The Palestine Chronology

As Operation Starting All Over Again continues, IDF warplanes launch 12 more air strikes on Gaza, cutting electricity to 1,000s of Palestinian homes, causing serious damage but no injuries; continue conducting sonic booms over the Strip roughly every 20 mins. almost around the clock. The IDF also drops leaflets on Gaza warning of more air strikes until there is a “total cessation of terror attacks”; responds to Palestinians firing a rocket at Sederot (no damage or injuries) with artillery fire on the launch site in n. Gaza, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches and fires on residential areas in and around Balata r.c., Nablus; Palestinians set fire to 1 IDF vehicle in Nablus during the operation. The IDF also fires on stonethrowing Palestinians in Dura, wounding 8. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron, damaging 10s of houses, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel, rampage through Yatta village, damaging 10s of Palestinian homes and 1 car. In Ramallah, PA police break up a protest in front of the PA headquarters by Birzeit University students demanding the release of jailed student leader of the Islamic movement at Birzeit, Ala’ Barahma; several students are injured. (ABC News, YA 10/29; AFP, HA, IMEMC, WT, YA 10/30; IMEMC, OCHA 10/31; PCHR 11/10)

Overnight, the IDF deploys an artillery battery outside the s. Gaza Strip (since Operation First Rain, artillery has been positioned in Nahal Oz, outside the n. Gaza); begins massing troops in the Gaza border in case the Israeli cabinet calls for ground operations; conducts arrest raids, house searches in the n. West Bank targeting mostly Islamic Jihad mbrs. During the day, the IDF begins erecting a massive new checkpoint (the Zaatara checkpoint) s. of Nablus at Tapuach Junction that will sever the Nablus and Jenin districts from the rest of the West Bank, creating a northern West Bank canton; the crossing, which is similar to the Qalandia checkpoint that Israel has said will be treated as an international crossing, was approved by the IDF Central Command 9 mos. ago and should begin operation in 2 mos. An IDF drone fires on a car in n. Gaza that launched rockets toward Sederot (causing no damage), killing AMB mbr. Majid Nattat. Soon after, Palestinians fire another 2 rockets and a mortar toward Sederot, and the IDF carries out 2 air strikes on 2 roads leading to Bayt Lahiya; no injuries are reported in the exchange. Later, the IDF carries out another 3 air strikes on n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries; fires stun grenades to disperse Palestinians hoping to cross the al-Ram checkpoint into Jerusalem to mark the final Friday of Ramadan at al-Aqsa mosque. Late in the evening, the IDF launches F-16 air strikes on uninhabited areas of n. Gaza; patrols, shoots out street lights in Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Palestinians then fire an antitank rocket at the Erez crossing, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, 10,000s of Palestinians attend the Gaza funerals of the 7 Palestinians killed in the 10/28 Muhanna assassination; AMB, Hamas, Islamic Jihad hold massive armed marches, firing automatic weapons in the air in violation of their agmt. with the PA not to carry or use weapons in public. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by IDF soldiers, severely beat 2 Palestinians in Hebron. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba vandalize several Palestinian homes in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai violently beat 2 Palestinian teenagers in Hebron; the IDF intervenes and detains 1 Palestinian. Mofaz orders the eviction of 15 Jewish settler families living in the unauthorized enclave of Amona in Hebron. (AP, CSM, HA, IDF Radio, IMEMC, REU, YA 10/28; NYT, WP, WT 10/29; HA, IMEMC 10/30; OCHA 10/31; PCHR 11/10)

The IDF carries out predawn air strikes on an AMB building in n. Gaza (severe damage, no injuries), on an Islamic Jihad cultural center in Rafah (damaging the building and 2 nearby houses, injuring 5 bystanders). During the day, the IDF launches an air strike on an open area of n. Gaza used for launching rockets (no injuries); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. 10,000s of Palestinians attend the funeral for Islamic Jihad’s Saadi (assassinated on 10/24) in Tulkarm. The Knights of the Storm release 2 alleged collaborators it kidnapped in Gaza City on 10/18, shooting each in the leg. Late in the evening, IDF fires 12 artillery shells at open areas of n. Gaza (no injuries); declares the al-Masriyin areas of Bayt Hanun a closed military zone, warning Palestinians there not to leave their homes for several hrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Hebron. Jewish settlers throw stones at Palestinian cars on the Ramallah–Nablus road. (HA, REU, WP 10/25; NYT, WP 10/26; PCHR 10/27)

