The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers blocked an intersection at the Bethlehem-Hebron road and threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Burin and Madama. Israeli settlers also raided Kafr al-Dik, destroying 120 olive trees, and breaking windows of an agricultural structure and stealing its contents. Israeli forces violently dispersed anti-settlement protests in the Masafer Yatta area, near Yatta, leading to tear-gas related injuries; Israeli settlers also unleashed dogs on Palestinian journalists covering the protest, leading to the hospitalization of 1 and injuries to 1 other. Israeli forces also raided Bayt Fajjar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in Kafr Qaddum; 2 Palestinians were hit by tear gas canisters. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Jenin. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya. In Gaza, 47 Palestinians were injured in a blast in Bayt Hanun; it is unclear what caused the explosion. (HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/23; WAFA 1/24; PCHR 1/28)

In Israel, protests against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued for the 31st Saturday in a row with thousands of people gathering outside of his official residence demanding his resignation over his corruption charges, COVID-19 response, and the Israeli economy. (AP 1/23; WAFA 1/24)

Palestinian-Israeli politician Sami Abu Shehadeh won the primaries for the leadership of the Balad party over the incumbent Mtanes Shihadeh. (JP 1/23; HA 1/24)

The U.S. national security council released a statement saying national security advisor Jake Sullivan promised Israeli national security advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat that the U.S. “will closely consult with Israel on all matters of regional security,” and that the U.S. would continue to build “on the success of Israel’s normalization arrangements.” (AX 1/23; AJ, MEE, REU, TOI 1/24; HA 1/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers in the Yitzhar settlement erected a sign saying, “[e]ntry for Arabs is dangerous.” Israeli settlers also stole olive harvests in Burin. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Burqa, injuring 5 with rocks and damaging vehicles. Palestinians accessing their land on the other side of the separation barrier from where they live found some 60 olive trees were vandalized and olive crops were stolen. Israeli forces blocked off several roads to villages in the Jenin area, preventing Palestinians from harvesting their olive crops. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Halhul, Kafr Qaddum, Nablus, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/12; PCHR 10/15)

Israel approved construction of 500 new settlement housing units in the Tzur Hadasah settlement near Bethlehem. (MEMO, WAFA 10/12)

B’Tselem said that a Palestinian man who has been hunger striking to protest his administrative detention for nearly 80 days is “on the verge of death.” (AJ 10/12)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh asked members of the EU parliament, during an online debate, to recognize the state of Palestine and to be more active in a future peace process. (WAFA 10/13)

The Israeli cabinet approved Israel’s normalization deal with the UAE; the Knesset is set to vote on the deal on 10/15. (HA, HA, REU 10/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 1 Palestinian man after he allegedly deliberately tried to ram his car into Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near Bayt Awa. Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians during raids in al-Yamun, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Separately, 1 Palestinian minor was injured by live ammunition during clashes when Israeli forces raided al-‘Arub refugee camp. Israeli forces also seized tents and a solar panel west of Jericho and demolished 1 animal barn and seized water pipes in the northern Jordan Valley. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles near Burin. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Beita and Kafr Qaddum; during 1 raid Israeli forces also seized 1 vehicle. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of Dayr al-Balah and on agricultural lands east of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinian citizens of Israel in Wadi Ara who were protesting the killing of 1 Palestinian suffering from mental illness on 5/13. (HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/14; WAFA, WAFA 5/15; PCHR 5/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to olive fields between Burin and Huwwara, damaging 70 trees. Israeli settlers also threw stones, damaging a Palestinian-owned vehicle while it was traveling on the Ramallah-Nablus road. Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting their olive trees in Kafr Qaddum, declaring the area a closed military zone. Israeli forces shot a Palestinian at a checkpoint near Tulkarm. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers near the Gaza fence; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/8; PCHR 10/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly protest in Bil‘in west of Ramallah. 1 Palestinian was also injured after Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas in Kafr Qaddum. Elsewhere in the West Bank, 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli settlers raiding the village of Burin south of Nablus. The Palestinian was rushed to a hospital in Nablus for treatment. In Hebron, 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by a rubber-coated bullet by Israeli forces and another suffered from tear gas inhalation in clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces. Israel’s Council for Higher Education passed a vote approving a medical school in the settlement of Ariel in the West Bank and connected to Ariel University. In Gaza, a 15-year-old Palestinian was shot dead and 66 others injured by Israeli live fire during the weekly Great March of Return protest east of Jabaliya refugee camp. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 218. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (HA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/12; WAFA 4/13)

