The Palestine Chronology

A total of 3 Palestinians are killed by Israeli forces in clashes and small-scale violent incidents across the oPt. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver in Silwad after he allegedly attempts to ram his car into them during clashes between the IDF and Palestinians. IDF troops shoot and injure 2 other Palestinians in alleged car-ramming attempts in Silwan and Ramallah, arresting the suspect in the latter event. The IDF violently disperses Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 each nr. Hebron and Nablus, and 4 areas along Gaza’s border; 2 Palestinians are killed e. of Ramallah and nr. Khan Yunis, respectively, and 37 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts raids and house searches in and around Jenin and Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian and issuing arrest summons to 2; patrols in 1 village and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron, 11 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho. Israel also returns to Qalandia r.c. the body of the Palestinian youth killed by Israeli forces on 11/23 in an alleged stabbing incident. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion e. of Khan Yunis to level land and search the area; open fire on Palestinians approaching the border nr. Bayt Hanun, injuring 2. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 12/18; MNA 12/19; HA 12/21; PCHR 12/31)

A Palestinian is shot and killed in the n. Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian army says that he was likely killed by Sinai Province of the Islamic State (SPIS) fighters. (MNA 12/19)

In the Nablus area, 1 Palestinian is killed and 2 others injured by Israeli forces throughout the day. First, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian youth at the Hawara checkpoint after he allegedly attempts to stab Israeli soldiers. Later, Israeli soldiers shoot and injure 1 Palestinian youth in Nablus and 1 more in a village nearby. Israeli soldiers assault and arrest a Palestinian in Tulkarm. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts raids in 1 village and Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 2 Palestinians and sparking clashes in each with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; at least 3 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting and throwing stones in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Nablus, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c.; 5 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 5 residential structures under construction nr. Hebron. They conduct additional raids and house searches in Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, Nablus, Bethlehem, 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Bethlehem, 2 nr. Jenin, and 2 nr. Hebron, arresting 14 Palestinians and confiscating personal property; patrol in 1 village nr. Tulkarm, 6 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and 2 villages nr. Ramallah. Following the IDF’s shelling of Gaza on 12/16, unknown Gazans fire a rocket toward Israel. It falls short of the border, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land along the border fence nr. Khan Yunis; arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel e. of Dayr al-Balah. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 12/17; HA 12/18; PCHR 12/31)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian youth during clashes in Qatanna n. of the city. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian driver after he allegedly rams his car into a group of Israeli security forces at a junction nr. Nablus, injuring 4. They also violently clash with Palestinian protesters at Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm (the IDF maintains a shooting range close to the university and blocked administrators from building a wall to deter violent protests at the range last mo.), w. of Qalqilya, and outside a settlement nr. Ramallah, injuring 16 Palestinians. The IDF assaults 1 Palestinian and arrest 19 others during raids and house searches in Jenin r.c.; 4 villages, Qaddura r.c., and Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah; and 7 villages nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers assault Palestinians picking olives outside Burin village nr. Nablus, causing no major injuries; the settlers then set fire to some of the olive trees. Palestinians throw rocks at an Israeli settler’s car driving nr. Ramallah, causing moderate injuries. Palestinian gunmen later open fire on an Israeli settler’s car driving nr. Ramallah, causing damage. They also arrest 6 Palestinians on late-night raids in al-Thawri and Issawiyya. In Israel, Palestinian journalist and administrative detainee al-Qiq begins an open-ended hunger strike after being tortured in Israeli detention. He was captured by Israeli forces during a raid at his home on 11/21. In West Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian accused of planning a stabbing attack nr. the Central Bus Station. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces stationed e. of Khan Yunis open fire on Palestinian agricultural land, causing no damage or injuries. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 11/24; MNA 11/25; PCHR 11/26; HA 12/12; MNA 1/10; SAM 1/28)

U.S. secy. of state John Kerry meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss means of quelling the ongoing violence in the oPt among other issues. Kerry reportedly rejects Netanyahu’s request for the U.S. to recognize construction within Israel’s settlement blocs in exchange for Israel undertaking measures to improve the humanitarian situation in the oPt. (AA, HA, MNA 11/24; TOI 11/25; HA 11/27)

Stabbing and other small-scale incidents continue, keeping tensions high in the oPt. IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver at a junction nr. Nablus after he rams a group of Israelis with his vehicle, injuring 4 (a 5th Israeli is injured by errant fire during the incident). Israeli settlers block a nearby road to protest the attack. An Israeli security guard shoots and seriously injures a Palestinian woman at the entrance to a settlement nr. Bethlehem after she stabs and lightly injures him. The IDF then raids several homes in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; there are no serious injuries. Later, a Palestinian stabs and moderately injures an Israeli settler in a village nr. Qalqilya. IDF troops raid the village after the attack, searching a number of houses and detaining 15 Palestinians. (EI, MNA, 11/8; HA 11/9; PCHR 11/12)

Elsewhere in the oPt, IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinians protesting w. of Tulkarm and outside a settlement nr. Ramallah; 4 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts late-night house searches and raids in Nablus and 2 villages each nr. Hebron and Ramallah, arresting 4 Palestinians. In Gaza, unknown persons fire a rocket into s. Israel. It lands in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. IAF jets launch a retaliatory air strike on a Hamas military base nr. Rafah late at night, causing damage. Off the coast nr. Khan Yunis, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians on raids and patrols in Silwan and nr. the Old City. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 11/8; HA, JP, MNA, YA 11/9; PCHR 11/12)

