The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers forced a Palestinian family to leave their home near Tuqu’, stealing furniture, solar panels, and water tanks. Israeli settlers also opened fire at homes in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, causing damage. Israeli forces shot, injured, and arrested a Palestinian in Beit Ur al-Tahta. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 Palestinians during a raid in Fahma. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home in Shuqba. 52 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces punitively demolished the family home in Silwan of a Palestinian killed by Israel forces who allegedly killed 7 Israelis in January. In Gaza, Israeli forces stormed al-Shifa Hospital, assaulting and detaining Palestinians seeking shelter there, holding them blindfolded and naked outside the hospital, demolishing walls, and opening fire inside the hospital. Israel also arrested al-Shifa’s only electric generator mechanic and the technician working on the oxygen stations. 50 people were killed in an airstrike on a mosque in al-Sabrah and 25 were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City. The number of fatalities was likely much higher since the Gaza Ministry of Health was unable to communicate with hospitals and civil defense members in northern Gaza. Jordan said Israel had injured 7 of its staff members at the Jordanian field hospital. Israel also blew up Gaza’s parliament building and hit the last functioning flour mill in Gaza in Deir al-Balah with an airstrike. Israel also dropped leaflets telling residents of al-Qarara, Khuza’a, Bani Suheila, and Abasan in southern Gaza to evacuate immediately. 2 Israeli soldiers were killed. Rockets were fired from Gaza, injuring 2 in Ashkelon. In Lebanon, Israel attacked Odaisseh, Balat, Labouneh, Marwahin, Serda, and Naqoura; no injuries were reported. Hezbollah hit an Israeli post near the Lebanese village of Houla, causing damage. (HA, NYT 11/14; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA ,WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/15; AJ, AJ, AP, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 11/16)

The Gaza Ministry of Health was not able to update the casualty figures due to a collapse in services and communications at hospitals in northern Gaza, leaving the death toll at 11,479, including 4,630 children and 3,130 women, and around 32,000 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 3,250 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 187 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 47 children. More than 2,730 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals had been killed and 5,431 have injured since 10/7. 51 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. The first shipment of fuel entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing; it was restricted to use for UN vehicles only. UN vehicles ran out of fuel again on 11/16 due to the low quantity of fuel delivered. The UN said all 10 water wells in Rafah had stopped functioning due to a lack of fuel. Lebanon’s health ministry said 77 people have been killed and 251 injured in Israeli attacks since 10/7. (HA 11/14; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/15)

Hamas said the U.S. was “wholly responsible” for the Israeli attack on al-Shifa Hospital because it parroted Israel’s “false claim that the resistance is using al-Shifa medical complex for military ends.” Jordan condemned Israel’s storming of the hospital. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Israel a “terror state” and called on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare whether Israel has nuclear weapons or not. (HA 11/14; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, WAFA 11/15; AJ 11/16)

The Israeli military posted a video purporting to show that weapon caches were found in 1 part of al-Shifa Hospital. The video was later deleted from the military’s X account. Hamas official Bassem Naim called the Israeli claims “a farce.” (AJ, HA, NYT, REU 11/15; AJ 11/16)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel was issuing an average of 1,700 weapons licenses. 236,000 gun license applications have been submitted since 10/7 and 18,000 have been approved so far. (AP, HA 11/15)

The Knesset Ethics Committee suspended MKs Aida Touma-Sliman and Iman Khatib-Yassin from party and committee meetings for 2 months and 1 month respectively, citing statements they made on Israel’s war on Gaza. (HA 11/15)

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid said Prime Minister Netanyahu should be voted out of office in a no confidence vote and another Likud member should be allowed to form a government. (AJ, HA 11/15; AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU 11/16)

Reuters reported that Iranian ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this month that Iran will not attack Israel on Hamas’ behalf, saying Hamas did not give Iran prior warning of its operation. Khamenei and Haniyeh reportedly met in Tehran around 11/4. (HA 11/15)

