The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian and threatened others during a raid in Yarza. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Khirbet Quweis in the Masafer Yatta area, stealing the olive harvest and a tractor. Israeli forces shot and injured 8 Palestinians during a raid in Beit Umar. Israeli forces also opened fire at vehicles near Ya’bad, causing damage. 50 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Fawwar refugee camp, Beit Umar, Bethlehem, Jaba’, Balata refugee camp, Deir Jarir, and Nil’in. 1 Israeli soldier was lightly wounded by gunfire near Nabi Ilyas. In Gaza, Israeli forces killed 231 Palestinians and injured 650 others. Israel bombed al-Nasser Children’s Hospital and al-Wafa Hospital in Gaza City, reportedly killing patients and causing damage, including to solar panels. Israel also bombed al-Fakhoora School in Jabalia refugee camp, killing at least 15 people and injuring 45. Hamas said it killed 5 Israeli soldiers northwest of Gaza City. Rockets were fired at Israel, causing damage. In Lebanon, Israel conducted airstrikes and Hezbollah attacked several Israeli army posts. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/4; WAFA 11/5; HA 11/6)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 9,488 Palestinians have been killed, including 3,900 children and 2,430 women, and 24,173 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,200 people were buried in rubble, including 1,250 children. 144 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 43 children. More than 2,274 people have been injured. Around 1,400 Israelis, including foreign nationals, have been killed and 5,431 injured since 10/7. Over 1.5 million Palestinians, more than half the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 10/23, at least 27,781 housing units have been destroyed and 150,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. The number is likely much higher given the lack of recent data. The generators at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza shutdown due to a lack of fuel. 30 truckloads of aid entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing. No injured people or foreign passport holders were evacuated to Egypt. (AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/4)

Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida said 60 Israeli captives were missing after intense Israeli bombing and that the bodies of 23 captives were trapped under rubble. Abu Obeida also said Hamas fighters had destroyed 24 Israeli military vehicles in Gaza in the past 24 hours. (AJ, HA, REU 11/4)

Iranian state-run IRNA news agency said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. (REU 11/4; AP, REU 11/5)

Al-Haq said it had documented abuses of Palestinian workers from Gaza who were in Israel on 10/7, including beatings, arbitrary detention, having their property stolen, and degrading treatment. 1 worker said he saw people beaten to the point that they were unable to walk, and dead Palestinians being urinated on by Israeli settlers. (AJ 11/4)

Axios reported that Israeli officials told the news outlet that Israel was working on a plan accept the delivery of fuel to southern Gaza under an international monitoring regime. (AJ, AX 11/4)

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said when Israel finishes its attack on Gaza, the area will be under Israeli military control for years. (HA 11/4; HA 11/5)

Turkey and Chad recalled their diplomats in Israel. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said that Israeli prime minister Benjamin “Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off.” (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA 11/4; WAFA 11/5; HA 11/6)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Qatar in Oman. Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati, who also took part, urged Blinken to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to end “Israeli aggression” in southern Lebanon. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said Israel was committing war crimes and that Jordan does not accept the Israeli claim that Israel is acting in self-defense. Blinken dismissed the group’s call for a ceasefire, insisting on calling for “pauses.” Before meeting Blinken, the group held a meeting with PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA 11/4; AP 11/6)

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke with UK foreign minister James Cleverly, discussing the situation in Gaza. (AJ 11/4)

France said Israel had hit a French cultural institute in Gaza, saying it was in dialogue with Israel to understand why the institute was hit. Agence French Presse (AFP) called for an investigation into the Israeli bombing of its offices in Gaza City, saying the Israeli statement on the bombing “does not explain the extent of the damage caused to the AFP bureau,” and that the bombing “sends a deeply troubling message to all the journalists working in such difficult conditions in Gaza.”  (AJ 11/4)

U.S. president Joe Biden said progress had been made on the issue of “humanitarian pauses.” U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) called for “pauses,” saying Israel was violating international law with its indiscriminate killing in Gaza and that Israel was offending U.S. values. (AJ, AP 11/4)

Thousands of people protested in Washington D.C., Paris, Berlin, London, and elsewhere around the world, demanding an end to the Israeli attacks on Gaza. 300,000 reportedly partook in the demonstrations in Washington D.C. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, WAFA 11/4; AJ, AJ, NYT, WAFA 11/5)