The Israeli crackdown on the oPt amid the ongoing wave of violence continues. IDF troops clash with stone-throwing Palestinians outside a settlement nr. Ramallah and along Gaza’s border e. of Khan Yunis, injuring 4. Meanwhile, the IDF patrols in 1 village each nr. Jerusalem and Jenin, sparking clashes with stone-throwers (2 Palestinians are injured with live ammunition); conducts raids around Jenin and patrols across the West Bank. Masked assailants assault Palestinian Legislative Council mbr. Mustafa Barghouti in Ramallah, shouting “let the intifada protect you” and causing minor injuries before fleeing the area. The PA then launches an investigation into the attack. Israeli settlers continue assaults on Palestinians and their property, damaging a Palestinian greenhouse nr. Jenin; setting fire to a car in East Jerusalem and leaving price-tag graffiti nr. the scene. A Palestinian family demolishes its own home in Bayt Hanina, responding to the Israeli police’s 4/2015 order giving them until today to destroy the building or accept a fine of NIS 60,000 (around $15,430). Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians on raids in the Old City, al-Tur, al-Suwana, Silwan, Shu‘fat, and Issawiyya. In Israel, an Israeli rabbi succumbs to injuries sustained on 11/18/2014 when 2 Palestinians attacked a synagogue in West Jerusalem, bringing the number of Israelis killed in the attack to 6. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 10/24; HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 10/25; PCHR 10/29)

After meeting with PA pres. Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah in Amman, U.S. secy. of state Kerry announces that they and Israeli PM Netanyahu have reached a series of understandings, including an Israeli-Jordanian agreement to install cameras at Haram al-Sharif to broadcast live 24 hours a day. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 10/24; HA, JP 10/25)

For the 10th day in a row, IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border open fire on Palestinian protesters, injuring 1 e. of al-Bureij r.c. Separately, off the coast nr. Khan Yunis and twice nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA 10/18; PCHR 10/22)

Stabbing and small-scale attacks continue amid the ongoing wave of violence in Israel and the oPt. In s. Israel, Israeli police shoot and kill a bedouin Palestinian in Beersheba after he grabs a soldier’s gun and opens fire on a crowd at the city’s central bus station, killing 1 soldier and injuring 11 Israeli civilians. During the attack, an Israeli security guard shoots an Eritrean asylum seeker, allegedly misidentifying him as the shooter, then a group of Israeli civilians assault the man, seriously injuring him (he succumbs to his injuries later in the day). (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 10/18; EI 10/19; PCHR 10/22)

Throughout the day in the West Bank, IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinian protesters across 5 areas in the region, injuring at least 7 Palestinians. IDF troops fire tear gas canisters into a secondary school in Jenin, causing no serious injuries; conduct house searches, raids, and patrols in 8 areas across the West Bank, arresting 11 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 2. Israeli settlers attempt to kidnap 2 Palestinians in a village nr. Nablus; throw stones at Palestinian homes in e. Hebron, causing no serious damage. Early in the morning, around 30 Israeli settlers attempt to pray at Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians and the PASF; 5 settlers are arrested. In East Jerusalem, an elderly Palestinian woman dies of complications related to tear gas inhalation, which she suffered during clashes nr. her home in Issawiyya earlier in the week. Her family was driving her to the hospital at the time of her death, but they were delayed at an Israeli mobile checkpoint. The Israeli police will say that the family’s vehicle was only detained briefly. Israeli forces begin installing a planned 300 m concrete wall to separate Jabal Mukabir from the nearby Israeli settlement East Talpiot; assault 3 Palestinians and arrest 1 at a checkpoint in Silwan; arrest 7 Palestinians on late-night raids in Sur al-Bahir and al-Thawri. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/18; HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 10/19; EI 10/20; PCHR 10/22)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that Israel rejects France’s rumored proposal for international observers to be deployed at Haram al-Sharif, responding to the 10/17 reports in French press. (HA, JP 10/18)

Stabbing and other small-scale attacks continue in Israel and Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians attack a group of Jewish Israelis on an Israeli bus in Jabal Mukabir, killing 2 and injuring at least 10 (a 3d Israeli will succumb to injuries sustained in the attack on 10/27). Israeli police shoot the 2 Palestinians, killing 1 and seriously injuring the other. In West Jerusalem, a Palestinian driver rams an Israeli pedestrian, then gets out of his car and stabs 5 other Israelis (1 Israeli will succumb to his injuries later in the day). Israeli police shoot and critically injure the Palestinian before arresting him (the Palestinian succumbs to his injuries later in the day). In Israel, Israeli police shoot and seriously injure a Palestinian after he stabs and moderately injures an Israeli in Ra’anana, n. of Tel Aviv. Later, a Palestinian stabs and injures 4 Israelis in the same city. Several Jewish Israelis assault and detain him as he attempts to flee, including 1 Israeli driver who rams the man with his vehicle. An Israeli man attacks a Palestinian citizen of Israel in Netanya, lightly injuring him. In Kiryat Ata nr. Haifa, a Jewish Israeli stabs and moderately injures another Jewish Israeli, mistakenly identifying him as a Palestinian. Following the morning’s attacks, Israel’s security cabinet meets and decides not to return the bodies of Palestinians shot and killed by Israeli forces after carrying out attacks on Israeli citizens. Instead of returning the bodies to their families, they will bury them secretly. The cabinet also decides to revoke the residency status of Palestinian attackers, bar any homes punitively demolished from being rebuilt, and allow the police to “impose a closure on, or to surround, centers of friction and incitement in Jerusalem, in accordance with security considerations”. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI 10/13; EI, HA, MNA, NYT 10/14; HA 10/27)

For the 5th day in a row, IDF troops open fire on hundreds of Palestinians protesting along Gaza’s border fence e. of al-Bureij r.c. and nr. the Erez border crossing, injuring 51. They also disperse and drive back around 30 Palestinians who cross the s. border. The Israeli authorities close the Erez crossing shortly after the clashes. Later, Palestinians open fire on Israeli forces patrolling along the border fence e. of Khan Yunis, causing no damage. Off the coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 10/13; HA 10/14; PCHR 10/15; PCHR 10/22)

Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinians protesting and throwing stones throughout the region, killing 1 Palestinian in Bethlehem and injuring at least 33. Israeli forces raid the Jenin home of the Palestinian who allegedly stabbed and injured an Israeli soldier in Afula on 10/8, preparing for a possible punitive demolition. The IDF also conducts raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Tulkarm, arresting 13 Palestinians. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian drivers nr. Nablus and nr. Hebron, injuring 1 Palestinian in the former and sparking minor clashes in the latter. Israeli settlers also assault and moderately injure a Palestinian youth outside a settlement e. of Jerusalem; assault 4 Palestinian farmers working nr. Ramallah. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/13; PCHR 10/15; PCHR 10/22)

In Israel, many schools, public institutions, and businesses in predominantly Palestinian cities go on strike, and around 20,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel and solidarity activists march through Sakhnin protesting the recent Israeli restrictions at Haram al-Sharif and violations in the oPt. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/13; EI, HA 10/14; PCHR 10/15; PCHR 10/22)

Three errant mortar shells launched from Syria land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF fires artillery shells at 2 Syrian army targets nr. the border, causing damage. (HA, JP, TOI 10/13)

For the 2d day in a row, stabbing incidents continue in Israel and the oPt. First, a Palestinian stabs and injures an Israeli in Shaykh Jarrah, East Jerusalem. In response, Israeli forces raid the suspected attacker’s home in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stone-throwers; 1 Palestinian is killed and 42 are injured. Then, as a “preventative measure,” Israeli forces install metal detectors at checkpoints around the Old City. In Tel Aviv, Israeli police shoot and kill a Palestinian after he stabs and lightly injures 4 Israelis, including 1 soldier, and Israeli forces then arrest the suspected attacker’s father and uncle in their home in East Jerusalem. Later, a Palestinian stabs an Israeli soldier and a civilian in Afula (Israeli civilians assault the Palestinian and he is arrested), and another Palestinian stabs and seriously injures an Israeli settler outside the Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron; Israeli forces kill the alleged suspect. In response to the recent attacks, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat calls on Jewish citizens with gun permits to carry their weapons when in public, saying that it is “like doing reserve duty” due to Israel’s compulsory military service. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/8; PCHR 10/15)

Meanwhile, hundreds of right-wing Israelis gather in Jerusalem to protest the Israeli govt.’s alleged inaction, and minor clashes ensue when Israeli police block them from entering Silwan (4 are arrested). In Nazareth, Israeli police violently disperse dozens of Palestinian youths protesting Israeli restrictions on access at Haram al-Sharif, injuring several Palestinians and arresting 16. Meanwhile, dozens of Jewish Israelis attack 3 Palestinian citizens in Netanya, injuring 1 (5 of the assailants will be arrested on 10/10). Clashes erupt between IDF troops and Palestinian protesters across the West Bank, injuring at least 50 Palestinians, including 2 photojournalists (1 Palestinian will succumb to his injuries on 10/10). The IDF patrols across the region, arresting 27 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 3. Israeli settlers continue assaulting Palestinians and their property, smashing the car windows of the PA minister of telecommunications nr. Nablus and injuring at least 2 Palestinians throughout the day. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/8; MNA, YA 10/9; MNA, PIC, TOI 10/10; PCHR 10/14)

In Gaza, a 30-year-old Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained in Khan Yunis on 11/8/ 2000, during the 2d intifada, when IDF troops shot him in the back, paralyzing him. (HA, MNA, WAFA 10/8)

The Israeli PM’s office clarifies that the recent ban on politicians’ visits to Haram al-Sharif applies to both Jewish and Palestinian MKs, after the media reported that the ban only applied to Jewish politicians. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 10/8)

Violence escalates in the West Bank as settlers and Israeli forces continue retaliating against Palestinians in the wake of the 10/1 killing of 2 settlers. Israeli settlers protest on a main road outside Nablus, and the IDF disperses the ensuing clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths. Meanwhile, settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees and Palestinian agricultural land nr. Nablus, and throw stones at drivers nr. Salfit, injuring 3 Palestinian medics. Late at night, IDF troops conduct raids in and around Nablus searching for the perpetrators of the killing; they arrest 10 Palestinians and deliver a demolition notice to the home of a suspect. Clashes erupt with stone-throwers, and the IDF injures 11 youths with live ammunition. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and recent access restrictions at Haram al-Sharif in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and Budrus), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 2 areas nr. Hebron; 6 Palestinians are injured, including 1 journalist. Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians in connection with clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli settlers the day before in a village outside Bethlehem. IDF troops clash with Palestinian stonethrowers during patrols in and around Hebron, and outside Nablus Palestinian youths throw stones at 2 Israeli settlers, causing light injuries. Violence also continues in East Jerusalem, with the Israeli authorities continuing to enforce the restrictions on access at Haram al-Sharif that were announced on 9/27 for the Jewish holiday Sukkoth. Israeli forces temporarily seal the entrances to Issawiyya and shoot stun grenades at residents who approach their mobile checkpoints, sparking intermittent clashes; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured. Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli border police in the Old City, causing minor injuries. On Gaza’s s. border, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel for work. Israeli forces level land nr. Khan Yunis during a limited incursion along the border fence. (MNA, TOI 10/2; MNA 10/3; PCHR 10/8)

