The Palestine Chronology

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian farmland near Gaza City and Bayt Hanun, causing minor damage. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians and issue 3 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, and Nablus; and patrol in and around Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct a raid in Anata village, sparking clashes with stone throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They arrest 2 Palestinians during another raid in Qalandia refugee camp. (MNA 12/27; WAFA 12/28; PCHR 12/28; PCHR 1/4)

Hundreds of Palestinians across the oPt gather at protests against U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. IDF troops violently disperse them at the Qalandia checkpoint, central Jerusalem, Abu Dis village, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Hebron, Jericho, Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near al-Bureij refugee camp; 11 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, and in Biddu (East Jerusalem). Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces fire sound bombs and artillery at Palestinian lands and other property near Gaza City and Khan Yunis, causing no serious damage. (HA, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/20; PCHR 12/21; PCHR 12/28)

Palestinian diplomatic delegations discuss the future of the peace process with local officials in Moscow and Beijing. PLO executive committee member Salih Ra‘fat says that the delegations are part of the Palestinians’ efforts to gather support in the wake of U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Both Russia and China have expressed interest in becoming more active in the peace process, and the Palestinians are looking to replace the U.S. as sole mediator. (HA, TOI, WAFA 12/20)

U.S. pres. Trump threatens to cut economic aid to any country that votes in favor of a UNGA resolution rejecting his 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which is set for a vote on 12/21. “They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us,” he says. “Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care.” (AP, HA, TOI, YA 12/20; HA 12/21)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth at a bus stop outside the Kiryat Arba settlement near Hebron, allegedly after he attempts to stab a settler. They leave the injured youth lying on the ground without receiving treatment before arresting him and taking him to a hospital in Israel. In a video released later, the youth can be heard pleading for water and explaining that he was attempting to commit suicide. Israeli forces demolish 8 homes and 6 retaining walls in Steih Dyouk village near Jericho. They also arrest a Palestinian living outside Yatta near Hebron before demolishing his home. The IDF arrests 7 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Salfit, and patrols near Jenin and Hebron. Israeli settlers uproot 27 olive trees on Palestinian land outside Burin village near Nablus. Meanwhile, PASF troops conduct a raid in Yatta overnight, sparking a brief firefight with the wanted Palestinians and their affiliates; 1 Palestinian is killed and another is seriously injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a building in Silwan and a 2-story apartment building in Ras al-Amud, and arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Qalandia refugee camp. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/13; PCHR 9/14; PCHR 9/21; EI 9/22)

The Egyptian authorities partially open the Rafah border crossing for a 3d day in a row, allowing Muslim worshippers to return from their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. (OCHA 9/29)

The UN’s World Tourism Organization announces that the Palestinian bid for membership has been postponed until the body’s next meeting in 2019. The PA reportedly decided to suspend its bid following heavy U.S. pressure, according to a senior Israeli official. (HA, TOI 9/13)

IDF troops shoot and kill 2 Palestinians and injure at least 2 more in clashes sparked by an early morning raid in Jenin r.c. An IDF spokesperson alleges that the clashes began when armed Palestinians opened fire on Israeli soldiers conducting an unspecified operation in the camp. Afterward, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in and around Jenin. Later in the day, hundreds of Palestinian mourners march through Jenin at a funeral for the 2 men. Separately, the IDF arrests 4 Palestinians and issues 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Jenin and Hebron; and patrols in and around Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 1 home each in Jabal Mukabir and Silwan. They assault a Palestinian youth in Silwan during the operation and arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia r.c. Israeli forces, including 1 soldier wearing an Israeli flag draped over his shoulder, raid Haram al-Sharif, increasing tensions at the sanctuary. (EI, HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 7/12; HA, PCHR 7/13; PCHR 7/20)

Gaza’s power plant shuts down because of a fuel shortage, instantly worsening Gaza’s electricity crisis. The 4 m. L of fuel that Egypt has shipped to Gaza in recent weeks is gone and the power lines feeding Gaza’s electricity grid are not supplying electricity, according to Gazan officials. (DPA 7/12; EI, HA 7/13)

The military court at Ofer Prison issues imprisoned PFLP leader and PLC mbr. Jarrar a 6-mo. administrative detention. IDF troops arrested her at her home in Ramallah on 7/1. (MNA, WAFA 7/12)

