The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 15 Israeli settler families moved into a Palestinian-owned building between the Kiryat Arba settlement and al-Ibrahimi Mosque. Israeli forces guarded the settlers as they moved into the building. The settlers were evacuated from the building on 5/15. Israeli settlers with military escort raised Israeli flags near the entrance to Jannatah. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 Palestinian vehicle in Masafer Yatta. Israeli forces shot and injured 13 Palestinians during a raid in Jenin refugee camp; 2 were arrested. 1 of the Palestinians injured later succumbed to his injuries on 5/15. Israeli soldiers fired a short-range missile at a building during the raid, severely damaging a house where 19 Palestinians were sleeping and subsequently fired another 6 anti-tank missiles at the house. Israeli forces also used a Palestinian minor and her father as human shields during the incident. Israeli forces also raided Burqin, injuring several Palestinians; 1 Israeli soldier was injured and later succumbed to his injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 1 with a baton round and more than 20 with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian near the Beit El settlement, claiming he had tried to attack Israeli settlers. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian and Israeli activists traveling in buses from reaching Masafer Yatta to show solidarity with eviction-threatened Palestinians. Israeli settlers later assaulted a group who had proceeded on foot, injuring 5. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians using stun grenades and batons during the funeral procession for Shireen Abu Akleh, assaulting the pallbearers among many others; 33 were treated for various injuries, including a photojournalist. Israeli forces also confiscated Palestinian flags, including from the coffin, and arrested 6 for waving Palestinian flags. Haaretz reported that it was Jerusalem district commander Doron Turgeman who ordered the Palestinian flags confiscated during the funeral procession. In Israel, Israel said it had arrested 1 Palestinian teen for allegedly carrying a knife and a letter stipulating his intent to carry out an attack. (AA, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, CBS, CNN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCN, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 5/13; AP, PCHR, REU, WAFA 5/14; AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE 5/15; AP, HA, MDW, MEMO, REU, WAFA 5/16; DCI-P, PCHR 5/19; HA 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

Israel indicted Sheikh Yusuf Albaz, the imam at Lydda’s Great Mosque, for incitement over alleged remarks celebrating Palestinians defending al-Aqsa Mosque. (HA 5/13)

Palestinian public prosecution said in a statement that the preliminary investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh found that the only source of gunfire at the scene where Abu Akleh was killed was from Israeli soldiers. (WAFA 5/14)

The U.S. Biden administration expressed dismay at the Israeli police’s dispersal of Palestinians at the funeral procession for Abu Akleh (see above). President Joe Biden said Israeli actions had to be investigated. Secretary of state Antony Blinken said the U.S. was “deeply troubled.” UN secretary-general António Guterres said he was “deeply disturbed” by the Israeli actions while the EU called the videos of the Israeli attacks appalling. (AJ, AX, MDW, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/14; WAFA, WAFA 5/15; MEE 5/18)

The U.S. state department informed Congress that it will remove 5 extremist groups from its list of foreign terrorist organizations, saying they are defunct. Among the 5 are the Jewish terrorist organization Kahane Chai and a Gaza-based umbrella organization for militant groups, the Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem. (AP, HA 5/15; MEMO 5/16; AJ 5/17; AJ, AP 5/20; WAFA 5/21; HA 5/22; MEMO 5/23)

In Syria, Israeli forces conducted air strikes in Masyaf, reportingly killing 5 and wounding 7 others. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU 5/13; JP, TOI 5/15)

The UN security council unanimously condemned the Israeli killing of Abu Akleh on 5/11, calling for an impartial investigation. The U.S. noticeably supported the statement, rather than abstaining or voting against. (AP 5/13; AJ 5/14)

At a meeting between U.S. president Joe Biden and Jordan’s king Abdullah II in Washington, President Biden reaffirmed the U.S.’s position that Jordan is the custodian of the Muslim Holy sites in Jerusalem. (AP, REU 5/13)

Berlin police banned a gathering in remembrance of Abu Akleh, organized by the Jewish organization Jüdische Stimme. (AJ 5/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stormed Kafr Haris, closing the area to Palestinians. Israeli settlers also uprooted 20 olive saplings in Kisan. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers and Israeli forces forced 4 families of Palestinian-Israelis picnicking near Jibiya to leave the area saying they were not allowed to be in the area; 1 of the settlers Zvi Bar Yosef has been filmed harassing Palestinians in the area before. Israeli settlers also hid metal rods in a road in Kafr Malik puncturing the wheels of a tractor. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor with live ammunition near Ramallah. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protesters in Kafr Qaddum, Hebron, Bayt Dajan, and Dayr Jarir, leading to tear-gas related injuries; 1 Palestinian minor was taken to a hospital after being hit with a rubber-coated bullet during the protest in Kafr Qaddum. 2 Palestinians were arrested while riding a motorcycle in Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces seized tents sheltering a family who’s house was demolished on 2/21 in Issawiyya. 3 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan and al-Tur. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israeli police violently dispersed a protest in Umm al-Fahm against gun violence in the Palestinian-Israeli community; several people were reported injured, including the mayor of Umm al-Fahm, MK Yousef Jabareen, and 1 Israeli police officer. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; WAFA 2/27; HA 3/2; PCHR 3/4)

All checkpoints to Gaza and the West Bank were closed by Israel for the Purim holiday. Closures are expected to last until the evening of 2/28. (HA 2/25)

1 Palestinian man who is a resident of Israel and Gaza was indicted by Israel for providing intelligence about locations of Israeli Iron Dome batteries to Hamas. (HA 2/26)

The U.S. released a declassified report that concluded that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of U.S. resident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi on 10/2/2018. Despite publishing that the administration had reaching that conclusion the Biden administration said it would not move to punish Mohammed bin Salman. President Joe Biden said during his presidential campaign that he would hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its actions after the Saudi royal family had been shielded by the Trump administration. (CNN, CNN, NPR, NYT, NYT 2/26; AJ, GDN 1/3)

European members of the UN security council, Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, and the UK, issued a joint statement expressing deep concern “at the recent repeated demolitions and confiscation of items, including of EU- and donor-funded structures carried out by Israeli authorities at Humsa Al-Baqaia in the Jordan Valley.” (AJ 2/27; WAFA 2/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces ordered a Palestinian family to leave their 2 mobile homes and stop further construction north of Jericho. Separately, Israeli forces seized a mobile home in Bayt Dajan. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired an artillery shell and flare bombs east of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israeli forces shot and injured a man crossing from Jordan to Israel south of the Sea of Galilee. Israeli authorities said another man managed to flee and that Israeli police found a bag containing 9 handguns, 6 rifles, and NIS 500,000 ($143,000). (HA, WAFA, WAFA 5/20; PCHR 5/21)

The Israeli Prison Service transferred 1 Palestinian hunger-striker being held in administrative detention to solitary confinement. (WAFA 5/20)

At the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UN envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov told the council that Israel annexing part of the West Bank “would constitute the most serious violation of international law . . . [and] close the door to a renewal of negotiations.” He further stated that “Israel must abandon its treat of annexation.” Mladenov also called on the Quartet to take up a more active role. EU representatives at the UNSC also called Israel’s plans a violation of international law, expressing concern. In turn, Israel’s envoy to the UN Danny Danon told the council that “[a]ny decision on the topic of sovereignty will be made solely by the Israeli government with coordination with the American administration.” Separately, the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told the new Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi that Russia opposes Israel’s annexation plans during a call. (AJ, HA, REU 5/20)

The EU, Italy, and Finland pledge to contribute $18.6 million to the PA for payments of medical referrals to East Jerusalem hospitals. (WAFA 5/20)