The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinian protesters gathering outside Ofer Prison in solidarity with imprisoned Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi; there are no serious injuries. They shoot and injure 2 Palestinians during minor clashes near Ramallah. Israeli border police arrest a Palestinian, allegedly for carrying a bomb into a courthouse near Bethlehem. The IDF arrests 5 more Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalqilya and near Salfit, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrols near Hebron and Tulkarm. More than 20 Israeli settlers enter a Palestinian school in Burin village near Nablus, sparking clashes with stone-throwing students; 2 students are injured and 2 Palestinian vehicles are damaged. The settlers claim that some students from Burin threw stones at their cars earlier in the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Issawiyya. In 4 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries (2 fishermen are arrested). Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmlands near Dayr al-Balah, causing no serious damage. (IMEMC, MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/28; PCHR 1/4)

PA FM al-Maliki says that the Palestinian leadership has decided to request, at a summit planned for 1/6 in Amman, the implementation of the Amman Summit resolutions of 1980, which stipulated a political and economic boycott of any country that moves its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. He also says that the PA will lobby in countries where Israeli diplomats are pressing governments to move their embassies to Jerusalem, and that they will wait for a new composition of the UNSC before resubmitting their application for full membership at the UN. (WAFA, WP 12/28)

For a 9th day in a row, Palestinians across the oPt gather to protest U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Attendance spikes today, as the protests coincide with weekly Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements. Israeli forces violently disperse demonstrations across East Jerusalem, Halhul village near Hebron, 2 areas near Ramallah (outside the Beit El settlement and in Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Tubas, Tulkarm, Huwwara checkpoint near Nablus, and along Gaza’s border near Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis, Jabaliya refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City; 4 Palestinians are killed and approximately 150 are injured. (A video showing a 16-year-old Palestinian girl, Ahed Tamimi, shoving and slapping an Israeli soldier amid clashes in Nabi Salih near Ramallah, will go viral over the weekend. She will be arrested on 12/19). Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians and issue arrest summons to 2 during raids near Bethlehem and in East Jerusalem, and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. Separately, Palestinians throw stones at Israeli vehicles near Jerusalem, injuring 1 settler. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, IMEMC, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/15; PCHR 12/21)

The Israeli authorities announce that the Erez border crossing has reopened for Palestinians to enter and exit, but that the Kerem Shalom crossing is to remain closed indefinitely. Both were closed on 12/13. (TOI 12/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers gather outside Qusra village near Nablus where a Palestinian farmer was shot dead by a settler on 11/30. Palestinians throw stones and roll burning tires toward the settlers; IDF troops violently disperse them, critically injuring 1. Elsewhere, IDF troops conduct raids in Kafr Dan near Jenin, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids near Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Islamic Waqf guards at Haram al-Sharif and 4 more Palestinians during raids in Biddu and Ras al-Amud. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, IMEMC, MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/4; PCHR 12/7)

The Trump administration announces that it has not yet reached a decision about relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel, despite the fact that today is the deadline for Trump to sign the presidential waiver delaying the move for 6 months. “We will share a decision on the waiver in the coming days,” a spokesperson says. Because Trump did not sign the waiver in time, U.S. law allows Congress to demand that he move the embassy and cut funding to the State Dept. It’s unlikely lawmakers will pursue either option. (HA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 12/4; HA, REU 12/5)

