The Palestine Chronology

The IDF shells residential areas of Rafah while Palestinians are going to dawn prayers, killing 1 Palestinian; fatally shoots a 2d Palestinian in Rafah who attempts to attack an IDF post; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. In al-Hatab nr. Nablus, 18 internationals escort Palestinian farmers who have obtained IDF permits to harvest their olive groves; within minutes of starting work, IDF soldiers order the group to leave the area, take the ID card of 1 Palestinian, attempt to arrest him; when the internationals intervene, the soldiers beat several, throw 1 Swedish peace activist to the ground, put a gun to his head, threaten to pull the trigger. Israel also reportedly expels 2 Palestinian prisoners (1 fr. Bayt Rima, 1 fr. Nablus) to Jordan; no explanation is given. A Jewish settler seriously injures 3 Palestinian girls (ages 13–15) in a hit-and-run incident nr. Hawara. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in Jabaliya on 10/5. (International Solidarity Movement press release, PRCS 10/20; JAZ, MA, VOP 10/20 in WNC 10/22; PCHR 10/21; PR 10/27; PCHR 10/28)

The IDF fires a missile at 2 Palestinian boys (ages 12 and 15) playing with pipes and sticks in a street Jabaliya r.c., killing them; says video footage fr. drones in the area appeared to show militants preparing to launch a rocket. Also in n. Gaza, the IDF fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, seriously wounding a 12-yr.-old child in her home; demolishes 1 Palestinian home north of Bayt Hanun. A 13-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received in an IDF attack on Jabaliya on 9/30; a 16-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received in Jabaliya on 10/1; a 22-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received in Bayt Hanun on 10/3. The IDF also fires on 2 Palestinians who approach the Israeli border fence nr. the Sufa crossing into Israel in s. Gaza, killing 1 Palestinian while the other escapes; fires on residential areas, demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Rafah; shells residential areas, bulldozes 86 d. nr. Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, 2 antitank missiles at IDF troops in Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF moves troops into Balata r.c. and Tulkarm, fires on residential areas, then fires on stonethrowing youths who confront the troops; halts a Palestinian school bus at a Hebron checkpoint, detains 3 students; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Arub r.c., Jenin r.c., and in villages around Nablus, Tulkarm; bulldozes 60 d. southwest of Hebron for construction of the separation wall. The UNRWA delivers food, water to half of the 600 Palestinian families (ca. 3,300 individuals) who have been trapped in their homes east of Jabaliya r.c., unable to leave and without electricity or water since Days of Penitence began on 9/29. (United Nations Information Service 10/7; PSCT, VOI, VOP 10/7 in WNC 10/11; MEZ, WP 10/8; PR 10/13; PCHR 10/14)

In Egypt, a huge truck bomb explodes at the Hilton hotel in Taba, 2 smaller bombs explode at hotels further south along the Red Sea in Nuwayba and Ras al-Shaytan in what appear to be al-Qa‘ida attacks targeting Israelis vacationing for the Sukkoth holidays; 34 people are killed (including at least 13 Israelis, 9 Egyptians, 2 Italians, 1 Russian), some 150 are wounded. (BBC, HA, NYT, WP, WT 10/8; ITAR-TASS, MA, MENA, MM, VOI, VOP 10/8, MENA, al-Quds 10/9, VOI 10/10 in WNC 10/12; NYT, WP, WT 10/9; NYT 10/10; al-Ra’i 10/10, AYM 10/11 in WNC 10/14; LBC 10/10, MM 10/11; VOP 10/11 in WNC 10/13; MM 10/12; MM, NYT, PR 10/13; JP, WJW 10/14; MM 10/15, 10/18, 10/19; WT 10/20; MEI 10/22; WP 10/26)

The IDF expands its incursion into Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, and Jabaliya r.c., with tanks and helicopters firing randomly between houses and into open fields allegedly to deter Palestinians fr. firing Qassam rockets into Israel, killing 5 Palestinians (including a 10-yr.-old boy), wounding at least 53, bulldozing 90 d., and demolishing 12 Palestinian homes, 2 brick factories, 1 workshop, 1 agricultural storehouse, 3 wells. In s. Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots an unarmed Palestinian who strays too near Gush Katif; fires on residential area of Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF arrests a Palestinian who attempts to stab, lightly injures an IDF soldier outside Kiryat Arba settlement; detains some 40 Palestinians at checkpoints around Hebron, holds them at nearby Jewish settlements for hrs. of questioning, beating some before releasing them; send troops into Rafidiyya nr. Nablus, fires on houses, then fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them; bulldozes 5 d. of olive groves nr. Hebron’s Bnei Hefer settlement; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and around Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah. An IDF jeep fatally runs over a Palestinian in Amari r.c. (MM, PCHR, XIN 9/9; VOI, VOP 9/9 in WNC 9/11; NYT, WP, WT 9/10; PR 9/15; PCHR 9/16)