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa, along with other countries, had filed a referral to the ICC for an investigation into war crimes potentially committed by Israel in Gaza. (AJ, AJ 11/16)

12 UN Security Council members voted for a resolution introduced by Malta calling for urgent, prolonged humanitarian ceasefires and unconditional release of the captives held by Hamas. The U.S., UK, and Russia abstained. A Russian amendment calling for a ceasefire was blocked by the U.S. PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour said the resolution fell short of condemning Israel for its attacks on Palestinian civilians, assaults on hospitals and schools, and the killing of UN staff, journalists, and doctors. (AJ, AJ, AX, HA, NYT, REU 11/15; AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 11/16)

U.S. president Joe Biden said at a press conference after a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping that it “would be a big mistake [for Israel] to reoccupy Gaza,” and that a “real” Palestinian state must be created to end the overall conflict. Biden also falsely claimed Israel was bringing incubators to al-Shifa Hospital, despite the hospital not needing incubators but rather fuel to power the incubators. Biden also said the Israel’s war on Gaza will not end until Hamas is defeated and claimed that Hamas has a headquarters under al-Shifa Hospital, despite Israel tacitly retracting that claim. (AJ, HA, NYT 11/15; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU 11/16)

U.S. national security council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk met with senior U.S. officials in Israel, including Prime Minister Netanyahu. McGurk has been part of the U.S. effort to normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. (HA 11/15)

The U.S. said it shot down a drone in the Red Sea that was launched from Yemen. (AJ, HA 11/15)

24 House Democrats urged President Biden to end “grave violations of children’s rights” by calling for an immediate ceasefire. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) called the Israeli refusal to allow fuel to be delivered to water desalination plants and generators at hospitals “inhumane.” Capitol police violently dispersed protesters blocking the entrance to the Democratic Party’s headquarters and calling for a ceasefire (AJ, HA 11/15; AJ 11/16)

In the UK parliament 56 out of 198 Labour Party members broke with the party line to vote in support of a ceasefire. The motion, which failed 293-125, was put forward by the Scottish National Party. Several members of the Labour Party resigned from their positions on the opposition frontbench after the vote. (AJ, REU 11/15; AJ, AJ, NYT 11/16)

A motion to expel the Israel ambassador and impose sanctions on Israel failed in the Irish parliament. The motion, which was denied in an 85-55 vote, was proposed by the Social Democrats party. (IN 11/15; HA 11/16)

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said Israel must end its “indiscriminate killing of Palestinians,” demanding a ceasefire, and said his government will work toward Spain and other European countries recognizing the state of Palestine. (AJ 11/15) 