In Gaza, Sarayat al-Shaykh Umar Hadid fighters fire a long-range rocket into Israel, announcing on Twitter that the rocket attack was retaliation for the IDF’s killing of a Palestinian on 9/22 in Hebron. The rocket is intercepted nr. Ashdod by an Iron Dome missile defense battery. IAF jets launch retaliatory air strikes on 4 Hamas military sites in Gaza City and n. Gaza, causing damage. Meanwhile, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion e. of Khan Yunis to level land. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 9/29; PCHR 10/1)

Tensions and violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank continue to escalate. Israeli forces close Hebron’s al-Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshippers and continue to enforce the restrictions on Palestinian access at Haram al-Sharif that were announced on 9/27, additionally closing all but 3 entrances to the sanctuary. Meanwhile, around 140 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif. In confrontations outside the sanctuary, Israeli MK Jamal Zahalka (Joint List) verbally confronts several Israeli police officers (the incident is caught on tape and dispersed on social media), and the Israeli police arrest 3 Palestinian women. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 10 Palestinians on raids in al-Tur, Issawiyya, and al-Thawri. An Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian in the Old City, causing minor injuries. Palestinians throw stones at a taxi in al-Tur, injuring 1 international tourist and sparking minor clashes with Israeli police. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinian women after they assault an Israeli family in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. Palestinians throughout the West Bank conduct solidarity actions, halting most commercial and civil activity in Nablus and Jenin and protesting in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm. Israeli forces violently disperse the protesters, injuring 1 foreign tourist and 18 Palestinians, including 3 with live ammunition. In Hebron, Palestinians throw rocks at international tourists, injuring 1 Japanese woman. Israeli forces conduct house searches and raids nr. Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarm, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrol nr. Qalqilya. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 9/29; HA, JP, TOI, YA 9/30; PCHR 10/1)

In response to a petition filed by the Israeli nongovernmental organization Yesh Din, the Israeli govt. informs the High Court of Justice of its intention to authorize settlement outposts in the Shilo region nr. Ramallah, including Adi Ad and 3 other major outposts. Yesh Din’s petition called for the demolition of Adi Ad on the grounds that it was constructed without building permits on privately owned Palestinian land. (HA, TOI 9/30)

In East Jerusalem, around 50,000 Palestinians pray at Haram al-Sharif for ‘Id al-Adha. Non-Muslim visitors are barred from the sanctuary, pursuant to the Israeli authorities’ 9/21 order. In the early morning, Israeli forces arrest 1 Islamic Waqf guard at the sanctuary. Late at night, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians on raids in Silwan and Sur al-Bahir. On Gaza’s border e. of Khan Yunis, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel for work. Additionally, a Palestinian man who was shot by Israeli forces on 9/17 after throwing a firebomb at an IDF vehicle nr. Nablus succumbs to his injuries. (JP, MNA 9/24; PCHR 10/1)

Israel’s security cabinet unanimously approves a series of measures proposed by Israeli PM Netanyahu to deter stone-throwing attacks. (HA, JP, MDW, NYT, TOI, YA 9/24; AFP 9/25)

After 2 weeks of increasing tension and clashes in East Jerusalem over access at Haram al-Sharif, Israeli authorities ban male and female volunteer guards— murabitun and murabitat—from the sanctuary on the grounds that they disturb and intimidate Jewish visitors. Around 50 Palestinian women gather outside Haram al-Sharif in the morning to protest the Israeli restrictions on their access. Late at night, suspected right-wing Jewish activists spray racist graffiti on walls in the Old City and Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians on raids in al-Tur and Jabal Mukabir. In the West Bank, unknown assailants shoot and lightly injure an Israeli settler driving nr. Nablus. Later, Israeli settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees outside a nearby Palestinian village and Israeli forces block the entrances to the village and order a curfew. Separately, Israeli forces raze agricultural land and seize an irrigation network nr. Hebron. IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids nr. Jericho, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrol in al-‘Arub r.c and nr. Hebron. The Israeli authorities reopen a road nr. Ramallah that has been closed for 15 years (it was initially reported reopened on 5/25, but Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories [COGAT] delayed the opening to perform unspecified maintenance). Off Gaza’s coast nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. Later, Israeli forces e. of Khan Yunis arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 9/9; PCHR, WAFA 9/10; PCHR 9/17; OCHA 9/18)

PNC pres. Zanoun announces that the PNC convention scheduled for 9/14–15 has been postponed in response to various Palestinian political groups’ requests for a delay and calls for a boycott. He says that a comm. comprising himself, the PLO Exec. Comm., and the heads of the various factions will meet to prepare to convene the PNC within 3 mos. (JP, MNA, WAFA 9/9)

UNRWA commissioner-gen. Pierre Krähenbühl reaches an agreement with the UNRWA employees union in Gaza to end the recent protests over reductions in agency services. The union went on strike for a week on 8/24, then agreed to return to work on 8/31 in exchange for a tentative agreement to limit class sizes. (MNA 9/9)

In response to cross-border gunfire on 9/2, the IAF launches 2 air strikes at a Hamas military site in n. Gaza, causing damage. IDF troops stationed along the n. border fence shoot and injure a Palestinian man allegedly attempting to cross into Israel from the sea, according to the IDF. Israeli forces level land during a limited incursion e. of Khan Yunis. Believing they are Israeli settlers, Palestinians torch a car belonging to 5 U.S. Jewish tourists nr. Hebron, lightly injuring 2 of them with stones. Another Palestinian shelters the tourists in his home until Israeli troops collect them. Israeli forces then raid the area, sparking clashes with the stone-throwing youths. Separately, IDF troops escort around 400 Israeli settlers to Joseph’s Tomb on the outskirts of Nablus. Clashes erupt with Palestinian youths, but there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, the IDF patrols nr. Tulkarm and Hebron. Israeli forces demolish 7 homes and agricultural structures in a village nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities ban 40 Palestinian women from entering Haram al-Sharif for periods between 10 and 60 days. They arrest 1 Palestinian at an entrance to the sanctuary and issue an arrest summons to another during a raid in nearby Silwan. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 9/3; YA 9/4; PCHR 9/10)

