The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops at Gaza’s Qarni crossing fatally shoot a Palestinian who strays close to the border fence, marking the 1st IDF killing since the 11/26 cease-fire went into effect. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fisherman off the coast nr. Rafah, wounding 3. In the West Bank, a Palestinian stabs, wounds a private Israeli security contractor at Qalandia checkpoint outside Jerusalem. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c., Balata r.c., Tulkarm r.c. and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya; begins work on a new segment of the separation wall s. of Tulkarm that will isolate 2,000 d. of Palestinian land btwn. the wall and the Green Line. The Israeli High Court rules that a section of the separation wall northeast of Jerusalem btwn. Dahiyat al-Barid and alRama may stand. In Jenin, AMB gunmen fire on the governorate building, set fire to a PA police station, exchange fire with police (injuring a 14-yr.-old bystander) to protest the fatal PA police shooting of an AMB mbr. in an incident involving a stolen vehicle. In Nussayrat r.c., unidentified assailants throw an explosive device into a crowd of Hamas supporters holding a rally, injuring several. In Gaza City, ESF, PSF mbrs. exchange fire, wounding a Palestinian girl. In Khan Yunis, suspected Fatah gunmen assassinate Hamas cmdr. Bassam al-Farra, forcing him to kneel, shooting him execution-style; Haniyeh, currently in the Sudan, cuts short his regional tour to return to Gaza to deal with the escalating intra-Palestinian violence. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 12/14; OCHA 12/20; PCHR 12/21; AIC 1/17)

DF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun open fire on Palestinian farmers who stray too nr. the border fence, seriously injuring 1. Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries, bringing to 21 the number of rockets fired since the Gaza cease-fire went into effect on 11/26. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in al-Walaja nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abu Dis, Jenin town and r.c., and nr. Bethlehem, Tulkarm; bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital in Nablus, allowing him to die. Following the 12/11 attack on Balusha’s car in Gaza City, Abbas deploys extra security forces under his command across the Strip, sparking an exchange of gunfire btwn. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. during a Fatah demonstration in Khan Yunis against the killings, leaving 4 Fatah mbrs. injured. Inside Israel, Israeli police demolish 4 homes in the unrecognized village of Um Mitnan in the Negev. (IMEMC, MM 12/12; OCHA, WP 12/13; PCHR 12/14)

The IDF sends tanks, bulldozers into al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis to bulldoze land, marking the IDF’s 1st such incident since the 11/26 Gaza cease-fire when into effect. IDF troops on the Gaza border shoot, wound a Palestinian farmer working his land nr. the border fence outside Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Bethlehem to arrest PA intelligence officer Muhammad Salahat, no explanation is given; patrols in Jenin, Tulkarm town and r.c. (firing on residential areas, causing no injuries); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., in and around Hebron. In Gaza, suspected Fatah gunmen open fire on Hamas-affiliated Interior M Said Siyam’s convoy in an apparent assassination attempt, causing no injuries. (NYT, WP 12/12; OCHA 12/13; PCHR 12/14)