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians harvesting olives in the Masafer Yatta area, injuring 2. Israeli settlers also attempted to kidnap a child in Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Elsewhere, armed Israeli settlers posing as soldiers vandalized a mosque in Menizel. Israeli forces raided Nur Shams refugee camp and attacked it with drones, killing 13 Palestinians, including 5 children, banned movement in and out of the refugee camp, and uprooted pavement with bulldozers. An Israeli soldier was killed in an IED explosion and 9 others were wounded. Israeli forces also shot and killed 3 Palestinians, including 2 minors, during raids in Budrus, Tulkarm, and Dheisheh refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 16 others during a raid in Budrus and al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished the family home in Qibya of a Palestinian alleged to have killed a settler before he was shot and killed by Israeli forces near Kafr Qaddum on 7/6. Around 184 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Ramallah, Dheisheh refugee camp, Tubas, Beita, Qalqilya, al-Eizeriya, Umm Safa, and Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, including 50 Palestinians workers from Gaza staying in Dheisheh refugee camp who had been expelled to the West Bank. In Gaza, around 285 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israeli forces also assassinated the first female member of the Hamas political bureau Jamila al-Shanti, the head of the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committee Rafat Harb Hussein Abu Halal, and Hamas’ Jehad Mheisen. Israeli airstrikes also bombed the 12th century Church of Saint Porphyrius, killing at least 8 people sheltering in it and targeted 5 bakeries, killing many people waiting to purchase bread. Rockets were fired at Israel; no fatalities were reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces shot and killed a journalist and injured 1 other in Hula. Israeli forces also attacked parts of South Lebanon with combat helicopters and killed 3 people it claimed were firing anti-tank missiles at Israel. Israel said 30 rockets were fired at Israel. (AJ, HA 10/18; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/19; AJ, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 10/20)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said as of 5 p.m. at least 3,785 Palestinians had been killed, including at least 1,524 children, and 12,500 had been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7, including 47 entire families consisting of 500 people. It is estimated that hundreds are still trapped in rubble. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 81 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 22 children. More than 1,434 have been injured, including at least 300 with live ammunition. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals; 4,562 have been injured since 10/7. The number of Israelis killed rose from 10/18 as Israel released the names of Israelis killed on 10/7. The UN reported that over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. At least 21,900 housing units have been destroyed and 121,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting around 30% of all homes in Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 21 journalists have been killed since 10/7, including 17 Palestinians, 3 Israelis, and 1 Lebanese. (AJ, HA 10/18; AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 10/19)

The UN reported that 74 Palestinian households, comprised of 545 people, have been displaced from Bedouin communities in Area C of the West Bank due to settler violence and access restrictions. (BTselem, UNOCHA 10/19)

Haaretz reported that on 10/12 a group of 20-25 Israeli settlers and soldiers abducted 3 Palestinians from the depopulated Wadi al-Seeq community before assaulting, undressing, and urinating on 2 of them, putting 1 of their faces in feces, and attempted to sodomize 1 of them. The 3 Palestinians were abused for 6 hours before they were dropped off at an abandoned building and photographed. The settlers and soldiers also stole their phones, a car, and $544 in cash. The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident and 1 commander of the military unit was suspended. (HA 10/19; MEMO, TOI 10/20)

Palestinian officials said that Israeli authorities have warned that Israeli forces will target the Gaza Power Plant if it tries to resume operations. (UNOCHA 10/19)

Palestinian officials also said Israel has arrested 4,000 workers from Gaza, holding them in military bases, and have arrested 1,070 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, doubling the total number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (AJ 10/21)

An Al Jazeera investigation into the bombing of al-Ahli Arab Hospital found that evidence presented by Israel misrepresented the event, ruling out that footage used by Israel showed a misfired rocket hit the hospital and saying that no footage from live streams suggest that rockets were fired from Gaza at the moment of the bombing. (AJ 10/19)

The U.S. said it had intercepted 3 cruise missiles and several drones fired by Houthi forces in Yemen. The Defense Department said the missiles and drones were heading north in the Red Sea, potentially toward Israel. Rockets and drones also attacked the U.S. Ain al-Asad air base and another compound hosting U.S. military forces near Baghdad International Airport. It was unclear who attacked the bases. (AJ 10/18; HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU 10/19; AP, HA 10/20)

Egyptian machinery reportedly entered Gaza to repair roads near the Rafah crossing to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid. However, Hamas denied that repairs had begun. Israel has bombed the Rafah crossing at least 4 times since 10/7. At least 100 trucks are waiting to enter Gaza near the crossing while others are waiting at El Arish Airport. UN officials said UN observers will inspect aid to Gaza before it enters through the Rafah crossing (AJ, AP, REU 10/19)

Israel said Hezbollah has granted Hamas permission to fire rockets at Israel and “will bear the consequences.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told soldiers near the Gaza fence to get ready for a ground invasion. (AP, HA, REU 10/19)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. (WAFA 10/19)