Fanning the flames across East Jerusalem, at least 20 Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli forces overtake a building in Silwan, claiming that the settler organization Ateret Cohanim had purchased it. A Palestinian man refuses to leave his apartment, so the settlers only move into 4 of the 5 floors. Later, Israeli forces close off a main street in al-Tur nr. the site of a firebomb attack on 8/26. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel e. of Khan Yunis. Egyptian authorities allow the body of a Palestinian who recently died in an Egyptian hospital to be returned home through the Rafah border crossing. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in a village nr. Ramallah, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths and arresting 1 Palestinian. They also conduct house searches and raids nr. Qalqilya, issuing 1 Palestinian an arrest summons. Israeli forces demolish 4 buildings in Israeli settlement outposts nr. Nablus and arrest 3 settlers protesting the demolitions. In Israel, dozens of Palestinians gather nr. the bedouin village Umm al-Hiran in the Negev to protest the preconstruction phases of 2 Israeli Jewish towns, which Israeli forces began on 8/23. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/27; HA, MNA 8/28; PCHR 9/3)

Palestinian UN envoys formally submit a UN General Assembly (UNGA) res. that would allow non-mbr. observer states—Palestine and the Vatican—to display their flags at the UN’s headquarters and offices. (AP, REU, YA 8/26; JP 8/27; AFP 8/28) Senior PA official Azzam al-Ahmad announces that the PNC will convene in Ramallah on 9/15–16 to elect a new PLO Exec. Comm. and discuss the absence of peace negotiations with Israel. (AFP, HA, JP, MNA, TOI 8/27; MNA 8/29) 

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on 3 Palestinian youths walking nr. the border fence, seriously injuring 1. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest and assault a Palestinian man on a raid in a village nr. Hebron, moderately injuring him and sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 2 Palestinians are injured. During the day, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron and 2 nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, around 20 Palestinians throw stones and Molotov cocktails in an Israeli settlement nr. Ras al-Amud, lightly injuring 1 settler. Israeli forces conduct a raid in Silwan, arresting 4 Palestinians and sparking minor clashes with residents; 5 Palestinians are lightly injured. Israeli security officers detain and assault 2 Palestinian youths at a light rail station in Shu‘fat, moderately injuring 1. (MNA, YA 7/17; PCHR 7/30)

A special panel of the ICC orders chief prosecutor Bensouda to reconsider “as soon as possible” her 11/2014 decision not to investigate Israel’s 5/2010 raid on the flagship of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the Mavi Marmara. (AP, HA, ICC, MNA, NYT 7/16)

U.S. State Dept. spokesperson John Kirby comments on the Israeli govt.’s planned demolition of Palestinian homes in Susiya village nr. Hebron, saying “we strongly urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions.” (TOI, USSD 7/17; JP 7/19)

In Gaza, Hamas police shut down the offices of mobile phone company Jawwal (Hamas ordered the company to close on 6/26). Israeli forces on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. the border fence. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian man at the Qalandia checkpoint. IDF troops later conduct a raid in a nearby village, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths. The IDF conducts a late-night raid on offices of the Palestinian Water Authority in a village nr. Ramallah, confiscating 2 computers; patrols during the day in 2 villages nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian man with sticks and stones nr. Ramallah, moderately injuring him. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers spray price-tag graffiti on a wall in Bayt Safafa. Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian man on a raid nr. the Old City. (MNA, REU, WAFA, YA 6/30; MNA 7/1; PCHR 7/2)

Following Palestinian attacks on 6/29, Israeli authorities set new restrictions on Palestinians entering Jerusalem, rolling back some of the restrictions loosened for Ramadan on 6/16. Specifically, women between 16 and 30 and men under 50 will need a permit to enter the city on Fridays. (HA, MNA 7/1)

Following a meeting of senior PLO officials in Ramallah, PA pres. Abbas fires PLO secy.-gen. Yasser Abed Rabbo, citing his absence from recent meetings. Abed Rabbo responds to the announcement of his firing by saying, “Abbas does not have the authority to fire me. The only party that is authorized to do so is the PLO Exec. Comm., which has to hold a general meeting.” Senior PLO officials also approve a temporary cabinet “shuffle” as negotiations continue on the formation of a new consensus govt. Abbas assigns PM Hamdallah to make “slight changes” to the govt., reportedly shifting 5 ministers. (JP, MNA, TOI 7/1)

The U.S. State Dept. issues a special statement clarifying that, while the Obama admin.“strongly opposes” BDS efforts targeting Israel, it does not have a similar stance regarding “Israeli-controlled territories,” referring to the anti-BDS provision that became law as part of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 on 6/29. (HA, JTA, MDW, PNN 7/1)

In Vienna, reps. of the P5+1 and Iran agree on a 7-day extension to today’s deadline for a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. (BB 6/26; JP, NYT, TOI 6/30)

Sarayat al-Shaykh Umar Hadid fires a rocket from Gaza into s. Israel nr. Ashqelon, causing no damage. The IAF responds by firing at the rocket’s launch site nr. Bayt Hanun in n. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. Earlier, IDF troops on the border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on agricultural lands nr. the border fence, causing no serious damage. Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions, and the entry of construction materials (they will keep it open through 6/25). In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinian youths in Bayt Hanina after assaulting several. (AFP, MNA, WAFA 6/23; HA, MNA, YA 6/24; PCHR 6/25)