Israel’s security cabinet decides to temporarily suspend Qalqilya’s expansion into Area C of the West Bank, which was set to include 5,000 new Palestinian homes by 2035. After the plan was 1st reported on 6/14, ultranationalist mbrs. of Israel’s ruling coalition complained that the move would undermine the settlement enterprise. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 7/13)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the settler killing of a Palestinian nr. Nablus on 5/18, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Qalandia checkpoint, Abud, Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), 2 nr. Nablus (Beita and Bayt Dajan), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron and nearby Bayt Umar, Bethlehem, Dayr Istya nr. Salfit, along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c., and Gaza City; at least 11 Palestinians are injured and 12 are arrested. The IDF also arrests 5 Palestinians during raids nr. Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Ramallah; and patrols nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/25)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler shoots and injures a Palestinian after Palestinian youths throw rocks at passing vehicles outside Ramallah. The IDF then arrests the injured Palestinian and closes the entrance to nearby Silwad village. Palestinian businesses in Tulkarm hold a 1-day strike and Palestinian protesters shut down the United Nations (UN) office in Ramallah in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners observing the Dignity Strike and to protest the organization’s alleged inaction on their behalf. Israeli forces demolish the inner walls of a home nr. Hebron. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians and confiscate 1 car during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tubas, and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians demonstrating in Qalandia and Sheikh Jarrah in solidarity with the Dignity Strikers; 1 Palestinian is injured and arrested. They also arrest 27 Palestinians during latenight raids in Silwan, Shu‘fat, Abu Dis, Issawiyya, and Hizma. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish the Bedouin village of al-‘Araqib for the 113th time since 2010. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/17; MNA, PCHR 5/18; PCHR 5/25)

IDF troops arrest a Palestinian at Qalandia checkpoint after she allegedly stabs and injures 1 of them. Elsewhere in the West Bank, they arrest 7 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during raids nr. Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Nablus; and patrol nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers raze a small plot of Palestinian agricultural land outside al-Khadir village nr. Bethlehem. In Gaza, 2 Palestinians are injured in an accidental explosion at a Hamas military site. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/24; TOI 4/26; PCHR 4/27)

The Jerusalem Municipality files for public review of a plan to confiscate 1,300 m2 nr. Haram al-Sharif to build a visitor center. The Israeli NGO Peace Now will report on the plan on 4/25, saying that “dragged by settler organizations, the Israeli govt. is willing to go out of its way to approve this sensitive plan through a highly unusual procedure.” (MNA 4/25; PCN 4/25)

IDF troops conduct raids in Nablus, arresting 3 Palestinians and sparking minor clashes; 2 Palestinians are shot and injured. They also conduct overnight raids in Jenin r.c., arresting 2 Hamas affiliates and sparking a brief firefight; 1 Israeli soldier and 3 Palestinians are injured. Additional IDF raids in Abud village nr. Ramallah spark more clashes. No one is seriously hurt, and the IDF closes the village’s main entrance. After reports of stone-throwing outside Beita village nr. Nablus, the IDF seals the village’s main entrance (they will unseal it on 1/30). The IDF arrests 8 Palestinians on late-night raids nr. Qalqilya, Hebron, and Ramallah, and patrols nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. Israeli forces uproot 500 olive trees nr. Hebron. An armed Palestinian opens fire on IDF troops nr. Qalqilya, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Qalandia r.c. and demolish 13 residential and agricultural buildings in bedouin communities nr. al-‘Izzariya. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Qarara. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 1/26; WAFA 1/30; PCHR 2/2)

The Jerusalem Municipality advances plans for 153 settler residences in Gilo, East Jerusalem. A municipal official says that the plans were held up for political reasons until U.S. pres. Obama left office on 1/20. (TOI 1/26)

Palestinian citizens across Israel observe a day of mourning and protest in response to the killings and demolitions in Umm al-Hiran on 1/18. Three days of mourning are planned. The Higher Follow-Up Comm. for Arab Citizens of Israel leads a general strike. (MNA, WAFA 1/19)

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 22 Palestinian facilities used as car repair workshops, fruit stands, and car showrooms in Qalandia r.c. IDF troops conduct latenight raids in Salfit, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; there are no serious injuries. They arrest 4 Palestinians during further raids nr. Ramallah and Hebron, and patrol nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin during the day. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian bus driver while he is driving n. of Jerusalem. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 1/19; MNA 1/20; PCHR 1/26)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Tulkarm after he allegedly attempts to stab 1 of them. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Qalandia r.c. late at night, demolishing several small structures and sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 6 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Hebron and Ramallah, as well as in Nablus; and patrol nr. Salfit and Hebron. Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home and an agricultural structure outside Aqraba in the n. Jordan Valley, and raze 2 animal barns and another agricultural structure nr. Nablus. An Israeli settler driver rams a Palestinian child in Hebron, causing moderate injuries. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian demolishes his own home in Issawiyya to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces demolish a structure in Jabal Mukabir and arrest 7 Palestinians during raids in Shu‘fat r.c. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c. and later nr. Gaza City, injuring 1 fisherman. They also confiscate a number of boats. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands nr. Rafah, causing no serious damage. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 1/17; WAFA 1/18; PCHR 1/19)

Concluding 3 days of talks in Moscow, Hamas and Fatah officials agree to form a new Palestinian unity govt. Under their agreement, the various Palestinian factions, including PIJ, will join the PLO and form a new Palestine National Council over the next 2 mos., which will choose a new PLO Exec. Comm. (HA, JP, TOI 1/17; AJ 1/18)

The Israeli authorities release Shaykh Raed Salah from Ramon Prison, where he had served 9 mos. on charges of incitement. Salah was head of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel before it was outlawed in 11/2014. (HA, YA 1/17)