The IDF continues operations in n. Gaza, fatally shooting an armed Palestinian, a Palestinian cameraman filming nr. Jabaliya, and a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding at least 7 civilians; 2 IDF soldiers are injured by a roadside bomb nr. Bayt Lahiya. The IDF also sends bulldozers into the Khan Yunis area to level land. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into ‘Askar r.c., fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 2 with live ammunition; patrols in Salfit, firing on stonethrowing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 1 with live ammunition; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, Tulkarm and nr. Hebron; raids a clinic in Nablus, confiscating medical files, computers. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during an 11/3 IDF attack on Bayt Hanun. (NYT 11/25; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops back into Gaza City, surrounding the home of senior Hamas military cmdr. Ayman Dayif Allah Hassanian, ordering him to surrender, fatally shooting him and 2 bystanders (including a 70-yr.-old woman) in an exchange of gunfire, also bulldozing 20 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of olive, citrus groves. Palestinians fire 5 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting a factory, killing an Israeli. Early in the morning, the IDF sends troops back into n. Gaza, clashing with Palestinians in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Jabaliya and also shelling the area, killing 1 Palestinian gunman, wounding at least 17 Palestinians; also leaving 2 IDF soldiers injured. The IDF also fires on Palestinian fisherman off the s. Gaza coast, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin (firing on stone-throwing Palestinians, wounding 2) and Nablus, in al-Bireh, Jericho, Tulkarm r.c. In Gaza City, an unidentified gunman shoots, wounds fmr. Palestinian Council (PC) mbr. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Shahin (Fatah) as he leaves a radio studio after giving an interview criticizing Hamas. In Khan Yunis, unidentified gunman kidnap, hold for several hrs. 2 Italian Red Cross employees, releasing them unharmed without comment. (MM 11/21; MM, NYT, OCHA, WP 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a car driving in Gaza City, assassinating Hamas mbrs. ‘Abd al-Qadir Habib, Basil Obaid, wounding 5 bystanders, including a 2-yr.-old boy; sends bulldozers into areas nr. the Sufa crossing to demolish 2 Palestinian homes, into Khan Yunis to demolish 3 greenhouses. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager who approaches soldiers nr. Jericho carrying a toy gun; sends undercover units into Bethlehem, arresting a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem (sealing the Orphan Care Society in Bethlehem) and in Abu Dis nr. East Jerusalem, Qabatya nr. Jenin. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in a 1/5 attack on Jabaliya. (NYT, WT 11/21; OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pulls out of al-Shuka nr. Rafah, ending a 3-day incursion, during which 7 Palestinian homes were destroyed, roads and water networks were damaged; makes an air strike on the homes of a mbr. of the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs) in Jabaliya refugee camp (r.c.), a mbr. of the Hamas-dominated Executive Support Force (ESF) in Rafah (also destroying 3 neighboring houses) after warning the residents to leave; makes air strikes destroying another home in Rafah, 1 in Bayt Lahiya, a workshop in Khan Yunis also giving advanced warning; bulldozes 3 homes nr. the Sufa crossing in Rafah; sends bulldozers into Abasan nr. Khan Yunis to level land. Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin and in Bethlehem, Balata r.c. and Dayr Ishtiyya nr. Nablus (searching a mosque), Tulkarm. (NYT 11/17; OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

In Gaza, the IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c. and Jenin town and r.c., in and around Tulkarm (raiding the offices of the Palestinian Center for Media and Studies, vandalizing them, confiscating computers and electronic equipment, and sealing the offices), nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers in Hebron attack a group of 40 Palestinian children on their way to school, injuring several, stealing some of their school bags. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Hebron prevent Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land nr. Ma’on settlement. (OCHA 11/15; PCHR 11/16)

In Lebanon, 5 Hizballah and Amal cabinet mbrs. quit the cabinet over the failure of the national dialogue over 4 days to reach a new power sharing agmt. PM Siniora says he will not accept their resignations, though he may not be able to enforce his decision. The 4 days of talks broke down over Hizballah’s demands that it, with its allies, be allocated a third of cabinet seats, so it would have veto power over cabinet decisions. The governing coalition is willing to allow Hizballah’s ally, the Free Patriotic Movement led by Christian leader Michel Aoun, to enter the cabinet, but not with enough seats to have automatic veto power. (Eight ministers would need to resign to collapse the Siniora government.) The governing coalition portrays Hizballah’s attempts to obtain a veto as an effort to block creation of an international tribunal on the Hariri assassination (see 11/10). (NYT, WP, WT 11/12; NYT 11/13)

Olmert tells a closed Knesset session that the IDF might expand operations in Gaza to halt rocket fire but would not reoccupy the Strip. In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots AMB mbr. Mazin Abu Odeh in n. Gaza in what may be an assassination; makes an air strike destroying the home of an AMB mbr. nr. Khan Yunis after warning residents to leave; fires on Palestinian fishing boats in s. Gaza, destroying 4 boats, arresting 4 fishermen. Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops, helicopters into Balata r.c. nr. Nablus to arrest a wanted Palestinian; sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Nablus to arrest a 2d wanted Palestinian, into Jericho to arrest 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c., in Salfit nr. Nablus. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen kidnap, quickly release unharmed a Spanish aid worker in Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP 10/31; PCHR 11/2)

