The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 25 Israeli settlers posing as soldiers attacked a Palestinian couple in their home in Qaryut, leading to the hospitalization of both Palestinian victims; the settlers also caused significant damage to the interior of their home, their car, and their tractor; Israeli forces did not arrive to investigate the scene until 7 hours after it was reported. Israeli settlers also threw stones at 6 Palestinian homes and set a barn on fire in Burqa; Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians trying to repel the settlers. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers erected a settlement outpost named after the settler killed on 12/16, Nefei Yehuda, near the Kiryat Arba settlement; the Nahala movement financially supported the settlement outpost, as it had the Evyatar settlement outpost in May. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seized 1 tractor in Masafer Yatta. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Arrabah, Silat ad-Dhahr, Jenin, and Burqa; Israeli forces seized 1 car during the raid in Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Sheikh Jarrah, injuring several journalists covering the event by physical assault, including 1 AP journalist; AP condemned the Israeli forces’ attack on its employee. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a, Dayr al-Balah, and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/17; MEMO 12/18; JP, WAFA 12/19; PCHR 12/23)

PA foreign ministry called on the UN to establish a protective system to ensure the safety of Palestinians as Israeli settler violence continues to increase. (WAFA, WAFA 12/17; MEMO 12/18)

Haaretz reported that the Israeli company Candiru’s spyware had been purchased by Saudi Arabia, Spain, Israel (for the Shin Bet), Singapore, the UAE, and Germany, and had been used to target people in Catalonia, Lebanon, Yemen, the occupied Palestinian territories, Singapore, Iran, Armenia, and Turkey. It was also reported by the Guardian that NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was found on jailed Indian dissident activist Rona Wilson’s phone. (AP, GDN, HA, HA 12/17)

The UN general assembly voted 156 for, 7 against, and 15 abstaining on a draft resolution confirming the rights of Palestinians over their natural resources in the occupied territories and the rights of the native population of their resources in the occupied Golan Heights. The resolution also called on Israel to stop exploiting the resources of the territories it occupies. The 7 countries voting against the resolution were Israel, Canada, the U.S., the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau. (WAFA, WAFA 12/17; WAFA 12/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 3 others during a late-night raid in Nablus, Israel claimed that explosives had been thrown at the Israeli forces as they raided the city; no Israeli was injured during the raid; the PA condemned the killing. 23 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 at the Allenby Bridge and 22 during raids in Beitunia, Bayt Liqya, Ramallah, al-Bireh, al-Eizariya, Hebron, al-Arroub refugee camp, Qarawat Bani Hassan, Bidya, Ras al-Ain, Jamma‘in, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli municipality began razing land seized from 4 Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, which served as a parking lot and car wash in preparation for construction of a settler park. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Beit Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land in the northern part of Gaza near the Gaza fence. Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian farmers working their lands east of Maghazi and Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/13; PCHR 12/16)

Haaretz reported that the Custodian General’s unit in the Israeli Justice Ministry is exploring plans to build 5 Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem: 1 in Sheikh Jarrah, 1 near the Damascus Gate, 1 in Sur Baher, 1 in Bayt Hanina, and 2 in Bayt Safafa. The Custodian General manages private property claimed by Israel to have unknown owners. Most of the properties managed by the Custodian General are in East Jerusalem. (HA, MEE 12/13)

The patriarchs and heads of local churches of Jerusalem released a statement warning that Israeli government is failing to protect the Christian community in Jerusalem from physical attacks by “radical groups” and groups trying to displace the Christian community from Jerusalem by acquiring “strategic property . . . using underhanded dealings and intimidation tactics to evict residents from their homes.” (TOI 12/19; BBC, HA, MEE 12/21)

Israel released the former leader of the northern branch Islamic Movement in Israel Sheikh Raed Salah after 17 months in prison for “incitement.” (MEMO 12/8; AJ, MEE, MEMO 12/13; MEMO 12/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with U.S. state department undersecretary for political affairs Victoria Nuland in Ramallah. (WAFA 12/13)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett met with UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. The 2 were said to have discussed Iran and building on the 2 countries’ normalization agreement. A joint statement later announced that the 2 countries had plans to establish a joint research and development fund. (AP, CNN, HA, MEMO, NYT, REU, REU 12/13; ALM, MEMO 12/14)

Israel’s public security minister Omer Bar-Lev told Undersecretary Victoria Nuland that he views settler violence “severely” and is taking action against it. Public Security Minister Bar-Lev’s comments drew the ire of Israeli politicians in his coalition and further right, who said that there is no issue with Israeli settler violence toward Palestinians. (HA 12/13; HA 12/16; ALM 12/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort harassed students on their way to school in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, preventing some from reaching the school. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians and Israeli activists protesting a visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog to Hebron (see below). Israeli forces also demolished water pipelines supplying Atuf with water. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Ramallah, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in Kaubar and al-Arroub refugee camp, and 1 near al-Jaba‘. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in Isawiya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28; PCHR 12/2)

President Herzog visited Hebron for a Hanukkah ceremony in al-Ibrahimi Mosque, drawing condemnation and protest from Palestinians and Israeli left-wing activists. The PA foreign ministry said that President Herzog was breaking international law and “embracing the settlement enterprise.” The religious advisor to PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Habbash, compared Herzog’s participation in the ceremony with that of Ariel Sharon visiting the Haram al-Sharif compound in 2000. The OIC, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Arab League also issued statements of condemnations criticizing the visit. (HA, MEE 11/26; AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28; +972, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 11/29; ALM, MEMO 11/30)

The Israeli high court of justice denied Palestinian appeals against demolitions of 58 homes in Wadi Yasoul in Silwan, which would lead to the displacement of 725 Palestinians. (HA 11/28; WAFA 11/29; PCHR 12/2)

1 Palestinian prisoner held on administrative detention ended his hunger strike after Israel set a date for his release. The man had been hunger-striking for 49 days and was admitted to a prison hospital on 11/24 as his condition deteriorated. (WAFA 11/28)

President Abbas extended the COVID-19-related state of emergency for another 30 days. The state of emergency has been in effect since March 2020, when the pandemic hit Palestine. (WAFA 11/28)