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Israel for meetings with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Sunak said upon his arrival that he “stands with Israel” and that the UK is on the forefront of the effort to avoid further escalation of the conflict. 6 UK nationals were killed in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and 9 are still missing. Sunak also met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, who called Israel’s targeting of civilians in Gaza “a heinous crime and brutal attack.” Sunak will later travel to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. (AJ 10/18; AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU, REU 10/19)

In an Oval Office address, U.S. president Joe Biden compared Hamas to Russian president Vladimir Putin and his attack on Ukraine, saying both want to annihilate their neighbors. Biden further claimed that Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields and said he had told President Abbas he supports the Palestinian people. Biden also said he will send an “unprecedented” aid package for Israel to Congress for approval. The package was reportedly worth $14 billion. Israel had asked the U.S. for weapons, including precision-guided munitions, JDAMs, Iron Dome replenishment, and mortar shells. The U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution affirming Israel’s right to self-defense and condemning Hamas and Iran. 10 Republican senators said they will introduce legislation to redirect $100 million in planned humanitarian aid to Palestinians to replenishing the Iron Dome. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said he had received a briefing that suggested the al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing was caused by a rocket misfired by Islamic Jihad. California governor Gavin Newsom said he was traveling to Israel. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU, REU 10/19; HA, REU 10/20)

Turkish media reported that the Israeli ambassador and other Israeli diplomats have left the country. (HA 10/19)

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the PA should take control of Gaza after Israel concludes its attack. (AJ 10/18)

Russia said it will deliver 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza via Egypt. Germany said it would donate $52.91 million to the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and UNWRA to help Palestinians in Gaza. (AJ 10/18; HA 10/19)

AP reported that Hamas may have used North Korean weapons during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, including F-7 rocket-propelled grenades. (AP 10/19)

A CBS News/YouGov poll found that 53% of U.S. Democrats and 55% of Independents believed that the U.S. should not send additional weapons and supplies to Israel, while 56% of all those polled disapproved of President Biden’s handling of the war. (HA 10/19)

More than 400 U.S. congressional staffers signed a letter saying they were “profoundly disturbed” by the lack of humanity extended to the Palestinian people by the U.S. Congress. Huffington Post reported that State Department officials were preparing a letter of dissent to the Biden administration’s approach to the war. (HA 10/19)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Israel has been included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program effective immediately, despite Israel’s entry to the program being scheduled for 11/30. (AP, HA, NYT 10/19)

Many countries urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. (AJ, AJ, HA 10/19)

The Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria in Texas said it had determined that it cannot host the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights’ (USCPR) national conference, citing security risks to its staff and guests. Texas governor Greg Abbot called USCPR “Hamas supporters.” The Council of American-Islamic Relations canceled a banquet at the Marriott Crystal Gateway hotel in Arlington, Virginia, after receiving bomb threats. (AP, HA 10/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort raided Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians protesting the incursion; no injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian farmers with pepper spray east of Hebron. Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 1 mosque, 3 houses, and 1 commercial structure in Marda. Israeli forces also forced Palestinian business owners to close their shops in Huwwara, claiming that stones had been thrown at Israeli settlers near the shops. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 4 water wells in Khallet al-Dabe. Israeli forces also demolished 1 commercial structure in ‘Anata. Israeli military said that shots were fired from a car at Israeli soldiers near Nablus; no injuries were reported. 13 Palestinians were arrested, including 10 during late-night raids in Dahariya, Za‘atra, Silwad, and Zeita; 3 were arrested at checkpoints near Bethlehem and Nablus. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/2; MEMO, MEMO, PCHR 2/3)