The IDF makes a predawn missile strike on a group of Hamas mbrs. practicing maneuvers on an old soccer field in Gaza City, killing 14 Hamas mbrs., wounding around 25. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF retaliates by firing on residential areas of Khan Yunis, hitting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl in the head as she sits inside an UNRWA school, seriously wounding her. The IDF also bars an ailing Palestinian fr. crossing a Bayt Furik checkpoint to reach a hospital in Nablus, allowing him to die; fires live ammunition, tear gas at Palestinians waiting to cross the Abu Huli checkpoint; bulldozes 15 d. and 150 olive trees nr. Ma’on settlement nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Araba nr. Jenin, Hebron and neighboring Dura, al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, Nablus, Salfit, Tulkarm r.c.; fires on residential areas of Rafah; searches homes, levels land, partially demolishes a Palestinian home in Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Gush Katif, a Qassam rocket at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. Israel releases 137 Palestinian prisoners “to relieve overcrowding” in Israeli jails. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF raids on Rafah in 5/04. (AFP, BBC, JAZ, MM, UNRWA press release, WP, WT 9/7; IDF Radio, JAZ, MENA, VOI, VOP, YA 9/7 in WNC 9/9; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 9/8; JT, al-Quds, VOP 9/8 in WNC 9/10; NYT, PCHR 9/9; XIN 9/9 in WNC 9/14)

The IDF tightens roadblocks btwn. Jerusalem, Ramallah; imposes a curfew on Silwad nr. Ramallah; shoots, wounds a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone nr. Morag; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Bayt Rima and Dayr Ghassana nr. Ramallah, Madama nr. Nablus, Salfit; begins work on new segments of the separation wall running s. of Hebron and btwn. East Jerusalem and the Qalandia checkpoint s. of Ramallah, bulldozing 500 d.; reportedly bulldozes large areas in Wadi al-Malih in the n. Jordan Valley. Palestinians in Nablus report that the IDF is digging a trench 3 m deep and 4 m wide to encircle Salim, Azmut, Dayr Hatab, Bayt Dajan, and Bayt Furik villages (combined population 30,000); 3 km have been completed. Armed Palestinians calling themselves the Fatah Fighters kidnap the PA’s security dir. for the Rafah checkpoint Saad al-Sayfan, accusing him of corruption. 15 armed Palestinians occupy the Khan Yunis governate building for 2 hrs., demand that the PA compensate local Palestinians who have lost their homes to IDF bulldozing. Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. A PA court in Gaza opens a trial against 7 alleged collaborators, including Muhammad and Rami Abu Qaynas, accused of providing Israel with information used to assassinate Hamas leader ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Rantisi on 4/17/04. ( JAZ 9/5; MENA 9/5 in WNC 9/7; VOI 9/6 in WNC 9/8; PR 9/8; PCHR 9/9; PR 9/15)

The IDF enters, fires on residential areas of Askar r.c., Balata r.c., Nablus. Palestinians fire a mortar at Gush Katif, damaging 1 house. While Palestinians across the territories observe a day of solidarity with hungerstriking Palestinian prisoners by fasting, staging sit-ins, and demonstrating, some 800 Palestinian prisoners at Israel’s Ashkelon prison, 350 administrative detainees in Shiqma prison temporarily suspend their strike after Israeli officials agree to halt strip searches, allow some physical contact during family visits. (HA, MM 8/27; VOP 8/27, HA 8/28 in WNC 8/31; PCHR 9/2)

The IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 45 d. in al-Mughraqa nr. Gaza City; blows up 1 Palestinian home nr. Nablus; fires tear gas at Palestinians waiting to cross the al-Mawasi checkpoint; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abu Dis, Askar r.c., Bayt Laqia nr. Ramallah, Bayt Jala and neighboring Bethlehem, al-Fara’ r.c., Ramallah, Tubas nr. Jenin, Yatta nr. Hebron. The IDF also captures 6 Egyptian students armed with a toy gun, knives, binoculars, radios in the Negev, 6 mi inside Israel. Unidentified gunmen fire on the car of PA General Intelligence Service dep. chief Tariq Abu Rajab as he drives along the coastal road in Gaza, seriously wounding him, killing 2 bodyguards, wounding 2 others; no group claims responsibility. (BBC, HA, PR 8/25; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/26; AYM 8/26 in WNC 8/31; JAZ 8/30 in WNC 9/1; QA 8/31 in WNC 9/3; PR 9/1; PCHR 9/2; PR 9/15; MA 9/15 in WNC 9/21)

