The Palestine Chronology

The IDF intensifies Operation Violet Iron, sending tanks into Khan Yunis, clashing with Palestinian resistance members, shelling residential areas, occupying several homes as military outposts, killing 3 Palestinian militants (including local Hamas leader Yahya Marzuq [also reported as Yahya Abu Bakra]) wounding 2 civilians. The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Lahiya, Nablus. In Jenin, 3 Palestinian children are injured when they accidentally detonate a piece of unexploded IDF ordnance. An Islamic Jihad gunman fires on an IDF jeep in Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya, wounding 2 soldiers. Palestinians fire a mortar at Kefar Darom settlement, injuring a Thai worker. (HA, IMEMC, XIN 12/29; VOI, VOP 12/29 in WNC 12/31; PCHR, WP 12/30; PCHR 12/31; PR 1/5; PCHR 1/6)

The IDF revives Operation Violet Iron in Khan Yunis in response to the firing of 55 mortars and 23 Qassam rockets fr. the area in the past wk., attempts to assassinate 2 Hamas mbrs. by firing a missile at their car, injuring the 2 men and several passersby; heavily shells residential areas, wounding 14 Palestinians. The IDF also sends troops into Nablus, then fires on residential areas, stonethrowing youths who confront the troops; conducts arrest raids, house searches in alAmari r.c., Bayt Omar, Hebron, Jenin, al-Til nr. Tulkarm. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket, a mortar at a Jewish settlement and IDF post in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on attack a foreign TV crew filming Palestinian children on their way to school in Hebron. Unidentified gunmen fire on the campaign offices of presidential candidate Salhi in Ramallah, causing no injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/23. (JAZ, JTA 12/28; VOI, VOP 12/28 in WNC 12/30; WT 12/29; PCHR 12/30)

The IDF raids Jenin, assassinates wanted AMB Jenin leader Tahir Abu Kamil (also reported as Tha’ir Husayn), demolishing the house in which he was hiding, crushing him to death; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dura, severely beating a Palestinian woman, her 2 children. In Bayt Lahiya, the IDF surrounds and searches 35 bedouin homes, detains all males over age 16 for photographing and questioning, confiscates a computer, bulldozes 13 d. of surrounding land. Palestinians fire some 14 mortars at Gaza settlements, causing damage but no injuries. Some 70 armed Jewish settlers fr. Gaza’s Kefar Darom settlement seize, occupy, expel Palestinian families fr. 5 homes in Dayr al-Balah. (HA, JAZ, JP 12/25; NYT, WT 12/26; PR 12/29; PCHR 12/30)

IDF operations continue in Khan Yunis, where 2 Palestinians are killed in an explosion at the home of a leading Hamas mbr.; Palestinians say IDF tanks shelled the house, whereas the IDF says the men were preparing a bomb that exploded prematurely. The IDF withdraws fr. Khan Yunis late in the day, pledging to return as necessary to halt rocket fire, calling the open-ended operation Operation Violet Iron. The IDF turns over security control of Bethlehem to the PA security forces btwn. Christmas Eve and Armenian Christmas on 1/19; says it will give IDF soldiers manning checkpoints around Bethlehem special instructions on how to handle Christian tourists. The IDF tightens Palestinian movement around Nablus; fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun (among the injured are children ages 2, 11, 14), Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya and nr. Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire at least 12 mortars at Jewish settlements in s. Gaza, causing minor damage but no injuries. (AFP, HA 12/23; VOI 12/23 in WNC 12/25; NYT, WP 12/24; PCHR 12/30)

Palestinian municipal elections begin, with voting in 26 West Bank municipalities. Hamas wins 27% of the seats, Fatah 59%. (PM 12/23; JAZ 12/23 in WNC 12/25; AP, NYT, WP, WT 12/24; JAZ 12/25, JAZ, VOP 12/26 in WNC 12/28; PR 12/29; MEI 1/7)