The IAF conducts air strikes on a Syrian government military research center near Damascus late at night, causing a disputed amount of damage. (HA, TOI 12/5)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troopsshoot and kill a Palestinian farmer approaching the border fence e. of Jabaliya. Separately, IDF troops open fire on 3 Palestinians approaching the Kerem Shalom crossing, injuring 1 and arresting 5 in 2 separate incidents. In the West Bank, a Palestinian shepherd is seriously injured when he steps on an explosive left by the IDF. (He succumbs to his injuries on 11/24.) During a peaceful demonstration in Hebron, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian photojournalist. At a checkpoint outside al-‘Arub r.c., IDF troops detain 1 Palestinian man and lightly injure him. IDF troops raid homes nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli woman breaks into a Silwan home and attacks a sleeping Palestinian woman with pepper spray. Separately, a Palestinian woman is arrested at the Shu‘fat r.c. checkpoint after, according to Israeli police, attempting to stab an Israeli officer with a sharp object. Later in the evening, clashes break out in Shu‘fat r.c. Seventeen Israelis attack a Palestinian taxi driver in the Bnei Brak neighborhood after 2 of them accuse the driver of trying to run them over. Israeli forces raid several homes and stores in al-Bustan, and they issue fines for violations of construction laws. Dozens of Israelis carrying Israeli flags and chanting “death to Arabs” gather in the Old City and demand that the Israeli govt. open Haram al-Sharif. (AnA, AJ, IMEMC, MEMO, MNA, REU, WAFA 11/23; IMEMC, MNA, WAFA, 11/24; PCHR 11/27)

Israeli settlers enter a village n. of Ramallah to set fire to a Palestinian home and to deface another with price-tag graffiti. In West Jerusalem, settlers attack several Palestinian workers at a vegetable stand. Nr. Nablus, settlers assault 3 Palestinian shepherds. A group of 3 Israeli settlers assaults a Palestinian youth in Bayt Hanina, moderately injuring him. (MNA 11/23; WAFA 11/24)

Following heated arguments between several ministers, Israeli PM Netanyahu’s cabinet passes a preliminary reading of the controversial “nation-state” bill that would govern the reconciliation of competing drafts in the Knesset. (GDN, HA, WAFA 11/23; JP, NYT 11/24)

After a day of negotiations in Vienna between reps. of Iran and the P5+1, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry urges Iranian FM Mohammad Zarif to consider an extension to the talks. A senior Iranian official says that Iran is open to extending the talks between 6 mos. and 1 year. (BBC, HA, MNA 11/23)

In Gaza, the IDF sends troops fr. Dahaniyya airport, escorted by helicopters and drones, into al-Shuka to conduct arrest raids; fires on Palestinian fishermen on the Gaza beach, injuring 1. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a major raid on Nablus, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding at least 11, demolishing 4 Palestinian homes before leaving without making any arrests. The IDF also patrols in Ras ‘Atiya nr. Qalqilya, conducting random ID checks, firing on residential areas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus area fire on Palestinian children in Bayt Furik, seriously wounding a 12-yr.-old boy. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a local Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leader in Jabaliya r.c. (AP, IMEMC, NYT 8/27; WP 8/28; OCHA 8/30; PCHR 8/31; PMG 9/1)

The IDF sends tanks, troops back into n. Gaza before dawn, firing missiles at and exchanging gunfire with Palestinian militants, killing at least 3 Hamas mbrs., 2 PRC mbrs., wounding at least 30 persons (including 1 Japanese and 1 Palestinian journalist, 2 paramedics) nr. Bayt Hanun and conducting arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Hanun; continues to shell n. Gaza, areas nr. Rafah (killing a 59-yr.-old Palestinian woman); makes a predawn air strike on PA FMin. offices in Gaza City, wounding 3 Palestinians; makes a 2d air strike on the FMin. complex late in the evening, destroying it, wounding 12 bystanders, damaging several nearby homes; fires missiles fr. helicopters at the ESF compound in Jabaliya, damaging it. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and in and around Hebron (also searching and confiscating documents fr. the Islamic Society for Orphans), Nablus; begins work on a new segment of the separation wall southwest of Hebron. The IDF also detains for several hrs. al-Jazeera satellite TV’s Jerusalem bureau chief for questioning regarding violating Israeli military censorship rules. Jewish settlers fr. Tal Rumayda attack Palestinians, international peace activists in Hebron. Unidentified gunmen fatally shoot a PA security officer in Gaza. (AP, IMEMC, NYT 7/16; AP, NYT, WP, WT 7/17; OCHA, PCHR 7/18; OCHA 7/19; PCHR 7/20)