The IDF fatally shoots an unarmed Palestinian, arrests a 2d; both were thought to be planting a roadside bomb nr. Ramallah; acknowledges the error. Citing retaliation for the death of an AMB mbr. on 10/21, AMB gunmen fire on an IDF patrol in Jenin, injuring 2 soldiers. The IDF reinforces roadblocks around Nablus, Qalqilya; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and nr. Tulkarm and nr. Hebron, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Beit Hadasah attack 10s of Palestinian girls on their way to school; the IDF observes but does not intervene (see 10/20). (IMEMC 10/22; HA 10/23; PCHR 10/27)

An AMB gunman fires on, damages an IDF jeep in Tulkarm, is killed by return fire. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians outside Surif; conduct late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and nr. Nablus, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh cut down another 200 olive trees in Salim (see 10/20). (HA 10/21; HA, NYT, WP 10/22; PCHR 10/27)

In light of the 10/16 AMB attacks, the IDF suspends contacts with the PA; closes to private Palestinian vehicles 2 stretches of the main north–south artery through the West Bank (Route 60) between Jerusalem and Ramallah and Jerusalem and Hebron; reinforces troops in the s. West Bank, encircling Hebron, Bethlehem; reimposes recently dismantled checkpoints around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah. The IDF also closes the Qarni crossing for half a day; conducts arrest raids targeting the AMB in Jenin. Some 40 Jewish settlers attack Palestinian vehicles on the Bayt Furik–Bayt Dajan road nr. Nablus. Palestinians east of Tubas say that the IDF had recently fenced off and begun bulldozing 1,000 d. of Palestinian orchards, farmland nr. Rotem for the apparent expansion of the settlement. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ, PM 10/17; HA, CSM, NYT 10/18; PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/31)

What the IDF describes as an Israeli “special police unit” operating outside Jenin ambushes, assassinates wanted Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Nahid Abu Ghanim, seriously wounds a bystander. Hrs. later, the AMB kills 3 Jewish settlers, wounds at least 5 in drive-by shootings outside Gush Etzion settlement nr. Bethlehem and Eli nr. Nablus; the IDF seals Bethlehem and Hebron, bars Palestinian traffic in those areas, says arrest raids will increase; YESHA settlers council calls on Sharon to close all West Bank roads to Palestinian traffic. During the day, the IDF also handcuffs and severely beats a Palestinian shepherd nr. Tulkarm for no apparent reason; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Kafr Qalil nr. Nablus. Late in the evening, the IDF launches arrest raids that continue overnight in villages around Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Tulkarm. An unnamed IDF spokesman confirms that the IDF has sent undercover officers who can pass as Arabs into the weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil`in to encourage Palestinians to throw stones; troops then use force to disperse crowds. Jewish settlers cut down 30 Palestinian olive trees in Salim. (HA, PCHR 10/16; NYT, PM, WP, WT 10/17; CSM, HA 10/18; PCHR 10/20)

The IDF continues arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Rima, as well as in Bani Na‘im and al-Dahariyya nr. Hebron; rounds up 10s of Palestinians working illegally in Jerusalem. An IDF soldier dies of injuries received in an AMB ambush nr. Nablus on 1/7/05. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar vandalize 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Furik, fire in the air to intimidate the residents. (IDF press release, IMEMC 10/15; PCHR 10/20)

Israelreceives a gift of 300 police dogs fr. an unnamed U.S. Jewish organization. The IDF says that the dogs will be used during raids on houses of wanted Palestinians. (XIN, YA 10/15)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah (also firing on residential areas). IDF undercover units conduct arrest raids in Surif nr. Hebron. Palestinians report that in the previous wk., the IDF had issued military orders confiscating 60 d. northwest of Nablus for creation of a buffer zone around Shavei Shomron settlement, cutting off another 100 d. from Palestinian access, and declaring the whole area a closed military zone. (PCHR 10/13, 10/20)

The IDF closes the Qarni crossing (reopened on 10/9); begins construction of a 6-m.-high concrete wall 15 m inside the n. Gaza border (see 9/18); conducts arrest raids in and around Hebron (targeting Hamas), Nablus, Yatta. Jewish settlers fr. Elkana beat, chase off a Palestinian family harvesting their olive trees nr. Salfit. AMB mbrs. briefly kidnap an American journalists, British photographer in Khan Yunis, giving no reason; Fatah secures their quick release unharmed. (AFP, IMEMC 10/12; IMEMC, NYT, WP, WT 10/13; PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/31)