Israel’s and the UK’s foreign ministers Yair Lapid and Liz Truss wrote an article in the Telegraph, saying the 2 countries will work together in preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Foreign Minister Lapid was in London meeting UK officials before heading to France for meetings on 11/29. The article was published 1 day before talks began in Vienna to revamp efforts to reenter a new Iran nuclear agreement. (DT, GDN, REU 11/28; AJ, DT, HA, JP, TOI 11/29)

Japan donated $10 million to the PA in support of its budget and Cyprus donated $113,000 to the UNRWA. (WAFA, WAFA 11/28; MEMO 11/29)

In the West Bank, 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a late-night raid in Qalqilya and 2 in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Palestinian citizens of Israel protested outside of Gilboa prison in support of the Palestinian prisoners. 3 Palestinians were arrested after crossing into Israel from Gaza by the Gaza fence. (WAFA, WAFA 9/18; PCHR 9/23)

The New York Times reported that Israel used a 1-ton “killer robot” placed in the bed of a Zamyad pickup truck to assassinate Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on 11/27/2020 in Absard, Iran. According to the reporting, the “killer robot” had been smuggled into Iran over in several stages and was controlled by an Israeli sniper using a computer program to control a modified FN MAG machine gun. The “killer robot” was detonated by its operator after the assassination, destroying the evidence. (HA, NYT 9/18; AA, JP 9/19; MEMO 9/20)

Lebanon called on the UN to intervene to prevent Israel from starting to drill for natural gas in a gas field within the maritime area disputed between Lebanon and Israel. (REU, JP 9/19; MEMO 9/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked a road between Hebron and Qalqas. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 7 people. In Gaza, Israeli forces attacked 2 targets near Jabalia refugee camp, claiming it was responding to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to Israel. Israeli forces also later violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near the Gaza fence, injuring 1 with live ammunition; 17 others were also injured by rubber-coated bullets and tear gas. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, HILL, JP, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/29; MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/30; PCHR 9/2)

Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing in both directions. (MEMO 8/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz in Ramallah. According to the Israeli defense ministry, the 2 talked about security policy, civilian and economic issues, and measures Israel will take to strengthen the PA economy. According to Gantz’s office, among the agreements made were granting residency rights to Palestinians living in the West Bank without legal status and Israel’s providing the PA with an advance of its tax income of $155 million. Gantz also said after the meeting, “the stronger the Palestinian Authority is, the weaker Hamas will be.” Sources close to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said that there was no diplomatic process between Israel and the PA and that there would not be 1 during his time as prime minister. A Palestinian official said that Abbas asked Israel to stop conducting operations in Area A and allow family reunifications as part of efforts to improve the PA-Israel relations. Later at a PLO executive committee meeting, President Abbas said that he had told Defense Minister Gantz that the PA position on peace is based on the Arab peace initiative, and that PA wants Israel to release long-term Palestinian prisoners, return the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel, end settlement construction, and curb settler attacks. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called the meeting dangerous and disrespectful. Islamic Jihad also condemned the meeting. The meeting was the 1st between President Abbas and an Israeli government official since 2010. (MEE, REU 8/29; AJ, ALM, AP, F24, HA, HA, HA, JP, NBC, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/30; ALM, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO 8/31; MEMO 9/1; ALM, HA 9/2)

Axios reported that former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro had joined the U.S. state department as a liaison between U.S. envoy on Iran Robert Malley and Israel. (AX 8/29; JP 8/30; ALM, MEMO 8/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian woman in Hebron, causing injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assaulted 1 Palestinian in the Old City. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Silwan, displacing 7. 1 Palestinian family also demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 5. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Jabalia refugee camp; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 8/14; PCHR 8/19)

Israel recalled its ambassador to Poland in response to the Polish president Andrzej Duda approving a law that will restrict restitution claims by Jewish people who had property stolen during World War II. (MEMO 8/12; MEMO 8/13; AJ, HA, HA 8/14; AP, HA, HA 8/15; AP, ALM, BBC, HA, MEMO, MEMO 8/16; MEMO 8/17)

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had produced 200 grams of uranium metals enriched to 20%, drawing criticism from the UK, France, Germany, and the U.S. (MEMO, REU 8/16; AJ, AP, MEMO 8/17; AP, REU 8/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during a late-night raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also shot and injured 4 Palestinians during a raid in Beita. 2 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Ras al-Amud and Silwan. (AA, MEE, WAFA 8/3; PCHR 8/5)

An Israeli military court convicted 1 Palestinian American for the murder of 1 Israeli settler on 5/2; the Palestinian man’s home was demolished by Israeli forces on 7/8. (HA 8/3)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with the new Israeli national security advisor Eyal Hulata. (HA 8/3)

The Iranian news agency Nour News said Iran had dropped plans for a prisoner swap with the U.S., citing Biden administration breaches of agreements. (HA 8/7)

7 members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a letter to treasury secretary Janet Yellen demanding an investigation into tax-exempt U.S. charities that support Israeli settlements. The 7 representatives were Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Andre Carson (D-IN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Cori Bush (D-MO). (WAFA 8/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up mobile homes outside of the Shvut Rachel settlement near Jalud to expand the settlement. Israeli forces demolished several structures in Khirbet Humsa after demolishing more than 30 structures on 7/7. Israeli forces also demolished 1 large Canaanite-era cemetery near al-Khader to expand a settlement road; the cemetery was dated around 2300 to 1550 B.C.E. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished a large water tank in Bayt Dajan. Palestinian students from Birzeit University held a sit-in protest at the university for the mass arrest of 33 students on 7/14 by Israeli forces in Turmus ‘Ayya, were the students were visiting the family who were victims of a punitive demolition on 7/8. All of the 33 students were released the same day. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around ‘Asira al-Qibliya, Marah Rabah, Deir Qaddis, Abu Dis, and ‘Anin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/15; PCHR 7/29)

The Intercept and Local Call reported that Israeli settlers and soldiers had cooperated in the deliberately killing at least 4 Palestinians on 5/14, a day where Israeli soldiers and settlers ultimately killed 11 Palestinians across the West Bank. In videos obtained by B’Tselem, it is evident that Israeli settlers stand side by side with Israeli soldiers firing automatic rifles at Palestinians trying to protect themselves from a settler raid in ‘Urif. Similar joint attacks by settlers and soldiers led to killings of Palestinians in Iskaka, ‘Asira al-Qibliya, and al-Reihiya. (+972, INT 7/15; HA 7/16)