In Rafat, the IDF opens fire on several Palestinians removing belongings fr. a home that the IDF earlier warned would be demolished, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian, firing on an ambulance that attempts to reach him, allowing him to bleed to death. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; demolishes a Palestinian home in alQarara; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Araqa and Qabatya villages nr. Jenin, Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, Balata r.c., Surif nr. Hebron, Tulkarm. Israel announces plans for another 533 new housing units in the Adam, Emmanuel, Har Adar, Har Gilo settlements in the West Bank. The PA announces that security forces have recently arrested 6 suspected collaborators in Gaza. ( JP, MM 8/23; DS, NYT, WP, WT 8/24; VOP 8/24 in WNC 8/26; PR 8/25; PCHR 8/26)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fires missiles at 4 Palestinians allegedly preparing to fire a Qassam rocket fr. Bayt Hanun into Israel, killing 2; continues large-scale operations (dubbed Operation Full Court Press) in Nablus that began on 8/7, imposing a curfew, fatally shooting a Palestinian standing on his roof, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops; blows up 3 residential buildings housing 13 Palestinian families (76 individuals) in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Brazil refugee camp (r.c.), Khan Yunis, Rafah; bulldozes 2 wells, a commercial building in Bayt Hanun; conducts arrest raids, house searches in villages outside Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun, orders Palestinians to evacuate several homes nr. Erez Crossing, searches and digs around homes for several hrs. looking for tunnels. Islamic Jihad fires 2 mortars at Gaza’s Gush Katif settlement as a solidarity gesture with the Palestinian prisoners (on hunger strike since 8/15), causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (AP 8/16; PRCS press release, WP, WT 8/17; PR 8/18; PCHR 8/19)

The IDF reopens the Rafah checkpoint where some 2,500 Palestinians have been stranded on the Egyptian border since 7/18; some 1,400 enter today; it is expected to take 2 more days for all 2,500 to cross. The IDF also fatally shoots an Islamic Jihad mbr. attempting to lay a roadside bomb outside a Gaza settlement; fatally shoots wanted Hamas mbr. Muhammad Balasma nr. Nablus in what may be an assassination; fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager nr. the Qarni crossing into Israel; fires on residential areas of Rafah; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Dahaysha r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Hebron, several villages around Jenin. (BBC, MM 8/6; VOI, VOP 8/6, YA 8/7 in WNC 8/10; NYT, WP, WT 8/7; NYT 8/8; PR 8/11; PCHR 8/12)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 AMB mbrs., 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. who approach Gaza’s Aley Sinai settlement; raids a bedouin encampment northwest of Jerusalem, ordering them to leave the area within 10 days to make way for separation wall construction; bulldozes 80 dunams of land nr. al-Walaja for construction of the separation wall; fires on residential areas of ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., Bayt Lahia, Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, nr. Jenin, and in Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm camp. In Gaza City, a Palestinian police officer tosses 2 grenades into a jail cell holding alleged collaborators, wounding 7, who are taken to al-Shifa hospital; 1 Palestinian dies of his injuries; 2 others are later killed by masked Hamas gunmen who storm the hospital’s intensive care unit. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing some damage. An ailing Palestinian woman dies after being barred by Israel fr. leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment in Egypt, despite intervention by the PA Health Min. The Israeli DMin. approves plans to build 600 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement. (MM, REU 8/2; VOI 8/2 in WNC 8/4; MA 8/2 in WNC 8/4; MM, NYT, WP 8/3; VOP 8/3 in WNC 8/5; PR 8/4; AP, IDF Radio, MA, PCHR 8/5; NYT 8/6; al-Quds 8/6 in WNC 8/10; WP 8/26)

The IDF bulldozes a main street, a deserted Palestinian home, water and sewerage networks nr. Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops, military vehicles, helicopters into Rafah, firing on residential areas, demolishing 18 Palestinian homes; fires missiles at a workshop in Khan Yunis, destroying it. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket into a Negev kibbutz, damaging a home but causing no injuries. Armed AMB mbrs. kidnap Nablus local governate head Fadil Shuli; accuse him of collaboration with Israel, corruption, failing to provide local security; release him after several hrs. without explanation. (JTA, MA, MM, PR 7/21; JAZ, VOI 7/21 in WNC 7/23; PCHR 7/22; VOI 7/22 in WNC 7/24; PR 7/28)

