the first day of a two-day summit of the Negev Forum, discussing normalization and regional integration. The members of the forum issued a document on 1/10 stating that they want to develop and implement initiatives to strengthen the Palestinian economy and quality of life. (AX, MEE 1/8; ALM, MEMO 1/9; TOI 1/10; AX 1/11; AN, MEMO 1/12)

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed a lawsuit brought by WhatsApp against the Israeli spyware company NSO Group to continue, denying the NSO Group immunity as a foreign government agent. NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware has been used to spy on activists and journalists in several countries, with more than 100 cases where the spyware having been installed via WhatsApp messages in more than 100 cases. (AJ, MDW, MEE 1/9; MEMO 1/10)

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 vandalized more than 100 olive trees near Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli settlers also vandalized 60 olive trees in Jalud, spraying them with chemicals. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian home in Qibya and 1 Palestinian home east of Jericho. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Balata refugee camp, Jenin, Qalqilya, and Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished 1 bakery in Shu’fat refugee camp and 1 house under construction in Bayt Hanina. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Shu’fat refugee camp. In the Naqab, Israel began construction of a new town, Hiran, on the lands of Umm al-Hiran which Israel has slated for demolition. The demolition of Umm al-Hiran and construction of Hiran has been halted since 2017 when Israeli police killed 1 Palestinian man trying to protect his property. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/7; MEMO 11/8; MDW 11/9; PCHR 11/10; UNOCHA 11/13)

Israel imposed a ban on seafood and fish exports from Gaza to the West Bank, saying that 20 tons of fish were attempted to be smuggled from the West Bank to Israel. The collective punishment imposed on fishermen and workers in Gaza affected some 5,500 Palestinians employed in the industry. (HA 11/9; HA 11/10; MEMO 11/11)

1 Israeli settler succumbed to injuries sustained in a stabbing attack 2 weeks prior in al-Funduq. (HA 11/8)

Israeli forces arrested 1 Israeli settler accused of attacking Israeli forces and Palestinians. The man was later placed in administrative detention, the only Jewish person out of more than 800 administrative detainees, after an Israeli court only allowed Israeli police to hold him until 11/11. (HA 11/9)

1 Israeli settler was indicted by the Israeli state prosecutor’s office on terrorism-related charges for assaulting 1 Palestinian man in Sheikh Jarrah on 10/13. (HA 11/7)

U.S. president Joe Biden called incoming Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on his election. President Biden told Netanyahu, “[w]e're brothers, we'll make history together … my commitment to Israel is indisputable." (AJ, ALM, AX, HA 11/7)

The UN Human Rights Council established independent commission of inquiry began hearings in Geneva on Israeli human rights abuses. (AJ, MEMO, MEMO 11/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Huwwara, injuring 6. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles outside of the Yitzhar settlement, causing damage. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized some 40 olive tree saplings in al-Khader. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and injured 1 other during a late-night raid in Jalazun refugee camp. Israel claimed the 3 attempted to ram Israeli soldiers with a car, but this was disputed by Palestinians present at the scene. Israeli forces also fired tear gas near a high school in Tell during a raid, causing tear-gas related injuries among students and staff. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house and 2 storage facilities in al-Rifaya in the Masafer Yatta area, 1 house in Beit Einun, displacing 11, and 1 house near Jabal Johar, displacing 8. Israeli forces also raided Khirbet ad-Deir, injuring 1 Palestinian with a baton round and others with tear gas. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun, Beit Sira, Safa, al-Jib, Dheisheh refugee camp, Jericho, Nablus, Barta‘a, and Silat al-Harithiya. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and al-Tur. (ABC, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/3; PCHR 10/5; PCHR 10/6; UNOCHA 10/16)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh warned UK prime minister Liz Truss that if the UK moves its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, it would be seen by the PA as a recognition of the Israeli annexation of Jerusalem. The UK political parties Labour, Scottish National Party, and Liberal Democrats told Middle East Eye that they oppose moving the UK embassy to Jerusalem. (REU, TOI 10/3; HA, MEE, MEE 10/4; MEE, MEE, WAFA 10/5; MEMO 10/6; MEE 10/7; AJ 10/9; MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO 10/11; MEE 10/19)

The EU-Israel association council convened for the 1st time since 2012. Addressing the EU representatives, Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid said that “Palestinians need to put an end to terrorism and incitement” in order for a 2-state solution to happen. After the meeting, EU ministers published a paper hailing cooperation with Israel, condemning Hamas, and criticizing Israel for its settlement policies, mentioning settlements in East Jerusalem and plans for E1. The minister also criticized Israeli policies of evictions and forced transfer of Palestinians and demolitions of EU-funded projects. (AJ, ALM, HA, MEMO 10/3)

The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem appealed to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to have the ICC act to protect Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta from expulsion by Israel. (BTselem 10/3; HA, MEE 10/6; MEMO, WAFA 10/7)

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 forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 9 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Umar, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, causing tear-gas related injuries. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abud, Silwad, Silat al-Harithiya, Jaba‘, Kafr Ra‘i, Beita, and al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya; during the raid in Abud, Israeli forces arrested 22 Palestinian students from Birzeit University who were camping at a nearby spring; 12 were released shortly after the raid while 10 remained in custody. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/16; PCHR 9/22; UNOCHA 9/30)

The Israeli company Meimei Hanegev cut the water supply to 50 Palestinians living in the Rahma community in the Negev. The move by the water supplier was illegal under Israeli law and the water connection was restored after Haaretz inquired about the matter to the company. A member of the community said he had tried to pay off the majority of the outstanding balance owed the company, but that his payment was rejected at the post office, citing a technical issue. (HA 9/19)

Israel indicted 1 Palestinian man for acts of terrorism related to a shooting in the Old City of Jerusalem on 8/14 where 8 people were wounded in a bus. The man had been in house arrest after serving a 5-year sentence when he allegedly opened fire on the settlers. (HA 9/16)

Speaking alongside U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in Washington D.C., Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi called on Israel to end “unilateral measures that are undermining the viability of the 2-state solution,” citing settlements, confiscation of land, and encroachment on the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA 9/16; WAFA 9/17)