Haaretz said that documents they had examined revealed that the Israeli defense ministry had worked with a Jewish National Fund subsidiary, Himanuta, to purchase Palestinian-owned land in the West Bank and to prevent Palestinians from accessing the land in question. The deals between Himanuta and the defense ministry were made in 2018 and 2019. Among the purchases were a 1,000-dunam (250 acres) plot of land near the Hamra settlement, which Israel closed off to its Palestinian owners more than 50 years ago; a plot of land near Ramallah; the home of the Bakri family in Hebron; and a 218-dunam (54 acres) plot of land near the Argaman settlement. (HA 7/15)

Israel and Morocco signed a cybersecurity agreement in Rabat, further bolstering the 2 countries’ normalization deal. (MEMO 7/15)

The New York Times reported that Israel is refusing to extricate a Mexican former federal prosecutor, Tomas Zeron De Lucio, who is wanted for falsifying evidence, torture, and misuse of the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware. According to NYT sources, Israel is refusing the extradition because of the country’s perception of Mexico as supportive of Palestine. Zeron De Lucio is said to have sought political asylum in Israel. (HA, MEMO, NYT 7/15; GDN, TOI 7/22; TOI 7/23)

The Canadian cybersecurity research group Citizen Lab said that spyware from the Israeli company Candiru was used to spy on more than 100 activists from several countries including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Hungary, Indonesia, the UK, Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Spain, Turkey, Armenia, and Singapore. Spyware was installed on the users’ computers using the Microsoft operating system Windows. Microsoft said it had updated its software to close the hole in its security. 1 of the ways the spyware infected users’ devices was when a user clicked on a URL set up by the attacker. Citizen Lab found that activists had been hacked through domain names from fake websites with domain names such as “amnesty reports,” “refugee international,” woman studies,” “euro news,” and “CNN 24-7.” (AJ, AP, GDN, MEE, REU 7/15; ALM 7/16; NYT 7/17)

Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri resigned 9 months after being picked to try to form a government. Hariri’s resignation followed a meeting with President Michel Aoun on 7/14, where he proposed a 24-minister cabinet. (AJ, HA, REU, REU 7/14; AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEMO, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU 7/15; AP 7/16)

Facebook suspended the account of a Palestinian user who uploaded a letter from the Palestinian political prisoner in Israeli jail Khalida Jarrar to her recently deceased daughter. The account was initially suspended for 60 days but was unblocked by Facebook on 7/20. (HA 7/20; HA 7/21)

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said at a conference hosted by the Geneva Institute that China plans to increase its involvement in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At the virtual conference were also a member of the Knesset from the Meretz (Vigor) party and Ahmad Majdalani, the PA social development minister. (HA 7/15)

A football exhibition match between Beitar Jerusalem and the Spanish F.C. Barcelona was canceled after Barcelona demanded the game should not be held in Jerusalem, which the owner of Beitar Jerusalem refused. Barcelona’s demand came after weeks of pressure from Palestinians, including chairman of the Palestinian Football Association Jibril Rajoub and Joint List member of Knesset Sami Abu Shehadeh. (ALM 7/13; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO 7/15; ALM 7/16; WAFA 7/17; MEMO 7/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer working his land near Qalqilya. Israeli forces uprooted some 100 olive trees while razing some 30 dunams (7.4 acres) of land in Jayyus. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 10 houses in Ni‘lin and Dayr Qaddis in Area B. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 2 residential tents and 2 agricultural tents, displacing 15 Palestinians in al-Buwayb in the Masafer Yatta area. Palestinians protested Israeli attacks on Palestinian and international journalists at the office of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in Ramallah. 11 Palestinians were arrested, including 10 during raids in and around Bethlehem, Nablus, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bayt Umar, Hebron, Dayr Abu Mash‘al, Idhna, al-‘Amari refugee camp, Dayr Balut, and Surayf, and 1 was arrested at a checkpoint in Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur, Silwan, and the Old City. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian was found dead in rubble resulting from Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 260 to 261, including 67 children and 3 pregnant women. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/31; PCHR 6/3)

In Gaza, electricity remained limited to 6 hours followed by blackouts for 12 hours despite repairs made to power lines that were damaged during the most recent escalation between Israel and Hamas. It was reported that the power shortages were due to Israel continuing to withhold fuel transfers to Gaza’s power plant. It was also reported that Israel continues to prevent Palestinians in need of cancer treatment from traveling to East Jerusalem for chemotherapy. (HA, HA 5/31; MEMO 6/1)

Palestinian prisoners started an open-ended hunger strike for the Israel Prison Service allow family visits, which has been prohibited since March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (WAFA 5/31)

2 Palestinians were charged with terrorism for allegedly throwing stones at 1 Jewish family traveling by car in East Jerusalem on 5/9, a day where more than 330 Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers and police. (HA 5/31)

Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar said Hamas was ready to negotiate the terms of releasing Israeli captives and the bodies of 2 Israeli soldiers held by the organization. The deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, had earlier that day warned Israel not to tie the issue of Israeli captives to aid to Gaza or to Israeli policy on Jerusalem. Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi made the opposite demand during a meeting with Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry on 5/30. Head of Egyptian general intelligence Abbas Kamel also met with Sinwar in Gaza to discuss a long-term ceasefire with Israel. (HA 5/29; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 5/31; MEMO, MEMO 6/1)

Israeli public security minister Amir Ohana backed a call by Lydda councilman Amichai Langfeld to have armed Jewish-Israeli civilians patrol the streets of the city to “protect the Jewish community” there. Jewish-Israeli member of Knesset from the Joint Arab List Ofer Cassif said such calls were incitement. (HA 6/1)

Israel and the UAE signed a tax treaty. (HA, MEMO, REU 5/31)

Israel summoned the ambassador of Mexico to Israel because of the country’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 5/27 to investigate potential Israeli war crimes. On 5/30, Israel also summoned the ambassador the Philippines over his country’s vote at the UNHRC. (JP 6/1)