The PC votes to support the recommendations of a report prepared by a recently appointed special comm. on the political and security situation in the Palestinian territories, urging Arafat to accept Qurai‘’s resignation, appoint a new government with expanded powers that could restore stability in Gaza, undertake comprehensive reforms. (MM 7/21; JAZ, VOP 7/21 in WNC 7/23; NYT, WP, WT 7/22; HJ 7/23 in WNC 8/3; NYT 7/26)

The IDF partially reopens the Erez crossing into Israel for the 1st time since 3/15, issuing permits for 513 Palestinian workers over age 35 (though only around two-thirds are able to enter Israel because of prolonged searches). The IDF also sends tanks, troops into Palestinian residential areas nr. Gaza’s Netzarim settlement, creating sand berms around 4 Palestinian homes, causing some damage to the buildings, destroying a well and a bird farm; conducts arrest raids in Tubas; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Balata r.c. and Nablus, wounding 5; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; raids a home in Hebron, severely beating 25 residents; razes a grove of 400 olive trees in s. Nablus for construction of a new separation wall segment. (VOP 6/17 in WNC 6/19; PCHR 6/24)

The IDF shells Tal al-Sultan, hitting an UNRWA school, injuring 2 students in their classroom; raids Qabatya nr. Jenin, surrounding and firing on a home sheltering a wanted AMB mbr., then firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 5, arresting the wanted man; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes, 7 shops, 2 poultry farms completely, 6 homes partially in Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hazma nr. East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around ‘Ayn Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho, Bayt Sahur nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Nablus, Tulkarm; fires on residential areas of Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone, wounding him; dynamites an apartment in Tulkarm, severely damaging 3 other units in the building; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets into Israel, damaging a building in an industrial park in Sederot but causing no injuries. Some 130 PA security officers and personnel hold a sit-in outside the Force 17 offices in Dayr al-Balah to protest corruption and mistreatment by their superiors and their impossible working conditions, saying it is impossible to do their jobs for lack of equipment, training, means of communications. (AP, HA 6/1; VOP 6/1 in WNC 6/3; UNRWA press release 6/2; PCHR 6/3; PR 6/9; MEI 6/11)

IDF expands operations in Rafah to Brazil r.c. and al-Salam neighborhood. IDF helicopters fire 4 missiles at some 3,000 Palestinians, mostly school children, staging a peaceful march fr. neighboring Shabura to Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in protest against the incursion, killing at least 8 Palestinians, wounding more than 60; Israel apologizes for the deaths, saying “warning shots” went astray, but says Operation Rainbow will continue. Also in Rafah, the IDF fires a missile at 5 Palestinian gunmen, killing them all; fatally shoots a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy who leaves his home under curfew to get water for his family; continues house-tohouse searches; orders all Palestinian males between ages 16 and 50 to gather in a local school, transfers them to bases at nearby Jewish settlements for interrogation, releases most by sunset; demolishes at least 5 Palestinian homes. In the West Bank, the IDF shells an apartment building in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, claiming that wanted Palestinians were hiding inside but finding none. (HA, MM, YA 5/19; HA, MM, NYT, PCHR, REU, WP, WT 5/20; HJ, Interfax, XIN 5/20 in WNC 5/22; CSM, MM, NYT 5/21; WP 5/25; PR 5/26; PCHR 5/27)

The IDF fatally shoots wanted senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Imad Janajra (target of assassination on 4/23 when the IDF killed a college professor in a case of mistaken identity) outside Nablus in an apparent assassination; raids Dayr al-Balah, demolishes 1 building, fires on stonethrowing Palestinians, killing 1 Palestinian, seriously wounding 17, including a Palestinian photographer covering the scene for AFP; fires on 2 Palestinians who approach Gaza’s Qarni crossing through a closed military zone, killing 1 Palestinian while the other escapes; begins construction of the separation wall nr. Qalandia; conducts large-scale arrest raids in Hebron, taking at least 60 Palestinians to an unknown destination; conducts smaller arrest raids in Bethlehem, Nablus, Tulkarm (reportedly detaining Hamas’s Tulkarm head Rifat Nafif); confiscates 22 dunams of Palestinian land in Far‘un nr. Tulkarm; bulldozes 7 dunams of land, 1 Palestinian home in Wadi al-Silqa; demolishes a 3-story apartment building and 7 Palestinian homes, severely damages 9 homes, bulldozes 3 dunams of land in Rafah; fires at stone-throwing youths outside Nisanit settlement. Without explanation, Israel releases Hamas cofounder Muhammad Taha, held in administrative detention since 3/03, in Gaza. (VOI, VOP, XIN 5/5 in WNC 5/7; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/6; VOI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; VOP 5/8 in WNC 5/11; PCHR 5/13)