In an apparent assassination attempt in Gaza, suspected Fatah gunmen fire on Haniyeh’s 10-car convoy, set fire to 1 PA security vehicle, causing no injuries. In Gaza, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun, seals the town, demolishes a workshop, a coffee shop before withdrawing; sends troops into Khan Yunis, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes, bulldozing 6 d. agricultural land. A 15-yr.-old Palestinian is injured when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance nr. Dayr al-Balah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. On the last Friday of Ramadan, Israel allows 180,000 West Bank Palestinians into Jerusalem to worship at al-Aqsa Mosque. 100s of Palestinians denied entry scuffle with IDF soldiers and border police nr. Bethlehem, who fire tear gas, stun grenades. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Hanun, wounding 3 Palestinians. In Khan Yunis, a Fatah mbr. is kidnapped, shot, wounded by unidentified gunmen. (NYT, WP, WT 10/21; OCHA 11/1; PCHR 11/2)

In Gaza, the IDF sends tanks, troops into Jabaliya r.c., clashing with Palestinian gunmen, killing 1 Hamas mbr., 1 Palestinian civilian; expands operations on the Rafah border, taking up positions nr. Rafah crossing, exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen (killing 2 Palestinian militants), ordering male residents in some neighborhoods to surrender for interrogation (handcuffing and blindfolding them), reportedly finding a smugglers tunnel (the 13th it says it has found in the past 3 mos.); simultaneously sends troops into al-Shuka, conducting arrest raids, house searches. Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Qabatya, conducts arrest raids and house searches, exchanges fire with Palestinian gunmen (killing 1 Palestinian gunman, wounding 3), fires on stone-throwing youths who confront them (killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 7). Also in the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in vehicles with Palestinian license plates into ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus, opening fire on a taxi, assassinating wanted AMB mbr. ‘Adil Abu al-Rish, killing his cousin, who was not wanted; raids offices of Change and Reform PC mbrs. in Ramallah, arresting the office director; raids al-Quds University campus of religious studies in Abu Dis, arresting 2 Palestinians; makes arrest raids in Qalqilya (exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, killing an Islamic Jihad mbr., wounding 13 Palestinians), nr. Nablus, Tulkarm; later makes a 2d raid into Qalqilya, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians, fatally shooting a Palestinian civilian. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus detain 2 Palestinian workers in the nearby Hawara cemetery, releasing them after the IDF intervenes. In Khan Yunis, unidentified gunmen fire on the home of a Fatah mbr., wounding him. A Fatah mbr. dies of injuries received in clashes with Hamas on 10/1. (NYT, WP, WT 10/8; OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19; OCHA 11/1)

The IDF shells Bayt Hanun, cutting its electricity. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (targeting the AMB), in Hebron and Bethlehem. In Khan Yunis, a Palestinian is killed when explosives he is handling detonate prematurely. (OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19)

Overnight, the IDF raids Abasan nr. Khan Yunis to search for tunnels, exchanging fire with armed Palestinians and firing on residential areas (wounding around 12), making an air strike on Hamas mbrs. (killing 3 Hamas mbrs. and 2 bystanders, including a 13-yr.-old boy; wounding 5 bystanders, 2 Hamas mbrs.), searching and occupying Palestinian homes as operational bases; makes air strikes destroying 2 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya and Gaza City, a metal workshop in Gaza City, warning occupants prior to the attacks; expands operations during the day, firing on residential areas (killing 1 Palestinian civilian), rounding up male residents ages 15–40 for interrogation. The IDF also fires on Palestinian fishing boats off s. Gaza, damaging several but causing no injuries; makes an air strike late in the evening destroying a house in Gaza City in an attempt to assassinate Hamas cmdr Ashraf Farwana, instead killing his brother, 2 bystanders (including a 2-yr.-old girl), wounding 10 bystanders; makes air strikes destroying 2 auto shops in Gaza City. For the 1st time in over 1 mo., Hamas fires 6 rockets into Israel in response, damaging a power line to Sederot. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, firing on residential areas. Also in Gaza, suspected Hamas gunmen fatally shoot a PA General Intelligence Services officer. Late in the evening, suspected Fatah gunmen fatally shoot a local Hamas leader in Bayt Lahiya. In Bayt ‘Umar nr. Hebron, unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a Hamas mbr. Jewish settlers in Hebron prevent local Palestinians fr. harvesting olives. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba stone Palestinian homes in Hebron. (NYT, REU, WP, WT 10/13; OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19)