More than 50 former prime ministers, foreign ministers, and senior international officials wrote an open letter calling for protecting the independence of the ICC and condemning attacks on the court. The letter mentioned Israel-Palestine as a place where, without the ICC, there “is no accountability for grave human rights violations, it is the victims seeking justice and people longing for lasting peace who are paying the price.” The letter also called allegation of anti-Semitism waged against the ICC “unfounded.” (GDN, GDN 5/31; MEMO, WAFA 6/1)

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report that Iran has failed to explain why traces of uranium were found at undeclared sites. (REU 5/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 35 olive trees in Hebron. Israeli undercover forces assassinated 1 Palestinian in al-Bireh from close range before leaving him to bleed out. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 3 industrial structures in Dayr Sharif. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered notices for land seizures to complete a 9.3-mile-long water pipeline to 2 Israeli settlements near Salfit. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Biddu, Bayt Duqqu, al-Za’ayyem, Kafr Dan, Jaba‘, Nablus, Aqabat Jabir, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians protested Israeli-planned evictions of Palestinians in Batn al-Hawa in Silwan. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur and the Old City, including 1 man for gesturing his middle finger at Israeli police in the Old City. (AJ, MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/25; HA, PCHR, WAFA 5/26; PCHR 5/27; AJ 5/30; HA 7/2; HA 7/4)

Israel reopened the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings for humanitarian aid and aid workers. The Kerem Shalom crossing remained closed for exports. Israel also allowed Gaza fishermen to fish up to 6 nautical miles from shore. (HA 5/24; HA, HA 5/25)

PA health minister Mai al-Kaila said the PA had received 103,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and that 46,800 of them would be sent to Gaza. 203,161 Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are fully vaccinated. (WAFA 5/25)

Jordan summoned the Israeli ambassador to the country to complain about the detention of 2 Jordanian citizens in Israel and the lack of access for the Jordanian embassy to talk to them. (WAFA 5/25; MEE 6/1)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv for meetings with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi, and defense minister Benny Gantz. Later in the day, Secretary Blinken met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas and PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh in Ramallah, as well as Palestinian activists at the offices of AMIDEAST. At a press conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Blinken reiterated the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s “right to defend itself” and said that the U.S. will help rebuild Gaza while preventing Hamas from benefiting from any U.S. aid. Netanyahu said that Israel would have a “very powerful response” if Hamas breaks the ceasefire. During a meeting with President Abbas in Ramallah, Blinken announced that the U.S. would reopen the consulate general in West Jerusalem, servicing Palestinians. The Trump administration closed the consulate and merged it with the Israeli embassy after it was moved to Jerusalem. Blinken also said that the Biden administration is asking Congress to approve $75 million in aid to Gaza and another $30 million to UNRWA. (AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AP, AX, AX, CBS, CNN, FOX, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WSJ 5/25; AP, MEMO, WAFA 5/26; AX 5/27)

Indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. through Germany, France, Britain, Russia, and China continued in Vienna to facilitate a reentry of the U.S. to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and for Iran to restart its compliance with the deal. (AP 5/25)

The government of Ireland recognized Israel’s settlement activity as de facto annexation of Palestinian lands. (RTE 5/25; MEE, WAFA 5/26)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to wounds sustained from Israeli live ammunition on 5/18. Israeli settlers leveled land in Kisan. Israeli settlers also set up mobile homes south of Hebron. Israeli forces also raided Jaba‘, injuring 4, including 1 minor, when Palestinians confronted the forces. Israeli forces also raided ‘Araqa, injuring 1 minor with live ammunition, when Palestinians confronted the forces. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bethlehem, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided al-Makassed Hospital, leaving without making arrests. 8 Palestinians were arrested during raids in the Old City, al-Tur, Silwan, and Shu‘fat. In Gaza, 4 Palestinians were killed and many were injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 232 to 236, including 65 children and 3 pregnant women. The casualties included: 1, and 9 wounded, including 3 children, during an air strike on a house in Khan Yunis; 1, and 1 wounded in an air strike on Bayt Lahiya; 2 in an air strike on a car traveling in Jabaliya. Israeli air strikes also hit power lines near Rafah, causing a total electricity blackout in the city. Israeli forces attacked 1 house in Khan Yunis, causing damage, but the missile remained unexploded as it landed on a bed, saving the family living in the house. 4 factories were also destroyed by Israeli air strikes in an industrial zone east in al-Muntar. In Israel, 1 Israeli soldier was injured by an anti-tank missile rocket fired from Gaza at a military bus. 1 rocket from Gaza hit a house in Ashkelon, causing damage; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces violently dispersed a funeral procession for 1 Palestinian-Israeli who was killed by Israeli police on 5/19 in Umm al-Fahm; 3 were arrested; a general strike was also called in Umm al-Fahm in protest over the killing. (AJ, HA, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/20; MEE, PCHR 5/21; NYT 5/26; PCHR 5/27)

It was reported that a ceasefire between Hamas, Islamic Jihad in Palestine, and Israel had been brokered by Egypt and would take effect at 2 a.m. on 5/21. Prior to the reporting, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called a meeting at the security cabinet. Shortly after the 2 sides announced the ceasefire, U.S. president Joe Biden praised Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for his role in the ceasefire and Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to it. Biden said in remarks that “Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and democracy,” in what can be viewed as a slight shift in the paradigm of U.S. statements on Israel and Palestine. President al-Sisi also praised President Biden for his work on the ceasefire agreement. Several prominent Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate welcomed the news of the ceasefire, but said it was time to do more to resolve the roots of the conflict. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki called for the world to address the core issues, saying that the ceasefire is not enough. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, AX, AX, GDN, HA, REU, REU, WAFA 5/20; AM, AP, CNN, FOX, HA, HA 5/21)

Haaretz reported that 90% of the Israeli citizens charged for the violence in Israeli towns and cities since the start of the Hamas-Israel escalation were Palestinian citizens of Israel. District prosecutors have been criticized for not indicting Jewish-Israelis. (HA 5/20)

Adalah filed a petition on behalf of Palestinians in Shayk Jarrah to have Israeli police remove checkpoints around the neighborhood, which are severely impeding the residents’ freedom of movement. The checkpoints are also meant to block entry of Palestinians who are not residents of the neighborhood, as many residents remain threatened by evictions. (Adalah, HA 5/20)

