The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attempted to enter Nabi Salih but were repelled by Palestinians. Israeli forces raided Shufa, seizing Palestinian flags from poles and houses. Israeli forces also seized 1 t-shirt from a 3-year-old at a checkpoint near Tura, saying that the t-shirt depicted a rifle. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Husan, Nablus, and al-Am‘ari refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, closing it off to Muslim worshippers. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers and shepherds east of Rafah, al-Qarara, and Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/5; PCHR 6/9; UNOCHA 6/17)

Lebanese president Michel Aoun and prime minister Najib Mikati condemned Israel for placing an Israeli gas-drilling rig in a maritime zone that both countries claim is theirs. Prime Minister Mikati said “the Israeli enemy’s attempts to create a new crisis, by encroaching on Lebanon’s maritime wealth, and imposing a fait accompli in a disputed area in which Lebanon adheres to its rights, is extremely dangerous.” Israel claimed that the gas-drilling rig was placed outside of the disputed area. President Aoun and Prime Minister Mikati later, on 6/6, called on U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein to complete negotiations in Beirut on demarcating the 2 countries’ maritime borders to “prevent an escalation.” A Haaretz investigation using satellite images later suggested that the gas-drilling rig was not in the maritime area that both Israel and Lebanon claim. (AJ, HA, REU 6/5; AJ, AN, HA, MEE, REU, REU, TOI 6/6; REU, REU, REU 6/7; AP, REU 6/9; HA 6/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and forces seized 5 vegetable stands along Route 90 in the Jordan Valley. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting raids in Ras Karkar and al-Janiya, firing tear gas. Israeli forces also punitively demolished 2 Palestinian-owned homes belonging to Palestinian prisoners in Silat ad-Dhahr; 6 Palestinians were injured during the demolitions, including 1 by live ammunition and 5 with rubber-coated bullets. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Nablus, Rujeib, and Biddu, and 1 who crashed his car into a military vehicle during a demolition in Silat ad-Dhahr. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Sheikh Jarrah and Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of Dayr al-Balah and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (HA, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/8; PCHR 3/9; PCHR 3/10; UNOCHA 3/11; UNOCHA 3/25)

The Israeli government asked the Israeli high court of justice for an additional 30 days to inform the court about the government’s stance on evacuating the Palestinian village Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank. The Israeli government cited Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett’s current preoccupation with “the crisis involving the fighting in Europe [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine].” (HA 3/8; MEMO 3/9)

Haaretz reported that Israel’s defense ministry has imposed further restrictions on who can teach at Palestinian institutions of higher education in the West Bank. Among the new requirements were that the lecturer needs to be teaching in a field designated by Israel as essential, that the lecturer is accomplished and that the lecturer has a PhD. Only 100 foreign lecturers will receive a permit from Israel to teach in the West Bank. (HA, MEE 3/8; WAFA 3/12)

Israel’s state prosecutor dropped terror charges against 6 Israeli Jews who attacked 1 Palestinian man at a mosque in Herzliya in May 2021. The 6, who had beaten the man after confirming that he was Palestinian, were instead convicted of intentional and racially motived assault. (HA 3/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers smashed the windows of 3 Palestinian houses and 2 vehicles in Huwwara. Israeli forces distributed notices to Palestinians in Yatta, declaring a large area east of the city Israeli state land. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in al-Fawar refugee camp, Birzeit, Nablus, Jenin refugee camp, and Ya‘bad; 5 Palestinians were injured during confrontations with Israeli forces spawning from the raids in Jenin and al-Fawar refugee camp, including 1 by live ammunition, 2 by glass shards, and 2 by rubber-coated bullets. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned house and 3 shops in Shu‘fat refugee camp. 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Jabal Mukabir. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Abasan, Khuza‘a, al-Shuka, and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israelis attacked a Palestinian news crew working for Anadolu news agency in West Jerusalem, vandalizing their car. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/3; PCHR 3/4)

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that the ICC will start a formal investigation into war crimes committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. On 2/5, the ICC judges decided that the ICC does have jurisdiction in the occupied territories. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the opening of a formal investigation “the essence of Antisemitism.” Both the PA and Hamas welcomed the investigation. Many human rights organizations likewise lauded the decision to investigate. The U.S. state department released a statement saying that the U.S. “opposes the ICC investigation into the Palestinian situation.” In the 1st stage of the investigation, Israel and the Palestinian parties have 30 days to inform the court if they will investigate alleged criminals themselves. (AJ, AP, BBC, DOS, GDN, HA, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/3; AHQ, AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/4)

Israeli minister of environmental protection Gila Gamliel said Iran was behind an oil spill in the Mediterranean in what she described as “environmental terrorism.” According to Haaretz, Israeli military and intelligence agencies were caught by surprise by Environmental Protection Minister Gamliel’s announcement. The Israeli defense ministry later said it had found no evidence of Gamliel’s claim. (AP, HA, REU 3/3; AP, GDN, HA, TOI 3/4)

1 U.S. contractor died of a heart of attack during an attack on the ‘Ayn al-Asad air base in Iraq. At least 10 missiles were fired at the base. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA 3/3; HA 3/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces opened fire at 1 Palestinian vehicle at a checkpoint near Jenin, puncturing its tires; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 8 Palestinian-owned homes in Duma. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Abu Dis, Kaubar, Dheisheh refugee camp, Jenin, Hebron, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya and al-Tur. In Gaza, 2 rockets fired from the strip landed in the Mediterranean Sea, after which Israeli aircraft fired 1 missile at al-Qarara and 3 missiles at al-Shuka, damaging agricultural lands; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also made incursions and levelled land near Khan Yunis. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/18; HA, WAFA 1/19; PCHR 1/21)

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman to discuss the Palestinian elections scheduled for May and July. According to Haaretz, the 2 countries have been asked by Palestinian leaders to help facilitate the parliamentary and presidential elections. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh also said that the PA has asked Israel to allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to participate in the elections. (HA, TOI 1/18)

The WHO voiced concern about the unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The head of the WHO in the occupied Palestinian territories Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub said that the WHO has been in contact with Israel, trying to get the country to distribute vaccines to front-line workers in the occupied territories. Israel has boasted about its successful vaccination campaign, claiming the highest rate per capita, but has as of late come under international media scrutiny for not shouldering its responsibilities as an occupying power by distributing vaccines among its occupied population. (AP 1/18; HA 1/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole ladders, cloth, and saws used for olive harvesting in Jalud. Israeli forces demolished 3 residential structures near Abu Dis. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Kafr Malik and Bethlehem; during raids in Kafr Malik, Tammun, and Jab‘a, confrontations with Palestinians erupted, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 store and 1 apartment in Sur Bahir. 3 Palestinians were arrested in and around the Old City, al-Tur, and Shu‘fat refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28; PCHR 10/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to UN secretary-general António Guterres urging him to convene an international conference for Middle East peace. (WAFA 10/29)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman signed an agreement on scientific cooperation, which extends the area that the U.S. considers Israel to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. In a statement, Ambassador Friedman said that the agreement “remove[s] geographic restrictions . . . These geographic restrictions are no longer consistent with U.S. policy.” According to Haaretz, the American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who is a major donor for U.S. president Donald Trump and the Ariel University in the Ariel settlement, where the signing ceremony was held, has been pressuring the U.S. administration to fast-track the agreement. Member of the executive committee of the PLO Hanan Ashrawi said that President Trump is seeking to bolster his position in the presidential race by making “a clear recognition of Israel’s annexation of Palestinian territory,” calling the U.S. an active participant in war crimes. (AX, JNS, JP, REU 10/27; HA, REU, U.S. Embassy in Israel, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28)