The Palestine Chronology

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces kill 2 Palestinians in separate incidents. First, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian after he stabs and injures an Israeli police officer nr. the Damascus Gate to the Old City. Israeli forces then temporarily shut down all entrances to Nablus, home of the alleged attacker. In the evening, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians protesting the morning’s killing, in Ras al-Amud, firing at protesters with live ammunition. A 17-year-old Palestinian is shot and taken to a medical center in Silwan, where he succumbs to his injuries; Israeli forces raid the center in an attempt to retrieve the boy’s body and question the Palestinian medical staff. Also nr. Ras al-Amud, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian after he allegedly stabs and injures a Nepalese woman on a bus. Meanwhile in the West Bank, IDF troops violently clash with Palestinians protesting outside a settlement nr. Ramallah, in a village nr. Hebron, in Bethlehem, and at Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm; at least 12 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts a raid in a village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwers wherein 3 Palestinians are injured. Israeli forces take pictures and measurements of the Hebron-area homes of Palestinians who were shot and killed on 11/22 and 11/23 during confrontations with Israeli settlers and the IDF. They also conduct late-night raids and house searches in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 3 nr. Hebron, 1 each nr. Tulkarm and Nablus, arresting 9 Palestinians; patrol in Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and 2 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers spray racist graffiti on a Palestinian car nr. Bethlehem. Off Gaza’s coast nr. Jabaliya r.c., Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/29; JP, MNA, WAFA 11/30; PCHR 12/3)

In response to the EU’s new labeling guidelines for products imported from Israel’s settlements (11/11), the Israeli govt. announces that PM Netanyahu has ordered all Israeli contacts with EU bodies involved in the peace process to be suspended, including EU-sponsored projects for the Palestinians and all Foreign Ministry contacts with the EU. (HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 11/29)

For the 2d day in a row, IDF troops shoot and kill a 16-year-old Palestinian at Huwwara checkpoint nr. Nablus. The IDF claims that the youth attempted to stab 2 settlers at a bus stop, but a PCHR investigation refutes the allegation; a Palestinian bystander is critically injured by a stray Israeli bullet during the incident (she succumbs to her injuries on 12/16). Shortly afterward, Israeli forces shoot and kill another Palestinian after he attacks a group of Israelis with a knife at a gas station w. of Ramallah, killing an IDF soldier and injuring an Israeli settler (a 2d settler is lightly injured by errant fire). In West Jerusalem, Israeli police open fire on 2 Palestinian youths, killing 1 and injuring the other, after they stab an elderly Palestinian man with scissors nr. a central market (they reportedly mistook him for an Israeli); 1 Israeli bystander is lightly injured. After the incident, Palestinian gunmen affiliated with Fatah’s military wing open fire on Qalandia checkpoint nr. Ramallah, reportedly targeting the area because the Palestinian youth killed in West Jersualem was from Qalandia r.c.; there are no injuries. Meanwhile, a Palestinian driver allegedly rams an Israeli settler with his car nr. Nablus, causing mild injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/23; PCHR 11/26)

Elsewhere in the oPt, a small armed group in Gaza fires a rocket into Israel and it lands nr. the border fence, causing no damage or injuries. In the evening, IAF jets launch air strikes at a Hamas military site in c. Gaza, causing damage. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya r.c., Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. IDF troops violently clash with Palestinian protesters and stone-throwers in 2 incidents: along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c. and at a university in Tulkarm, w. of Qalqilya; 7 Palestinians are injured (1 seriously). The IDF conducts raids in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem and in a village nr. Ramallah, sparking small clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths in both; 2 Palestinians are moderately injured. IDF troops conduct further raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem; in 1 village nr. Jericho; 3 villages, al-‘Arub r.c., and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron; 1 village nr. Qalqilya; Nablus and nearby Balata r.c.; and Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 22 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 2. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/23; JP, MNA, YA 11/24; PCHR 11/26)

Dozens of Gazans gather nr. the border for a 2d day, protesting the Israeli killing of 7 Gazans on 10/9. IDF troops open fire on the protesters, killing 2, injuring 26, and arresting 5 of the 70 who cross into Israel. Meanwhile, unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket toward Ashqelon, Israel, and it is intercepted by an Iron Dome missile defense battery. IAF jets launch retaliatory air strikes on Hamas military sites in s. and c. Gaza, killing 1 pregnant Palestinian and her young daughter and injuring 5 others. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya r.c., Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 10/10; PCHR 10/15)

Stabbing attacks continue in East Jerusalem, with 2 such incidents today. First, Israeli police shoot and kill a Palestinian youth nr. a gate to the Old City after he allegedly stabs and injures 2 Israelis. Later, Israeli police shoot and kill a Palestinian after he stabs and injures 2 policemen nr. the same gate (a 3d police officer is injured by friendly fire), and clashes break out following the attack. After a funeral for the Palestinian killed in Shu‘fat r.c. on 10/8, Israeli forces clash with and violently disperse stone-throwing Palestinians. Israeli forces also arrest 2 Palestinians in a hospital in al-Tur and clash with stone-throwers, injuring at least 29 Palestinians. (MNA, WAFA 10/10; MNA, YA 10/11; PCHR 10/15)

