The Palestine Chronology

There is a flurry of IDF activity in the Hebron region today, mostly related to the ongoing Israeli investigation into the killing of an Israeli settler on 7/1. IDF troops arrest 17 Palestinians during raids nr. the city, including 11 allegedly involved in the 7/1 killing. During one of the raids, Israeli soldiers open fire on a wanted Palestinian’s home to draw him out. (HA, MNA, WAFA 7/31; PCHR 8/4)

Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian man at a checkpoint nr. Nablus after he allegedly attempts to charge at and stab them. No Israelis are injured. Separately, they shoot and injure a Palestinian attempting to enter Jerusalem for work. IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in and around Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Jenin, and Nablus, arresting 9 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 1; and patrol nr. Hebron and Qalqilya throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian demolishes his own home in al-Thawri to avoid paying NIS 50,000 (approx. $13,000) for an Israeli demolition crew. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmlands nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage. In Israel, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians protesting the Israeli plan to demolish their village, Umm al-Hiran, in s. Israel and replace it with a Jewish Israeli town (1 Palestinian is injured and 5 are arrested). (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 7/31; HA, JP, MNA 8/1; PCHR 8/4)

In response to reported stone-throwing incidents in the area, the IDF reopens a checkpoint nr. Nablus that they had closed on 7/9. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure 3 Palestinians and arrest 4 others during clashes sparked by a raid in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem. They conduct further raids and house searches nr. Nablus, arresting 2 Palestinians, and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. In Israel, the Israeli police announce that they have arrested 10 Palestinians working in Israel without proper permits and demolished their camp nr. Tamra. It is unclear when the raid took place. (MNA, WAFA 7/28; MNA 7/29; PCHR 8/4)

The PA Foreign Ministry releases a statement, in Arabic only, “relieving” the international community from “issuing useless condemnations against Israeli settlement” activities. The statement follows a week of Israeli settlement growth announcements and rote condemnations from the U.S., EU, and UN. (MO, PAMFA 7/29)

Overnight in the West Bank, IDF troops assault the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian, allegedly a mbr. of PIJ involved in the killing of an Israeli on 7/1. After declaring the village a closed military zone, they cut the Internet and electricity, fire anti-tank missiles and other artillery at his 3-story residential building for 7 hours, and eventually demolish it, killing the man and injuring a 2d Palestinian. The operation sparks clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in the area; 5 Palestinians are injured and 3 are arrested. (BBC, MNA, WAFA 7/27; PCHR 8/4)

After the major IDF operation nr. Hebron overnight, the PA announces that the IDF has agreed to begin lifting its general closure of Hebron and the surrounding district, which it put in place in the wake of a Palestinian’s shooting of a settler on 7/1. Tension remains high in Hebron, as the IDF patrols the region throughout the day. (JP 7/27)

Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids in Nablus and nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest 2 mbrs. of the Islamic Waqf after they allegedly assault 2 Israeli archaeologists at Haram al-Sharif, and arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces confront a Palestinian fishing party late at night, damaging 1 boat and arresting 5 Palestinians. Meanwhile, a Gazan succumbs to injuries sustained in a confrontation with Israeli forces on 11/23/2001. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish several structures in the bedouin village of al-Araqib for the 101st time since 6/2010. The demolitions spark minor clashes, and several Palestinians are arrested. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/27; EI, MNA, PCHR, WAFA 7/28; PCHR 8/4)

Israeli NGO Peace Now announces that the Israeli govt. has opened tenders for the construction of 323 housing units in Israeli settlements nr. Jerusalem, including 89 in Gilo, 36 in Neve Ya’acov, 68 in Pisgat Ze’ev, and 130 in Har Homa. Meanwhile, the Israeli Knesset’s Ministerial Comm. for Legislation gives preliminary approval to a bill that would make some West Bank settlements eligible for special tax breaks in connection with the severity of their security situation. (MNA, PNOW 7/27; HA, TOI 7/28)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian waiting in line at the Qalandia checkpoint. They say that she acted “suspiciously” by “quickly approaching the security guards.” Late at night, they arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in and around Nablus, Tulkarm, and Hebron; and patrol during the day nr. Salfit and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 52 Palestinians during overnight raids in Ras al-Amud and Silwan. The Israeli police dub the raids as “the 700,” referring to the number of officers involved. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians nr. the border fence, causing no injuries. Off the coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage. They then arrest 2 fishermen and confiscate their boat. (EI, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/26; MNA 7/27; PCHR 7/28)