New Zealand signed a 3-year funding agreement with UNRWA worth $1.8 million. (WAFA 9/16)

In the West Bank, 7 Israeli settlers, including 6 soldiers, were injured when militants fired at an Israeli bus in the Jordan Valley. Israel said 2 Palestinians were arrested for the attack and that a 3d suspect was still at large. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades took responsibility for the attack, saying it was the start of its operation “Summer Rain.” Israeli settlers vandalized 1 mobile home between Jenin and Nablus. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices against electric poles supplying 60 houses with electricity near Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli authorities delivered a demolition notice against 1 house in Isawiya. (ABC, AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/4; TOI 9/5; PCHR 9/8; UNOCHA 9/16)

The Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza announced that 5 Palestinians had been executed, including 2 convicted of spying for Israel and 3 convicted of murder. The executions were the 1st carried out by the Hamas-run government in more than 5 years. (AJ, AP, BBC, CNN, HA, NYT, PCHR, REU, WAFA 9/4; MEE, TOI, WAFA 9/5)

Israel renewed the administrative detention of French Palestinian human rights lawyer Saleh Hamouri to 12/4. (AJ, WAFA 9/5)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli soldier was lightly injured with a shot to his hand during a late-night raid in Bruqin. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Aida refugee camp. Israeli forces also razed 4 dunams (1 acre) of land planted with olive trees in as-Samu. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Jenin, Silwad, and Nablus. In Tel Aviv, Israeli employees of Israel Railways denied an Israeli woman entry to the train platform because she was wearing a t-shirt from the organization Looking the Occupation in the Eye. (JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/25; HA 8/28; PCHR 9/1; UNOCHA 9/2)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas declared a 30-day state of emergency to combat the Covid-19 pandemic as cases started to rise. (WAFA 8/25)

The Israeli state prosecutor closed an investigation into the killing of 1 Palestinian man who was stabbed to death by an Israeli settler on 6/21 at a settlement outpost outside of the Ariel settlement, claiming that the settler could have acted in self-defense. (HA 8/25; AJ, MEMO 8/26)

Israel indicted Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank Bassam al-Saadi on charges of membership, support, and activity in a terrorist organization. (HA, REU, WAFA 8/25)

PA representative to the UN Riyad Mansour told reporters that his team is having talks with members of the UN security council about renewing the PA bid for full membership at the UN. (MEE 8/26; AX 9/7)

In Syria, Syrian state media and Russian forces reported that the Syrian air defense had intercepted 2 of 4 Israeli-fired cruise missiles and 7 of 16 guided aerial bombs in Syria. The Israeli aerial attack reportedly damaged a research facility and injured 2 civilians in Masyaf. (HA, REU 8/25; REU 8/26; AJ, AP 8/28)

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini told the UN security council that the UNRWA is facing an existential threat given its chronic underfunding and coordinated attacks to delegitimize the agency. (MEE 8/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 8 houses under construction in al-Dyouk al-Tahta. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Khader, al-Asakra, Tadduh, Burqa, Nablus, Zawata, and Tulkarm refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in Bayt Hanina and the Old City. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/22; MEMO 8/23; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

25 Palestinians traveled from the West Bank to Cyprus via Ramon airport in Israel. The Israeli airport authority said the flight was not part of the postponed plan for Palestinians to be able to use the Ramon airport south of the West Bank, which was shelved earlier this month. The PA urged Palestinians not to use the Ramon airport, saying Israel should allow the PA to operate the Qalandia airport. (REU 8/22; ALM, MEMO 8/23; MEMO, REU 8/24)

Thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons began a protest against the Israel Prison Service, saying it had failed to ease punitive restrictions in the prisons. Prisoners refused to partake in security checks and prisoners will start refusing meals on 8/24. (JP 8/21; WAFA 8/22; MEMO 8/23; MEMO 8/24)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Türkiye for a 3-day visit, where he will meet with Türkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (MEMO, WAFA 8/21; WAFA 8/22)

The Guardian reported that a CIA study of the material provided by Israel did not amount to evidence to support Israel’s claim that 6 Palestinian rights organizations should be categorized as terrorist organizations. Israel designated the 6 rights organizations as terrorist organizations in October 2021 and raided their offices on 8/18. (GDN, TOI 8/22; MDW, MEMO, NA 8/23)

The Israeli ministry of education told the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality that they could not use maps that depicted the Green Line for educational purposes or as posters in classrooms. After the municipality defied the ministry’s guidance and hung the maps up in some 2,000 classrooms, the ministry ordered the municipality to take them down on 8/24. (HA, MEMO 8/23; HA, HA, HA 8/24; MEE 8/25)

It was reported that Iran had dropped some demands as the U.S. and Iran were getting closer to agreeing on reentering the Iran Nuclear Deal, through European intermediaries. Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz said he was opposed to the nuclear deal and would travel to the U.S. this week to “exert influence on the matter.” Among the demands reportedly dropped by Iran was for the U.S. to remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps from its list of terrorist organizations. (AJ, AJ, AJ, MEE, REU 8/22; HA, REU 8/23; AP, AP, AP, HA, HA 8/24)

A U.S. district judge rejected Ben & Jerry’s request to prevent its parent company Unilever from selling Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Israeli West Bank settlements. Ben & Jerry’s had sued Unilever, saying the sale of its ice cream in Israeli settlements undermined its values. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 8/22; BBC, MEE 8/23; MEMO 8/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 2 structures near Kafr ad-Dik. 4 Palestinian children were arrested during a raid in Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Beit Safafa, displacing 4. In Israel, 2 Palestinians were killed after a container fell on them in Tirat Carmel; 4 others were injured. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/21; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

Palestinians from the West Bank who work in Israel protested at Israeli checkpoints against an agreement between the PA and Israel to deposit workers’ wages in Palestinian banks rather than paying them in cash. The workers fear that the PA and banks will incur new fees that will lower their income. (HA, REU 8/21; MEE 8/31)