Overnight, the IDF launches heavy missile barrages and air strikes on s. Beirut suburbs (leveling wide swaths around the Hizballah headquarters) and s. Lebanon, hitting a major power station. In response, Hizballah fires some 20 rockets on Haifa, killing 8 Israelis and wounding 7 at a rail yard, hitting the city’s main oil refinery and gas depot, and a busy downtown street at rush hour; the IDF says that 4 of the rockets fired were Iranian made Fajr missiles (which, if confirmed, would mark Hizballah’s 1st use of the weapons), but Hizballah says it fired only Raad-2 and Raad-3 missiles. The IDF strikes back during the day, ordering Lebanese to evacuate 7 villages in s. Lebanon; hitting at least 80 targets across Lebanon, killing at least 45 Lebanese and wounding more than 100, including killing 20 in an air strike on a government civil defense building in Tyre (also wounding 50) and 8 dual Canadian citizens in a strike on a minibus in s. Lebanon; also killing a Ghanaian UNIFIL soldier and his family in an air strike on his house; leveling an apartment building in s. Beirut, knocking out electricity in many areas of the capital. (AP, HA, IFM 7/16; NYT, WP, WT 7/17)

Overnight, the IDF escalates its military operations in Gaza, making air strikes on Haniyeh’s empty Gaza City offices (destroying them, but causing no casualties), an Interior Min. office used by the ESF (killing 1 Hamas volunteer with the ESF, wounding a 2d) in Jabaliya r.c., 2 ESF training sites in Gaza City (no casualties), a Gaza City school (causing damage but no injuries); shells the s. Gaza coast fr. the sea, causing no injuries; continues to shell open areas in n. Gaza (setting fire to a Palestinian home), break the sound barrier over the Strip. Egyptian security envoy Omar Sulayman cancels plans to visit Gaza as Egyptian mediation efforts to free Cpl. Shalit will not result in a deal, though lower-level efforts continue. During the day, the IDF reduces the rate of shelling of n. Gaza; fatally shoots 3 armed Palestinians nr. the Dahaniyya airport. Under international pressure, Olmert allows Qarni crossing to open for 5 hrs. for the import of basic goods, resumes fuel deliveries to Gaza through Nahal Oz to ease the humanitarian situation. In the West Bank, the IDF raids a Nablus hospital in a failed search for a wanted Palestinian, firing on the surrounding neighborhood (wounding 1 Palestinian) and stone-throwing youths who confront the troops (wounding 6); patrols in and around Nablus, bulldozing several Palestinian vehicles, raiding and shutting down transmission of the Nablus TV station; raids 4 Islamic charities and a clinic in ‘Askar r.c., 3 other charities in Bethlehem, nr. Qalqilya, and in Tulkarm, confiscating computers, files; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, Salfit and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin; conducts house searches, fires percussion grenades in al-Fawwar r.c., several villages around Hebron. (AFP, AP, HA, IFM, IMEMC, NYT, WP, WT, YA 7/2; AFP 7/2 in WNC 7/2; NYT, WP 7/3; PCHR 7/6)

