The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, the IDF continues operations in n. Gaza, fatally shooting 2 Palestinian militants, 1 PA security officer in Bayt Hanun; expanding operations in Jabaliya r.c., firing on residential areas. Palestinians fire some 10 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no serious damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF searches homes in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, firing on a PSF post, wounding 3 PSF officers; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Nablus. (NYT, WP 11/6; PCHR 11/9)

Overnight, the IDF launches a major raid into eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City to look for “terrorist infrastructure,” sending in troops, tanks, bulldozers, accompanied by helicopters; making an air strike on a clearly marked Reuters TV truck covering the incursion, saying it was “acting suspiciously,” seriously wounding 2 Reuters journalists; during the day, the IDF fires on residential areas, warns residents to leave, exchanges fire with and conducts air strikes on Palestinian gunmen (killing 3 Palestinian gunmen, 1 Palestinian civilian; wounding 2 Palestinian militants, 10 civilians), occupies houses as observation posts. Also in Gaza, the IDF closes the Rafah crossing, Nahal Oz pipeline. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian guard outside a school in Jenin, claiming he was acting suspiciously; raids, searches the Ramallah home of Hamas-affiliated PC mbr. Mahmud Muslih, arresting him; patrols in Jenin town and r.c., Nablus (firing on residential areas in both cases, causing no injuries); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya. Jewish settlers in Hebron break into the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, violating agreements that this day is reserved for Muslims to pray there. After 13 days, the Holy Jihad Brigade releases unharmed 2 Fox News Journalists; the PA says that none of the group’s 8/23 demands were met, the group is not linked to al-Qa‘ida but is a group of “young men who carried out the action out of private beliefs.” (AFP, HA 8/27; NYT, WP, WT 8/28; PCHR 8/31; PMG 9/1)

In Gaza, the IDF expands ground operations in Bayt Hanun under artillery fire, occupying the town, firing on residential areas (killing 2 Palestinians), bulldozing land and homes, occupying houses as military bases, forcing some residents to flee; fires 2 artillery shells at a group of Palestinian children playing soccer in al-Bureij r.c., wounding a 14-yr.-old; fires on residential areas of Abasan, wounding 1 Palestinian. Palestinians fire at least 7 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 2 Israelis. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a raid on Nablus, where Palestinian militants throw an explosive device at troops, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 6; sends undercover units into Bethlehem to detain a wanted AMB mbr.; conducts late-night arrest raids nr. Nablus, Qalqilya. For a 2d day (see 7/16), the IDF detains al-Jazeera satellite TV’s Jerusalem bureau chief for questioning regarding violating Israeli military censorship rules. (AP 7/17; WP 7/18; PCHR 7/20)

The IDF intensifies attacks on e. and n. Lebanon, hitting Lebanese army barracks in Tripoli and army bases in Baalbek (killing 9 Lebanese soldiers), homes of Hizballah officials in the east; conducting heavy bombing of s. Beirut to destroy underground bunkers where Nasrallah and Hizballah’s senior leadership may be hiding; hitting fuel depots at the Beirut airport for a 2d time. In total, at least 38 Lebanese (mostly civilians) are killed during the day, including 12 civilians killed when the IDF targets a minibus in s. Lebanon. Hizballah responds by firing at least 30 rockets on n. Israel, including hitting Haifa with 3 rockets, shearing the front of an apartment building, wounding 6 Israelis. Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Ukraine, the U.S. begin evacuating their nationals. (NYT, WP 7/17; NYT, WP, WT 7/18) 

The IDF conducts 4 air strikes on Palestinian militants in n. and s. Gaza, killing at least 7 Palestinians (including 1 Hamas mbr., 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., 1 other armed Palestinian, 3 Palestinian teenagers playing soccer in a field), wounding at least 9 (7 militants, 2 civilians); allows the Erez crossing to open for several hrs. for the import of food. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Hebron as an observation post; patrols in Nablus, firing on stonethrowing youths who confront the troops, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm. A 15-mo.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received in the 6/21 IDF attack on Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Khan Yunis. (WP 7/10; IFM, MEZ, PCHR, NYT, WP 7/11; PCHR 7/13)

As Operation Summer Rains continues, the IDF pushes deeper into populated areas of n. Gaza. During the day, the IDF engages in heavy clashes (including air strikes) with the AMB, Hamas around Bayt Lahiya, killing at least 7 Palestinians (mostly AMB mbrs. but including a 6-yr.-old girl). Palestinians fire 13 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting an empty schoolyard and factory in Sederot, lightly injuring 3 Israelis; a 14th rocket lands inside Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. The Palestinian groups holding Shalit issue a statement confirming that he is in good condition, calling for negotiations to end the fighting and release him; Olmert rejects any bargaining. In the West Bank, the IDF surrounds, raids a Palestinian home in ‘Askar r.c., fatally shooting wanted AMB mbr. Tamir Kandil in an apparent assassination, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 5; fires on residential areas nr. Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, causing no injuries; patrols in Qabatya; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Unknown gunmen kidnap, kill a PSF officer nr. Gaza City. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian wounded by IDF fire nr. Erez on 7/5 dies, as do 3 Palestinian militants wounded by IDF fire in Bayt Lahiya on 7/6. (HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/8; NYT, WT 7/9; PCHR 7/13; OCHA 7/18)