Israel’s high court of justice rejected an appeal to have Khalil Awawdeh released from administrative detention, saying it has no room to intervene despite his medical condition, which is categorized as serious. The number of Palestinians held in administrative detention is at its highest since 2008 at 723. (HA, WAFA 8/21; AJ, AP, HA, TOI 8/22; MEE, MEMO 8/23; REU 8/24; HA 9/1)

The Israeli supreme court rejected an appeal against the demolition of 2 schools and 32 residential structures in Khirbet al-Fakhit and Jinba in the Masafer Yatta area. (WAFA 8/21; MDW, MEE 8/22)

Israel dropped charges against 2 Palestinian men from East Jerusalem after video evidence showed that the 2 of them were attacked by Israeli police, and not the opposite as the Israeli police had claimed. The incident happened in Isawiya in 2019 during a raid in the neighborhood, in which the 2 Palestinians asked the police not to park in a private parking spot and were attacked by Israeli police. (HA 8/21; AJ 8/22)

The directors of Al Haq and Defense for Children International – Palestine received calls from the Shin Bet separately ordering the 2 to show up at Shin Bet facilities in the West Bank. Al Haq director Shawan Jabarin told the Shin Bet representative that he would not show up unless he receives a letter to his lawyer or the Shin Bet shows up at his home. Defense for Children International – Palestine general director Khaled Quzmar showed up at a Shin Bet facility at the Ofer settlement and was told to cease work for his organization immediately during a 2-hour interrogation. The offices of the 2 rights organizations, along with 5 others, were raided by Israeli forces on 8/18. The organizations have been categorized by Israel as terrorist organizations. The international community has largely condemned the raids and the terrorist designations. The PLO also announced that it had opened its offices in Ramallah to the 7 rights organizations to provide them a space to carry out their work. (AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/21; MEMO 8/22; MDW 8/23)

Director of Shin Bet Ronen Bar arrived in Egypt for talks with his Egyptian counterparts, as Egypt has expressed anger over Israel’s attacks on Gaza in Operation Breaking Dawn earlier this month. (HA, TOI 8/21; JP, MEE 8/22; HA 8/24)

Israeli spyware company NSO Group, maker of the Pegasus spyware, said its chief executive Shalev Hulio was stepping down and that the company fired 100 employees. (AP, GDN, MEE, NYT, REU 8/21; AJ 8/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 3 agricultural structures in al-Mughayyir. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Arrabah, Jaba‘, Faqqua, Qalqilya, Dheisheh refugee camp, Dura, and Bayt Awa. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Isawiya and Kafr ‘Aqab. (WAFA, WAFA, 8/18; UNOCHA 8/19; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

Israeli forces raided the offices of Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Al-Haq, Addameer, Bisan Research Center, Defense for Children International – Palestine, Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and Union of Health Work Committees. The raid was in response to Israel’s terrorist designations against the 7 organizations. The forces seized documents and equipment from some of the Palestinian rights organizations and sealed the doors of the offices. The UN Human Rights office condemned the Israeli raids and the EU called the Israeli allegations against the organizations unsubstantiated. The U.S. expressed concern about Israel’s raids, saying that Israel has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the terrorist designations against the organizations. In a show of solidarity, officials from the EU, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK visited the offices of Al-Haq, which had been forced open by Palestinians after the Israeli forces sealed the entrance. 6 of the rights organizations were deemed terrorist organizations by Israel in October 2021, and 1 was designated as such in 2020. Several EU countries have dismissed the Israeli claims after reviewing files submitted to the EU. (+972, AI, AJ, AP, AX, BBC, B’Tselem, GDN, HA, HA, HA, JP, MDW, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NA, NBC, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, UNOCHA, WP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 8/18; AJ, HA, MDW, MEE, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/19; WAFA 8/20; B’Tselem 8/21; MDW, WAFA 8/22; MEE, MEMO 8/23; ABC 8/24 ALM 8/25; HA 8/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a late-night raid in Jenin refugee camp where Islamic Jihad commander Bassam al-Saadi was arrested after being shot and injured; 2 others were also arrested during the raid at al-Saadi’s home. A general strike was declared in Jenin after the killing and arrests. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 22 with baton rounds and 75 others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 3 houses and 1 demolition order for a house in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces also demolished 1 car wash in Bizarya and 1 home in Sabastiyya, displacing 8. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya‘bad, Nablus, al-Far‘a refugee camp, al-Ama‘ari refugee camp, Jannatah, and al-Azza refugee camp; 4 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition while protesting the raid in al-Far‘a refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished commercial structures in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (AP, MEE 8/1; AA, AJ, ALM, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEMO, NA, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/2; MDW, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO 8/3; MEMO, PCHR 8/4; UNOCHA 8/19)

Haaretz reported that Egyptian military intelligence officials were meeting with leaders of militant factions in Gaza to prevent a response to the arrest to Islamic Jihad commander al-Saadi (see above). Israel also closed all crossings to Gaza in anticipation of a retaliatory attack. (HA, HA, WAFA 8/2)

The EU, Finland, and Italy contributed $16 million to the PA to help pay for referrals to East Jerusalem hospitals. (WAFA 8/2; MEMO 8/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers seized 1 Palestinian-owned home in Hebron. Israeli forces confiscated 3 Palestinian-owned vehicles in the Masafer Yatta area. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Qarawat Bani Zaid, Jalazun refugee camp, Silwad, Ya‘bad, Burqin, and Dheisheh refugee camp. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/28; MEMO 7/29; PCHR 8/4; UNOCHA 8/5)

Israel’s minister of education Yifat Shasha-Biton revoked the permanent licenses to operate for 6 Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem, saying their textbooks “incite against the State of Israel and the Israeli Army.” The 6 schools were granted temporary licenses allowing them to operate for 1 year and amend the school curricula. Director of the Jerusalem affairs unit at the PA ministry of education Dima al-Samman said Israel was trying to “eliminate the national awareness of the children of Jerusalem and create a sense of inferiority within them.” (TOI 7/28; MEE 7/29; ALM 8/12)

1 Palestinian prisoner ended his hunger strike of 113 days after he was promised by Israeli authorities that his administrative detention would not be renewed. (WAFA 7/28)

3 Jewish Israeli men were charged with terrorism for throwing Molotov cocktails at Palestinians at a beach in Hadara in June. (HA 7/29)