Haaretz reported that Israeli attorney general Avichai Mendelblit authorized establishing an Israeli settlement on the evacuated Evyatar settlement outpost near Beita. Attorney General Mendelblit is leaving office this week. Palestinians have held weekly protests at the site since the outpost was erected in May 2021. The outpost was evacuated in June 2021, but the houses erected remained as the settlers struck a deal with the Israeli government that they could move back if Israel deemed that the land is state-owned. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz will have to declare the area state-owned, after which there will be a 45-day period to file objections. Several Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the past year while protesting the outpost. In a letter from Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Lapid warned that if the Israeli government legalized the Evyatar settlement outpost, it “could have serious diplomatic consequences and damage foreign relations, first and foremost from the United States,” saying that the U.S. has already made this clear to him. Labor and Meretz publicly opposed legalizing the settlement outpost. (AP, HA, IN 2/2; HA, JP, MEE, TOI, TOI, TOI 2/3; HA, HA, HA 2/4; UNOCHA 2/11)

The Shin Bet admitted to having threatened random Palestinians in Israel that it would “settle the score” if they had participated in protests related to the May 2021 uprising in Israel that coincided with Israeli attacks on Gaza and eviction threats against Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. (HA, MEE 2/3)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Amnesty International’s secretary-general Agnès Callamard in Ramallah, discussing the report Amnesty released on 2/1 that charged Israel with the crime of apartheid. (WAFA 2/2)

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, at a conference in Tel Aviv, that the Israeli military on 4 occasions had offered assistance to Lebanon. According to Gantz, the offers were made to strengthen the Lebanese army in facing “the strengthening of Hezbollah under Iran’s support.” Israeli military sources later denied that Israel had made such offers and that Israel had only offered humanitarian aid following the explosion in the Beirut port. (HA 2/2; MEMO 2/3)

Israel, Oman, and Saudi Arabia all took part in the International Maritime Exercise 2022, led by the U.S. and with the participation of nearly 60 countries. It was the 1st time that Saudi Arabia and Oman partook in a naval exercise with Israel, which they have no formal relations with. (AJ, ALM 2/2)

The FBI confirmed reporting from the New York Times published on 1/28 that the agency had bought the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, but claimed to never have used it. The FBI further stated that it had bought the spyware for “product testing and evaluation.” (ALM, AP, HA, REU 2/2; MEMO 2/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Kafr Malik, leading to clashes with Palestinians; 1 Palestinian was shot by a rubber-coated bullet, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also razed hundreds of olive trees near Tubas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 residential structure and 1 agricultural structure in Sawahara al-Sharqiyya, seized 2 agricultural structures in Khan al-Ahmar, and demolished 1 mosque in a Bedouin community near Yatta. Palestinians protested the PA presidential decrees published on 1/11, which critics say serve to bolster the PA presidency at the expense of the judicial branch of government; the protests were held in front of the court complex in Ramallah. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jenin, Qabatiya, Madama, Sabastiyya, Hizma, Hebron, and Birzeit. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/27; HA, PCHR 1/28)

The PA announced it had decided to close the Allenby border crossing with Jordan to prevent the spread of new COVID-19 virus variants. The closure is in effect until 2/3. (WAFA 1/28)

After Israel refused to allow restoration work on the Dome of the Rock and other holy places in the Haram al-Sharif compound, Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi said Israel had agreed to retract its objections and allow the restoration work. (WAFA 1/27; WAFA 1/28)

Member of the Palestinian-Israeli Balad party Mtanes Shehadeh said after a meeting among members of the Arab Joint List that the list will likely be dissolved before the next election due to “fundamental political differences.” 1 of the reasons the Arab Joint List is having irreconcilable differences is that Mansour Abbas, the leader of the United Arab List, is seeking closer ties with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Another reason is the United Arab List’s more conservative values compared to the 3 other parties. Parties running for the Israeli elections have until 2/4 to submit their composition of candidates. (HA 1/25; HA, TOI 1/27)

Large protests broke out in Tripoli in Lebanon, leading to confrontations between police and protesters. 1 protester was reported dead and 226 people injured, including 26 police officers. The protesters started taking to the street on 1/25, demonstrating against the COVID-19-related lockdown measures and deteriorating living conditions. (AP 1/27; AP 1/28)