Amid heightened tensions and the ongoing IDF closures in the Hebron district, Israeli settlers enter Kafr Haris village nr. Hebron overnight to perform religious rituals. Palestinians in the area report that a group of Israeli settlers have been setting up a new illegal settlement outpost outside the village. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in Silwad village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youth; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured. Late at night, IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during further raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Jenin; and patrol in 5 villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians suspected of stone-throwing in Issawiyya. They also conduct raids in the Old City, breaking up a minor physical confrontation between Jewish Israelis and Palestinian youths (7 Palestinians are assaulted and 4 are arrested). Meanwhile, a Palestinian demolishes a room of his home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In s. Israel, Israeli forces arrest several bedouin Palestinians after they try to stop an Israeli bulldozer from leveling land outside their village, al-Araqib. (MNA, WAFA 7/24; MNA 7/25; PCHR 7/28)

The Israeli press reports that the mayor of Yatta village, along with several human rights organizations, has submitted a petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice to lift the IDF’s closure of Yatta, which was imposed in the wake of the 6/8 attack in Tel Aviv. The petition states that all entry and exit from the village has been prohibited since 7/2, when the closure was re-enforced. The mayor reportedly complained to the IDF, which responded that the closure will continue because it is a “military-security need” and that it is “part of the effort to prevent further attackers from leaving the area.” (HA 7/24)

The Israeli press reports that the Jerusalem Municipality’s Local Planning and Construction Comm. presented plans for 770 settler housing units between the Gilo settlement and Bayt Jala late last week. The Israeli authorities previously approved 1,200 units in the area, and the reports today appear to cover the same development. (MNA 7/24)

As the IDF continues its closure of Hebron and the surrounding district that was put in place on 7/1, Israeli PM Netanyahu visits the separation wall under construction nr. Hebron and remarks on the necessity to “prevent illegal residents and attackers from reaching Israel’s cities.” Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 14 Palestinians and issue 6 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Nablus, and Hebron; and patrol throughout the day nr. Hebron. Israeli forces uproot a number of olive trees outside Dayr Istya village nr. Salfit to clear space for Israeli settlers to build a road. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish several Palestinian structures nr. the Israeli settlement of Atarot. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian farmer working nr. Dayr al-Balah and conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Jabaliya r.c. Off the coast, Israeli naval forces arrest 4 Palestinian fishermen. (HA, JP, MNA, REU, WAFA, YA 7/20; PCHR 7/21; PCHR 7/28)

Along the Israeli-Syrian border, unidentified fighters open fire on an IDF position on the Israeli side of the border, causing minor damage. Later in the day, Syrian rebels report that an Israeli air strike hit a Syrian army position, causing an unknown amount of damage. (HA, JP, MNA 7/20)

Israeli forces conduct raids in al-Ram village, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian child is struck in the chest with an unidentified projectile and killed. Palestinian witnesses say he was killed by live ammunition. The Israeli authorities later dispute the nature of the child’s death, arguing that no live fire was used in the clashes. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home under construction in Bayt Hanina and 4 commercial buildings and a residential structure in Silwan; arrest a West Bank Palestinian 2 days after his release from prison, alleging that he was planning a “terrorist” attack; arrest 3 other Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya; and demolish several Palestinian graves nr. Haram al-Sharif for undisclosed reasons. In the West Bank, the IDF continues its closure of Hebron and the surrounding district that was put in place on 7/1. IDF troops arrest 9 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during house searches and raids nr. Hebron, as well as nr. Ramallah and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Jenin, Salfit, and Hebron throughout the day. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian home in Duma nr. Nablus, causing damage and 1 light injury. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. Off Gaza’s n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, injuring 1 fisherman. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/19; WAFA 7/20; PCHR 7/21)

Israel’s Knesset passes into law, 62–45, the so-called Suspension Bill, allowing 70 MKs, including 10 from the opposition, to initiate a procedure that would suspend 1 of their colleagues. The new draft would still require 90 MKs’ support to effect a suspension. (HA, NYT 7/19; HA, JP, MNA, YA 7/20)

A PIJ fighteris killed and 2 others are injured when a tunnel collapses along the Gaza-Israel border nr. Khan Yunis. (JP, MNA 7/19)