Hamas denied Israeli charges that it hides military sites in civilian areas of Gaza. A Hamas spokesperson said Israel is seeking to justify targeting civilians. (HA 7/27; MEE 7/29)

Democratic members of the House of Representatives André Carson (D-IN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Marie Newman (D-IL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) held a press conference with members of Shireen Abu Akleh’s family, demanding a U.S.-led investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh. Separately, members of the senate appropriations subcommittee on state and foreign operations Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) included language in the State and Foreign Operations report giving the U.S. state department 170 days to submit a report on the steps taken to ensure an independent investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh is carried out. (AJ, HA 7/28; MDW 7/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinians herding sheep in al-Juwaya in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian homes in Hebron, causing damage and injuring 1 Palestinian. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set up settlement outposts in al-Buwairah. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians with live ammunition during a protest against a late-night raid in al-Bireh. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Birzeit, al-Bireh, al-Mughayyir, Ramallah al-Tahta, Deir Abu Mash’al, Huwwara, and al-Yamun. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Abasan; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/21; WAFA 7/22; PCHR 7/28; UNOCHA 8/5)

The Israeli high court of justice postponed the eviction of a Palestinian family living in Silwan until further hearings have been made. (HA 7/22)

Israeli forces fired missiles from the occupied Golan Heights at Damascus, killing 8 people, including 3 Syrian soldiers, and wounding 7 others. (AP 7/21; AJ, F24, HA, TOI, WP 7/22)

Israel’s supreme court ruled that Israel is allowed to strip its citizens of their citizenship if they are convicted of treason, terrorism, or espionage. (HA, REU, WAFA 7/21; MDW 7/23; MEE 7/25)

Norway joined Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Holland, Spain, and Sweden in saying it had dismissed Israeli claims that 6 Palestinian rights organizations are terrorist organizations, citing insufficient evidence. Norway’s foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said she had raised concerns about the lack of evidence during her visit to Israel in March. Norway directly or indirectly funds Al-Haq, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and Defense for Children International – Palestine. (HA 7/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 69 olive and almond trees near Salfit. Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 4 structures east of Yatta and agricultural structures east of Tubas. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian working his land east of Khirbat Einoun and confiscated 1 vehicle. Elsewhere, Israeli forces placed dirt mounds on 4 roads linking Huwwara to ‘Ayn Bus, ‘Urif, and Jamaeen. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Dura, al-Doha, Jalazun refugee camp, and Beita. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/18; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

Israel said it had downed 1 drone entering Israel from Lebanon, claiming it belonged to Hezbollah. (HA 7/18; AP, HA 7/19; ALM 7/20)

The PA called on Israel to address a situation at the Allenby Bridge where thousands of Palestinians reportedly have been waiting for days to cross from Jordan to the West Bank. (WAFA 7/19; MEE 7/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas landed in Romania for the 1st day of 3-day trip to Romania and France where he will meet with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis and French president Emmanuel Macron. (WAFA, WAFA 7/18)

The Israeli defense ministry sent a letter to the lawyers representing 6 Palestinian rights organizations placed on the Israeli terrorism list, telling them they would need to get official permission to represent the organizations or face up to 7 years in prison. The letter was sent 2 days ahead of a hearing on the legality of the terrorism designations. (+972, HA 7/18)

Chief of staff of the Israeli armed forces Aviv Kochavi visited Morocco for meetings with Moroccan defense officials. During his visit, Chief of Staff Kochavi will meet his Moroccan counterpart Belkhir El-Farouk and Moroccan defense minister Abdellatif Loudiyi. (MEE 7/17; HA, REU 7/18; ALM, HA 7/19; TOI 7/21)

21 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) wrote a letter to secretary of state Antony Blinken and director of national intelligence Avril Haines, expressing concern over Israel’s decision to label 6 Palestinian rights organizations terrorist organizations without producing any credible evidence to support the claim. Earlier this month, 9 EU countries dismissed Israel’s allegations from 10/2021 due to the lack of evidence against the rights organizations. (AJ 7/18; MDW 7/19; AA, WAFA, WAFA 7/20)

EU foreign ministers agreed to restart the EU-Israel Association Council set up in 1995 but suspended in 2012 due to Israel’s settlement policy. EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell said that the situation in Palestine was deteriorating and that the annual meetings of the Association council “would be a good occasion to engage with Israel on these issues.” (HA 7/18; ALM 7/19; HA 7/26)

Amnesty International and Citizen Lab published a report saying that at least 30 cell phones belonging to Thai pro-democracy activists, academics, lawyers, and NGO workers were implanted with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware in 2020 and 2021. (AI, HA 7/18)

In the West Bank, unknown assailants opened fire at a car carrying 4 settlers to Joseph’s Tomb, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, lightly injuring the 4 settlers. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Palestinians protested U.S. president Joe Biden in Bethlehem ahead of the president’s visit (see below). (JP, MDW, WAFA 7/15; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

U.S. president Joe Biden continued his 4-day Middle East trip, leaving Israel for East Jerusalem and the West Bank. In East Jerusalem, President Biden visited the Augusta Victoria Hospital, announcing $100 million in aid for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network that serves Palestinians from East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. The funding of the hospital will need U.S. congressional approval. Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had cut U.S. funding in medical aid for the PA. Biden’s visit was the 1st by a sitting U.S. president to East Jerusalem, outside of the Old City. In Bethlehem, Biden and PA president Mahmoud Abbas met and held a press conference, where President Abbas stressed that a 2-state solution will not be tenable forever and called for accountability for Israel’s killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Additionally, Abbas called on the U.S. to reopen its consulate to Palestinians and delist the PLO from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, saying “we are not terrorists.” Biden for his part called for a “full and transparent” investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh, voiced support for a 2-state solution along the 1967 borders with land swaps, and announced that Israel had said it would allow Palestinian phone companies to connect to 4G networks by the end of 2023. Biden also announced $201 million in funding for UNRWA and $15 million in aid for food security via the UN World Food Program and 2 NGOs. Additionally, it was reported that Israel will open the Allenby Bridge on a 24-hour basis and assess if the PA should have a presence at the crossing. It was reported by Palestinian sources that the 2 leaders gave separate statements after failing to agree on a joint statement. After meeting with President Abbas, Biden headed to Saudi Arabia where he was greeted by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman with a “fist-bump,” despite promising during his presidential campaign to make Saudi Arabia a pariah due to Crown Prince bin Salman’s involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It was announced by U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan that Saudi Arabia had opened its air space to all Israeli flights as part of the 2 countries’ path to normalization and Saudi officials said they would start discussions to approve flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir told CNN in an interview that his country remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative, saying “we need to have a process, and this process needs to include the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative. Once we have committed to a two-state settlement with a Palestinian state in the occupied territories with East Jerusalem as its capital, that’s our requirements for peace.” (ALM, HA, NYT 7/13; JP, POL, REU, TOI 7/14; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, AP, AP, AP, AX, AX, AX, AX, AX, AX, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEE, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/15; AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, REU, WAFA 7/16; AJ, CNN, HA, HA, HA, INT, TOI, TOI 7/17; AJ, HA 7/18; HA 7/20; ALM 7/30)