In an air strike, the IDF destroys the Gaza City home of PC mbr. Mariam Farhat (Change and Reform), warning residents in advance to evacuate, claiming the home was used to store weapons; in a late-night air strike, the IDF destroys 3 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya r.c. after warning residents to leave; makes an air strike destroying a PA security office nr. Jabaliya after warning occupants to leave; fatally shoots a Palestinian who sneaks across the Gaza border into Israel, claims he was wearing an explosive belt. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a predawn raid on Nablus, fatally shooting wanted Palestinian Abdallah Mansur in what may be an assassination; sends undercover units into Jenin r.c., in a car with Palestinian license plates, surrounding a home, interrogating the residents, firing live ammunition at stone-throwing youths who confront them (wounding 2), making no arrests; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Qalqilya. Also in Nablus, a previously unknown group calling itself Ansar al-Sunna (the same name as a group that operates in Iraq, though there is no known connection) kidnaps, holds for several hrs. an American English teacher working for a pro-Palestinian charity, demanding the immediate release of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons, saying it aims to confront the U.S. war on Islam; releases him unharmed and unconditionally after local officials intervene. Jewish settlers march through Hebron, stone Palestinian homes. A Palestinian dies of injuries sustained in Hamas-Fatah clashes in Khan Yunis in 8/06. (REU 10/11; NYT, PCHR 10/12; OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19)

An IDF air strike destroys the Khan Yunis home of a Hamas mbr.; the IDF warns the residents in advance to leave. In the West Bank, the IDF fires on a car nr. al-Til nr. Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian civilian; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Kfar Ra’i nr. Jenin; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha nr. Nablus steal fruit, olives fr. Palestinian orchards in Kafr Qalil. Palestinians in Jericho, Ramallah observe a general strike to protest intraPalestinian violence in Gaza. (OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Khan Yunis, searching and occupying several homes, rounding up 53 Palestinians for 18 hrs. of interrogation, bulldozing 3 d. of olive trees; closes the Rafah crossing. A Palestinian is killed when a smugglers tunnel on the Rafah border collapses. The IDF also seals the West Bank until 10/10 for the Sukkoth holidays; sends troops into Bil‘in nr. Ramallah, raiding and searching homes, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them (wounding 1), arresting a Palestinian journalist; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c., villages nr. Jenin (firing on residential areas of Tubas). (OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

In Gaza, the IDF partially reopens Rafah crossing as a gesture marking U.S. Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit today; makes an air strike on a car driving nr. Khan Yunis, assassinating Islamic Jihad mbr. Yasir al-Banna, Abu Rish Brigades mbr. Omar al-Zaqzuq. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm and in and around Hebron, Jenin town and r.c. In Qalqilya, 4 unidentified gunmen assassinate local Hamas official Muhammad Odeh; no group takes responsibility. Unidentified gunmen fire on a car carrying PC mbrs. in Gaza City, wounding 1 Palestinian. In Israel, an Israeli border policeman fatally shoots a Palestinian laborer fr. Hebron being detained in IDF custody in Jaffa for working without a permit, claims his gun went off accidentally; the worker was also reportedly severely beaten by 9 policemen; the guard who shot him is placed under house arrest pending an investigation. (NYT, PCHR, REU, WP 10/5; OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)