The new U.S. administration said it would freeze the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE and munitions to Saudi Arabia to review the transactions. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said the practice of new administrations reviewing pending sales of weaponry is not uncommon. The sale of the F-35 fighter jets to the UAE was part of the Israel-U.S.-UAE normalization deal announced in August 2020. Secretary Blinken also spoke with the Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi over the phone to discuss, among other issues, expanding the Trump administration’s normalization efforts. (AJ, AX, HA, HA, TOI 1/27)

At her confirmation hearing, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. president Joe Biden’s nominee for UN ambassador, said that she finds the BDS movement “unacceptable” and that it is on “the verge of antisemitism.” Thomas-Greenfield also said she was looking forward to combatting “anti-Israel bias” at the UN and hoped to see more countries join normalization deals with Israel and the U.S. (HA, MEE, TOI 1/27)

Israeli pres. Shimon Peres says he has met with Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas and other Palestinian officials several times in recent months to discuss resuming peace talks. The Palestinians do not comment. (WT 6/20) A previously unknown group calling itself the Mujahiddin Shura Council of Jerusalem (which claims ties to alQa‘ida) releases a video claiming responsibility for the 6/18 cross-border attack on Israel from Egypt. The video shows the 2 assailants killed by the IDF, identifying them as an Egyptian and a Saudi. (WP 6/20; NYT 6/21)

Responding to recent Israeli air strikes and cross-border shootings in Gaza that killed 6 Palestinians, Hamas’s IQB for the 1st time in more than a year fires a barrage of at least 45 rockets (including at least 10 Grads) fr. Gaza into Israel; 1 rocket damages an Israeli police barracks and injures 2 police officers, but the others land in open areas. The IQB says it is aiming predominantly at open areas to minimize the severity of its rocket fire and to ‘‘send a message’’ to Israel. Expecting retaliation, Hamas security officials vacate their bases. Israel initially issues a stern warning and carries out 1 air strike on a Palestinian rocketlaunching team nr. Dayr al-Balah, wounding 1 armed Palestinian. Late at night, however, Israeli warplanes and drones carry out 7 air strikes on Hamas targets across Gaza, seriously wounding 1 IQB mbr. The targets include a garage and a group of armed Palestinians in Gaza City, a vacant house in al-Bureij r.c., and 2 IQB training camps nr. Bayt Lahiya and Rafah. (HA 6/19; NYT, YA 6/20; PCHR 6/21; OCHA 6/22)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers set fire to a mosque in the village of Jaba nr. Bethlehem and spray graffiti on its walls warning the Israeli government against evacuating the unauthorized settlement outpost of Ulpana (5 buildings, 30 families). This is the 12th mosque vandalized by Jewish settlers since 1/2011. Jewish settlers also vandalize the car of the settler leader negotiating the terms of Ulpana’s evacuation with the Israeli government. OCHA reports that in the previous week, the IDF carried out several significant demolitions in Israelicontrolled Area C: 14 residential structures and 11 animal pens in the al-Hirma bedouin community near Bethlehem (64 displaced, including 37 children); 6 seasonal residential structures in the Jordan Valley (20 displaced); 1 residential structure nr. Qalqilya; and 2 animal pens nr. East Jerusalem. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/20; OCHA 6/22)

The P5+1 and Iran close 2 days of ‘‘intense and tough’’ nuclear talks in Moscow. Both sides say that the talks were so detailed and so heated that they need a break to digest all that has been discussed and to confer with their governments. Iran reportedly offers to halt enrichment of uranium to 20% purity if the international community acknowledges Iran’s right to enrich uranium and immediately rolls back sanctions. The P5+1 refuses to delay or waive sanctions until Iran meets specific benchmarks of compliance. Ashton announces that the sides plan to send technical experts to Istanbul on 7/3 ‘‘to make sure all clearly understood the nature of both sides’ proposals’’ and to gauge the prospects for narrowing gaps and holding more negotiations. Meanwhile, the next round of EU and U.S. sanctions are scheduled to go into effect as scheduled on 7/1. (NYT 6/19; NYT, WP 6/20; NYT 7/2; WT 7/4; NYT 7/5)