IDF troops shoot and seriously injure a Palestinian youth, allegedly after he drives his car into Israeli civilians, first at the Efrat junction, and later at the Gush Etzion junction near Bethlehem, injuring 2. After the first collision, the Palestinian drove on to Gush Etzion, where he hit and moderately injured the 2d Israeli. He was shot when he exited his vehicle. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin) and Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; no Palestinians are seriously injured. Two Palestinians are injured during clashes with IDF troops in ‘Azun village near Qalqilya, and the IDF patrols near Salfit and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian farmers working their lands outside Burin village; 1 Palestinian is injured. Settlers also throw stones at Palestinian homes and pepper-spray 2 Palestinian children east of Hebron and burn a small swath of Palestinian land near Nablus. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/17; PCHR 11/23)

The Associated Press reports that the U.S. State Dept. recently notified the Palestinians that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) diplomatic office in Washington could be forcibly closed unless they enter peace negotiations with Israel (see Update). Secy. of State Rex Tillerson reportedly told the Palestinians that the decision stemmed from Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmoud Abbas’s expressions of support for the International Criminal Court investigating and prosecuting Israelis in his 9/20 speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA). (AP, HA, TOI 11/17)

In the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for a 2d day. Off the n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire with live ammunition on Palestinian fishing boats, moderately injuring 1 fisherman. Also, the Gaza power plant shuts down 1 of its 3 currently operating turbines due to lack of fuel imports, increasing the planned power outages from 12 to 18 hours per day. In the West Bank, the municipal govt. of the Kiryat Arba settlement delivers a notice of unpaid property taxes to a Palestinian on whose lands the settlement was built, which will reportedly force him and his family to leave their land. Separately, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes and 2 animal shelters in a village in the s. Hebron hills. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, as well as Tulkarm r.c.; patrols nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. They also arrest 1 Palestinian at a military checkpoint nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Jabal Mukabir and a building in Shu‘fat; conduct house searches and arrest raids in Silwan. Meanwhile, security guards deny a group of right-wing Jewish activists entry to Haram al-Sharif. In Israel, a Palestinian man from Tulkarm attacks Jewish Israelis on a bus in Tel Aviv, injuring 13 with a knife, before police shoot him in the leg and detain him. (AFP, HA, MDW, MNA, NPR, WAFA 1/21; MNA, PCHR 1/22; MNA 1/23; PCHR 1/29; OCHA 1/30)

The PLO Exec. Comm. meets in Ramallah to discuss the submission of a new draft res. to the UNSC. It would call for 1 year of negotiations sponsored by the UNSC’s permanent mbrs., and a 2-year timetable for the end of the Israeli occupation. (MNA 1/20)

U.S. Speaker of the House of Reps. John Boehner (R-OH) announces that Israeli PM Netanyahu has accepted his invitation to come to Washington and address a special meeting of Congress on Iran. The Obama admin. criticizes Boehner and Netanyahu for not informing the White House before today. Netanyahu will address Congress on 3/3. (HA, POL, REU, TOI 1/21; MDW 1/22)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers attack Palestinian-owned vehicles in between Bethlehem and Hebron. Settlers also damage around 250 olive trees southeast of Nablus, and later cut down 12 olive trees in Basalta nr. Nablus. In the latter case, Palestinians throw stones at the settlers, who are subsequently protected by IDF soldiers, who fire rubbercoated steel bullets and injure 3 Palestinians. The IDF also opens fire with live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets on Palestinians in Tamoun village nr. Jenin during clashes sparked by an arrest raid, injuring 30. The IDF also opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who challenge troops entering ‘Urif village nr. Nablus. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm and 2 nr. Jenin at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. (MNA 1/1, PCHR 2/1)

Israel’s High Court of Justice gives the state an extended deadline for the demolition of unauthorized settler outpost Amona in the c. West Bank, delaying removal until the end of 4/2013. The outpost was set up on the site of a previous outpost of the same name that was evacuated in 2006, and had been slated for evacuation in February. (ToI 1/1)

Israeli newspaper Ha’Aretz reports that around 50 residents of Issawiyya in East Jerusalem have been arrested over the last month in clashes with security forces. Tensions are linked to the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Samer Issawi, who comes from the village. (HA 1/1)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) registers its opposition to the 12/27 Hamas-imposed ban on Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip working with the Israeli media. (Guardian 1/1)

Palestinians demonstrate in Nablus against a recent decision to end refugees’ exemption from electricity costs. Around 200 protesters clash with PA security forces, angry that a debt-exemption clause is not applicable to non-refugees. (MNA 1/1)