Overnight in Gaza, the IDF makes air strikes on at least 20 targets, including PA Interior Min. offices (saying they were used to plan terrorist attacks), buildings used by the AMB and Hamas, an ESF training camp, a PA intelligence office, several roads, and open areas; continues to shell n. Gaza, to break the sound barrier over the Strip; conducts arrest raids in Rafah. The only reported casualties are 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. killed in an air strike on a rocket launching site in Rafah, 3 Palestinian gunmen (AMB or Islamic Jihad) wounded nr. Jabaliya r.c., and 7 Palestinian bystanders (including 5-yr.- old Palestinian girl) wounded in shelling of n. Gaza. Israel also revokes the residency rights of Hamas-affiliated PA Jerusalem Affairs M Khalid Abu ‘Arafa and Change and Reform PC mbrs. Muhammad Abu Tir, Ahmad Attoun, Muhammad Totah (detained on 6/28–29), giving them 30 days to appeal or renounce their positions within the PA. The PRCs fire at least 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends an undercover unit into Nablus, surrounding a cemetery, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian teenager, wounding and arresting a 2d Palestinian, arresting 2 others, firing on stonethrowing youths who confront the troops, wounding 31; also raids an Islamic charity in Nablus, confiscating a computer, files; conducts additional arrest raids in and around Nablus, in Jenin. IDF Central Command head Maj. Gen. Ya’ir Naveh says that the main crossing between Jerusalem and Bethlehem is now closed to Palestinians who hold Israeli IDs (including 237,000 East Jerusalem residents), enforcement (which reportedly is irregular at present) may be expanded to other crossings into the West Bank soon. (HA, IMEMC, MM, PCHR, WP, YA 6/30; OSC, XIN 6/30 in WNC 7/1; IMEMC, NYT, WP 7/1; VOP 7/1 in WNC 7/2; PCHR 7/6)

Israel says that the Hamas-led PA is responsible for the 4/17 suicide bombing but that it will not launch a large-scale military operation in retaliation so as to “avoid escalation”; instead it will increase “diplomatic pressure” on the government, including revoking the Israeli residency rights of 3 Change and Reform PC mbrs. (including Jerusalem Affairs M Abu ‘Arafa) from East Jerusalem, meaning they would have to leave the city. The AMB, ARB, PRCs issue a joint statement demanding that Abbas “apologize to the entire Palestinian people for the offense he committed” by condemning the 4/17 suicide bombing. Meanwhile, the IDF steps up Operation Southern Arrow, shelling areas of n. Gaza, hitting a sewage treatment facility, seriously injuring 3 Palestinian children, and wounding a farmer working his field, a shepherd grazing his sheep, a Palestinian outside his home in Bayt Lahiya, a Palestinian walking in a residential area of Bayt Hanun, a truck driver nr. the customs bureau in Jabaliya; detains, severely beats a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy at a Bethlehem checkpoint for allegedly carrying a knife; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, in Nablus (confiscating the camera of an AP journalist covering the raid). Israeli police detain PA Jerusalem Affairs M Abu ‘Arafa at a checkpoint on the outskirts of East Jerusalem as he is en route to a PA cabinet mtg., delaying him 2 hrs. (AFP, AP, IMEMC, JP, NYT, PNN, REU, WP 4/18; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/19; MM, PCHR 4/20; HA 4/24)

The Israeli security cabinet formally severs all direct contacts with the PA, which it calls a “hostile entity,” and vows to “work toward preventing any entrenchment of the Hamas government’s rule”; says Israel will not rule out “personal” contacts with Abbas but views the PA as a single entity, meaning that opening a separate negotiating channel with him to bypass the Hamas-led government is not an option; Israel will also refuse to meet with foreign officials who meet with Hamas mbrs. during their regional visits. After Palestinians fire 5 rockets towards Israel (causing no damage or injuries; 2 land inside Gaza), the IDF heavily shells the n. Gaza no-go zone and populated areas in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, and Jabaliya r.c., killing a PA security officer evacuating Palestinians fr. the area, wounding at least 16 Palestinians (including 3 PA security officers), hitting a taxi, and heavily damaging the PA Customs Bureau, a factory, and 1 house. IDF undercover units raid Bayt Ta’mar nr. Bethlehem, assassinate PRCs Salah alDin Brigadeshead Jabir Akhras; the IDF has attempted to assassinate Akhras several times, most recently 3 mos. ago. The IDF also sends troops into Nablus, firing on areas of al-Najah University campus (hitting a female Palestinian student in the face with a rubber bullet, causing her to lose an eye), fatally shooting a Palestinian for no apparent reason, conducting arrest raids, house searches; also conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, nr. Hebron, in villages surrounding Nablus; occupies a Palestinian building in Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem as an observation post. Palestinians in Qalqilya report that for several days, the IDF has been harassing, delaying the entry of non-Qalqilya residents (primarily shoppers fr. surrounding villages) into the city, barring them fr. driving cars across the checkpoint. A Palestinian family evicted fr. its home in al-Tur on 3/29 reoccupies its home, but is quickly evicted by the IDF for “squatting.” (HA, IMEMC, PNN 4/9; AP, JP, PCHR 4/9; HA, JP, NYT, WP, WT 4/10; PCHR 4/13; Islamic Republic News Agency 4/16; HA 4/23)