In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian fisherman off the coast of Gaza; sends tanks into southeastern Bayt Hanun, firing on industrial areas, heavily damaging a factory and 2 houses; fires missiles fr. a helicopter gunship destroying a workshop in Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian child (age 15), wounding a 2d (age 16) sleeping in a house nearby; bulldozes 20 d. of agricultural land e. of Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. (firing on residential areas), Tamun. As Fatah-Hamas tensions continue, Fatah gunmen fire on the car of Hamas-affiliated Dep. PM Sha‘ir in Nablus, wounding his 2 bodyguards, who return fire, wounding 1 Fatah mbr.; Sha‘ir is not in the car at the time. Fatah gunmen also force the closure of the Agriculture, Interior, and Local Government Min. offices and set fire to offices of Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs. in Bethlehem; attack, vandalize a women’s center, Islamic school run by Hamas in Nablus. In addition, unidentified masked gunmen kidnap, temporarily hold a Hamas-affiliated Finance Min. official in Nablus; attack an Islamic center in Qabatya; vandalize the Prisoners’ Friends Association office, a law office, and a car in Jenin. Fatah militants also enforce a general strike in several areas across the West Bank, forcing stores, private schools to close in a show of force against Hamas, fatally shooting a restaurant owner in Jericho who refuses to comply. In Gaza, some 5,000 Fatah mbrs. demonstrating in Rafah, calling for the disbanding of the ESF and resignation of Interior M Siyam, clash with ESF officers, leaving 1 Fatah mbr., 1 ESF mbr. dead, at least 14 wounded; Fatah, ESF gunmen trade fire outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, injuring 2 Palestinians; Fatah militants set fire to the PA Agriculture Min. offices in Gaza City; Fatah-affiliated students stone the home of a Hamas-affiliated cabinet M in Bayt Hanun. Haniyeh orders all PA ministries closed to protest the 10/1 Fatah attacks on government buildings. Abbas, Haniyeh appeal again for calm. (AP 10/2; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; PCHR 10/5)

The IDF sends troops, tanks, bulldozers into n. Gaza to occupy border areas nr. Bayt Hanun (the Shurrab Farm area), Bayt Lahiya to deter Palestinian rocket fire. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Tubas. In Gaza City, Fatah-led protests demanding that the Hamas-led government pay back salaries owed civil servants escalate dramatically, with some 3,000 Fatah-affiliated security forces attacking members of the predominantly Hamas ESF, sparking clashes that leave 6 Palestinians dead (3 bystanders, 1 Force 17 officer, 1 PSF officer, 1 ESF officer), around 61 wounded; the ESF reportedly uses grenades, antitank weapons, rifles to break up the demonstration and arrests 25 protesters. During the day, demonstrations spread to Khan Yunis (where Fatah-affiliated security officers clash with the ESF, leaving 26 wounded), al-Bureij r.c. (where Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange fire, killing 2 Palestinians), Ramallah (where AMB mbrs. demonstrate for the removal of the Hamasled government and vandalize, partially burn the empty PC building and adjacent building, vandalizing a Hamas newspaper office, temporarily occupying the PA Education Min.), as well as in Askar r.c. (where Fatah, Hamas mbrs. trade fire, wounding 1 Palestinian), Balata r.c. (where protesters attack a women’s center, a youth center), Hebron (where Fatah protesters ransack, set fire to offices of Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs.), Nablus (where Fatah mbrs. ransack, torch offices of Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs.; vandalize 2 Islamic private schools, wounding 2 Palestinians; fire on the home of an al-Jazeera TV reporter), and Salfit (where protesters attack the al-Nahda association offices). Late in the evening in Gaza City, suspected Hamas mbrs. throw grenades at a group of PSF protesters, killing 1 PSF mbr., wounding 30. Late in the evening, PA Interior M Siyam orders the ESF to return to barracks to reduce tensions. Abbas, Haniyeh appeal for calm. (AP, NYT, WP, WT 10/2; PCHR 10/5)

The IDF completes its withdrawal fr. Lebanon at 2:30 A.M. local time (8:30 P.M. 9/30 ET) but vows to continue surveillance overflights of Lebanon until UN Res. 1701 is implemented in full, including the release of 2 captured IDF soldiers and disarmament of Hizballah. The UN says that the overflights constitute violations of the cease-fire. (NYT, WP 10/1; NYT 10/2; see also NYT 9/27) (see 9/8, 9/19)