The IDF seals Jericho for the day; closes the Gaza coastal and the Jenin–Nablus roads to Palestinian traffic; makes an incursion into Shaykh Ajlin neighborhood in Gaza City, shells residential areas, bulldozes 69 d. of agricultural land; fires on Brazil r.c.; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin, and in Hebron, Nablus, and Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm. A West Bank Palestinian sneaks across the Green Line, fatally stabs an Israeli woman outside her home in Moshav Nehusha, 1 mi inside Israel; no word on whether he is arrested or escapes. Palestinians fire an antitank missile at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, damaging a synagogue but causing no injuries. (JTA 12/21; VOP 12/21 in WNC 12/23; PCHR, WP 12/23)

Palestinians fire 4 mortars at an IDF post outside Atzmona settlement in s. Gaza, injuring 11 IDF soldiers; also fire 2 mortars at hot houses and an IDF post in Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF gunships destroy a carpentry workshop in Rafah that allegedly served as a Hamas weapons factory and cache. The IDF also fatally shoots an Islamic Jihad mbr. planting a roadside bomb outside a Gaza settlement; fires on residential areas of Rafah, seriously injuring a 3-yr.-old Palestinian girl inside her home; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Dajan nr. Nablus, Bayt Omar nr. Hebron, al-Qarara, Zayta nr. Tulkarm. The Knesset approves $20 m. for construction of a Palestinian-only road btwn. Anata and Azariyya n. of Jerusalem as part of Israel’s West Bank separation plan. (HA 12/16; JAZ, VOI 12/16 in WNC 12/18; PR 12/22; PCHR 12/23)

The IDF demolishes areas of Bilin village nr. Ramallah for construction of the separation wall, firing on 10s of residents who attempt to block the demolition, wounding 5; raids Ramallah, assassinates AMB cmdr. Kamil Ghannam; fires on “suspicious figures” near the Rafah border, killing 1 PA security officer on patrol, wounding 2; sends troops, reinforced by helicopters, into Gaza City, shelling residential areas, bulldozing 40 d. of agricultural land; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, Rafat nr. Ramallah, Salfit, Silat alHarithiyya nr. Jenin. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron; begins bulldozing large areas of agricultural land in Dayr Ballut southwest of Nablus for construction of the separation wall. In retaliation for house demolitions in Khan Yunis on 12/13, Palestinians fire a mortar at nearby Neve Dekalim settlement, hitting a greenhouse, killing 1 Thai worker, injuring 2 Thais. Palestinians fire 12 more mortars during the day, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP, REU, XIN 12/14; HA, IDF Radio, VOI 12/14 in WNC 12/16; HA, NYT, PR 12/15; VOI 12/15 in WNC 12/17; PCHR 12/16)

In retaliation for the 12/11 Hamas–Fatah Hawks attack, the IDF seals the Rafah crossing, fires on residential areas of Rafah (killing 1 Palestinian outside his home), conducts air strikes on 5 targets in Gaza City (destroying at least 1 metal workshop, 1 Palestinian home). The IDF also shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, injuring 7 Palestinian students in their classroom; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement in the Ramallah area; begins bulldozing agricultural land in Husan w. of Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Ariel settlement throw stones at, chase off Palestinian farmers working their fields in neighboring Isqaqa village. (BBC 12/12; JAZ, VOI, VOP 12/12 in WNC 12/14; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/13; VOP 12/13 in WNC 12/15; PCHR 12/16)