The Israeli Electric Company said it would not restore the damaged power lines in Gaza until 2 Israelis, believed to be held captive by Hamas, and the bodies of 2 dead Israelis are returned to Israel. (HA 5/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with German chancellor Angela Merkel about efforts to get a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. President Abbas also met with German foreign minister Heiko Maas in Ramallah. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 5/20)

Before the ceasefire was announced, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh wrote a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asking for “mobilization of Arab, Islamic and international support” in ending Israeli air strikes. (AP 5/20)

Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said that the country had reached an agreement in principle with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories about complying with and having the U.S. rejoin the deal. (HA 5/20)

U.S. senator and chair of the Senate budget committee Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said he would introduce a resolution of disapproval of a $735 million arms sale to Israel. (AJ, ALM, HA, REU 5/20)

At the UN, U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the U.S. had “not been silent,” despite blocking UN security council statements criticizing the violence from the latest escalation between Hamas and Israel. UN general-secretary António Guterres said he was “deeply shocked by the continued air and artillery bombardment” of Gaza and said that Gaza’s children lived in “hell on Earth.” No unified statement was released by the UN general assembly. (AJ, AJ, ALM, HA, REU 5/20)

1 Jewish AP reporter was fired after Stanford University College Republicans criticized her for pro-Palestinian activism while she was a student at the school, before she was hired at AP. Later, more than 100 AP journalists wrote an open letter to AP criticizing the decision. (SFGATE 5/20; FOX, MEE, MEMO 5/21; MEE 5/22; MEE 5/24)

The foreign minister of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia visited Israel upon the invitation of Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi to be briefed on the Israeli-Hamas escalation. In meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the 3 foreign ministers were shown parts of a drone that had been shot down on 5/18 that Netanyahu claimed was Iranian. (ALM, HA 5/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 solar panel and 15 olive seedlings near ‘Urif. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Dura and Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 13, including 5 with live ammunition and 8 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized a caravan in Sabastiyya. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tarqumiyya and Jenin refugee camp; Israeli forces also seized a vehicle during a house raid in Aqraba. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler rammed Palestinians with his vehicle near the Old City, causing injuries; Palestinians were throwing stones at the vehicle but it was unclear what transpired before the ramming, which appeared in a video. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in Shaykh Jarrah during a tour of the neighborhood by 2 Israeli lawmakers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Israeli forces attacked Palestinian worshipers with tear gas, sound bombs, and rubber-coated bullets at the Haram al-Sharif compound, injuring more than 305 people, including inside of al-Aqsa Mosque where a sound bomb caught a carpet on fire. Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian Red Crescent from entering the compound. Israel also reversed its decision from 5/9 to allow Jewish worshipers to enter the Haram al-Sharif compound for the Israeli celebration of Jerusalem Day. The Jerusalem Day march was later canceled by its organizers as Israeli police decided to prevent the settler march to go through the Damascus Gate plaza. Israeli forces also confiscated the keys to the al-Aqsa Mosque from the Islamic Waqf. Also at the Haram al-Sharif compound, Israeli police were filmed beating up an Israeli-accredited Palestinian journalist covering the events for Anadolu Agency. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 612 Palestinians were injured throughout Jerusalem, including 333 who were hospitalized. In Gaza, Israeli started a military operation later dubbed “Guardian of the Wall” after Hamas fired rockets at Israel, giving Israel hours to leave the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas had earlier in the day warned Israel that it would fire rockets at 6 p.m. if Israel did not remove its forces from the holy places. 20 Palestinians were killed, including 9 children, and dozens were injured. The casualties included: 2, including 1 child, in 1 drone strike at Jabaliya; 10, including 6 children in 2 drone strikes at Bayt Hanun, with 32 others wounded, including 12 children; and 1, with 2 injured, in an Israeli air strike in Khan Yunis. 7 were also killed, including 1 child, and 34 were injured in Jabaliya in an explosion that was not conclusively attributed to an Israeli air strike. Additionally, damage was sustained in al-Bureij refugee camp, al-Qarara, and Rafah. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was shot dead and 1 other injured by 1 Jewish-Israeli in Lydda; 3 Jewish-Israelis were arrested. Israeli forces later violently dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters at the Lydda city hall. In Ramla, Jewish-Israelis threw stones at Palestinian-Israelis and their property and set fire to trash cans. Israeli police dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters in Nazareth, Kafr Kana, Kafr Manda, Shefa-Amr, Majdal Krum, Dayr Khana, Umm al-Fahm, Baka al-Garbiyeh, Taiba, Jaffa, Haifa, and Jaljulya; 46 were arrested. The Knesset was evacuated after a rocket from Gaza landed in the vicinity of Jerusalem. (HA 5/9; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10; ALM, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, PCHR 5/11; ALM, HA, WAFA 5/12; WAFA 5/19; MEE 5/21; NYT 5/26)

Israel closed all crossings to Gaza and the sea for fishing as collective punishment for rockets fired at Israel. (PCHR 5/10)

The PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and the PA presidency condemned Israel’s attack on the Haram al-Sharif compound and called on the international community to take action. The PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said the Palestinian leadership is “examining all options to respond to this heinous aggression against the holy sites and the citizens.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas also discussed the situation with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10)

Leader of the Ra’am (United Arab List) Mansour Abbas said that he had broken off contacts with Israeli opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett just before he was to have a joint meeting with them, citing the violence in Jerusalem and Gaza. Mansour Abbas met with Naftali Bennett on 5/9. (ALM, HA 5/10; ALM, HA, MEMO, NBC 5/11)

Israel attacked Syria in the Quneitra region with a helicopter, injuring 1. (HA 5/10)

Iran confirmed that it is in direct talks with Saudi Arabia to resolve the issues between the 2 countries. A Saudi official confirmed the talks on 5/7. (AJ, HA, REU 5/10)

The U.S. said 1 of its Coast Guard ships had fired 30 warning shots at 13 Iranian vessels that came too close to the ship and 6 other U.S. navy vessels. Iran said that it was the U.S. that had acted recklessly in the encounter. (AJ, HA, REU 5/10; AP, MEMO 5/11)