The IDF continues its closure of Hebron and the surrounding district, conducting raids and patrols throughout the day. Amid heightened tensions in the region, IDF troops shoot and fatally injure a Palestinian youth after he allegedly stabs and lightly injures 2 Israeli soldiers with a screwdriver outside al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. (The Palestinian youth will succumb to his injuries on 7/19.) The IDF then closes the main road connecting Hebron to Jerusalem. The alleged perpetrator’s brother was killed in a similar confrontation on 4/14. Separately, IDF troops open fire on a Palestinian truck nr. Hebron after it collided with an Israeli settler vehicle; the Palestinian driver is injured and arrested. An Israeli settler driver allegedly rams and injures a Palestinian youth nr. Hebron. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of a Palestinian home nr. Jenin overnight, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; 5 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops arrest 9 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during raids and house searches nr. Nablus, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya, as well as in the Hebron district. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia r.c. and Issawiyya. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/18; MNA, WAFA 7/19; PCHR 7/21)

The IDF maintains the restrictions on Palestinian movement in Hebron and the surrounding district, including the closure on Bani Na‘im village, put in place on 7/1. Meanwhile, IDF troops blockade Yatta village nr. Hebron, fire tear gas canisters at Palestinians attempting to cross over a dirt mound they placed at an entrance to the village. Late at night, unidentified gunmen fire on an Israeli settler’s car driving outside Sa‘ir village nr. Hebron, moderately injuring 1 settler. The IDF then seals off the village and raids a number of homes in the area, sparking clashes (5 Palestinians are injured and 3 are arrested). The IDF also indefinitely closes a checkpoint nr. Nablus following reports of stone-throwing in the area. Israeli soldiers conduct further raids in Yatta and Tulkarm r.c., as well as nr. Qalqilya, Jenin, and Bethlehem, arresting 6 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 5. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 7/9; MNA 7/10; PCHR 7/14; MNA 7/29)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian driver allegedly rams an IDF vehicle nr. Jerusalem, lightly injuring 3 Israeli soldiers. It is unclear if the collision was intentional or not. Unidentified persons open fire on Israeli settler vehicles nr. Nablus, causing no serious damage or injuries; and throw stones at a settler outside the Beit El settlement nr. Ramallah, causing minor injuries. IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during raids and house searches in and around Hebron and Tulkarm. During a raid in Dura village, stone-throwing residents clash with the soldiers; 3 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF maintains many restrictions on Palestinian movement in Hebron and the surrounding district, including the closure on Bani Na‘im village, which has been in place since the settler shooting on 7/1. (MNA, TOI, YA 7/6; PCHR 7/14)

After days of general closure, the IDF begins to allow Palestinians to leave Hebron. Every vehicle is still searched before it exits the district. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in c. Hebron, threatening 1 home with punitive demolition, detaining a handful of Palestinians, and sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 1 Palestinian is injured. They arrest 3 Palestinians on further raids late at night nr. Nablus, and patrol in 8 villages nr. Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 12 Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya, Silwan, and the Old City. (MNA 7/4; JP 7/5; PCHR 7/14)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 5th of 5 planned days since 6/29. (OCHA 7/5)

For a 2d day in a row, the IDF maintains a general closure on Hebron, sealing crossings across the city and barricading at least 20 villages in the surrounding district. The IDF also revokes the travel permits of 2,700 Palestinians from the area and maintains its complete lock-down of Bani Na‘im village and continues its closure of Yatta village (the IDF had been removing roadblocks in the area steadily over the past few weeks). Israeli soldiers arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron late at night; and patrol in 12 villages nr. the city throughout the day. On 1 raid, IDF troops clash with stone-throwing Palestinians in Dura village; 2 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw rocks at Palestinian cars nr. Nablus, damaging several. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 11 Palestinians, including 1 journalist, during late-night raids in Ras al-Amud, Sur al-Bahir, Silwan, and the Old City. (JP, MNA 7/2; MNA 7/3; PCHR 7/14)

Israel’s security cabinet meets to discuss the recent surge of violence across the West Bank and Israel, confirm the approval of 42 new housing units in the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, and decide to maintain the closure of Hebron and the surrounding district. Some ministers push PM Netanyahu to approve a massive round of settlement construction in response to the violence. He reportedly promises to examine the issue. (HA, JP, YA 7/3)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions. (OCHA 7/5)