Hamas, the Fatah Hawks (Fatah’s armed wing, which has not staged an attack on an Israeli target since the 1st intifada) take joint responsibility for detonating a massive bomb underneath an IDF checkpoint on the Gaza-Egypt border, killing 5 IDF soldiers, wounding at least 10; armed Palestinians exchange fire with IDF soldiers attempting to remove the wounded, leaving 1 Palestinian attacker dead. The IDF imposes a curfew on Talluza nr. Nablus; shells an elementary school in Khan Yunis, injuring 7 children; fires on, detains crew mbrs. of 2 Palestinian fishing boats off the Gaza coast; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in al-Fara‘a r.c.; shells residential areas, bulldozes 24 d. of agricultural land and 8 greenhouses nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c., Hebron. Palestinian shepherds herding nr. ‘Aqraba nr. Nablus severely beat a Jewish settler fr. Itamar settlement who attempts to steal their sheep; other Palestinians alert police, who intervene, detain several Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron throw stones, bottles at Palestinian houses nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs (IMEMC, WP 12/12; JAZ, MENA, VOI 12/12 in WNC 12/14; MM 12/13; JAZ 12/13 in WNC 12/15; HA, MM, PR 12/15; AYM 12/15 in WNC 12/18; PCHR 12/16; PR 12/22)

Hamas mbrs. fire mortars at Neve Dekalim settlement in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis in response, killing an 8-yr.-old Palestinian girl eating lunch inside her home. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international demonstrators protesting against the separation wall nr. Hebron. The IDF bars PA presidential candidate Salhi fr. crossing a checkpoint outside Ramallah to go campaign in East Jerusalem; Salhi scuffles with soldiers, is handcuffed and taken for several hours of questioning. The IDF also tightens Palestinian access to Bethlehem, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Dahariyya, detaining 4 Hamas candidates in the upcoming 12/23 municipal elections there; Hamas denounces the arrests as an attempt to manipulate the outcome of municipal elections. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 9/12/04. (VOI, VOP 12/10 in WNC 12/14; JAZ, NYT, PRCS 12/11; WP 12/12; PR 12/15; PCHR 12/16; MEI 12/17)

The IDF attempts to assassinate wanted Palestinian Resistance Comm. (PRC) leader Jamal Abu Samhadana, firing a missile at his car as he drives in Gaza, wounding him, 2 bodyguards, 1 bystander; fatally shoots a Palestinian who enters a closed military zone nr. the Gaza-Egypt border; fires a missile at the Bayt Lahiya home of AMB cmdr. Mahmud al-Madhun in an attempt to assassinate him; bulldozes 50 d. of land in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Kafr Khalil nr. Qalqilya, Nablus, Tulkarm r.c.; sends troops into al-Qarara to patrol; temporarily detains PA presidential candidate Bassam Salhi at a checkpoint into Jerusalem, saying he does not have a permit to enter the city to campaign. Israeli contractors guarded by Jewish settlers fr. Tzofim nr. Qalqilya uproot 117 olive trees in nearby Jayyus for creation of a new settlement enclave to be called North Tzofim. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in a 4/21/04 IDF raid on Gaza City. (HA, JAZ 12/9; JAZ, VOP 12/9 in WNC 12/11; HA, JAZ, NYT, WP 12/10; VOP, YA 12/10 in WNC 12/14; PRCS 12/15; PCHR 12/16; MEI 12/17)

The IDF lifts the curfew on Hawara, imposed on 12/2; for no apparent reason fires on Palestinians waiting to cross the Tuffah checkpoint in s. Gaza, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids and house searches, bulldozes 30 d. of land in al-Qarara; fires on residential areas of Rafah; beats several Israeli, Palestinian, international peace activists demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Hebron as well as a Palestinian journalist covering the incident. Palestinians fire 2 mortars, 1 Qassam rocket at Jewish settlements in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers vandalize Palestinian agricultural land in the al-Mawasi area of s. Gaza. (VOI 12/5 in WNC 12/7; PCHR 12/9)

In Rafah, the IDF shells residential areas, conducts arrest raids and house searches, demolishes 8 Palestinian homes, severely damages 5 others, clashes with local militias, leaving 1 Hamas mbr. dead. The IDF also raids Hebron, demolishes a Palestinian home, fatally shoots Hamas mbrs. Murad al-Qawasmi, Omar alHaymuni, wounds a 3d in what may be an assassination; demolishes 1 Palestinian home, bulldozes 34 d. of land, shells residential areas nr. Khan Yunis; blows up 1 apartment in a 4-story Palestinian apartment building nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Gaza’s Kefar Darom settlement and in Aqabat Jabir r.c., Araba nr. Jenin, Bayt Sahur, Beitunia, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Qalqilya, Tulkarm r.c.; issues a military order, prohibiting Palestinian use of land 200–300 m on either side of the separation wall nr. Jenin. (VOI, VOP 11/25 in WNC 11/27; VOP 11/26 in WNC 11/30; FT 11/26; PCHR 12/2)