As president Biden left the West Bank for Saudi Arabia, the UAE said it is opposed to a confrontational approach to Iran, seeking to send an ambassador to Iran to mend ties. (HA 7/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian trying to enter Israel for work at the separation wall west of Jenin. Israeli forces also seized 1,480 dunams (366 acres) of land near the Shilo settlement, taken from Qaryut, Jalud, Turmus ‘Ayya, and al-Mughayyir villages. 3 Palestinians were arrested during a raid in al-Fasayil. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA 7/13; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

Haaretz reported that the Israeli military police was investigating 16 out of 60 killings of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli forces during the 1st 6 months of 2022. Of the 60 killed, 15 were children and 4 were women. Israeli forces killed 70 Palestinians in the West Bank in 2021, 19 in 2020, and 20 in 2019. (HA 7/13)

Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta area asked the Israeli high court of justice to issue an interim injunction against Israeli military exercises in the area, citing a munition hitting a home during an exercise on 7/6. (HA 7/13)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said that he had invited the family of the Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces on 5/11, to the White House. The invitation comes as the Biden administration has received severe criticism for whitewashing the Israeli killing by not firmly blaming Israel for the killing and by refusing to call for any consequences. It was unclear if President Biden will partake in the meeting. U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that the U.S. does not consider the case a closed matter and expects an open investigation. (+972 7/12; AJ, AJ, HA, INT, REU 7/13)

U.S. president Joe Biden landed in Tel Aviv for a 4-day trip of the Middle East that will include meetings with Palestinian, Israeli, and Saudi leaders. In a speech, President Biden voiced support for a 2-state solution but said “even though I know it is not in the near-term.” PA minister of social development Ahmed Majdalani called Biden’s words meaningless, saying Biden seeks to promote Israeli normalization with Arab countries over addressing the situation on the ground. During the 1st day of his 4-day tour, Biden also visited the Yad Vashem. (+972, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, ALM, AP, AX, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA 7/13; HA, HA 7/14)

In a prerecorded interview with Israeli Channel 12, Biden emphasized that his trip to the Middle East was about having Israel “accepted as an equal” in the region. Biden also dismissed members of his own party who call Israel an apartheid state and said that he would not remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations even if that blocked a deal in which the U.S. would reenter the Iran Nuclear Deal. (MEE 7/14; HA, MEE 7/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 450 olive, plum, grape, and almond trees near Turmus ‘Ayya. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 returning to the West Bank from Jerusalem at the Qalandia checkpoint, 1 crossing from the West Bank to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge, and 1 while working his land in Idhna. (WAFA, WAFA 7/12; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

Haaretz reported that the World Zionist Organization’s settlement division was finalizing plans to invest $8.5 million to connect settlement outposts in the West Bank to the Israeli electrical grid and preparing plans to have the outposts retroactively authorized by the Israeli government. (HA 7/12)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz approved 5,500 Palestinians to be registered with the Palestinian population registry and increased Gaza merchant permits for commerce in Israel from 1,500 to 15,000. Defense Minister Gantz also gave final approval for construction in Hizma and Harmaleh and 1st level approval for construction in Haris, Kisan, and Battir. Additionally, Israel said it would open a new crossing from Israel to the northern part of the West Bank to ease access to Jenin and delayed a meeting to expand Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem. The moves were described by Israel as a result of a meeting between Gantz and PA president Mahmoud Abbas last week and comes 1 day before U.S. president Joe Biden will arrive in Israel for a 4-day tour of Israel, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. (AP, HA, WAFA 7/12)

4 members of the U.S. senate Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Dick Durban (D-IL), wrote a letter to U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken saying that the U.S. review of the evidence into the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh “hardly constitutes an independent investigation into the overall circumstances of her killing.” In a separate letter, U.S. senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) called on the Biden administration to provide a senior-level classified briefing on the investigation details and the administration’s plan for accountability. (ALM, HA 7/12; MEE, WAFA 7/13)

Citing insufficient evidence, the foreign ministries of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Holland, Spain, and Sweden issued a joint statement saying that the countries have decided to dismiss Israeli claims that 6 Palestinian rights organizations are linked to terrorism and will continue funding them. The rights organizations were designated terrorist organizations by Defense Minister Gantz in October 2021. (AP, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA 7/12; MDW 7/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 200 olive trees and saplings and 250 almond, plum, peach, and grape trees in Turmus ‘Ayya and al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bani Na‘im, assaulting several and firing tear gas. Israeli forces also confiscated 1 tractor in Deir Balut. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during a late-night raid in Silwad and 1 near the separation wall. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/11; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

An Israeli court sentenced 1 Israeli man to 2.5 years in prison for the assault on 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel in May 2021. The Israeli man entered a plea deal to have charges related to terrorism removed, which would have doubled his sentence. (HA 7/11)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that president Joe Biden will seek to facilitate a normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel during his trip to both countries this week and that President Biden will partake in a virtual summit with India, Israel, and the UAE during his Middle East trip. (REU, REU 7/11)