In Gaza, the IDF fires a missile at 2 Palestinian boys (ages 13, 16) who approached an abandoned rocket launcher nr. Bayt Hanun, killing both; fires missiles fr. helicopter gunships partially destroying an apartment building in Khan Yunis owned by a Hamas mbr. (warning residents in advance to vacate). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Baqat al-Hatab and Hijja villages nr. Qalqilya, Tubas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (firing on residential areas), nr. Bethlehem, and in Dura nr. Hebron, Jenin town and r.c., Tamun. In n. Gaza, 1,000s of Hamas supporters march in solidarity with Haniyeh’s government. In al-Maghazi r.c., a PSF officer exchanges gunfire with a PRC mbr., wounding 1 bystander. (WP 9/30; OCHA 10/4, PCHR 10/5)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into al-Fukhari nr. Khan Yunis, searching and occupying several houses, rounding up men for interrogation, arresting 2 (1 a PA security officer allegedly connected to the AMB), demolishing a Palestinian home, damaging another, bulldozing 5 d. of agricultural land before withdrawing in the evening. The IDF also makes a 2nd air strike destroying a Palestinian house in Rafah targeted on 9/26 (warning the occupants in advance to evacuate), killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a home nearby, wounding 10 bystanders. In the West Bank, the IDF raids an Islamic charitable society nr. Nablus, confiscating a computer, financial documents and vandalizing furniture; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Nablus and nr. Jenin. Israel releases PA Dep. PM Sha‘ir (arrested on 8/17) but bans him fr. going to his Ramallah office for 2 wks. 30 PC mbrs., 4 PA cabinet mbrs. remain in Israeli custody. (NYT 9/27; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 9/28; PCHR 10/5)

In Gaza, the IDF sends troops, bulldozers into Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, firing on residential areas, leveling land, withdrawing in the evening; makes an air strike destroying a house in al-Shuka after warning the residents to leave. In the West Bank, the IDF raids Sanur nr. Jenin, surrounds and evacuates a Palestinian home, fatally shoots wanted AMB mbr. Nabil Hanani in an apparent assassination; patrols in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Jenin, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 4; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Bethlehem; issues military orders for the construction of a new 4,500-m section of the separation wall s. of Qalqilya that will isolate 2,000 d. of Palestinian agricultural land btwn. the wall and the Green Line. An Israeli military court extends the remand of 21 Hamas-affiliated PA legislators detained on 6/28–29. In Gaza City, striking PA civil servants mob the PC building, prevent Haniyeh fr. attending a cabinet mtg. there, prompting his bodyguards to fire in the air to ensure his safety; Haniyeh cancels the PC session, set to talk about economic problems, after Fatah PC mbrs. leave the building to join the strikers. Later in the day, Hamas supporters hold a large counterdemonstration in Gaza City in support of Haniyeh’s government. (AP, REU, WP 9/18; NYT 9/19; HA, PCHR 9/21)

In Gaza, the IDF reopens the Qarni crossing for limited imports; bulldozes 50 d. of agricultural land nr. Dayr al-Balah, additional areas nr. Khan Yunis; fires across the Israeli border into residential areas nr. Khan Yunis, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF raids houses, conducts ID checks nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus and in Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c. Also nr. Nablus, a Palestinian is killed when a roadside bomb he is planting detonates prematurely. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen shoot, wound 2 Palestinian lawyers in Gaza City; no group claims responsibility or gives a motive. (OCHA 9/6; NYT, PCHR 9/14; OCHA 9/20; PCHR 9/21)

In Gaza, IDF troops in Dahaniyya airport fire tank shells at al-Shuka village, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding another Palestinian who strays near the border fence; sends troops, drones into Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, conducting arrest raids, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes, damaging a 3d house, bulldozing 79 d. of agricultural land and a water network, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tamun; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Tulkarm town and r.c., nr. Hebron and Jenin. A 9-yr.-old Palestinian boy is injured in Balata r.c. when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance. A Jewish settler driving nr. Qalqilya deliberately hits and injures a 10-yr.-old Palestinian girl walking home fr. school; the IDF arrests the driver. The High Court of Israel rejects 7 Palestinian petitions regarding the route of the separation wall northwest of East Jerusalem, accepting the existing plan, stating that “the purpose of the construction of the wall is to protect the lives of Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks, so its expected benefit is great” and that Palestinian needs had been adequately addressed. (WP 9/11; OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14; Independent 9/19)