Despite the 6/16 announcement of its dissolution within 24 hours, the PA consensus govt. will continue working while the PLO Exec. Comm. consults with the PLO factions about the structure of a new govt. (the Exec. Comm. will form a new comm. to conduct a week of consultations on 6/27). (HA, JP, MNA 6/23)

Israel’s Knesset House Comm. votes, 10–2, to strip MK Ghattas (Joint List) of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in response to his 6/21 announcement of participation in the Freedom Flotilla III. The comm.’s decision is transferred to the Ethics Comm. for approval, and Joint List MKs vow to appeal the decision to the High Court of Justice. Israel’s High Court of Justice orders the state to demolish 2 residential buildings under construction in the Beit El settlement in the West Bank by 7/30. The court also orders the demolition of 17 residences in the Derech Ha’avot settlement outpost. (JP, TOI 6/23; JP 6/24)

Iran’s parliament passes the bill amended on 6/21 that would establish criteria for any final agreement made in the negotiations with the P5+1 and increase oversight of the implementation of such an agreement. Of the 244 lawmakers present, 214 support the bill. (AFP, TOI 6/23; AP, FNA 6/24)

In Gaza, Egyptian authorities close the Rafah border crossing after keeping it open since 6/13. IDF troops on the border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on 3 Palestinians nr. the border fence, injuring 1. In the West Bank, a Palestinian man shoots and wounds 2 Israelis from Lydda who are traveling nr. an Israeli settlement outside Ramallah; 1 of the Israelis succumbs to his injuries later in the day. (The IDF will arrest 5 Palestinians allegedly responsible for the shooting attack on 7/15, including 3 mbrs. of Fatah’s military wing.) Later, the IDF conducts a violent raid in a village nr. Ramallah, destroying personal property, detaining several Palestinians, and confiscating recording equipment. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih) and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 3 Palestinians are injured. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin and 2 each nr. Ramallah and Jericho. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles nr. the Beit El settlement, breaking 1 windshield. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT 6/19; MNA, NYT 6/20; PCHR 6/25; NYT 7/15)

Cypriot pres. Anastasiades calls PA pres. Abbas to discuss the possibility of Abbas addressing an upcoming EU meeting in Brussels in an effort to restart the peace negotiations with Israel. Anastasiades discussed a similar possibility with Israeli PM Netanyahu on 6/15. (HA 6/29)

In Gaza, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion along the border fence nr. Khan Yunis to level lands and perform “routine maintenance,” according to the IDF. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night raids and house searches in Hebron, Jenin, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya, arresting 3 Palestinians and issuing an arrest summons to another; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 3 unlicensed Palestinian-owned structures late at night in a village nr. the city. (WAFA 6/9; JP 6/10; PCHR 6/11)

At the annual Herzliya Conference, Israeli PM Netanyahu calls on the Palestinians to return to peace negotiations with Israel “without preconditions,” and he says that he will not require them to recognize Israel as a Jewish state as a precondition, though he would require it in a final deal. (JP, REU, TOI 6/9)

Senior Hamas officials confirm a recent meeting with Egyptian intelligence officers to discuss their poor relations. Hamas reportedly pushed for Egypt to reopen the Rafah border crossing and the Egyptians pushed for several undisclosed “confidence-building” measures, some of which Hamas agreed to. (HA 6/10)

EU officials confirm that the bloc is preparing new guidelines requiring Israel to label produce made in its West Bank settlements if it is to be exported to Europe. (JP, TOI 6/9; MNA 6/10)

Sarayat al-Shaykh Umar Hadid, a small armed group in Gaza, fires 2 rockets into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In a Twitter post, the group claims that the attack was revenge for Hamas’s killing of the leader of a small Islamist group on 6/2. Hours later, IAF jets launch air strikes on 3 or 4 vacant Hamas military sites nr. Gaza City and Khan Yunis. Earlier, IDF troops stationed on the border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at a group of Palestinian farmers, moderately injuring 1. Off the coast nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on 2 Palestinian fishing boats, arrest 5 fishermen, and confiscate 1 boat. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 2 leaders of the PFLP and confiscate several computers from a govt. office during raids in Tulkarm and a nearby village. Late at night, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in Hebron and 1 nearby village, Tulkarm, 2 villages nr. Nablus, and 1 nr. Ramallah, arresting 10 Palestinians; patrols during the day in Tulkarm, 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and 1 village each nr. Jericho and Qalqilya. Israeli forces bulldoze 30 dunams (around 7.5 acres) of land nr. Hebron and uproot 400 almond and olive trees. An Israeli settler rams a Palestinian with a car nr. Salfit, causing minor bruising. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police violently disperse hundreds of Palestinians protesting at the annual Israeli Lights Festival in the Old City; 4 Palestinians are arrested and there are no serious injuries. (MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 6/3; HA, MEE, MNA, PCHR, REU, WAFA, YA 6/4; JP 6/5; PCHR 6/11)

In Gaza City, Hamas security forces shoot and kill the leader of a small Islamist group during an arrest raid on his home. He was allegedly involved in recent explosions throughout Gaza. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on agricultural lands for the 2d day in a row. In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 4 homes under construction nr. Bethlehem. IDF troops on a late-night raid nr. Ramallah issue 1 Palestinian an arrest summons, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths. The IDF also conducts late-night raids in and around Qalqilya and Hebron, 3 villages nr. Nablus, and 2 nr. Tulkarm, arresting 2 Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leaders and 7 other Palestinians, issuing an arrest summons to another, and confiscating various personal effects; patrols in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Jenin, and 2 nr. Jericho. An Israeli settler throws stones at a Palestinian-owned vehicle nr. Nablus, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 3 Palestinian residences in Silwan overnight, claiming that they were built without licenses. (JP, MNA, WAFA 6/2; JP 6/3; PCHR 6/4)