Axios reported that the U.S. had rejected Israeli requests for Israeli officials to join Biden on his planned visit to the Augusta Victoria hospital in East Jerusalem. Biden is expected to visit the East Jerusalem hospital on 7/15 before heading to the West Bank for a meeting with PA president Mahmoud Abbas. According to Axios, the Biden administration told Israel that his visit to the hospital is private and not political. (AX 7/11)

Pew Research Center released a poll finding that 56% of Americans between the age of 18-29 hold unfavorable views of Israel, while the overall number among the people polled was 41%. The poll also found that 71% of Republicans hold favorable views of Israel while 44% of Democrats do. The Pew polling also found that 84% of Americans had little to no knowledge about the BDS movement. (AX, PEW 7/11)

In its annual report “Children and Armed Conflict,” the UN found that Israel killed 78 Palestinian children during 2021, injured 982, and detained 637. In response, UN secretary-general António Guterres said that if Israel repeats the high number of killings of Palestinian children in 2022, it should be added to the list of parties committing grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict. (UN 6/23; AJ, REU, UN 7/11; WAFA 7/12; WAFA 7/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 6 houses and 2 commercial structures in Ar-Rafaiya in the Masafer Yatta area and stop-work orders for 7 houses under construction in Marda. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kharbatha al-Misbah, Nablus, Aida refugee camp, and Yatta. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished 3 Palestinian homes: 2 in Sur Baher and 1 in Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/15; MEMO, PCHR 6/16; UNOCHA 7/2)

Haaretz reported that settler violence against Palestinians has been raising in 2022, with more than 400 recorded incidents in the 1st half of the year, compared to 650 recorded incidents in all of 2021. A source in the Israeli military told Haaretz that the military is aware of the situation and is seeing an increase in radicalized Israeli settlers. The Israeli military recorded 360 incidents of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank against Palestinians in 2019; in 2020 the number increased to 500, before in increasing to 650 last year. (HA 6/15)

An Israeli police investigation into the attacks on the funeral procession for Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/13 found that Israeli police had acted with misconduct, but no commanders were disciplined. According to the Haaretz source, the decision not to discipline any of the commanders responsible was made before the investigation started. The report was also not released to the public. (TOI 6/15; AJ, F24, HA, JP, MEE 6/16)

An Israeli court found former Gaza director of the charity World Vision, Mohammad El Halabi, guilty of membership of a terrorist organization, providing information to a terror group, taking part in forbidden military exercises, and carrying a weapon. The purported evidence against El Halabi is kept secret and the guilty verdict was in part based on a confession given under duress to an informant. World Vision, independent audits, and the Australian government have all said they have found no evidence of wrongdoing by El Halabi since he was 1st arrested in 2016. El Halabi has declined multiple plea deals that would have seen him released before the upcoming sentencing, refusing to enter a plea for a crime he says he is innocent of. (WAFA 6/14; AP, HA, NYT, REU 6/15; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/16; WAFA 6/19)

Palestinian officials said that the U.S. had refused Palestinian calls for peace negotiations, claiming that the Israeli political situation is too sensitive. The request was made during the weekend, when top Palestinian officials met with U.S. secretary of state for Near East affairs Barbara Leaf and her deputy Hady Amr in Ramallah ahead of president Joe Biden’s visit to Palestine, Israel, and Saudi Arabia on 7/13-7/16. Israeli sources told Haaretz that Secretary Leaf had asked Israeli politicians to refrain from sending Israeli soldiers into Area A and not to carry out punitive demolitions ahead of President Biden’s visit. Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid said that Israel is seeking peace with Saudi Arabia and elaborated, “I won't say whether we have under-the-radar talks with the Saudis . . . We have a joint interest in the subject of Iran, that it won't become a nuclear threshold state.” (AJ, AP, AX, AX, HA, HA, HA 6/15)

Russia summoned the Israeli ambassador to express “grave concern” over an Israeli air strike that damaged the Damascus International Airport on 6/10. The Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov called Israel’s reasoning for attacking the airport “unconvincing.” (HA, JP, REU 6/15)

Israel, Egypt, and the EU signed a deal to increase the sale of liquified natural gas from Israel to the EU via Egypt, in a stated effort to reduce EU countries’ dependency on Russian gas. The EU also said it would provide Egypt $105 million in aid to help the country cope with the rise in wheat prices. (ALM, AP, REU 6/14; ALM, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WSJ 6/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces razed farmland in al-Khader, uprooting 95 olive trees. Israeli forces also seized 4 tents and delivered a stop-work order for a house near Yatta. Elsewhere, 1 Israeli military SUV rammed 1 Palestinian, causing severe injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of Gaza City. In Israel, Israeli authorities demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Tira, saying it was built without a permit. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/12; PCHR 6/16; UNOCHA 6/17)

The Washington Post released an investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/11, concluding that the shot that killed Abu Akleh was likely fired by Israeli soldiers. The investigation also rejected the Israeli narrative that crossfire between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants was happening at the time of the killing. (MDW, TOI, WP 6/12; WAFA 6/13)

PLO secretary general Hussein al-Sheikh and PA director of general intelligence Majid Faraj met with U.S. secretary of state for Near East affairs Barbara Leaf and her deputy Hady Amr in Ramallah. During the meeting, Secretary General al-Sheikh called on the U.S. to reopen its consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem and to remove the PLO from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations. (WAFA 6/13)

The Israeli cabinet authorized a compensation program for cultural institutions in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights, that are excluded from EU Creative Europe funding. Israel had agreed to exclude Israeli settlements from funding from EU’s Creative Europe program when it signed the funding agreement. (HA, JP 6/12)

U.S. president Joe Biden told reporters that his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, scheduled for the middle of July, relates to national security issues for Saudi Arabia and Israel. (AX, HA, REU 6/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers re-erected a settlement outpost near al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya; the settlement outpost was dismantled by Israeli forces on 6/7. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni‘lin, al-Mughayyir, Bayt Rima, Balata refugee camp, Rujeib, Bayt Dajan, Ya‘bad, Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, Fawwar refugee camp, and Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities took measurements for the demolition of a 4-story apartment building in Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and seized their boat within the fishing zone. (PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/8; PCHR 6/9; UNOCHA 6/17)