In Gaza, the IDF withdraws fr. Khuza‘a, ending a 3-day operation. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in cars with Palestinian license plates into Qabatya, shoots, wounds 2 Palestinians (at least 1 of whom is a wanted AMB mbr., Rashid Zakarna), also shoots, wounds 2 unarmed Palestinians who come to their aid; the units detain all 4 men, shooting execution style Zarkana and 1 of the men who came to his aid, Kamil al-Lubani; the units then raid a wedding party nearby, firing indiscriminately, wounding 12 Palestinian civilians (1 is declared clinically dead). The IDF patrols in Hebron; raids the Prisoners’ Supporters Association (PSA) offices in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Salfit, confiscating computers and files, sealing the offices for 2 yrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin (also raiding the offices of attorney Fadl Bushnaq, confiscating computers and files, sealing the office for 2 yrs.; bulldozes 50 d. of Palestinian land nr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron for construction of a new settler-only bypass road. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by the IDF, bulldoze a large area of Palestinian land w. of the settlement. In Khan Yunis, unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on a Force 17 officer, wounding a bystander. Elsewhere in Gaza, unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on a PA military intelligence officer, killing a Palestinian bystander. (OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14)

Israel lifts the air blockade on Lebanon but continues to patrol off the Lebanese coast after its self-declared 6:00 P.M. deadline, stating that too few international vessels have taken up patrols to enforce an arms embargo. Israel also continues surveillance overflights of Lebanon, saying it has no plans to end them. (NYT, WP, WT 9/8)

The IDF fires across the Israeli border into central Gaza, wounding 1 Palestinian inside his home; makes a helicopter rocket strike destroying a Palestinian home in Jabaliya r.c. after warning residents to leave; sends special forces into Khuza‘a village nr. Khan Yunis, searching greenhouses, interrogating a 60-yr.-old farmer for several hrs. before withdrawing; bulldozes agricultural land of unknown size southeast of Bayt Hanun. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron (raiding and searching a PA Preventive Security Forces [PSF] office in Tarqumiyya) and Nablus, nr. Jenin (exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, wounding 1), in Qabatya (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 3 with live ammunition); issues military orders confiscating 152 d. of land nr. Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall, a settler-only bypass road. (WT 9/4; OCHA 9/6; PCHR 9/7)

In Gaza, the IDF sends troops, tanks into Khuza‘a nr. Khan Yunis allegedly to look for smugglers tunnels, ordering farmers to leave the area, bulldozing 20 d. of agricultural land, opening fire on residential areas and on a camera crew covering the incident, injuring 1 Palestinian; sends troops into Gaza nr. the Qarni crossing, conducting house searches and arrest raids, wounding 5 Hamas mbrs. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron (raiding, temporarily occupying a PA police office as an observation post), nr. Tulkarm. (AP, REU, WP 8/22; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24)

The IDF sends troops into Gaza City to arrest a wanted Palestinian, bulldozing 13 d. of agricultural land belonging to his family, exchanging fire with armed Palestinians, wounding 2; conducts an air strike destroying the home of an Islamic Jihad mbr. in Gaza City, allegedly used as a weapons depot, damaging 2 nearby homes, causing no casualties. (The IDF sends the owners a cell phone text message in advance to warn them to evacuate.) The IDF conducts an air strike destroying the home of a senior Hamas mbr. in Rafah, damaging 5 nearby homes and an Islamist charity (the IDF phones the residents to warn them to evacuate); fires shells at, kills 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. attempting to cross the Gaza border fence nr. al-Qarara. In Khan Yunis, 4 Palestinians, including 2 children, are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Azun to arrest several wanted al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbrs.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Jericho, and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin. A Jewish settler fr. Haggai injures 2 Palestinian children in a deliberate hit-and-run nr. Hebron. Also in Gaza, 3 Palestinians are wounded in clashes btwn. rival groups of PA security force officers. (WP 8/22; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24; PMG 9/1)

Israel declares that all reservists have been pulled out of Lebanon, leaving 8,000– 10,000 regular troops in place, waiting for the deployment of an expanded UN force. During the day, the IDF shoots, wounds 3 Hizballah mbrs. who approach them in a “threatening manner” (within their rights under the UN-brokered cease-fire; there is no return fire); continues overflights of Lebanon. (AP 8/21; NYT, WP, WT 8/22; NYT 8/23)