The IDF conducts major house searches and arrest raids in Silwad, home of the exiled Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khalid Mishal and Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades West Bank cmdr. Ibrahim Ma’ari Hamid, arresting 70 Palestinians (including Hamid’s 5 brothers, 9 of Hamid and Mishal’s sons, among other relatives). The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Gaza’s Kissufim crossing into Israel; shoots, mortally wounds a stone-throwing Palestinian in al-Fawwar r.c., denies medics access, allowing him to bleed to death; handcuffs a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy to the hood of a jeep nr. Biddu, using him as a human shield to prevent Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall there fr. throwing stones at them; raids 3 Palestinian schools in Silat al-Dahir nr. Jenin, orders teachers and students home, declares schools closed for 2 days; stages a late-night raid on al-Fawwar r.c. nr. Hebron, fatally shooting a Palestinian, occupying a 3-story apartment building as a base, conducting house-to-house searches; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Dayr al-Balah, Jenin, and in Dura (confiscating files fr. the offices of an Islamic charity), Jalazun r.c., Nablus, Rafah; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah. Palestinians attack an IDF post at Hawara checkpoint s. of Nablus, killing 1 IDF soldier; attack an Israeli border patrol unit in Hebron, overturning their jeep, injuring 3 officers; fire 2 Qassam rockets at Gaza’s Nisanit settlement, wounding 1 Jewish settler; fire several rockets into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. (VOI, VOP, YA 4/19 in WNC 4/21; NYT 4/20; VOP 4/20 in WNC 4/22; PCHR 4/22; PR 5/5)

Israel DM Mofaz says the comprehensive closure on the West Bank, Gaza that has been in place since the 3/22 Yasin assassination will be in place until early 5/04. The IDF closes the only entrance to Qalqilya, sets up several new checkpoints on the Qalqilya–Nablus road; raids Tulkarm r.c., fatally shoots wanted Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Khalid Kharwish in an apparent assassination, wounds 10 others, raids a hospital emergency room to arrest a critically wounded Palestinian militant; fatally shoots 3 unarmed Palestinian laborers who were apparently attempting to sneak across the Gaza border fence into Israel to find work; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem; raids, shuts down the Arab Women’s Care Society in East Jerusalem, arresting several employees, confiscating records, seizing its bank accounts on the grounds that the group, licensed by the Israeli Interior Min. as a charitable society in 1994, is run by Hamas; blows up a Palestinian home in Tulkarm r.c.; bulldozes an area of land nr. Hebron, erects a new observation tower; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, Hebron, al-Khadir, Nablus. The IDF also begins work on a 2-km stretch of the separation wall btwn. Dahiyat al-Barid checkpoint n. of Jerusalem and the Qalandia checkpoint s. of Ramallah that will isolate, prevent the expansion of Dahiyat al-Barid and al-Ram. (al-Arabiyya TV 4/4 in WNC 5/7; WT 4/5; VOP 4/5 in WNC 4/7; NYT 4/6; PR 4/7; PCHR 4/8)

The PLF names Omar Shibli (Abu Ahmad) as secy.-gen., succeeding Muhammad Abbas who died in U.S. custody in Iraq on 3/9. (Daily Star 4/3; PR 4/7)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah. Palestinians throughout the territories, Israeli Arabs inside Israel hold demonstrations to mark the 28th anniversary of Land Day, when Israeli forces confiscated 5,500 acres of land fr. Arab villages in the Galilee for the construction of Jewish enclaves, sparking clashes in which 9 Israeli Arabs were killed, 96 were injured, 300 were arrested; IDF troops clash with demonstrators in Beitunia. Palestinians fire an antitank rocket at IDF forces outside Gaza’s Neve Dekalim settlement, causing no damage or injuries. A group of 81 prominent Palestinians (mostly veteran leftists, some Fatah mbrs.) issue a call for nonviolent protest similar to that made on 3/25, but also warning that Palestinian violence will not cease until Israel halts its attacks on, oppression of the Palestinians. (AFP, MM, XIN 3/30; PR, WT 3/31; YA 3/31 in WNC 4/2; PCHR 4/1; MEI 4/2)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing youths in Dahaysha r.c., killing 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah (wounding a Palestinian playing soccer), conducts arrest raids in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, Bayt Sahur, Jenin, Salfit. In Nablus, an AMB mbr. dies when his car mysteriously explodes in what may be an assassination. UN officials note that nearly all food and other humanitarian aid to Gaza has ceased since Israel closed the Erez crossing on 3/15, warn that a humanitarian crisis could ensue if Israel does not ease restrictions. On the 1st Friday after Yasin’s assassination, 10,000s of Palestinians protest across the West Bank and Gaza. (VOP 3/26 in WNC 3/30; NYT, WT 3/27; AFP 3/30; PR 3/31; PCHR 4/1)