The Israeli supreme court rejected a petition for a retrial in a case where the Israeli settler group Ateret Cohanim allegedly purchased 3 buildings in the Old City from the Greek Orthodox church, allowing the settler organization to evict the Palestinian tenants. The Greek Orthodox church called the ruling “unfair” and without “any legal logical basis.” The EU voiced concern about the supreme court ruling. (HA, YNET 6/9; MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/10; MEMO, WAFA 6/11)

Israel extended its antiquities authority to the West Bank. The Israel Antiquities Authority will replace the Coordinator on Government Activities in the Territories in managing archeological sites in the West Bank. (HA 6/8)

Speaking, via phone link at a conference on the holy sites in Jerusalem, dubbed “Property Documentation and the Historical Status of the Holy al-Aqsa Mosque,” PA president Mahmoud Abbas said that the PA would not accept any changes to the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, saying all Islamic and Christian holy sites are Palestinian. (WAFA, WAFA 6/8; WAFA 6/9)

Israeli media reported that members of a Liberian delegation in Israel headed by minister of state for presidential affairs Nathaniel McGill told Israeli journalists that Liberia will open a trade office in Jerusalem that eventually will become Liberia’s embassy to Israel. The delegation was meeting Israeli officials, including president Isaac Herzog. (ALM 6/9)

Axios reported that last week, Israel refused a proposal for a White House summit with the PA, U.S., Egypt, and Jordan to create a political horizon for ending the occupation. (AX 6/8)

Axios also reported that the White House is sending the newly appointed assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs, Barbara Leaf, to Israel and Ramallah for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials. (AX 6/8)

Haaretz reported that the EU commission’s anti-fraud office will not open an investigation into the 6 Palestinian rights organizations Israel deemed terrorist organizations in October 2021, saying that it had not seen sufficient evidence from Israel against the 6 organizations. EU diplomats told Haaretz that the evidence handed to EU countries by Israel was not compelling and did not meet the threshold of proof. (HA 6/8)

In a visit to the Buraq Wall/Western Wall, Bosnia and Herzegovina parliament speaker Dragan Čović told reporters that the Old City is part of Israel. (JP 6/10)

The World Bank approved a grant of $30 million for PA reforms in transparency, inclusion, and green economy and a $7 million grant for social services and online employment oppounities for Palestinians in Gaza. (WAFA 6/8)

In the West Bank, 3 Israeli settlers, including 2 minors, were injured by Palestinians throwing stones at their vehicle near Huwwara. Israeli settlers vandalized 140 olive and almond trees and water tanks in Qaryut. Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including a minor during a raid in Jenin; 1 Palestinian security officer was also arrested during the raid. Israeli forces also demolished 2 agricultural structures in the Masafer Yatta villages of al-Twana and al-Juwaya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces erected a watchtower in Hebron. Israeli forces also demolished 1 mosque under construction in Arab al-Ramadin, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; 3 were injured with live ammunition and baton rounds, and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abu Dis, Ras Karkar, Harmala, Surif, Dura, and Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated their boats within 6 nautical miles northwest of Rafah; the 2 were released through the Erez crossing on 5/25. (JP, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/24; AJ, HA, PCHR, TOI 5/25; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

A CNN investigation confirmed eyewitness reports and other independent investigations that Israeli forces shot and killed Palestinian American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/11 in Jenin refugee camp and that her killing was likely deliberate. CNN’s investigation was based on 11 video clips, forensic findings at the scene of the murder, audio analysis of the gunshots, and 8 eyewitness testimonies. Explosive weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith found in his analysis that the markings from the shots near the body of Abu Akleh indicated that the murder was deliberate as they did not suggest they were a result of a burst of automatic fire, but intentionally targeted. CNN further confirmed through eyewitness accounts that there was no crossfire in the area where Abu Akleh was killed, as Israel continues to claim. Israel has refused to open a criminal investigation into the killing. (AP, CNN, HA, MDW, TOI 5/24; HA, JP, MEMO, WAFA 5/25)

Israel’s civil administration retroactively legalized the Mitzpe Lachish settlement outpost and approved construction of 158 new settlement units near Dura. (WAFA 5/24; MEMO 5/25)

The U.S. announced sanctions against 1 individual alleged to have raised money for Hamas and on Hamas’s Investment Office, which holds assets in Sudan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the UAE. (ALM, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU 5/24)

Referencing the U.S. decision to delist Kahane Chai from its list of foreign terrorist organizations on 5/13, the PA called on the U.S. Biden administration to remove the PLO from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations. (WAFA 5/24; MEMO 5/25)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) slammed the EU for withholding aid from the PA due to 1 Hungarian Commissioner’s dissatisfaction with PA school textbooks. The NRC said the withholding of aid is jeopardizing the life of more than 500 cancer patients that have been unable to access proper treatment at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem and have led to salary cuts and cuts in aid to the most vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The EU is withholding some $230 million in aid. (AJ, WAFA 5/24; MEMO 5/25)

Former Israeli foreign minister and prominent MK of the Likud party Israel Katz boasted that he had threatened Palestinian students in Israel with a 2d Nakba if they continue to wave Palestinian flags at universities. Katz said, “Remember our independence war and your Nakba, don’t stretch the rope too much. [. . .] If you don’t calm down, we’ll teach you a lesson that won’t be forgotten.” (MDW 5/24; HA 5/26)

Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in Israel for a 2-day visit to Israel, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Turkey’s and Israel’s normalization efforts were reported as a way for Turkey to strengthen its relations with the UAE and Egypt, for Israel and Turkey to cooperate in Syria to build a gas pipeline between the 2 countries, and for Israel to incentivize Turkey to take a tougher stance on Hamas. During the 1st day of his trip, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu met with PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah, voicing support for a 2-state solution and criticizing Israeli settlements. Çavuşoğlu also met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas. The Turkish and Palestinian officials signed 9 cooperation agreements, including on economics, trade and infrastructure, and for developing an industrial area in Jenin. (AJ, ALM, AP, F24, HA, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 5/24; HA, HA 5/25)