As the quarter opens,Israel’s blockade of Gaza enters its 6th mo., allowing no goods or people out (except for very limited medical emergencies) and letting only limited food and fuel supplies and a handful of diplomats and international aid workers in; Palestinians are receiving on average 6–8 hrs./day of electricity and 2–3 hrs./day of water after Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s sole generator on 6/28. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues Operation Summer Rains (see Quarterly Update in JPS 141), which began on 6/28 after the capture of an IDF soldier in a Palestinian cross-border raid fr. Gaza on 6/25, making occasional ground incursions into Gaza, maintaining troops at the Dahaniyya airport site outside of Rafah. In Gaza, the IDF launches air strikes, destroying a empty Palestinian home in Gaza City, causing no injuries; sends at least 50 armored vehicles into the outskirts of Bayt Hanun, firing on residential areas, bulldozing large areas of agricultural land, ordering residents of 15 houses to surrender for ID checks, arresting 2 before withdrawing across the border. Also in Gaza, 1 Palestinian is killed, 3 are injured when they apparently prematurely detonate explosives they are handling. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Azun nr. Qalqilya (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 2), Fahma nr. Jenin (firing on residential areas, damaging homes), Jenin town and refugee camp (r.c.; wounding 1 Palestinian), al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem (firing on residential areas); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Salfit. In Khan Yunis, a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy is killed in crossfire btwn. Hamas Executive Support Force (ESF) mbrs., Fatah gunmen. (PCHR 8/17; OCHA 8/23; PCHR 8/24)

Two days after an Israel-Hizballah cease-fire went into effect ending 34 days of war (Israel dubbed its offensive Operation Change of Direction; see Chronology in JPS 141), the Lebanese government reaches a compromise agreement with Hizballah under which only the army will be allow to “carry weapons” s. of the Litani (allowing Hizballah to store weapons nr. the border with Israel) and the Lebanese cabinet votes to order the army to prepare to deploy across s. Lebanon (a precondition for an Israeli withdrawal). The UN estimates that since 8/14, more than 200,000 Lebanese have returned to their homes and 60,000 have returned fr. Syria, leaving more than 700,000 still internally displaced. The Lebanese government now puts the comprehensive toll at 1,152 Lebanese killed and some 3,700 wounded, with numbers expected to rise as more bodies are recovered. (UN Information Service, WP 8/16; NYT, WP, WT 8/17)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into ‘Askar r.c. in search of a wanted Palestinian, demolishing his family home and 3 nearby homes of relatives, wounding his sister, arresting 4 relatives, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding 9; a Palestinian woman dies of a heart attack during the raid; the wanted man is not found. Also in the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Zababda nr. Jenin, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin. In Gaza, IDF closes the Qarni crossing; exchanges fire with Islamic Jihad mbrs. nr. Khan Yunis, then moves troops into Abasan to search for the gunmen, patrolling and firing on residential areas, withdrawing late in the evening, leaving 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. dead. Late in the evening, the IDF makes an air strike destroying the Khan Yunis home of an AMB mbr. (residents are warned in advance to leave but are given too little time; an elderly Palestinian and his son are killed, 3 Palestinians are injured, 5 nearby houses are damaged). PA security forces search for 2 Fox News journalists kidnapped in Gaza on 8/14; Haniyeh also appeals for their release. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during an 7/6 IDF attempted assassination in Jenin r.c. (NYT, WP, WT 8/16; PCHR 8/17; OCHA 8/25)

The Israel-Lebanon front remains relatively quiet, with UNIFIL confirming no breaches of the cease-fire, though the IDF fatally shoots 3 Hizballah mbrs. in s. Lebanon in incidents deemed defensive. UNIFIL reports no significant Israeli withdrawals fr. Lebanon, though the IDF does pull several 100 reservists and tanks into Israel. Tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians continue to return to their homes in s. Lebanon, though the IDF drops leaflets warning them to stay away. Hizballah begins disbursing financial aid to displaced families to aid them in their return (reportedly allocating $150 m. to the task); begins recording and assessing damage to personal property and infrastructure, with the aim of executing a long-term reconstruction effort. Now free to move, relief workers in s. Lebanon begin uncovering 10s of bodies buried in the rubble of destroyed buildings. (NYT, WT 8/15; NYT, WP, WT 8/16)