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 2, U.S. pres. Obama says that Israeli PM Netanyahu’s position on the 2-state solution puts Israel’s international credibility in jeopardy because it “has so many caveats, so many conditions that it is not realistic to think that those conditions would be met at any time in the near future.” (HA, REU 6/2; WAFA 6/3)

Off the coast of Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, injuring 2 Palestinian fishermen. Later, Israeli naval forces arrest 5 fishermen in the same area. IDF troops stationed on the border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on agricultural lands. In the West Bank, Israeli forces order residents of a village nr. Nablus to remove their tent homes. IDF troops arrest a leader of Islamic Jihad and 2 other Palestinians in late-night raids in Jenin, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths. The IDF also conducts raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 nr. Ramallah, and ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrols in Tulkarm, 3 villages nr. Jericho, 2 nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct house searches and raids in Silwan and the Old City, arresting 3 Palestinians; demolish 2 homes in Silwan, assaulting 4 of the residents. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 6/1; HA 6/2; PCHR 6/4)

German FM Steinmeier arrives in Gaza with a 60-mbr. German delegation and calls for Israel to lift the blockade. Both Israel and Hamas deny rumors that Steinmeier is in Gaza to mediate negotiations on a prisoner swap. (HA, MNA, REU, WAFA, YA 6/1)

In Gaza, a group claiming affiliation with the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) fires a rocket into Israel nr. Ashdod, causing no damage or injuries (the group will not take credit until 6/1). Holding Hamas responsible for any projectile fire from Gaza and asserting that Islamic Jihad was the culprit, Israeli Air Force (IAF) jets strike 4 Islamic Jihad, Popular Resistance Comms. (PRC), and Hamas training sites in Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Bayt Lahiya late at night, causing damage but no casualties. Off the coast nr. Khan Yunis and then nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, injuring a fisherman in the later incident. Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage into Gaza only (they will keep it open through 5/28). In the West Bank, IDF troops chase down, shoot, and injure 4 Palestinian workers nr. Qalqilya. Separately, 4 Israeli soldiers detain and assault a Palestinian trying to cross over the separation wall nr. Qalqilya. Unidentified gunmen shoot and injure a Palestinian man in s. Hebron. The IDF conducts late-night raids and house searches late at night in and around Hebron, and in 1 village nr. Nablus, arresting 9 Palestinians; patrols during the day nr. Jericho and Hebron. Israeli forces photograph an electricity network nr. Hebron, then deliver a notice demanding its operations be suspended. They also deliver a stop-work notice for a water well under construction nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct a late-night raid in Jabal Mukabir, arresting 1 Palestinian. (AP, HA, MNA, WAFA 5/26; HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 5/27; PCHR 5/28; JP 6/10)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Gaza City and e. of Khan Yunis open fire with live ammunition on Palestinians nonviolently commemorating Nakba Day nr. the border fence, injuring 3. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at Nakba Day demonstrations in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, and Jalazun r.c.), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 9 are injured. The IDF also clashes with Palestinians commemorating Nakba Day outside Ofer Prison nr. Ramallah and in Nablus; 17 Palestinians are injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets. IDF troops conduct a late-night house search in a village nr. Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian; detain 52 Palestinians nr. Ramallah who are trying to cross into Israel to work. They patrol in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and al-Bireh, and 1 nr. Jericho. (MNA, TOI 5/15; MNA 5/16; PCHR 5/21)

Reps. of the P5+1 and Iran conclude a round of talks in Vienna on Iran’s nuclear program ahead of their 6/30 deadline for a comprehensive final deal. They will continue their negotiations next week. (REU 5/15)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers nr. the border fence, causing some damage but no injuries. Off the coast nr. al-Sudaniyya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boasts, causing no injuries. Also off the coast, IAF jets fire flash bombs nr. Palestinian fishing boats. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a home nr. Ramallah. IDF troops clash with stone-throwing Palestinians in c. Hebron and nr. Nablus, causing a number to suffer from tear gas inhalation. The IDF also conducts raids in a village nr. Hebron, arresting 9 Palestinians; patrols in and around Tulkarm, as well as 1 village each nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. An Israeli settler rams his car into a Palestinian child s. of Hebron, injuring him. Also, Israeli settlers damage water pipes leading to Palestinian homes in c. Hebron, causing minor flooding. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities ban 4 Palestinians from entering Haram al-Sharif for varying amounts of time after 3 are arrested in the sanctuary. In Tel Aviv, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel gather in Rabin Square to protest the housing shortage and home demolitions in their communities. Also, Palestinians across Israel conduct a general strike, responding to a call from the Arab High Follow-Up Comm. (AFP, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 4/28; HA, MNA, PCHR 4/29; HA 4/30; PCHR 5/7)

Fired from Syria, 2 mortar shells land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no injuries. The IDF describes them as “spillover” from the Syrian conflict. (HA, MNA, YA 4/28)

In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Mogherini, 59 mbrs. of the European parliament call for the release of PLC mbr. Jarrar, who was placed in administrative detention by the IDF on 4/2. (WAFA 4/29)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces shoot and kill a Palestinian youth late at night after he allegedly attempts to stab several officers at a checkpoint. Later, they raid the youth’s home in al-Tur, assaulting residents with pepper spray. On the Gaza border, IDF troops stationed e. of Khan Yunis open fire on agricultural lands and farmers nr. the border fence, critically injuring 1 Palestinian youth in the area. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 11 Palestinians are injured, including 2 seriously and 2 journalists. Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian farmer nr. Jenin; detain and assault several Palestinian farmers nr. Nablus, injuring 1 seriously. The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Jenin. (MNA 4/24; HA, MNA, REU, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/25; PCHR 4/29)