Unidentified U.S. and Western officials confirm to the Washington Post (6/20) that the U.S. and Israel jointly developed the Flame virus to map and monitor Iran’s computer networks in preparation for a major cyberwarfare campaign. They said, however, that Israel deployed the virus unilaterally, without consulting the U.S., leading to its premature detection by Iran and to development of critical Iranian countermeasures. U.S. intelligence officials had hoped that Flame would reside undetected on Iran’s networks for years sending back valuable information. Computer experts said (WP 6/20) that Flame contained ‘‘DNA-like evidence’’ linking it to the Stuxnet virus (see QU in JPS 158). This would make the Stuxnet and Flame attacks the first recorded sustained cyber-sabotage campaign against a state. (WP 6/20)

Lebanon releases 9 Islamists (7 Lebanese, 1 Palestinian, 1 Saudi) tied to Fatah al-Islam who were among the approximate 180 people detained during the 2007 clashes between Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army in Nahr al-Barid r.c. in n. Lebanon (see QU in JPS 145–46). (WT 6/20)

In Amman, Arafat meets with King Abdallah. (RJ 4/4 in WNC 4/5; WT 4/5; al-Riyad 4/7 in WNC 4/15)

Jordan's King Abdallah begins a 3 day visit to Saudi Arabia today on 1st leg of regional tour aimed at restoring Arab solidarity, inter-Arab coordination; meets with King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdallah, who urge Jordan to limit ties with Iraq. (MM 4/6; JTV 4/6 in WNC 4/7; MM 4/7; `Ukaz 4/7, al-Ra'i 4/9 in WNC 4/14; al-Riyad 4/7 in WNC 4/15; MM 4/9; MEI 4/23)

Clashes erupt in Nazareth btwn. Christians and Muslims, who oppose planned construction of a plaza for millennium Christian pilgrims nr. a mosque. More than 70 Israeli police arrive but make no effort to stop the rioting, which leaves 7 Palestinians injured. There have been nonviolent protests over the project for more than a yr. (WP, WT 4/5; MM 4/8; MEI 4/23)

Egypt recalls its diplomatic mission fr. Belgrade to protest attacks against Albanians in Kosovo. (MENA 4/4 in WNC 4/5)

IDF shelling in s. Lebanon, injures 8 Lebanese civilians, including 5 children. (VOL 4/4 in WNC 4/5; WP 4/5; RL 4/5, 4/6 in WNC 4/7; WT 4/9; JP 4/16)

U.S special envoy Ross holds final unsuccessful mtg. with PM Netanyahu. State Dept. says that since no gaps were closed during Ross's tour, it is not considering a Washington summit; says that "one option has always been for us to disengage from this kind of direct catalytic role." Ross goes to Sharm al-Shaykh to brief Egyptian pres. Mubarak. (MM 3/30; IDF Radio, MENA 3/30 in WNC 3/31; ITV, QY 3/30, al-Dustur, IDF Radio, ITV, JT, QY 3/31 in WNC 4/2; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/31; CSM, MM 4/1; SA 4/1 in WNC 4/3; WJW 4/2; MENA 4/2 in WNC 4/4; MM 4/3; MEI 4/10; JP 4/11)

In Riyadh, Egyptian FM Musa, Syrian FM Shara`, Saudi Arabian FM Prince Sa'ud al-Faisal open surprise 2-day mtg. to discuss peace process, possibly convening larger Arab summit. (RE 3/30 in WNC 3/31; MM 3/31; MENA, RE 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MM 4/1; al-Ittihad [Abu Dhabi] 4/2 in WNC 4/3)