On the 5th day of Operation Southern Arrow, the IDF conducts an air strike on a car driving in Gaza City, killing AMB mbrs. Muhammad Abu Shari‘a and Mahmud Ajjur and seriously injuring a 3d who had just fired a rocket into Israel (causing no damage or injuries), and an air strike on a car nr. Khan Yunis, assassinating at least 6 mbrs. of the Abu Rish Brigades (ARB; a Fatah offshoot) and wounding 4 other ARB mbrs. and at least 11 bystanders; 3 Palestinian children in Jabaliya r.c. and a family of 5 in Bayt Lahiya are wounded by shrapnel in continued shelling of n. Gaza. The IDF also bars Palestinians under age 30 fr. crossing checkpoints into or out of the Jordan Valley; sends troops back into Nablus, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 12; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Jenin (targeting Islamic Jihad, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops); patrols in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, firing on Palestinian youths who confront the troops. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa set fire to a Palestinian home, attack Palestinian farmers, shepherds in nearby Yatta. A smugglers tunnel on the Rafah border collapses, killing 2 Palestinians. (IMEMC 4/8; Palestine Satellite Channel Television, VOI, VOP 4/8 in WNC 4/9; IMEMC, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 4/9; PCHR 4/13)

The IDF shells Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c., seriously wounding a 7-yr.-old Palestinian boy and his father harvesting vegetables in their field; sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Qalqilya to arrest a wanted Palestinian; later sends troops into Qalqilya to arrest another Palestinian, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 6; conducts other arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Qalqilya (also firing on residential areas), nr. Hebron and Jenin; seriously beats a Palestinian in Hebron for no apparent reason. In retaliation for the 3/31 Abu Quka assassination, the PRCs fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza towards an IDF post at Kissufim crossing causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds by shelling n. Gaza, targeting and hitting a truck hauling vegetables in Bayt Lahiya (apparently thinking it belonged to militants who fired the rockets), injuring 2 farmers. A Palestinian dies, a 2d is injured when heavy rain run-off obstructed by the separation wall, which effectively creates a dam nr. Bil‘in, causes flash flooding that washes the men into the razor wire cordoning off the wall, trapping them. (IMEMC, JAZ, PRC communique, XIN 4/2; VOP 4/2 in WNC 4/3; PCHR 4/6)

The IDF fires missiles at a car in Jabaliya r.c., assassinating Islamic Jihad cmdr. Said Abu Jidayn, as well asIslamic Jihad mbrs. Akram Qaddas, Omar Obayid, wounding 3 bystanders; fires missiles fr. F-16s at an educational center in Khan Yunis (causing serious damage but no injuries), 7 access roads to the n. Gaza no-go zone; conducts mock air raids, breaking the sound barrier over Gaza City; extends closure on the Tulkarm and Jenin areas (in place in Tulkarm since 12/15, in Jenin since shortly thereafter) to Nablus, effectively prohibiting any Palestinian travel southward towards Ramallah and sealing 800,000 Palestinians in the northern canton; detains 23 Palestinian election officials on their way to a training session in Ramallah at a checkpoint nr. Tulkarm for 6 hrs.; arrests a Palestinian candidate for the 1/25 elections campaigning in Jerusalem; patrols in Bethlehem, Ramallah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Arub r.c. (arresting the campaign coordinator for the Alternative list in the 1/25 elections), Balata r.c., Jenin town and r.c. and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron; uproots 400 Palestinian olive trees southwest of Hebron for construction of the separation wall. Dozens of armed Jewish settlers attempt to reoccupy the vacated West Bank settlement of Sanur; the IDF removes them. Some 200 PA policemen rampage through PA offices, courthouses, an election office, and a municipal building in Rafah, firing in the air to protest the PA’s failure to fight lawlessness in Gaza after the death of a PA policeman in clashes on 12/29. AMB mbrs., PA police clash in Gaza; no injuries are reported. In Brazil r.c., 2 Japanese aid workers escape a kidnapping attempt by unknown Palestinians. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ, XIN 1/2; NYT, PCHR, WP 1/3; NYT, PCHR 1/5; HA 1/13)

