The Palestine Chronology

Israel rejects Hamas’s latest call (ca. 12/20) via Egypt for a cease-fire, vows to continue “counterterrorist operations” to deter rocket fire. Dep. PM Haim Ramon says Israel’s strategic goal is to overthrow Hamas in Gaza using military and economic pres sure. Islamic Jihad, declaring that it would not adhere to a truce, fires 5 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging 2 commercial buildings but causing no injuries; another rocket lands inside Gaza, damaging a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. Before the 2d post-Annapolis mtg. of the Palestinian and Israeli negotiating teams on 12/24, Olmert’s government reopens the Sufa crossing (closed since 10/28/07) for up to 30 trucks/day, but also seeks Knesset approval for $25 m. to construct 500 settlement housing units in Har Homa in Jerusalem and 240 units in Ma’ale Adumim outside of Jerusalem; it is unclear whether the money is for units already approved for construction (see 12/4) or involves new building plans. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the IDF fires on unarmed Palestinians (including a child) on their land nr. the border fence e. of Dayr al-Balah, wounding 1; shells a Hamas border patrol e. of al-Bureij r.c., killing 2 Hamas mbrs. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (NYT, WT 12/24; NYT 12/25; OCHA 12/26; PCHR 12/27)

UN officials report that Israel has now reduced daily fuel imports to Gaza by 20% and that, as a result, some 400,000 Gazans have lost (or have only limited access to) safe drinking water because of lack of fuel to run pumps, water treatment facilities, and generators; vaccinations and medicines have spoiled at some hospitals because of inconsistent power to run refrigerators. Overnight, the IDF sends some 30 tanks and APCs supported by helicopters and warplanes into s. Gaza border areas, allegedly to look for rocket-launching sites, clashing with Palestinian gunmen, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 3 PRC mbrs., wounding 13 Palestinians (including 5 civilians), rounding up all males age 15–50 for questioning, detaining 10s, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, bulldozing 133 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of land before withdrawing late in the evening. The IDF also makes 2 air strikes on rocket-launching sites in n. Gaza, killing 2 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Jerusalem’s Old City; raids the offices of several media outlets in Nablus (including Afaq TV, al-Nahar, al-Quds) accused of “supporting terrorism,” confiscating computers and documents, and clashing with local gunmen, wounding 3. Separately in Nablus, 1 AMB is killed when explosives he is handling detonate prematurely. (WT 12/11; OCHA, WP 12/12; PCHR 12/13; WP 12/15)

IDF troops on the Gaza border shell Hamas mbrs. preparing to fire a mortar into Israel, killing 2, wounding at least 2. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Bethlehem, where they are confronted by PA security officers who do not realize their identity, sparking an exchange of fire that kills 1 PA security officer. Egypt allows 2,000 Gazans to enter Egypt through the Rafah crossing for the Hajj in a deal arranged by Hamas and coordinated with Saudi Arabia, angering the PA, Israel, and the U.S. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin and in Abu Dis outside Jerusalem, Qalqilya. (NYT, PCHR 12/6; NYT 12/11; OCHA 12/12; PCHR 12/13)