The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 1 Palestinian man near Beit Umar, others suffered tear-gas related injuries when Israeli forces intervened on behalf of the settlers. Israeli settlers also set fire to a Palestinian home in Mukhmas, rendering 6 Palestinians homeless. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Ein al-Beida, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Haris, Huwwara, and Deir Sharaf. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and injured 3 others during a raid in Nablus, 3 were arrested. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian man while dispersing a protest in Umm Safa; Israeli settlers also attacked the Palestinian protesters with sticks and stones, causing injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed some 300 Israeli activists from Peace Now using stun grenades. The activists were marching to the Homesh settlement outpost to protest its reopening to settlers. (ABC, AJ, BBC, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/7; PCHR 7/8; PCHR 7/13; UNOCHA 7/27; UNOCHA 7/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Omani foreign minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi. (WAFA, WAFA 7/7)

Head of Hamas’ overseas political bureau Khaled Mashal landed in Algeria for a 3-day visit. Mashal will meet with the leaders of the National Liberation Front and the Ennahda movement during his trip. (QDS 7/8; MEMO 7/10)

The Israeli government told the High Court of Justice that it plans to legalize the Homesh settlement outpost. (HA 7/7)

The Israeli military said it had disciplined 5 soldiers for not obeying standard procedures when striking Gaza during the May 2021 assault on Gaza. The military did not say which incidents the soldiers were disciplined for and the soldiers will not face criminal charges. (AP 7/7; AJ 7/8)

The UN Security Council met to discuss Israel’s attack on Jenin refugee camp earlier in the week at the request of the UAE. The closed-door meeting did not result in any action. (HA 7/8)

An Israeli team of esport players landed in Saudi Arabia for the FiFAe Club World Cup 2023 tournament using their Israeli passports. (HA 7/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 13 olive trees in Hares. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling between Nablus and Jenin. Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet and others were injured by tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Tulkarm, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed protesters in Qalqilya, arresting 1. 4 Palestinians were arrested at checkpoints near Bethlehem, Qalandia, and Hizma. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, injuring 50 using rubber-coated bullets, beatings, and tear gas near the Haram al-Sharif compound, Silwan, Issawiyya, Wadi al-Juz, and Shaykh Jarrah; 4 were arrested. In Gaza, several dozen rockets were fired at Israel and Israel fired missiles and shells at Gaza east of al-Bureij refugee camp; causing damage; 2 groups, the Nidal al-Amoudi Division and the Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rockets fired at Israel, saying they were in response to the violence by Israeli right-wing activists in Jerusalem on 4/22. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/23; AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA 4/24; HA 4/25; PCHR 4/29)

Israeli public security affairs minister Amir Ohana condemned attacks against Jewish-Israelis in Jerusalem on 4/22, despite the fact that large crowds of right-wing Israeli activists and Israeli settlers had attacked Palestinians throughout Jerusalem, leading to more than 100 injuries. The attacks were planned by the Lehava group, which has links to right-wing Israeli lawmakers in the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party. The U.S. embassy in Israel said that the U.S. is “deeply concerned about the incidents of violence” and called on “all responsible voices” to promote calm. Jordan condemned the violence, saying that Israel as “the occupying power” in East Jerusalem must protect the Palestinian residents against the violence. The UAE also later called on Israel to protect Palestinians from “acts of violence committed by right-wing extremist groups in the occupied East Jerusalem.” (HA 4/23; WAFA 4/24; WAFA, WAFA 4/25; AP, WAFA 4/26)

Saudi Arabia announced an indefinite ban on Lebanese agricultural products after finding 5.3 million pills of the amphetamine Captagon hidden in a shipment of pomegranates. (AJ 4/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 minor who was hit by a stun grenade; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Wadi al-Juz. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Fukhari; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/26; PCHR 4/1)

Israel handed over the body of 1 Palestinian man who was shot and killed by Israeli settlers on 2/5 to his family. (WAFA 3/26)

Haaretz reported that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ignoring a request made by Jordan to have Israel supply water, as Jordan is experiencing a water shortage. Israel provides Jordan with water as agreed in the 2 countries’ peace agreement and Israel sometimes provides Jordan with extra water when Jordan is experiencing droughts. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to ignore Jordan’s request is reportedly in retaliation for Jordan’s decision to close its airspace to him for a planned trip to the UAE after Israel complicated a planned visit by Jordan’s crown prince to the Haram al-Sharif compound on 3/10, which the crown prince ultimately canceled. (HA 3/26; HA, HA 3/29)

Palestinians in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank protested against the UAE’s decision to normalize its ties with Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets and 1 with a tear gas canister to his head. Israeli forces and Palestinians also clashed west of Ramallah with young Palestinians throwing stones and Israeli forces firing live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas; 2 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, al-‘Amari refugee camp, and Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home under construction in Silwan. In Gaza, Israel fired missiles and shells at Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, causing extensive damage to 7 houses and minor injuries to 4 Palestinians; incendiary balloons were launched from Gaza toward Israel. It was reported that Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz had decided not to allow Qatari aid to enter Gaza as collective punishment for the incendiary balloons landing in Israel. Gantz has also ordered a halt of fuel transfers to Gaza and halved the fishing zone. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. In Israel, Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jaffa demonstrating against the impending demolition of an 18th century Muslim cemetery. (HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/14; AJ 8/15; PCHR 8/19)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas and chairman of the Hamas politburo Ismail Haniyeh spoke via phone. According to WAFA, Haniyeh expressed Hamas’s support for a collective Palestinian movement. (WAFA 8/13)

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey is considering suspending its diplomatic ties with the UAE in light of the UAE’s decision to establish ties with Israel. Oman called the UAE’s decision “historic.” (HA, REU, WAFA 8/14; AJ 8/15)

U.S. congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced a bill co-sponsored by 6 other members of the house which seeks to prohibit U.S. funding for areas annexed by Israel. (WAFA 8/17)

The U.S. lost a bid at the UN Security Council to extend an arms embargo on Iran. 11 members abstained, Iran and China opposed, and the U.S. and the Dominican Republic were the only members voting in favor. Russia called for a world summit to avoid further “confrontation and escalation.” (AJ, HA 8/14; AJ, HA 8/15; AJ 8/17)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire from the border and wound a Palestinian farmer working close to the fence nr. Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in, where 2 are struck by tear gas canisters. (MNA 8/30; PCHR 9/5)

Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics publishes data showing that the number of settler housing starts in the West Bank rose by 141.5% in the 1st half of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012. (JP 8/30)

The Obama administration intensifies its public case for military action against Syria with the release of what it presents as evidence that the Syrian govt. has used chemical weapons against civilians on a number of occasions, including the attack last week. Pres. Obama and Secy. of State Kerry make separate statements condemning the Asad regime but committing the U.S. to only a limited retaliatory action. Meanwhile, according to an unnamed State Dept. official, Kerry speaks with the FMs of Britain, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. (AP, REU 8/30)

Thousands of supporters of ousted pres. Morsi march in Cairo and other cities across Egypt in protest at the military coup. According to a security source, the day’s protests leave 6 dead and more than 50 injured. (REU 8/30)