The IDF assassinates Hamas spiritual leader and founder Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, firing 3 internationally banned flechette missiles at him as he leaves a Gaza City mosque after morning prayers, also killing 3 bodyguards, 4 bystanders, wounding at least 17 Palestinians, including Yasin’s 2 sons. Immediately, 100,000s of Palestinians take to the streets throughout the territories to protest the assassination. The IDF seals Gaza; clashes with Palestinian demonstrators in Balata r.c. (killing an al-Najah Radio correspondent in Balata r.c., apparently thinking his mobile phone was a weapon), Bethlehem, Dayr al-Balah, Hebron (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian watching fr. his balcony), Jenin, Khan Yunis (killing 3 Palestinians), Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah, Qalqilya, Tal Zu’rub; imposes a curfew on areas around Jenin, fires on residential areas; temporarily occupies a Palestinian home as an IDF post nr. Dayr al-Balah. 100s of Palestinian youths in East Jerusalem gather at checkpoints to throw stones at IDF soldiers; Palestinian prisoners in 2 Israeli jails riot. Palestinians fire Qassam rockets, mortars, antitank rockets at Gush Katif and Netzarim settlements, nearby IDF posts, the western Negev, damaging 2 apartments in Netzarim but causing no injuries. An ax-wielding Palestinian fr. the West Bank village of Bidiyya wounds 3 Israelis outside an army base in Tel Aviv before being arrested. An unidentified assailant said to be Arab stabs, lightly wounds 3 Israelis on a Jaffa bus. 4 Palestinians are arrested for beating up a Jewish settler in East Jerusalem. Jewish settlers detain, beat a Palestinian man in the Jordan Valley. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians, including reps. of all Palestinian factions, take part in Yasin’s funeral services later in the day, with 21 PSF officers forming an honor guard for Yasin’s coffin, Gaza churches ringing their bells, mosques broadcasting Qur’anic verses. Meanwhile, Israeli defense chiefs meet, agree to target the entire remaining Hamas leadership immediately, without waiting for another Hamas attack. Israel also announces that it will close the only mental health clinic serving East Jerusalem Palestinians (1,200 patients) because of “security concerns.” (AP, BBC, CSM, HA, MA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 3/22; AP, ATL, ITARTASS, MNR, MENA, IDF Radio, IRNA, ITARTASS, JP, VIRI, VOI, VOP, XIN 3/22 in WNC 3/24; al-Arabiyya TV [Dubai], Syrian Arab News Agency 3/22 in WNC 4/27; AFP, BBC, CSM, HA, JT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/23; AFP, AYM, DUS, HA, al-Hayat al-Jadida, JT, MA, MENA, al-Ra’i, THWR, TSHR, VIRI, YA 3/23 in WNC 3/25; MM, NYT, PR, WP 3/24; ATL, ITAR-TASS, Izvestiya, JT, al-Ra’i, SA, VOP, XIN 3/24 in WNC 3/26; AYM 3/24 in WNC 4/3; JT, MM, PCHR, WJW 3/25; ITAR-TASS, MENA, NHR, VIRI 3/25 in WNC 3/27; MM 3/26; MNR 3/27 in WNC 3/30; AYM 3/30, VOP 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MEI 4/2; PCHR 4/15)

In Washington, Shalom holds further talks on Sharon’s disengagement plan with VP Dick Cheney, Powell, Rice. (WP 3/23)

