The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians by throwing stones at homes in Haris. Elsewhere, in Huwwara, Israeli settlers sprayed racist graffiti on a Palestinian-owned home. 22 Palestinians were arrested, including 14 during a raid at a school in al-‘Arub refugee camp; 8 others were arrested during raids in and around Hebron, Qalqilya, and Qalandia. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian minor was shot and injured after he allegedly tried to stab an Israeli police officer. Following the incident, Israeli forces closed several gates to the Old City and detained 3 Palestinians. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of Jabalia. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28; PCHR 10/31)

An Israeli soldier was demoted to the rank of private and sentenced to 1 month of community service for shooting and killing a 15-year-old Palestinian, without approval from his superior, in Gaza on 7/13/2018. (TOI 10/29; HA, NYT 10/30; AJ 10/31)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return for a 4th straight Friday. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Khan Yunis, Rafah, and Jabaliya refugee camp; 4 Palestinians are killed, including 1 minor, and at least 40 are injured. The protesters killed today bring the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 34. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Friday protests against Israel’s settlements, occupation, and separation wall in al-Bireh, Qalqilya, and nearby Kafr Qaddum; 5 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. They also patrol near Hebron and Nablus. Israeli settlers slash the tires of 30 Palestinian vehicles and spray-paint racist graffiti on walls in Burqa village near Ramallah overnight, chop down approximately 100 Palestinian olive trees outside Nablus, and throw stones at a Palestinian school bus near Hebron (1 Palestinian minor is injured). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces issue 1 arrest summons during a raid in Qalandia refugee camp. (EI, HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/20; MNA 4/21; PCHR 4/26)

After the release of a video depicting the killing of a minor along Gaza’s border today, the EU demands a “full investigation” and UN Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov calls on Israel to “stop killing children.” The IDF then announces that it will investigate the killing. (The IDF initially stated that there would be no investigation, and that the boy was shot after breaching the border area.) (HA, JP 4/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers verbally and physically assault a number of Palestinian students returning home from school in Hebron; there are no injuries. The settlers later leave price-tag graffiti on the scene late at night. A separate group of settlers cuts down 25 Palestinian olive and almond trees near Nablus. IDF troops assault and lightly injure 3 Palestinian journalists amid minor clashes in al-‘Arub refugee camp near Hebron. They also arrest a Palestinian man armed with a knife at the Qalandia checkpoint, and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmlands near Dayr al-Balah and violently disperse protesters gathering near Gaza City; 2 Palestinians are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp late at night, causing no damage or injuries. (JP, TOI, WAFA 4/18; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 4/19; PCHR 4/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the Bayt Surik home of the Palestinian killed during an attack on IDF troops outside Har Hadar settlement on 9/26. They also arrest 20 Palestinians during latenight raids in and around Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin, and patrol near Jenin and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a residential building and an agricultural warehouse in Issawiyya and a storehouse in Wadi al-Juz. They also arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and later near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, TOI, WAFA 11/15; PCHR 11/16; PCHR 11/23)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians and damage the doors of 4 shops during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, and Jerusalem, and patrol near Qalqilya and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, approximately 25 Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Qalandia refugee camp. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Juhur al-Dik. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 10/24; PCHR 10/26)

Wataniya Mobile launches telecommunications services in Gaza, making it the 2d provider operating in the region. An employee of the company says that both Israeli and Palestinian restrictions previously blocked Wataniya from operating in Gaza. (AFP, TOI 10/24)

In the West Bank, IDF troops assault and arrest a Palestinian during a patrol in ‘Azun village near Qalqilya. They also arrest 13 Palestinians during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus, and patrol near Hebron. Palestinian youths throw stones at an IDF patrol outside a settlement near Hebron, sparking minor clashes; 1 Palestinian is arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in Qalandia refugee camp and Issawiyya; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest a Palestinian during a late-night raid in the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Bayt Lahiya. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 10/16; PCHR 10/19)

After days of positivity from both Hamas and the PA in the wake of the 10/12 reconciliation deal, a Hamas spokesperson criticizes the PA for not prioritizing the rollback of sanctions on Gaza. “It is not justified to continue the sanctions on Gaza, while the [PA] government is content with talking about getting control of border crossings and exploration for [natural] gas in Gaza,” he writes, on Twitter. His comments come after the Fatah Central Committee neglected to discuss the sanctions at a meeting on 10/15. Meanwhile, the PA’s director of border crossings, Nazmi Muhanna, arrives in Gaza. He says he is there to “to carry out the first article of the reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo [on 10/12] regarding taking over the crossings.” (TOI 10/16; MNA, TOI 10/17)

The Israeli NGO Peace Now reports that the Licensing Subcommittee of Israel’s Civil Administration has approved 31 building permits for new housing units in central Hebron, marking the first approval of new settlement construction in Hebron in 15 years. (AP, PCN, REU, TOI, YA 10/16; TOI 10/17)

A Syrian antiaircraft battery positioned east of Damascus fires on Israeli fighter jets allegedly flying in Lebanese air space, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IAF launches an air strike on the battery. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 10/16)