IAF jets conduct strikes on multiple targets, allegedly Hizballah long-range missile storage sites, in and around a Syrian military base nr. the Syria-Lebanon border, causing damage. (HA, JP, YA 4/25)

In the Gaza Strip, an unknown armed group launches a single rocket into Israel, causing minor damage nr. Sderot. In response, IDF tanks fire 3 shells at a vacant Hamas military site nr. Bayt Hanun. Separately, IDF troops stationed e. of Khan Yunis open fire on agricultural lands nr. the border fence. In the West Bank, IDF troops on a raid in a village nr. Qalqilya clash with several stone-throwing Palestinian youth, causing no serious injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in a village nr. Jenin, delivering summons to 1 Palestinian; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police assault 2 Palestinians in the Old City who are walking to pray in Haram al-Sharif and arrest 5 others in the area. Meanwhile, light clashes break out in the sanctuary when a number of right-wing Jewish activists tour the area. Israeli forces conduct raids and patrols in the Old City, Hizma, Silwan, and Shaykh Jarrah, arresting 7 Palestinians and disrupting demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. They also assault a Palestinian youth in al-Tur. Meanwhile, an Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian youth in the Old City, causing minor injuries. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/23; HA, TOI, YA 4/24; PCHR 4/29)

Israeli authorities deny South African education minister Blade Nzimande an entry visa for his planned 6-day visit to Palestinian universities. Nzimande says that the denial comes in response to recent positions taken by the South African govt. (MNA 4/23; HA 4/24)

At an Israeli Independence Day event in Washington, U.S. VP Joseph R. Biden announces that 2 of the 14 F-35 fighter jets that the Defense Dept. sold to Israel in mid-2/2015 (announced 2/22) will be delivered in 2016. The rest of the jets will be delivered by 2021. (HA, REU 4/24)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conduct simultaneous limited incursions e. of Dayr al-Balah and e. of Khan Yunis to level land. In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver demolition notices for a tent and a barn in a village nr. Hebron. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron and a village nr. Ramallah, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrols in Tulkarm, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 each nr. Jenin, Hebron, and Jericho. An Israeli settler rams a car into 4 Palestinian women on a road nr. Qalqilya, injuring all of them. Israeli settlers uproot 450 olive trees nr. Salfit; enter Nablus to perform religious rites, sparking minor clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian youth. (MNA, WAFA 4/21; HA, MNA, TOI 4/22; PCHR 4/23)

The PA announces that it will be paying its employees their full salaries for 4/2015 as well as the remaining 40% that was deducted in 1–3/2015 during Israel’s tax revenue freeze. (WAFA 4/22)

At a meeting of the UNSC, French and British diplomats urge the council to pass a res. setting parameters for a new round of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Also, New Zealand’s amb. to the UN Jim McLay announces that his office is working on a separate draft res. that he plans to propose to the UNSC, adding that he hasn’t seen the French draft res. (JP, REU 4/21; AFP, AP, RT, TOI 4/22; WAFA 4/23)

In Gaza, a Palestinian youth dies of an electric shock in a tunnel nr. Rafah. On 3 occasions, IDF troops stationed e. of Khan Yunis and e. of Jabaliya fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence, causing no injuries. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage. In the West Bank, an Israeli military jeep hits and injures a Palestinian youth nr. Nablus. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in and around Hebron, 1 village nr. Jenin, and nr. Bethlehem, arresting 4 Palestinians and issuing summons to 2; patrols in and around Hebron, and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Jericho. Israeli forces level 18 dunams of land nr. Bethlehem. The PASF conducts raids in and around Tubas, arresting 22 Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians walking n. of the city. In Israel, an Israeli stabs a Palestinian worker at a construction site nr. Tel Aviv, moderately injuring him. In the Negev, Israeli forces demolish buildings in 2 bedouin villages nr. Beersheba. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/20; MNA, WAFA 4/21; PCHR 4/23)

The PA unity govt. delegation that arrived in Gaza on 4/19 departs for Ramallah, cutting short the planned weeklong visit that was meant to resolve ongoing issues, including the wage crisis. PA PM Hamdallah reportedly orders them to leave in response to Hamas officials’ obstructionism and makes plans to visit Gaza himself in 5/2015. (MNA, JP, YA 4/20; MNA 4/21)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire live ammunition at Palestinians approaching the border fence, injuring 3. Later, an explosive detonates nr. the PA unity govt. cabinet’s headquarters in Gaza City, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations to commemorate Prisoners’ Day, and protesting the occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 9 Palestinians are moderately injured, including a PA minister and a journalist. The IDF also violently disperses groups of stonethrowing Palestinian youth in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Ramallah, causing no serious injuries. At night, IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in and around Hebron, and al-Bireh, issuing summons to 2 Palestinians and arresting 2; patrols in 1 village each nr. Jenin, Hebron, and Ramallah during the day. Israeli police shoot and lightly injure a Palestinian youth suspected of theft in a village nr. Jerusalem. The PASF conducts raids in and around Bethlehem and Ramallah, arresting over 60 Palestinians. (HA, MNA, TOI 4/17; MNA 4/18; PCHR 4/23)

PA officials and Israel’s COGAT Mordechai reach an agreement for Israel to transfer the full amount of tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA from 12/2014 through 3/2015— approximately NIS 1.85 b., or $472 m.—by 4/20. They also agree that a joint Palestinian-Israel economic comm. will decide what amount should be returned to Israel to pay down Palestinian debts. PA PM Hamdallah pledges to use the funds to pay PA employees the rest of their salaries, which had been reduced while the transfers were frozen. (HA, MNA, NYT, REU, TOI 4/18; AnA, YA 4/19)