Iranian FM Kharrazi arrives in Lebanon for 3-day visit, meets with Pres. Hrawi. (IRNA, RL, VOL 3/30 in WNC 3/31; IRNA 3/30, IRNA, RL 3/31 in WNC 4/2; IRNA, RL, VIRI 4/1 in WNC 4/3; al-Ahd [Beirut] 4/3 in WNC 4/13)

Jordan, Israel hold 1-day naval exercise in the Gulf of Aqaba. This is the 1st such joint exercise. (RJ 3/30, JT 3/31 in WNC 4/2)

Jordan receives last 3 F-16s fr. the U.S. (al-Ra'i 3/31 in WNC 4/2; JT 4/4 in WNC 4/7)

Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza mark Land Day, the anniversary of the 1976 incident in which the IDF opened fire on Palestinians protesting Israeli land confiscations, killing 6. Clashes with IDF are reported in Bethlehem, al-Bireh, Hebron, Jinin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah; 17 Palestinians are injured. Israeli Arab leaders order general strike. (NYT 3/29; MM 3/30; al-Dustur 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MA 4/6 in WNC 4/7; JP 4/11)

Israeli High Court rejects appeal to prevent demolition of mosque in Jordan Valley, school and home nr. Nablus, home nr. Tulkarm. (LAW 3/31)

50 Christian evangelical groups make unprecedented promise not to carry out missionary activity in Israel, saying that they "rejoice in the presence of the Jewish people in this country of their ancestors" and they will avoid "activities which . . . alienate them from their tradition and community." (WT 3/31)

Saudi Arabia ends its inquiry into the 6/96 Khobar barracks bombing, says bombers cannot be positively identified. U.S., which suspects Iranian involvement and has complained that Saudi Arabia has not been forthcoming with information, says its investigation is still open. (NYT 3/31; WT 4/1)

Military Action:

IDF curfew checks Chouf fighting, IDF tank opens fire on house after being fired on, IDF officers meet with Phalange and Druze leaders in attempt to preserve cease-fire.

Casualties:

One IDF soldier wounded by mortar shell at Kafr Barich; 500 women gather at West Beirut mosque to protest disappearances; Grand Mufti has compiled list of 3,000 persons detained or missing since Bashir Gemayel assassination; Army increasing sweeps to arrest activists.

Political Responses:

lsrael/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet issues statement expressing "astonishment" at Reagan Administration opposition to increasing aid; Commission of Inquiry denies Saad Haddad's request to examine evidence, question witnesses, says it lacks evidence of any Haddad involvement, despite Sharon report of IDF unit firing on Haddad men involved in killings and British physician's overhearing discussion of Haddad involvement by IDF officers; Ministry of Science announces Edward Teller-who helped develop the atomic and hydrogen bombs-is in Israel to advise the Government on building a nuclear reactor for peaceful uses, utilization of nuclear energy; Sharon leaves for trip to Honduras to "cement relations with a friendly country which has shown interest in connection with our defense establishment" will meet with Defense Minister Hernandez and President Cordoba; IDF civilian employees stage first strike ever in growing labor confrontation with government.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO leaders end 2-day conference in South Yemen with attack on US Mideast policies; Arafat flies to Saudi Arabia; Jumblatt, in Der Spiegel interview, attacks Gemayel for failing to disarm Phalange; Lebanese Army denies that 5 Palestinian activists have died from torture and mistreatment (Lebanese authorities, despite promises in early October, have not allowed international observers to visit prisoners, continue to round up members of Palestinian groups even though membership in them is legal).

Arab Governments: Arab League delegation, headed by King Hussein, arrives in China.

US and Other Countries: Senior Reagan officials, extremely concerned at stalled withdrawal negotiations, indicate US Marines will stay in Lebanon well into next year; Union of American Hebrew Congregations' national board decides to table vote until 1983 on resolution rejecting Begin's settlement plans and calling for territorial compromises.