The Fatah Revolutionary Council endorses the Fatah Central Comm.’s 11/22 choice of Abbas as the party’s candidate for pres., with 100 of the council’s 129 mbrs. voting in favor. (WP 11/26)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Yatta, on residential areas of Brazil r.c., Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm. A Palestinian sniper shoots, wounds an IDF soldier manning a post outside Dayr al-Balah. Hamas fires mortars at a Jewish settlement in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (XIN 11/24; VOP 11/24 in WNC 11/27; PCHR 11/25; JP 11/25 in WNC 11/27)

The IDF assassinates a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbr. Muhammad Liftawi, firing on his car as he drives nr. Beitunia, also killing 2 AMB mbrs. traveling with him; “deports” 4 Birzeit University students detained on 11/18 to their homes in Gaza without explanation; fires on Palestinians demonstrating against expansion of Israel’s separation wall into Hebron, wounding 20; fires on residential areas of Rafah. The IDF also fires on 2 armed Palestinians approaching a settler-only road nr. Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian while the other escapes; conducts arrest raids nr. Khan Yunis in search of the escapee, also demolishing 1 Palestinian home, bulldozing 57 d. of land. (HA, UPI 11/21; XIN 11/21 in WNC 11/23; NYT, WT 11/22; PCHR 11/25; Sunday Herald 11/28)

A Palestinian dies of injures received during the IDF incursion into Bayt Hanun in 10/04. A Jewish settler is injured, her 4 passengers are unharmed when her car triggers a roadside bomb nr. Gush Etzion settlement. (VOI 11/13 in WNC 11/16; PCHR 11/18)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians who enter a closed military zone nr. the Israeli border fence east of Gaza City; fires on stone-throwing youths and market areas in Nablus, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Jenin; blows up a Palestinian home nr. Nablus; bulldozes 20 d. in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Beitunia, Jenin (also sealing 4 offices of Islamic charities). Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket into s. Israel, fire 2 mortars into Jewish settlements in s. Gaza, causing light damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Shomron nr. Qalqilya uproot 10s of Palestinian olive trees, bar local Palestinian residents fr. harvesting their groves; IDF soldiers observe but do not intervene. ( JP, VOP, YA 11/9 in WNC 11/11; WP 11/10; VOI 11/10 in WNC 11/12; PRCS 11/11)

Arafat reportedly slips deeper into a coma, possibly suffering a stroke, and is put on life support. In light of Israel’s refusal to allow his burial in Jerusalem, the PA requests that he be buried in Ramallah after lying in state in Cairo. Doctors still do not know the cause of Arafat’s illness, though they have completely ruled out malignancy, poisoning. (AP, BBC, MM, REU 11/9; AFP, JAZ, JT, VOI, VOP 11/9 in WNC 11/11; Financial Times, NYT, PR, WP, WT 11/10)

The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, killing 2 Palestinian youths; fires on residential areas of al-Brazil r.c., al-Mughraqa; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c., ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., Bayt Rima, al-Khadir, Nablus. The IDF also issues a military order prohibiting Palestinians fr. construction 300 m east and 100 m west of the 1948 truce line; moves a checkpoint fr. the Green Line in the n. Jordan Valley south toward Bardala village, well inside the occupied West Bank, raising suspicions that Israel is still actively considering construction of a wall through the Jordan Valley. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron kidnap, hold for 12 hrs. 2 14-yr.-old Palestinians grazing animals nr. a settlement. (VOI, VOP 11/5 in WNC 11/9; NYT 11/6; PRCS 11/11)