In the West Bank, undercover Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian youth and detain 4 others in overnight clashes nr. Jenin; the IDF will conduct raids in the village during the day, confiscating computers and arresting 1 Palestinian. Throughout the day IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian stone-throwers and protesters across the West Bank, injuring 34 Palestinians and 1 Israeli soldier. The IDF also conducts raids and patrols throughout the region, arresting 4 Palestinians and confiscating a vehicle. Israeli settlers continue attacking Palestinians and their property, clashing with Palestinians outside the Kiryat Arba settlement; Israeli forces violently disperse the gathering. Palestinian shops in and around Hebron observe a general strike in the morning, protesting the killings of Palestinians from the area by Israeli forces on 10/7 and 10/9. In Israel, around 1,500 Palestinian citizens peacefully march through Nazareth in protest of the recent Israeli attacks and restrictions on access at Haram al-Sharif. A similar demonstration in Ramla turns violent, and the Israeli police arrest 10 Palestinians accused of stone-throwing. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/10; HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 10/11; TOI 10/12; PCHR 10/14)

Israeli PM Netanyahu approves the deployment of 16 reserve companies of border police—as many as 2,000 troops—in Palestinian cities across Israel, in Jerusalem, and along major highways (the cabinet will approve the proposal on 10/11). (JP, TOI 10/10)

The tension in East Jerusalem escalates significantly today as Israeli forces enter Haram al-Sharif in the morning, clashing with dozens of Palestinians who stayed overnight in al-Aqsa Mosque; 110 Palestinians are injured to various degrees, including 9 journalists. Later that morning, around 650 right-wing Jewish activists tour the sanctuary for Rosh Hashanah, including Agriculture Min. Uri Ariel (Jewish Home Party). Israeli forces violently disperse stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the restrictions at Haram al-Sharif in Silwan and Issawiyya, arresting 2 Palestinians and injuring others.

Elsewhere, an Israeli driver crashes into a power pole in Sur al-Bahir, injuring all 3 passengers (the driver will succumb to his injuries on 9/14). Israeli police believe that Palestinian stone-throwers caused the crash, but are also investigating whether it was due to the man’s medical condition. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces fire warning shots at a group of Palestinians who were allegedly approaching the border fence. The Palestinians return fire, but there are no injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel e. of Jabaliya r.c. Off the n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attempt to kidnap a Palestinian child nr. Nablus, lightly injuring him. The boy’s father stops the attack. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting settlement activity nr. Bethlehem; conduct a late-night raid nr. Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian; patrol in al-Fawar r.c. and nr. Hebron and Nablus. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 9/13; HA, JP, NYT, YA 9/14; PCHR 9/17)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Jabaliya open fire on a group of Palestinian youth nr. the border fence, injuring 1. Off the s. coast, Egyptian naval forces open fire on a Palestinian fishing boat, injuring 1 fisherman and arresting the other. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), injuring 4 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and gas canisters in Bil‘in. Israeli soldiers also violently disperse protests outside Ofer detention center and Silwad nr. Ramallah, injuring 4 Palestinians, as well as in Susiya village nr. Hebron, where they assault Mustafa Barghouti, secy.-gen. of the Palestinian National Initiative. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Ni‘lin; patrols nr. Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm, Jenin, and Jericho. An Israeli settler attempts to hit a Palestinian child with his car nr. Tulkarm. Separately, unknown assailants throw stones at Israeli settlers’ cars nr. the Ofra settlement, lightly injuring 2 women. In East Jerusalem, IDF troops clash with Palestinians in Wadi al-Juz, al-Tur, al-‘Izzariya, and Abu Tor, firing tear gas and stun grenades and detaining 5 Palestinian youths. The Israeli police arrest 3 Palestinian women as they exit Haram al-Sharif and ban 4 others from entering the area for 3 days, following their release from detention late on 1/22. (MNA, TOI 1/23; MNA, WAFA 1/24; PCHR 1/29)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Jabaliya r.c. open fire on a group of Palestinians, moderately injuring 1. Also, 100s of Palestinians pray outside the Rafah border crossing, protesting its closure since 12/23. Meanwhile, police officers dismantle a 1,000 kg piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance left in Gaza City after OPE. Late at night, unknown persons vandalize the French Cultural Center, leaving slogans criticizing French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s recent publication of a cartoon featuring a likeness of the Prophet Muhammad. Also, the Gaza power plant resumes operation of a 3d turbine (out of 4 total), following the receipt of aid from the Qatari govt. for additional fuel. Daily scheduled power outages in Gaza decrease from 18 to 12 hours. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and nonweekly demonstrations in Surayf village nr. Hebron and outside Ofer detention center. In total, 10 Palestinians are seriously injured (2, Bil‘in; 7, Kafr Qaddum; 1, Surayf). Also, IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Ramallah, Qalqilya, and in al-‘Arub r.c.; patrol nr. Jenin; arrest a Palestinian man at a border crossing n. of Jenin. Separately, a Palestinian throws stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles between Jerusalem and Ramallah, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian in al-‘Izzariya. Meanwhile, 100s of Palestinians gather at Haram al-Sharif after Friday prayers to protest the Charlie Hebdo cartoon. In s. Israel, Palestinian bedouin residents of Rahat observe a general strike called for by the Arab High Follow-Up Comm. in protest of the 1/14 killing of Sami al-Ajar by Israeli police. The comm. also called for a strike on 1/18. (MNA 1/16; AFP, TOI 1/17; +972 1/19; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opens a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine to cover the time period since 6/13. Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women Rashida Manjoo cancels her fact-finding mission to the oPt because Israeli authorities refused to give her a visa. (MNA, TOI 1/16; EI, MNA, WAFA 1/17)

Speaking at a joint press conference, U.S. Pres. Obama affirms that he will veto any new sanctions legislation that the new Republicanled Congress may pass, and UK PM David Cameron criticizes the sanctions proposals. Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with Iranian FM Zarif in Paris and discusses the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, as U.S. and Iranian officials meet in Geneva for bilateral talks. Zarif also meets with French FM Fabius. (AFP, AP, MNA, TOI 1/16)