UN security council members met at an emergency session to discuss the situation in Palestine-Israel. No statement was issued after the meeting. U.S. state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. administration wanted to make sure that a statement would “not escalate tensions.” Spokesperson Price also refused to say if the U.S. condemned the Israeli air strike that killed 9 Palestinian children, and suggested that Palestinians, contrary to Israelis, do not have the right to defend themselves, saying that only states recognized by the U.S. have that right. (HA, MEE 5/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort stormed Sabastiyya, closing off parts of the town to Palestinians. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Yatta, and al-Ram. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Rafah. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/21; PCHR, WAFA 4/22)

The racist Israeli organization Lehava called on its supports to gather at the Damascus gate in the Old City, where clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians have continued since Israeli measures against celebrations for Ramadan started on 4/13. The Lehava organizers called for breaking Palestinians’ faces and burning them alive. Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinians in East Jerusalem almost every night since 4/13. (HA 4/21)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with the Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi in Ramallah. (WAFA 4/21)

Facebook said it had broken up a hacker network used by the PA’s intelligence service to spy on journalists, human rights activists, and government critics. Facebook said the intelligence service used compromised, fake profiles to befriend potential targets and trick them into installing malware on their computers. It was reported that some 800 people had been targeted in the Middle East. (AP 4/21; PCHR 4/22)

A powerful explosion occurred in an Israeli weapons manufacturing factory near Ramle. The factory said it “was a controlled test with no exceptional circumstances.” (HA, JP, TOI 4/21)

A British Zionist youth movement, Noam, boycotted an event with Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely because of her “racist and anti-pluralistic views.” In a recent interview with the BBC, Ambassador Hotovely would not say if she favored a 2-state solution, saying she favors peace. (HA, JP 4/21)

A bipartisan bill that seeks to task the U.S. State Department with identifying opportunities to expand normalization efforts with Israel was introduced to the house. The bill was introduced by Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX). (JTA 4/21; JP 4/22)

The U.S. presented, through intermediaries, a list of sanctions to Iran that it is ready to lift in exchange for Iranian compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. A U.S. state department official also said that the U.S. had presented Israel with a list of sanctions that could potentially be lifted on Iran. (AP 4/21; AJ, HA 4/22)

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer withdrew from participating in a Ramadan iftar event because the organizer had retweeted a post about boycotting Israeli dates during Ramadan. It was also reported that Starmer had yet to respond to a letter sent to him by 25 members of the Labour party, complaining that the party is creating a “hostile environment” for Palestinians since Starmer became leader after Jeremy Corbyn resigned in 2019. (MEE 4/23; MEMO 4/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Israeli activist trying help Palestinians who had complained about the settlers encroaching on their privately-owned land; a video of the incident shows 1 settler beating the Israeli activist with a club. Israeli settlers also attacked 1 Palestinian woman and her child in Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assaulted the mayor of Sabastiyya after he intervened as they were harassing a Palestinian minor; nearby Israeli forces did not intervene. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured his wife as they were stopped at a flying checkpoint in Bir Nabala. Israeli forces claimed that the 2 had tried to ram the soldier; however, the injured wife said they had come to a complete stop and turned off the ignition until the solders motioned for them to proceed when the soldiers opened fire. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians who attended the funeral for the Palestinian man killed in Bir Nabala earlier in the day. 5 Palestinians were arrested in and around Bethlehem, Bayt Umar, and Tulkarm; including 1 Palestinian candidate for the upcoming elections. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided a hotel in Shaykh Jarrah, where Palestinians were discussing the upcoming elections; 2 Palestinians were arrested. Israeli forces later summoned 2 Palestinian candidates of the upcoming elections for questioning. (AJ, AP, HA, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/6; WAFA, WAFA 4/7; HA, MEMO, PCHR, TOI 4/8; PCHR 4/10; HA 4/11; HA, PCHR 4/15; AP 4/23)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said that Israel will not interfere in the Palestinian elections but will not be working with Hamas if the party gains more influence. Defense Minister Gantz’s statement is contradicted by Haaretz, reporting that the Shin Bet director threated PA president Mahmoud Abbas to cancel the elections and that Israel has been arresting Palestinian candidates it does not want to see in the Palestinian parliament. (HA 4/6)

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin picked Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be the 1st to try to form a government. President Rivlin said that none of the candidates had a real chance of forming a government but that he had picked Netanyahu because he had received the most endorsements. Netanyahu’s mandate to form a government ends after 28 days. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA 4/6; ALM 4/7)

An Iranian cargo ship was hit by a limpet mine in the Red Sea between Yemen and Eritrea. According to the New York Times, the ship was deployed as a military ship for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to combat pirates in the area. The New York Times also reported that Israeli officials had notified U.S. officials that they would carry out the attack on the Iranian ship prior to the explosion. (NYT, REU 4/6; ALM, AP, AX, HA, REU 4/7; AP, HA, HA 4/8)

The U.S. said that indirect talks between it and Iran, mediated by the EU and Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories, had been constructive and would resume on 4/9. (AJ, REU 4/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 journalists with sponge grenades; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests in al-Mughayyir, injuring 6 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces injured 5 Palestinians with live ammunition during a late-night raid in ‘Askar refugee camp; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers sprayed pepper spray at a 13-year-old Palestinian boy in Hebron who had asked them to help him find his stolen bike; the Israeli soldiers subsequently refused to help him receive aid at a hospital. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during house raids in and around Hebron, Bayt Umar, and Zabbuba, and 1 at the Qalandia checkpoint. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/2; PCHR 4/8; B’Tselem 4/22)

The U.S. lifted sanctions on ICC officials Fatou Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko, who were sanctioned by the Trump administration in June 2020 in retaliation for their work on the probe into war crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory and Afghanistan. Secretary of state Antony Blinken said, “[w]e continue to disagree strongly with the ICC’s actions relating to the Afghanistan and Palestinian situations . . . We maintain our longstanding objection to the court’s efforts to assert jurisdiction over personnel of non-States Parties such as the United States and Israel. We believe, however, that our concerns about these cases would be better addressed through engagement with all stakeholders in the ICC process rather than through the imposition of sanctions.” Secretary Blinken spoke with Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi before the announcement. During the call, Blinken told Foreign Minister Ashkenazi that the U.S. believes Israelis and Palestinians should have equal measurers of freedom security, prosperity, and democracy. (HA 4/2; HA, TOI 4/3)