The IDF sends troops, helicopters into Rafah; fires on residential areas, fatally shooting a Palestinian taxi driver, wounding 4 Palestinians; demolishes 20 Palestinian homes (leaving 177 people homeless), 15 shops, 4 sewing factories. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian bystander during a bungled undercover arrest raid in Jenin; bulldozes 18 d. of Bayt Lahiya land nr. Dugit; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Ramallah. A Palestinian sniper wounds 2 IDF soldiers guarding a Jewish settlement in s. Gaza. Palestinians fire mortars at an IDF post in Gaza, lightly injuring 3 IDF soldiers, 1 Israeli military contractor; fire a mortar at Gush Katif, wounding 2 Jewish settlers. (PRCS 11/3; VOI, VOP 11/3 in WNC 11/5; NYT, PCHR, WT 11/4; VOI 11/4 in WNC 11/6; PRCS 11/11)

Arafat’s health takes another turn for the worse; doctors admit him to the intensive care unit after he reportedly slips in and out of consciousness several times. (JAZ 11/3, 11/4 in WNC 11/6; BBC, NYT, WT 11/4)

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush narrowly wins reelection. (MM 11/2; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/3; VOP 11/3 in WNC 11/5; MM 11/4; Globes, HA, JAZ, JP, JT, MA, MENA, YA 11/4 in WNC 11/6; al-Safir 11/4, al-Dustur, MNR, al-Ra’i 11/5, al-Dustur 11/6 in WNC 11/9; SA 11/6 in WNC 11/10; MM 11/5; HA 11/9; JPI 11/12)

The IDF blows up 3 Palestinian homes in and nr. Askar r.c. belonging to the family of the 11/1 suicide bomber, 2 senior PFLP mbrs.; raids a clinic in Nablus, searches ambulances, interrogates paramedics; conducts arrest raids and house searches, bulldozes 50 d., demolishes 2 poultry farms and several wells nr. Kefar Darom. AMB mbr. Fadi Qaffisha dies of injuries received in the IDF assassination of Mari on 11/1. Palestinians fire several mortars at Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries. A Jewish settler injures a 7-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a hit-andrun incident nr. Hawara south of Nablus. (PRCS 11/2; VOI 11/2 in WNC 11/4; NYT, WP 11/3; VOI 11/3 in WNC 11/5; PCHR, WJW 11/4)

A PFLP suicide bomber fr. Askar r.c. nr. Nablus detonates a device in a Tel Aviv open-air market, killing 3 Israelis, wounding 32. The PFLP says that the bombing was carried out to warn Palestinian leaders against being “seduced into talking about ending the resistance and haggling over the national legitimate rights and principles of our people” now that Arafat is out of the West Bank. In the evening, IDF undercover units raid Nablus, assassinate Nablus AMB leader Majdi Mari (whom it attempted to assassinate on 9/15/04), AMB mbrs. Jihad Abu Salah and Fadi al-Sarwan, injure a 4th AMB mbr., 4 bystanders. During the day, the IDF closes the Qalandia checkpoint, declaring the area a closed military zone (see 10/16); fatally shoots 2 Palestinians allegedly attempting to infiltrate Kefar Darom; fires on a group of stone-throwing Palestinian children in Askar r.c., killing a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy; stops, argues with, shoots and wounds 2 Palestinian teenagers walking nr. the separation wall nr. Jayyus; fires on stone-throwing youths in Jenin r.c.; bulldozes 39 d. of olive groves and greenhouses, 1 Palestinian home nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Anza nr. Bethlehem, al-Bireh, Birzeit, Jayyus, al-Khadir, al-Mughayyir, Nur al-Shams r.c., Rafat nr. Nablus, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Otniel throw stones at, harass Palestinians and international peace activists harvesting olives on nearby Palestinian land, forcing them to leave. Jewish settlers in Hebron assault Palestinians, attack Palestinian homes nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. In both cases, the IDF troops observe but do not intervene. (BBC, HA, MM, PM 11/1; HA, JAZ, JP, VOI, VOP 11/1 in WNC 11/3; CSM, MM, NYT, PRCS, WP, WT 11/2; VOP 11/2 in WNC 11/4; PR 11/3; PCHR, WJW 11/4; MEI 11/5; JPI 11/12)