President Abbas met with president of the EU parliament Roberta Metsola in Ramallah. (WAFA 5/24)

Politico reported that U.S. president Joe Biden, in a 4/24 phone call to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, had assured him that the U.S. administration would not take Iran’s Revolutionary Guard off the U.S. list of terrorist organizations. President Biden’s decision was seen as an obstruction in finding common ground between the U.S. and Iran with the U.S.’s reentering the Iran Nuclear Deal. Prime Minister Bennett’s office confirmed the reporting. (HA, JP, POL 5/24; AX, MEMO 5/25; HA 5/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 20 olive trees in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Deir Salah in Area A. Israeli forces also raided the Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces opened fire near a girl’s school in Duma, causing panic among students. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested at the Havat Maon settlement. 9 others were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Harmala, Rafat, Tell, Jenin refugee camp, and al-Yamun. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/18; PCHR, WAFA 5/19; UNOCHA 6/4)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra in Ramallah. Foreign Minister Hoekstra also met with representatives from the Palestinian NGO Al Haq, drawing ire from Israel as Al Haq is 1 of 6 Palestinian rights organizations that were deemed terrorist organizations by Israel in 10/2021. Hoekstra subsequently told reporters that “there isn’t a single European state—nor the United States—that has arrived at the same conclusions as has Israel [in regards to the terrorism accusations]. If there is proof, then we should see and we should review it. An accusation in and of itself can never be sufficient for a country that subscribes to the rule of law.” (WAFA, WAFA 5/18; JP 5/19)

The Hamas-affiliated Islamic Wafa bloc won the Birzeit University student council elections with 28 of 51 seats. The Fatah-affiliated Shabibia bloc won 18 seats. (MEE, MEMO, MEMO 5/19; MEMO 5/20; ALM 5/25)

Haaretz reported that the leaders of Turkey, Jordan, and the UAE had accepted an invitation by Israel’s president Isaac Herzog to discuss regional cooperation in climate change. (HA 5/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at 1 Palestinian vehicle driving near the Homesh settlement outpost, injuring 1 and damaging the car. Thousands of Palestinians partook in a funeral ceremony in Ramallah for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces on 5/11 in Jenin refugee camp. PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke at the ceremony and awarded her the Al-Quds star of honor. Abu Akleh will be buried in East Jerusalem on 5/13. Israeli forces prevented Palestinians in the funeral procession from accompanying her casket through the Qalandia checkpoint from Ramallah to East Jerusalem. Israeli forces also demolished a water collection pond used for irrigation in Marj Na‘aj. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during a late-night raid in Hebron, Rumana, Qabatiya, and Burqin, and 2 at flying checkpoints in Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided a house in Bayt Hanina, where friends and family of Abu Akleh were holding a memorial ceremony for her; Israeli forces confiscated Palestinian flags. Israeli police also raided Abu Akleh’s house on 5/11, confiscating Palestinian flags. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids. (AJ, AJ, AP, CNN, GDN, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/12; WAFA 5/13; PCHR 5/19; UNOCHA 6/4)

Israel’s higher planning council approved 4,427 new settlement housing units in the West Bank. 2,791 received final approval, while 1,636 were deposited for public comment before final approval. Among the new housing units are the retroactive legalization of the Mitzpeh Dani and Givat Oz VeGaon settlement outposts and expansion of the settlements of Negohot, Shvut Rachel, Dolev, Betar Ilit, and Kiryat Arba. According to Haaretz, the government’s meeting to approve the settlements was a condition by Yamina MK Nir Orbach to remain in the fragile government coalition. UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland condemned the settlement expansions. On 5/13, 15 European countries urged Israel to reverse its decision, including France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. (PCN 5/9; ABC, AJ, AP, GDN, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA 5/12; AJ, ALM, F24, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/13)

Ecuadorian president Guillermo Lasso met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, saying he will open a representative office in Jerusalem and support Israel in votes at the UN. President Lasso also met with prime minister Naftali Bennett and foreign minister Yair Lapid. (HA 5/12)

The New York Times reported that the FBI stated in a 2018 letter to the Israeli government that it wanted to use NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware “for the collection of data from mobile devices for the prevention and investigation of crimes and terrorism” before purchasing the spyware later the same year. (NYT 5/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up a caravan in Masafer Yatta and erected a wooden structure resembling the Star of David near al-Twana. Israeli settlers accompanied by Israeli forces also raised the Israeli flag above al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers razed a tract of Palestinian-owned land near Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli forces seized farm equipment in al-Juwaya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces detained the deputy director of the Waqf department Najeh Bkairat. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/4; WAFA 5/5; PCHR 5/12; UNOCHA 5/13)

Israel closed all crossings between Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel for the Israeli celebrations of Memorial Day and Independence Day. The crossings are scheduled to reopen at midnight on 5/5. (HA 5/1)

The Israeli high court of justice approved the eviction of more than 1,000 Palestinians living in 8 villages in the Masafer Yatta area. The court held that the Palestinians living there had moved to the area after 1981, when Israel declared the area a firing zone. The Palestinian petitioners said that they have been living in the area since before the establishment of Israel in homes built in natural caves, and argued that the expansion of their residential area was a result of a natural increase in population size. In a 2000 court ruling, the residents at the firing zone were granted permission to stay temporarily, but were prohibited from building on the land. The petitioners were ordered to pay $5,900 each in court fees. (AJ, AJ, AN, AP, GDN, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA 5/5; HA, WAFA 5/6; WAFA, WAFA 5/7; HA, WAFA 5/8; WAFA 5/9; WAFA 5/10; WAFA 5/16; WAFA 5/17; AJ 5/18; HA 5/20; GDN 5/22; TOI 5/23)

Hamas said that a delegation of Hamas officials met with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow. The Hamas delegation was led by the deputy head of the Hamas external bureau Mousa Abu Marzook. (JP 5/4; MEMO 5/5; ALM 5/12; ALM 5/20)

The U.S. Senate passed a non-binding resolution 62-33, prohibiting the Biden administration from removing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp from the list of foreign terrorist organizations. (HA, MEE, POL, TOI 5/5)