Senior Likud officials speak at a conference in Jerusalem on a ‘‘one-state solution,’’ including Min. Yuli Edelstein, who voices support for the annexation of Area C of the West Bank. Likud politician and Knesset candidate Moshe Feiglin outlines his plan to pay Palestinian families in the West Bank $500,000 each to emigrate abroad. (Guardian, ToI 1/1)

A report in JTA indicates that 2 major American Jewish groups—the American Israel Public Affairs Comm. (AIPAC) and the Reform movement—are in disagreement about how to respond to the Palestinians’ successful UN bid. AIPAC has supported 2 congressional bids to shut down the PLO office in Washington, D.C., while the Reform movement has urged Obama not to punish the Palestinians for the initiative. Both groups, however, are apparently waiting to see if the Palestinians will use their new status to bring Israel before the ICC before backing penalties. (JTA 1/1)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes leave a total of 2 Palestinian, 1 Jewish settler dead. Israeli DM Ben-Eliezer approves deployment of special forces units to bolster the IDF in the West Bank; some units will operate undercover, lying in ambush for Palestinian attackers, while others will operate overtly in a show of force. Jewish settlers increase vigilante attacks in the West Bank, shooting at and stoning Palestinian cars, beating a group of Palestinians nr. Nablus. In Bethlehem, a Palestinian, previously questioned by the PSF for selling land to Israelis, is killed in a drive-by shooting outside his home, raising speculation that Palestinians targeted him as a collaborator. (HA, MM, NYT 6/1; HP 6/2)

In Washington, Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav meets separately with Bush, Powell; asks the U.S. to set a deadline for the Palestinians to halt attacks on Israel. Bush makes no commitment. Afterwards, Katsav says Bush did not ask Israel not to retaliate against Palestinian attacks; warns Arafat that he has a "few days, no more" to end the violence or face a sharply escalated IDF military response. Powell phones Arafat and asks him to "implement the Mitchell Comm.'s call for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire." (JP [Internet] 5/31; WP, WT 6/1; WJW 6/7)

Orient House head and PLO Jerusalem Affairs M Faisal Husseini dies unexpectedly of a heart attack in Kuwait. (BBC, CNN, HA, JP [Internet] 5/31; AFP 5/31 in WNC 6/1; MM, WP, WT 6/1; DUS 6/11 in WNC 6/12; al-Quds 6/20 in WNC 6/22)

Military Action:

Lebanese left militias clash with Lebanese Army (IDF head Eitan demands Murabitun be evacuated from West Beirut); Syrian forces scheduled to leave West Beirut today; 1,230 evacuated by road to Damascus as 500 PLO members arrive at Tartus by boat (an estimated 8,500 PLO members have been evacuated); PLO evacuees warmly welcomed in South Yemen.

Casualties:

People freely leaving West Beirut; IDF soldier dies of wounds from bus hit by land mine.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Temritories: Cabinet approves IS Sb. in budget cuts for use by Defense Ministry in paying for Lebanese invasion; Nahum Goldmann dies at 87; Begin takes vacation in Nahariya; government spokes-persons, following Cabinet meeting, say any attempt to alter Camp David will provoke Israel to apply Israeli law to West Bank, Gaza; students from Gaza and Jerusalem who seek to study at West Bank universities now required to obtain permission from West Bank military administration; UNRWA decides to reduce its supply to Gaza refugees starting September 1 because of financial crisis and diversion of supplies to Lebanon (protests follow in Gaza, West Bank); former Israeli Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur says Beirut battle is "black spot" in Israeli history and that the invasion is "unjust"; Bethlehem Mayor Freij says PLO remains sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, blames US for Israeli military intervention in Lebanon in NBC interview; Dr. Mordechai Avitzur (coordinator of international relief organizations working in southern Lebanon out of Israel) killed in car crash; draft treaty with Lebanon already circulating within Defense, Foreign ministries.

Palestinians/Lebanese: Abu lyad claims PLO knew of planned Israeli invasion since February, that several Arab countries also knew in advance; PLO denies Arafat has left Beirut (Arafat decides to evacuate to Greece initially); Lebanese Shiite leaders pass resolution opposing peace treaty with Israel.

Arab Govemnments: Arab foreign ministers continue to meet; Omani Sultan congratulates Gemayel on election; King Hussein stresses Jordan is not Palestine.

US and Other Countries: Greece prepares warm welcome for German hospital ship "Flora" carrying PLO wounded; anti-Israeli demonstration takes place in Washington, DC.