The EU said that Iran and the U.S. will hold indirect talks in Vienna on 4/6. The meeting comes as the EU and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories are trying to get the U.S. back into the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and Iran to start complying with the agreement again. (AJ, HA, REU 4/2; REU 4/3; HA 4/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 Palestinian-owned agricultural structure in Kafr al-Dik. Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for 7 Palestinian-owned homes in Ma‘in. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around al-Khadir, Husan, Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm, Abu Dis, ‘Azun, Beita, Ramallah, al-Bireh, Sabastiyya, and Jenin refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces seized, for a 2d time, tents sheltering a family whose house was demolished in Issawiyya. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya, Shu‘fat refugee camp, and al-Tur; confrontations erupted during the raids in Issawiyya, leading to tear-gas related injuries and damage to property. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/4; PCHR 3/11)

Israeli authorities allowed changes to the structure of al-Ibrahimi Mosque, allowing the construction of an elevator to the designated Jewish area of the mosque. (WAFA 3/4)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas extended the COVID-19-related state of emergency for another 30 days. (WAFA 3/4)

According to Haaretz reporting, the Shin Bet has been threatening some Palestinian activists with administrative detention if they run in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections. Haaretz confirmed that at least 1 Palestinian activist was arrested and put in administrative detention for 4 months after announcing that he would run in the elections. (HA 3/4)

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss a joint COVID-19 plan. Prime Minister Frederiksen had, prior to the trip, praised Israel’s vaccination campaign and said that Denmark is considering opening a vaccine factory with and/or in Israel, leading her own left-wing coalition to denounce her trip. The EU expressed dismay at the 2 European leaders’ trip, saying that cooperation on COVID-19 response was an EU issue 1st and foremost. (POL, POL 3/1; GDN, HA, REU 3/2; GDN, POL 3/3; AP, DR.DK, HA, POL, REU, TOI 3/4)

U.S. vice president Kamala Harris spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the ICC investigation into Israel. Vice President Harris expressed support for the normalization deals between Israel, the U.S., and several Arab and African countries during the Trump administration. (REU 3/4; AJ, HA, TOI 3/5)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz told FOX News that Israel is constantly updating preparations to strike Iran. Defense Minister Gantz also said that Hezbollah has hundreds of thousands of missiles. (AP, AJ, FOX, HA 3/5)

In the West Bank, large groups of Israeli settlers chanted racist slogans at Palestinians in Hebron and Israeli forces closed off large portions of the city for its Palestinian residents. Israeli forces assaulted and arrested 1 Palestinian minor in Jayyous. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian minor with stones in the French Hill neighborhood, causing severe injuries to his face. Some 230 Israeli settlers also stormed the Haram al-Sharif compound; the PA and Jordan condemned Israel for allowing the settlers access. Israeli forces raided Silwan leading to clashes with Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur and Issawiyya. In Israel, Israelis attacked a transport van and its Palestinian driver in West Jerusalem after yelling that the driver was “Arab,” when the Palestinian driver tried to escape the mob he inadvertently killed 1 Israeli man with his vehicle; Israeli police initially arrested the Palestinian man but released him 36 hours and started rounding up 12 Israelis who had attacked the Palestinian man; the Palestinian man’s lawyer said in court that the attack was “a lynching.” (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/28; JP 3/1; HA, PCHR 3/4)

All checkpoints to Gaza and the West Bank were closed by Israel for the Purim holiday. Closures ended at midnight. (HA 2/25)

The Israeli cabinet approved starting to vaccinate Palestinians from the West Bank holding Israeli work permits and Palestinians working in Israeli settlements. Vaccination centers will be set up at West Bank crossings. The decision came days after the PA said that Israel and the PA had agreed that Israel would vaccinate Palestinian workers. (AP, HA, NYT, REU, TOI, TOI 2/28)

8 of 9 judges on the Israeli supreme court voted to overturn the Israeli central elections committee’s decision to disqualify the Palestinian-Israeli Labor party candidate Ibtisam Mara’ana from running in the Israeli elections. The Israeli central elections committee disqualified Mara’ana from running upon request by the racist far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party on 2/17. (HA 2/28)

Israel designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity organization a terrorist organization for its ties to the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine. (JP 2/28)

The Syrian army said Israel fired rockets at southern Damascus from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; there were no reports of casualties or damage. (AP, HA 2/28; AJ, JP 3/1)

Iran rejected an invitation to discuss reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) at an informal meeting with the U.S. and European stakeholders, saying that European and American parties have made actions and statements in the recent past that do not make the timing right for Iran. Iran later said that the U.S. should lift the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration before the parties can begin to engage on reviving the JCPOA. (AJ 2/28; REU 3/1)

Some 450 lawmakers in European countries and in the EU parliament signed a letter to EU High Representative Josep Borrell and European foreign ministers urging them to pressure Israel to stop the “de facto annexation” of the West Bank. (HA 2/28; WAFA 3/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli authorities announced that it would seize 193 dunams (47.7 acres) of Palestinian-owned land near Dayr Dibwan for settlement expansion. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Rujeib, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Rummana, Sawahara al-Sharqiyya, Aida refugee camp, Nablus, and Qusra. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinian was arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya. (WAFA, WAFA 2/25; PCHR 3/4)

Israel imposed a general closure for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, closing all checkpoints for the Jewish Purim holiday. The closure was scheduled to be in effect from midnight on 2/25 to the night of 2/28. (HA 2/25)

The board of the Jewish National Fund voted to allocate $11.6 million to purchase land in the West Bank. (HA 2/25)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s prime minister Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa spoke on the phone about the U.S. plan to reengage diplomatically with Iran about its nuclear program. (AP, HA 2/25)

Israel said that an Israeli-owned ship was attacked by 1 or 2 missiles in the Gulf of Oman. Other reports said that the damage done to the ship was caused by a blast, to which the cause had not been determined. Israeli defense officials claimed that the missiles were fired by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. No injuries were reported, and the ship was able to continue to the UAE to repair the damage. Iran denied attacking the ship. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 2/26; REU 2/27; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 2/28; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 3/1)