In a press release by the World Health Organization, a call was made for Israel to protect health workers in Gaza and said it had recorded 3 deaths and 731 injuries among health workers since the Great March of Return began on 30 March 2018. (WAFA 4/13)

More than 10,000 Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. The march’s organizing committee called for increased participation today to mark Naksa Day. Some protesters fly incendiary kites across the border fence into Israel, sparking small fires. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Gaza City, Rafah, Jabaliya refugee camp, Khan Yunis, and al-Bureij refugee camp; 4 Palestinians are killed and at least 100 are injured, including 2 paramedics. The killings bring the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 121. Earlier, IDF drones drop firebombs on protest tent camps and piles of tires along the border fence, sparking a number of minor fires and causing moderate damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp on 2 separate occasions, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya (1 Palestinian is injured); arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids near Salfit and Bethlehem; and patrol near Hebron. Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian farmer’s supplies outside Burin near Nablus and leave racist graffiti on the walls nearby. In East Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers pray at Haram al-Sharif, marking the final Friday of Ramadan. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian minor during a late-night raid in al-Jadira village. (EI, HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, YA 6/8; PCHR 6/14)

IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Nablus; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. Three Palestinians are injured amid clashes sparked by raids in Dahaysha refugee camp, Kafr Qaddum, and Burin. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian homes near Nablus, sparking minor clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, Bayt Lahiya, and Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. Two fishermen are arrested. (WAFA 2/24; PCHR 3/1)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s separation wall, occupation, and settlements, as well as U.S. president Trump’s 12/6/17 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in Hebron, Jericho, Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, 2 areas near Nablus (Beita village and the Huwwara checkpoint), 5 villages near Ramallah (al-Janiya, al-Bireh, Nabi Salih, Ni‘lin, and Bil‘in), and along Gaza’s border near Gaza City, Khan Yunis, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Jabaliya refugee camp. At least 31 Palestinian are injured and 2 are arrested. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and injure 3 Palestinian minors during clashes sparked by an IDF raid near Nablus. IDF troops also arrest 3 Palestinians and assault 1 during late-night raids near Hebron and Bethlehem, and patrol near Hebron and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers throw stones at, and open fire on, Palestinian homes in Burin village near Nablus, causing no major damage or injuries. The attack sparks minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian during late-night raids in Issawiyya. In 4 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, NYT, WAFA, YA 2/23; PCHR 3/1)

The U.S. State Department announces that the new U.S. embassy in Israel will open in Jerusalem in 5/2018, implementing President Trump’s 12/6/17 pledge to move the embassy from Tel Aviv. The embassy is set to open with ambassador David Friedman and a skeleton staff working out of an existing U.S. facility in the Arnona neighborhood. “This decision will turn the 70th anniversary of Israeli independence into an even bigger celebration,” says Israeli PM Netanyahu. “Thank you, President Trump, for your leadership and your friendship.” Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) secretarygeneral Saeb Erakat says, “The U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and now to move its embassy on the eve of marking 70 years since the Nakba [. . .] shows the determination of the U.S. administration to violate international law, destroy the 2-state solution, and provoke the feelings of the Palestinian people, as well as of all Arabs, Muslims, and Christians around the globe.” (AP, HA, JP, TOI, WAFA 2/23)

PASF troops temporarily detain 2 undercover Israeli soldiers conducting a raid in Nablus. They are released hours later. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during a late-night raid nr. Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron. They also violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at a protest in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian is injured. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian homes in Burin village nr. Nablus, sparking minor clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian youths; there are no serious injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, TOI 4/15; HA 4/16; PCHR 4/20)