The Palestine Chronology

A Palestinian driver allegedly rams his vehicle into a group of Israeli soldiers near Bethlehem, lightly injuring 4. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops throw a stun grenade at a Palestinian minor in Hebron; he loses 3 fingers when the grenade detonates. It’s unclear what prompted the attack. Israeli soldiers also shoot and injure a Palestinian at a checkpoint near Bethlehem. The IDF arrests 12 Palestinians and issues 1 arrest summons during raids near Ramallah, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Hebron; and patrols near Tulkarm. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians gather in Ramallah to protest the PA’s punitive restrictions on Gaza, chanting “scrap the sanctions” and calling for national reconciliation. In contrast with their response on 6/13, PA security forces do not violently disperse the demonstration. Along Gaza’s border fence, 7 fires break out in Israeli farmland near the fence. Later, an Israeli drone bombs a site allegedly used as a staging area for the incendiary kite and balloon attacks that sparked the fires. Separately, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian shepherds working along the border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing 1 minor injury. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing minor damage (3 fishermen are arrested). (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, YA 6/23; AFP 6/24; PCHR 6/28)

PLO secretary-general Saeb Erakat says that U.S. president Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Kushner and Special Representative Greenblatt have been pushing to “liquidate” the Palestinian refugee issue during their trip to the Middle East this week. “They want to terminate the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by proposing direct aid to the countries hosting the Palestinian refugees and sideline the UN agency,” he says. “On top of this, they are planning financial aid to the Gaza Strip worth $1 billion for projects, also separate from UNRWA and under the title of solving a humanitarian crisis.” (HA, TOI, WAFA, YA 6/23)

Along Gaza’s border fence, Palestinians fly a number of incendiary kites and balloons into southern Israel, sparking 15 separate fires that cause moderate damage. The IAF retaliates with a drone strike near Rafah, causing damage. Separately, IDF troops violently disperse hundreds of Palestinians gathering along the border fence near Gaza City to continue the Great March of Return; 2 Palestinians are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the Jenin-area apartment of a Palestinian accused of carrying out a deadly car ramming attack on IDF troops on 3/16. The demolition sparks clashes between the IDF and stone-throwing residents of the area; 7 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Bayt Fajjar near Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents (5 Palestinians are injured). They also patrol near Hebron and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian woman at the entrance to Burqa village near Ramallah, causing minor injuries. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists verbally assault Muslim worshippers at Haram al-Sharif, sparking a minor confrontation involving the Islamic Waqf and Israeli police; there are no injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 6/21; PCHR 6/28)

In response to the rocket attacks on 6/20, Israel’s Public Security Minister Erdan says there is a “good chance” that Israel will launch an “operation” in Gaza to “create durable deterrence.” (HA, TOI 6/21)

U.S. president Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Kushner and Special Representative Greenblatt arrive in Egypt for meetings with Egyptian officials, including Egyptian president al-Sisi, on their Palestinian-Israeli peace initiative and humanitarian efforts in Gaza. They later visit Doha for similar talks with Qatari officials. (AP, JP, TOI, YA 6/21)

Approximately 2,000 Palestinians, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, gather along Gaza’s border fence to perform the traditional morning prayer marking Eid al-Fitr. IDF troops then violently disperse hundreds of Palestinians who joined protests after the prayer near Rafah and Khan Yunis. For the third time in as many days, the IDF attacks Palestinians reportedly preparing to fly incendiary kites into Israel. An Israeli drone bombs a Hamas observation post near Rafah, causing no reported injuries. Armed Gazans fly a number of incendiary kites across the border fence throughout the day, sparking at least 11 fires in Israel. Separately, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel near Jabaliya refugee camp. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol near Qalqilya and Hebron and violently disperse Palestinians gathering in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya to protest the Israeli occupation; 2 Palestinians are arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Silwan. (HA, MNA, TOI 6/15; TOI 6/16; PCHR 6/21)

U.S. president Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner and U.S. special representative Jason Greenblatt meet with UN secretary-general António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres in New York City, days ahead of their week-long trip to the Middle East for meetings on their long-awaited peace plan. The trip is set to include stops in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. (HA 6/17)