Haaretz reported that 2 U.S. senators, Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH) were circulating a letter to U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken calling on him to take a more forceful stance on the ICC’s investigation of Israel and Hamas, in order to shield Israel. The pro-Israel group J Street said it was circulating their own letter, calling Cardin and Portman’s letter an “unnecessary act of political posturing,” saying the U.S. state department already rejected the ICC’s decision. J Street also criticized the Cardin and Portman letter for using “distributed territories” instead of “occupied territories” to describe the West Bank. (HA 2/25)

The U.S. attacked what the Pentagon said were Iranian-backed militia groups in eastern Syria, killing 17 people. The Pentagon said the strikes were in retaliation for 1 missile fired at a U.S. facility in Irbil, Iraq, which killed 1 U.S. national and injured 6 others on 2/15. (REU 2/25; AP, BBC, CNN, HA, REU 2/26)

Japan donated $39.7 million to UNRWA, $30.2 million for UNRWA core programming, and $9.5 million for expanding school services in Gaza. (WAFA 2/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 1 Palestinian-owned truck in Kafr Malik. Palestinians protested Israeli-inflicted electricity blackouts in Jiftlik. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 Palestinian who was arrested after being summoned for interrogation, and 4 teens were arrested in Hebron for throwing snow at Israeli forces. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians during a raid in Issawiyya; 3 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets, others suffered tear-gas related injuries, and 2 were arrested. 10 other Palestinians were arrested, including 9 who allegedly threw snow at Israeli police in Shu‘fat, Jabal Mukabir, and the Old City, and 1 was arrested at the Haram al-Sharif compound and reportedly beaten by Israeli police. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Dayr al-Balah. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/18; WAFA 2/19; PCHR 2/25)

The PA said the UAE is sending a shipment of 20,000 Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine doses to Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Israel allowed on 2/17 2,000 doses of the same vaccine to enter Gaza from the West Bank after refusing to let them enter Gaza. (AP, HA 2/18)

Israel announced that Palestinians from the West Bank working in Israel will be allowed to return to the West Bank from 2/21 after having to stay in Israel from the beginning of the 3d Israeli lockdown on 12/27/2020. The Palestinian workers have not and will not be offered a COVID-19 vaccine by Israel, according to a statement by the Israeli health ministry on 2/10. (HA 2/18; WAFA 2/20)

Nasser al-Kidwa, a member of the Fatah central committee, said he is involved in forming an alternative slate to Fatah and called on Marwan Barghouti, who is imprisoned in an Israeli jail, to join him. Al-Kidwa said the new slate is meant to change the PA, not to reform it. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission also warned that its website could have been hacked and asked Palestinians to verify their data and report anything unusual. (PCHR 2/18; HA 2/21)

Israel extended its ban of inbound and outbound flights until 3/6 to avoid the spread of COVID-19 mutations from other countries. (HA, JP 2/18)

Russia mediated in a prisoner swap between Israel and Syria where 1 Israeli woman who had entered Syria a couple of weeks prior was released to Israel in exchange for 2 Syrian nationals, nullifying a sentence given to a Druze woman in the Israeli-occupied Golan heights. According to Axios, Israel had meant to exchange 1 Syrian prisoner who had 14 years left of a sentence, but he opted to finish his sentence in Israeli jail rather than going to Syria. Israeli forces then arrested 2 Syrian shepherds in the buffer zone who were then released in the prisoner swap. Haaretz reported that the prisoner exchange deal included an undisclosed clause which could potentially anger the Israeli public. Later reports suggested that Israel has promised to provide hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to the Syrian government as the undisclosed clause. 2 days later, the Israeli military removed a gag order revealing that the secret clause was that Israel would pay for millions of the Russian-made vaccine Sputnik V on behalf of the Syrian government. (AJ, AP 2/17; AP, AX, HA, HA 2/18; AJ, HA, HA, TOI 2/19; AJ, HA, HA, NYT 2/20; AP 2/21)

Israel announced that it and the U.S. have started developing a 4th missile shield called Arrow 4 to counter potential threats of ballistic missiles from Iran. The International Panel on Fissile Material (IPFM) said that Israel is expanding the Dimona nuclear facility, believed to be used for manufacturing material for nuclear weapons. IPFM made the discovery using satellite images. (GDN, HA, JP 2/18; JP 2/21; AP, HA 2/25)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said the U.S. would return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement if Iran came back to full compliance with the deal. Iran has gradually stopped complying with the agreement after the Trump administration left the deal in 2018. Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded that Iran would “immediately reverse all remedial measures” if the Biden Administration lifted all sanctions. Iran has told the U.S. and the other JCOPA partners that if the U.S. doesn’t start reversing sanctions by 2/23, Iran will ban short-notice inspections by UN officials. The U.S. announcement came after Secretary Blinken had a meeting with JCPOA partners the UK, France, and Germany. (AJ, REU 2/16; AJ, AJ, AP, REU 2/17; AP, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, VOA 2/18; AJ, AP, HA, REU 2/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at vehicles and houses in Sarta and threw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles traveling near Rawabi. Israeli settlers also razed Palestinian-owned agricultural land in Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli forces punitively razed agricultural lands in Dayr Nidham after an Israeli settler was injured by a stone-thrower on 1/3. Israeli forces also blocked all entrances and exits to Dayr Nidham for the 2d day in a row. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including 2 with live ammunition and 1 with a rubber-coated bullet in ‘Aqabat Jabir during a raid; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also raided a hospital in Tulkarm, firing stun grenades. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians trying to enter Israel for work by the separation barrier west of Ya‘bad. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure in al-Khadir and demolished 1 agricultural structure, 1 water well, and 6 fences in Anabta. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Surayf, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers made roadblocks and vandalized Palestinian-owned cars near the Old City. 6 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi, Bayt Hanun, and al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/4; PCHR 1/7)

Iranian forces seized a South Korean tanker headed to the UAE from Saudi Arabia. An Iranian government official also said that Iran had resumed 20% uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU, REU 1/4; HA 1/10)

Ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit on 1/5, Saudi Arabia reopened its land border with Qatar, and Kuwait reopened air space and sea borders to the country. This comes after a 3.5-year dispute between Qatar and Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, where the quartet of countries claimed that Qatar is sponsoring terrorism, an allegation Qatar has denied. (AJ, ALM 1/4)