Islamic Jihad mbrs. fire 2 rockets fr. n. Gaza towards an IDF base nr. Ashkelon, injuring 5 IDF soldiers; the IDF retaliates with artillery fire on the launch site, killing 1 Palestinian bystander in adjacent Jabaliya r.c.; Israel warns that it could send ground forces back into Gaza. The IDF also raids Nablus, assassinates local PFLP cmdr. Bashar Hanani (also reported as Bashar Khalani), AMB mbrs. Ahmad Jayyusi and Anas Hamad; shells areas northwest of Bayt Lahiya, wounding a farmer working his land; sends troops into Qabatya, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 5 Palestinians; raids, searches a building in Qiffin nr. Tulkarm, confiscating files fr. and sealing the offices of the Loans Association, Palestinian Peoples Party, Popular Campaign against the Wall, and Union of Agricultural Relief Comms.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah and nr. Hebron, Jenin; uproots 200 Palestinian olive trees northwest of Hebron to erect a gate cutting al-Jaba village off fr. a nearby Jewish settlement. In the evening, the Israeli security cabinet approves new measures, known as Operation Blue Skies, aimed at curbing Palestinian rocket fire fr. Gaza, including using artillery, helicopter, and gunboat fire to enforce a new n. Gaza buffer zone; more stringent monitoring of the Gaza Strip by air; “other steps we have not taken until now,” but does not immediately give orders for the IDF to implement the plan. (BBC, IMEMC, JTA, PCHR, PM, XIN, YA 12/22; BBC, HA, IMEMC, JTA, NYT, WP, WT 12/23; PCHR 12/29)

Before dawn, Islamic Jihad and Hamas fire more than 30 rockets fr. Gaza at Sederot and the Negev, 3 of which lightly wound 3 Israeli security guards, 2 civilians. Early in the morning, the IDF fires missiles fr. helicopters at warehouses and an alleged weapons factory in Gaza City and Jabaliya r.c., marking Israel’s 1st military operations against Gaza since disengagement; orders the Rafah crossing shut, saying it will allow humanitarian aid only into Gaza through the Sufa crossing; fires missiles fr. naval vessels at Palestinian fishermen who attempt to go out to sea; drops leaflets on Gaza warning of harsh retaliation against further rocket fire; warns the PA that it is responsible for preventing attacks fr. Gaza. Abbas meets with Hamas officials in Gaza, secures their pledge to halt all armed demonstrations. Hrs. later, IDF aircraft fire 5 missiles at 2 cars in n. Gaza, assassinating 2 Hamas mbrs. (Nafiz Abu Hassanian, Rawad Farhat); 2 other Hamas mbrs. may have been targeted but escape. During the day, IDF fighter jets bomb open areas along the n. Gaza border used by Palestinians to launch rockets, while tanks, artillery, infantry gather along the n. Gaza border in preparation for a major operation. Meanwhile, the IDF seals the West Bank, fires on Palestinians waiting to cross a checkpoint outside Nablus, wounding 3 (1 seriously); conducts patrols in Jama‘in village nr. Nablus; raids 20 houses in Hebron, interrogating and photographing residents. In the evening, Sharon convenes his security cabinet, which approves an “all-out continuous offensive” called Operation First Rain, using artillery, air strikes, assassinations in Gaza, saying that if Palestinian violence continues after several days, the full cabinet will convene to consider sending infantry back into the Strip. (JP, REU, WP, YA 9/24; AP, HA, IMEMC, JAZ, NYT, WP, WT, XIN, YA 9/25; MEI, PCHR 9/29; IDF press release 10/9)