An AMB mbr. and a Hamas mbr., both fr. Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c., stage a double suicide bombing inside Israel’s Ashdod port, some 30 mi. north of the Strip, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 20, and marking the 1st suicide bombing inside Israel staged fr. Gaza and the 1st targeting civilian infrastructure. Hamas, AMB issue a communiqu´e stating that “joint, qualitative operations” involving various factions will be their practice in the future. In response, the IDF launches air strikes against 3 metal foundries, a printing press (alleged weapons factories) in Gaza City, wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 armed Palestinians attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; fatally shoots a Palestinian during an arrest raid in Rafah; fires on Palestinians playing soccer on a field nr. Neve Dekalim settlement, wounding 1; fires rubber bullets, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international demonstrators protesting the separation wall nr. Mod’in Ilit settlement, wounding 10; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., al-Qarara and nr. Nablus, Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Shomron nr. Qalqilya bulldoze 150 dunams of adjacent Palestinian land. Jewish settlers fr. Asfar nr. Hebron confiscate 60 dunams of nearby Yatta village land (see 3/6). (BBC, HA 3/14; VOP 3/14 in WNC 3/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/15; MM 3/16; QA, al-Quds 3/16 in WNC 3/18; MM, PR 3/17; HA, PCHR, WJW 3/18; MEI 3/19; JPI 3/26; WP 4/1)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians who enter a closed military zone along the Gaza border with Israel; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian nr. Nablus; raids, evacuates, closes a secondary school in Ya‘bad nr. Jenin; fires on residential areas of al-Qarara, wounding a 14-yr.-old Palestinian outside his home; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus. (VOP 3/13 in WNC 3/16; WP 3/14; PCHR 3/18)

The IDF raids a high school nr. Nablus, arrests a 10th grader; raids a mosque in al-Bireh, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a man on his roof; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Nablus, Rafah. In implementation of a new security plan (Quarterly Update), the PA deploys large numbers of PSF officers on the streets of Gaza City. (MM 3/11; HA 3/14; PR 3/17; PCHR 3/18)

The U.S.’s Abrams, Burns, Hadley arrive in Israel for further consultations on Sharon’s disengagement plan. Meanwhile in Washington, Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz briefs U.S. VP Dick Cheney, Powell on Israel’s latest thinking regarding evacuating settlements, maintaining security control in Gaza postwithdrawal. In Cairo, Israeli FM Silvan Shalom meets with Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak and FM Ahmad Maher, who provide assurances that Egypt would secure its border with Gaza following an Israeli pullout. (AFP, HA, JP, MM, NYT, REU 3/11; MENA 3/11 in WNC 3/13; MM, WP 3/12; MA 3/12 in WNC 3/16; PR 3/17; MEI 3/19)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Gaza City; fires on stone-throwing youths in Burqa nr. Nablus. Unidentified gunmen assassinate Arafat’s close adviser Khalil Zabin, shooting him 12 times as he leaves his Gaza City office. Jewish settlers fr. Tekoa nr. Bethlehem seize, bulldoze 20 dunams of land in neighboring al-Rashayda. (VOP 3/1 in WNC 3/3; BBC, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/2; VOP 3/2 in WNC 3/4; CSM, PR 3/3; PCHR 3/4; PR 3/17)

In Washington, Sharon chief of staff Dov Weisglass, Israel’s National Security Adviser Giora Eiland meet with U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell, U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to discuss “practical steps” to carry out Sharon’s disengagement plan. (WT 3/1; MM, NYT 3/2; WP 3/3; MM 3/5; HA, MM 3/10)

In an apparent assassination, the IDF raids Balata r.c., fatally shoots wanted AMB mbr. Muhammad Oweiss, allows him to bleed to death. At Oweiss’s funeral later in the day, the IDF fires on mourners outside the mosque, killing wanted AMB mbr. Rihad Abu Shallah, wounding 3 bystanders. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus. Israel’s High Court orders a 1-wk. halt to construction of the separation wall, while it considers a petition fr. the Israeli-Palestinian group, Popular Comm. Against the Wall. In Gaza City, 1,000s of Palestinians take part in the funeral of Islamic Jihad military leader Judah, assassinated on 2/28. In Yatta nr. Hebron, Jewish settlers seize Palestinian land, begin constructing concrete platforms for mobile homes. (NYT, WP 3/1; PCHR 3/4; Gush Shalom press release 3/6)

An AMB suicide bomber fr. Husan detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem, killing 8 Israelis, wounding 50. Israel says that the attack is proof that Israel needs to build the separation wall. The IDF immediately sends troops into Husan, seals nearby Bethlehem. The IDF also bars an ambulance fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a Hebron hospital, allowing an ailing Palestinian woman to die; fires in residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Bethlehem; issues orders expropriating 27 dunams of Palestinian land until 12/05 for construction of a security fence around Gaza’s Netzarim settlement. A Hamas mbr. dies in Khan Yunis when a missile he is trying to fire prematurely explodes. Palestinians report that the IDF has recently begun barring Palestinians under age 35 fr. crossing checkpoints around Nablus. On the eve of the International Court of Justice hearings on the wall, Israel begins dismantling a 5-mi. stretch of the barrier running east of the n. West Bank village of Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya; the wall running west of the village will remain; Israel also reportedly plans not to build a 12.5 mi. stretch of wall cutting Jenin off fr. the Jordan Valley, not to dig deep trenches around Ben-Gurion Airport, to remove 2,953 feet of wall in the Qalqilya area. Palestinians across the territories begin holding demonstrations against the wall to coincide with the hearings. Jewish settlers throw rocks, bottles at Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. (AFP, NYT, WP, WT 2/22; VOP, XIN 2/22 in WNC 2/24; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/23; AFP, MENA 2/23 in WNC 2/25; al-Quds 2/23 in WNC 2/26; AP 2/25; PCHR 2/26; MM 3/12)