IDF undercover units assassinate senior AMB mbr. Ibrahim Issa in Qalqilya. The IDF continues operations in Jenin town and r.c., firing on stone-throwing youths, searching homes. Late in the evening, IDF troops in Jenin r.c. shoot, critically wound a Palestinian teenager for no apparent reason, bar his transportation to a hospital, and take him into custody, where he dies. The IDF also directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, fatally shooting a 7-yr.-old Palestinian girl walking to school; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Rafah; fire on stone-throwing youths in Nablus; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 15 d. nr. Rafah, leaving 131 people homeless; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., Dahaysha r.c., al-Khadir. Palestinians fire mortars at Morag, wounding 5 Jewish settlers. Jewish settlers fr. Pdu’el harvest olives on nearby Palestinian land to which Palestinian farmers have been barred access by the IDF; Jewish settlers fr. Otniel harvest, damage Palestinian olive trees nr. Yatta; Jewish settlers fr. Avi Gayel outpost attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Qawawis nr. Yatta. The IDF also halts construction of a Palestinian apartment building nr. a settler bypass road outside Bayt Sahur, claiming the apartment complex (which has been under construction with Israeli permits since 1994, is home to 250 residents) is not within the Bayt Sahur municipal boundaries and is therefore illegal. ( JTA 10/28; VOI, VOP, YA 10/28, VOI 10/29 in WNC 10/30; PRCS 10/30; WP 10/29; PM 11/1; PCHR 11/4)

Arafat’s condition stabilizes overnight, but he remains critically ill. Doctors, speculating that he may have a potentially fatal blood disorder, order his transport to Paris for further tests. (BBC, HA, MM 10/28; ATL, HA, JAZ, MENA, PSCT, VOI, VOP 10/28 in WNC 10/30; NYT, WP, WT 10/29; PR 11/3)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Jenin town and r.c., closes off all access roads leading to the city, conducts arrest raids and house searches, fires on residential areas; withdraws fr. Bayt Hanun, having leveled 100 d. of citrus groves since 10/26, 1 Palestinian home,5wells. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo attack, chase off a group of Palestinians harvesting olives in nearby al-Mughayyir village. Israeli sources confirm that the West Jerusalem municipality has completed plans for construction of a new 280-unit Jewish settlement quarter in Abu Dis in East Jerusalem following completion of the separation wall through Abu Dis. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/2 during the IDF attack on n. Gaza. In Gaza, scores of Palestinians protest increasing crime, kidnappings, violence in Gaza and demand security, legal reforms. (HJ, al-Quds, VOI, VOP 10/27 in WNC 10/29; PCHR, PRCS 10/28; PRCS 10/30; PR 11/3; PCHR 11/4)

An Israeli court rules that Palestinian residents of Jerusalem have the right to register any child under age 12 without having to apply for family reunification even if 1 parent holds a West Bank ID. Previously, the Israeli Interior Min. asserted that any such children not registered by age 1 would have to apply for family reunification. (PR 11/3)

Arafat collapses in his Ramallah headquarters and deteriorates dramatically during the day, reportedly lapsing in and out of consciousness. His personal doctor is summoned fr. Amman, a medical team fr. Egypt, and his wife fr. Paris, raising speculation that he is nearing death. (AP, BBC, CNN, HA, REU 10/27; JAZ, JP, LBC, MENA, PSCT, VOI, VOP, YA 10/27 in WNC 10/29; AP, BBC, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 10/28; PR, WT 11/3; MEI 11/5)