The IDF raids Yamun nr. Jenin, surrounds the house of wanted Islamic Jihad mbrs. Zahir and Warad Abahra (uncle and nephew), begins to bulldoze the house when they do not surrender, sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves both men dead; also conducts arrest raids, bulldozes part of a 2d Palestinian home, uproots 10s of olive trees elsewhere in Yamun; razes the remains of a Byzantine church nr. Dayr al-Balah, known for its mosaic floors dating to 586 A.D.; fires on residential areas of Dura nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm, around Hebron; sends undercover units to arrest a wanted Palestinian in Bethlehem; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land in Shufa nr. Tulkarm to widen the buffer zone around Avni Hefetz and Einav settlements; issues military orders confiscating 15 d. of land nr. Qalqilya for the construction of new settler bypass roads. 1,000s of Israeli disengagement protesters demonstrate in s. Israel for a 2d day. A Palestinian teenager stabs, lightly injures an Israeli in Jerusalem. Hamas fires 7 Qassam rockets, 19 mortars at Gush Katif and Neve Dekalim, injuring a foreign worker, damaging a house. Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron throw stones at Palestinian cars on the Nablus–Qalqilya road, damaging 1 bus. PA security forces make a predawn raid on a Hamas educational center in Jabaliya r.c., seize computers and documents, while armed AMB mbrs. working with them torch 2 of the offices and 2 cars. (Senior Fatah, AMB officials say that in recent days, Abbas asked the AMB to help fight Hamas and ensure calm in Gaza in advance of disengagement, but that this is not official PA policy.) Hamas mbrs. attack the security forces and AMB mbrs., resulting in heavy clashes that leave 13 people wounded. In reaction, 100s of Palestinians demonstrate outside the PC offices in Ramallah to call for national unity and an end to the security chaos. Late in the evening, the Egyptian delegation secures agmt. of Fatah, Hamas to withdraw all armed forces fr. the streets of n. Gaza. 5 PA intelligence officers raid the al-Quds University forensics lab, the only forensics lab in the West Bank, rummage through and tamper with evidence in several murder, malpractice investigations; 100s of students mass to protect the lab, scuffle with plainclothes intelligence officers; the PA Justice Min. opens an investigation. (AFP, AP, IMEMC, XIN 7/19; MENA, VOI, VOP, YA 7/19 in WNC 7/20; HA, NYT, OCHA, PR, PRCS, REU, WAFA, WP, WT, XIN 7/20; VOP 7/20 in WNC 7/21; PCHR 7/21)

The IDF fires missiles at Tal al-Za‘atar in n. Gaza, allegedly targeting Islamic Jihad mbrs. attempting to fire a rocket, but no injuries are reported; shells Jabaliya r.c., hitting a home, wounding 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin, Ramallah; patrols in Nablus; captures 4 unarmed Palestinians attempting to sneak across the Israeli border fence in central Gaza to find work; detains a Palestinian in Ariel settlement who apparently was living there secretly with his Jewish settler girlfriend (a fmr. IDF intelligence officer). Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF outpost nr. Mevo Dotan settlement nr. Jenin; the IDF returns fire, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding and arresting 2. Palestinians also fire an antitank missile at an IDF patrol nr. Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In Hebron, 10s of Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba (some reports say Avraham Avino) attack and threaten 10s of Palestinians, vandalize and attempt to break into Palestinian homes, seriously injuring a 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl. Some 50 Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai attack a Palestinian home where a number of international peace activists are visiting; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (IMEMC, PRCS 5/28; YA 5/29; OCHA 6/1; PCHR 6/2)