In an incident in Dayr al-Balah, IDF soldiers grant permission to an international delegation, including 3 UN staff members, to visit and question a local Palestinian family, provided they stay only 30 mins. and not enter the family’s home; the delegation complies, but as it is leaving, an IDF soldier deliberately shoots the 15 yr. old son of the family fr. a distance of 20 m., hitting him in the back, partially paralyzing him; the international team transports the boy to a Gaza City hospital. IDF also fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., wounding an 11-yr.-old Palestinian boy; bulldozes 15 dunams of land, demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jenin, 1 in Salfit nr. Nablus, a poultry farm in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Hanina, Gaza City, nr. Jenin. Armed Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian neighborhood in Hebron, seriously beating a 13-yr.-old Palestinian girl. In Jenin, unidentified assailants open fire on Palestinian Authority (PA) health minister Jawad al-Tibi, Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction head Muhammad Ishtiyya during a visit to inaugurate a new hospital; neither is injured. (VOP 2/18 in WNC 2/20; PCHR 2/19; VOP 2/19 in WNC 2/21; LAW, PCHR 2/26; HA, DUS 2/28)

U.S. National Security Council Middle East Adviser Elliott Abrams, Dep. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, Asst. Secy. of State William Burns arrive in Israel for3days of talks with senior Israeli, Palestinian officials on Israeli PM Ariel Sharon plan for unilateral disengagement fr. Gaza. (MM 2/18; VOP 2/18 in WNC 2/20; BBC, HA, MM, WT 2/19; VOP 2/19 in WNC 2/21; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/20; HA 2/22; WP 2/26; Forward 2/28)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem in connection to the 1/29 bombing, but after informing the PAof its plans to enter the city and asking the PSF to evacuate its posts while the operation is underway; 4 Palestinians are arrested, 10s detained for questioning. The IDF also assassinates wanted Hamas mbr. Jihad Suwayti in Hebron, raiding a home, shooting him in the head; fatally shoots 1 AMB mbr., 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. (both armed) who attempt to infiltrate Gaza’s Dugit settlement to stage a joint attack; fatally shoots a 4th Palestinian nr. Nablus; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Ramallah, the home of the 1/29 bomber’s family in Aida r.c.; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c. (BBC, HA, MM 1/30; NYT, WP, WT 1/31; LAW, PCHR 2/12)

Hizballah, Israel complete implementation of the 1st phase of their prisoner release, open contacts via Germany on the 2d phase. (MEI 2/6)

A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device on a crowded bus nr. Sharon’s official residence in West Jerusalem, killing 10 Israelis, wounding 44. The bomber, whom the PA confirms was a Bethlehem PSF officer fr. Aida r.c., leaves 2 suicide notes claiming the attack in the name of the AMB, Hamas; the AMB initially claims responsibility, Hamas does so after the 2d letter is released; the groups do not claim joint responsibility, as they have done in the past, raising questions as to who really staged the attack. Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz says Israel will not routinely seal the territories in the wake of the bombing, so as not to aggravate Palestinians’ hardship; will specifically target militant groups. The IDF tightens checkpoints around Hebron; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Hebron, Jenin, Nablus. Hebron Jewish settlers attack Palestinians in nearby Yatta, forcing 9 Palestinian families out of their cave dwellings and mud houses; Hebron settlers reportedly seek to expropriate more than 37,000 dunams in the area for settlement expansion. In a plea agmt., an Israeli court sentences to 15 mos. in jail Havat Maon settlers Yitzhak Paz and Matityahu Shvu, arrested on 7/17/03 for transporting explosives, plotting a major bombing of a Palestinian school, carrying out 2 bombings at Palestinian schools that resulted in no deaths. (BBC, HA, MM 1/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/30; MM 2/3; WJW 2/5; JPI 2/6; al-Majallah [London] 2/8 in WNC 2/18; PCHR 2/12; JPI 2/13)

Israel, Hizballah begin to implement the 1st stage of their 2-stage prisoner swap. (BBC, HA, MNR, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 1/29; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/30; MM 2/2; JPI, MEI 2/6; JPI 2/13) (see 1/24)