The IDF withdraws fr. Khan Yunis in the morning but shells residential areas in late in the evening, killing 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas and agricultural lands nr. Rafah, killing a Palestinian farmer working in his field; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun, Dayr Ghassana, Hebron, Yamun. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun, shells residential areas, begins bulldozing wide tracts of land. A Jewish settler fr. Yitzhar shoots a Palestinian shepherd in nearby Ourif village nr. Nablus; other settlers bar an ambulance fr. reaching the scene, allowing the man to bleed to death. (HA, MM, PRCS 10/26; VOI, VOP 10/26 in WNC 10/28; PR, PRCS 10/27; PCHR 10/28)

The IDF continues operations in Khan Yunis, shelling, firing on, and conducting air strikes on residential areas, killing at least 11 Palestinians (1 PA security officer, 3 armed Palestinians, 7 civilians, including an 11-yr.-old boy) wounding at least 70, demolishing at least 26 Palestinian homes; 2 IDF soldiers are also wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. The IDF arrests Tulkarm dep. Hamas cmdr. Ahmad Awad; sends troops into Bayt Furik, fires on residential areas, then fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding a 13-yr.-old Palestinian; sends troops into Shaykh Ajlin, demolishes 1 Palestinian home, bulldozes 4 d., conducts arrest raids; bulldozes 20 d. surrounding Gaza’s Dugit settlement; conducts arrest raids, house searches, sets fire to 2 workshops in Hebron; fires on residential areas of Yamun. Jewish settlers occupy a vacant Palestinian home in the Rachel’s Tomb complex in Bethlehem that they claim to have purchased 2 yrs. ago; local Palestinians deny this. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai settlement nr. Hebron occupy a vacant Palestinian home (residents had been forced to leave because of repeated settler attacks). Palestinian female prisoners in Israel’s Tel Monde prison begin a hunger strike to protest their living conditions, frequent strip searches. (BBC, MM, PM, PRCS 10/25; VOI, VOP 10/25 in WNC 10/27; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/26; PCHR 10/28; PR 11/3)

During the day, the IDF fires on the funeral procession for the Abu Mustafa brothers killed late on 10/23, wounding a 15- yr.-old Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Anata, Askar r.c., al-Bureij, Hebron, Yatta. Late in the evening, the IDF launches a massive raid on Khan Yunis, citing some 30 mortar attacks on nearby Jewish settlements since the 10/21 Gul assassination; fires missiles fr. pilotless drones at 2 groups of Palestinians, killing 2 PA policemen, wounding 6; conducts several air strikes, killing 5 armed Palestinians and 1 unarmed Palestinian, wounding 5 armed Palestinians and 4 bystanders; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes. A car bomb explodes nr. an IDF jeep in Nablus, causing damage but no injuries; no group claims responsibility. Jewish settlers in Hebron vandalize a Palestinian elementary school nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. (VOI, VOP 10/24, 10/25 in WNC 10/26; NYT, PRCS, WP 10/25; PCHR 10/28)

The IDF fires on a funeral procession in Khan Yunis, assassinating wanted Hamas mbr. Awad Yasir (whom Israel claims has been responsible for recent mortar fire on Gush Katif), wounding 1; reinforces troops around East Jerusalem; bulldozes 22 d. of greenhouses, agricultural land in Rafah; sends troops into Bayt Furik, fires on Palestinian homes and stone-throwing youths who confront the troops; sends bulldozers into Bayt Hanun to level 20 d. belonging to al-Azhar University, 10s of d. belonging to local Palestinians; conducts rare arrest raids in Jericho. In response to Israel’s 10/21 assassination of Hamas’s Gul, Hamas fires 2 mortars, a Qassam rocket at Jewish settlements in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries; 10,000s Palestinians take part in Gul’s funeral in Gaza City. Hamas mbrs. execute a suspected Palestinian collaborator, dumping his body in Gaza City. A Palestinian woman dies of injuries received on 10/4. Gaza municipal employees begin a strike to protest the PA’s inability to pay the remainder of their 10/4 salaries. (WP 10/22; VOI, YA 10/22 in WNC 10/26; WP, WT 10/23; PR 10/27; PCHR 10/28; PR 11/3)