The IDF reopens the Sufa commercial crossing into Gaza; imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus, forces stores to close, and surrounds 2 mosques, barring worshipers fr. praying; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and in Askar r.c., Hebron, Tulkarm town and r.c.; occupies the top floor of a Palestinian home in Hebron as an observation post. Jewish settlers fr. Neve Daniel fence off 18 d. of Palestinian land in al-Khadir for construction of an unauthorized settlement outpost. (IMEMC 10/10; PCHR 10/13)

The IDF reopens Qarni crossing (closed 9/24) for transportation of goods btwn. Gaza and Israel (allowing around 40–50 trucks/day exporting goods fr. Gaza and 250 trucks/day importing goods fr. Israel, the West Bank); fatally shoots a Palestinian gunman in Nablus; fatally shoots 3 Palestinians nr. Dayr al-Balah who attempt to sneak into Israel fr. Gaza to look for work; raids, imposes a curfew on Bayta nr. Nablus, surrounds a mosque, orders worshipers to leave; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in al-‘Aza r.c., al-Khadir. (IDF press release, IMEMC 10/9; NYT, PCHR, WP, XIN 10/10; PCHR 10/13, 10/20)

The IDF allows Palestinian fishermen to resume fishing within 9 nautical mi of the Gaza coast (under the Oslo agmt., they were allowed out 20 nautical mi); erects a series of new checkpoints around Marda nr. Nablus, preventing Palestinian farmers fr. harvesting their olives; fires on a mosque nr. Hebron as evening prayers let out, wounding a 5-yr.-old Palestinian boy; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Husan nr. Bethlehem. (IMEMC 10/8; PCHR 10/10, 10/13)

The IDF arrests fmr. Hamas mbr. and al-Najah University prof. Nasir Sha’ir of Nablus, who has announced plans to run in legislative elections as an independent; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas in Hebron. More than 200 PA police surround, search homes in Yatta, seeking suspected arms smugglers and drug dealers, arresting 30 and confiscating illegal weapons. The OBKB releases Hamas mbr. Raz (kidnapped in Tulkarm on 10/6), who says his captors beat him but later apologized. (AP, Irish Examiner 10/7; AFP 10/8; PCHR 10/13)

The IDF raids al-Quds Open University campus in Hebron, holds 52 students and staff for interrogation for 3 hrs. until the Temporary International Presence in Hebron intervenes; raids, searches Palestinian homes nr. Nablus, Ramallah; conducts late night arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah, nr. Bethlehem. Also in Gaza, 1 Italian, 1 French journalist are kidnapped, quickly released by unidentified gunmen who say they wanted to pressure the PA to address employment issues in the Strip. In Bayt Lahiya, suspected militant Fatah mbrs. shoot, wound PA military intelligence official Bassam Azzam (who was close to assassinated military intelligence cmdr. Musa Arafat). Later, suspected Hamas mbrs. kidnap, shoot, then dump seriously wounded senior Fatah official Samir al-Juz in Bayt Lahiya. Soon after, a previously unknown group calling itself the Omar Bin al-Khattab Brigades (OBKB; suspected to be made up of disaffected PA General Intelligence officers angry over the 10/2 clashes) kidnaps senior Hamas mbrs. (Bassam Obeido, Hassan Safi, Ra’id Raz) in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm, stating that “this is a response to Hamas’s violations and disregard for law and order and their attacks on security institutions and Palestinian leaders.... This is our first response”; Hamas blames elements of Fatah; the AMB says it is not involved. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ 10/6; Irish Examiner 10/7; AFP, NYT 10/8; MEI 10/12; PCHR 10/13)

The IDF continues for a 2d day to bulldoze Palestinian land inside the Gaza border s. of Kissufim crossing. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen allegedly wearing PA police uniforms kidnap 2 Hamas mbrs. in Shati‘ r.c.; in response, Hamas mbrs. detain, seriously beat a PA general intelligence officer. In the 2d such incident in 2 days, a Palestinian man knifes, wounds an IDF soldier at a checkpoint outside Nablus, is shot, wounded, arrested. (NYT 10/6; MEI 10/12)

The IDF bulldozes large areas in Abasan, inside the Gaza border s. of Kissufim crossing. A Palestinian woman stabs, wounds an IDF soldier at the Hawara checkpoint outside Nablus before being fatally shot. (IMEMC 10/4; NYT 10/5; NYT, PCHR 10/6; HA 10/25)