The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathered to protest outside Ofer prison, injuring 2 with live ammunition. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and in 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. Meanwhile, 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 Nil‘in), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in, where 2 are struck by a tear gas canister and sound bomb. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities bar men under the age of 50 from praying at Haram al-Sharif. PA Pres. Abbas urges Palestinians to defend the holy site “by any means necessary,”speaking at a meeting in al-Bireh on threats to Jerusalem and the holy sites. (MNA 10/17; PCHR 10/23)

The IDF continues its aerial assault on the Gaza Strip with strikes on 46 targets, killing 5 Palestinians and injuring dozens more. The armed Palestinian groups launch approximately 130 projectiles into Israel, killing 1 Israeli child nr. Sderot, wounding 8, and causing damage across s. Israel. (One of the wounded Israelis, an IDF sgt., will succumb to his injuries on 8/29.) Meanwhile, Hamas executes 18 suspected collaborators with Israel, as the group’s crackdown on informants continues. PA Pres. Abbas’s office denounces the execution, calling it “extrajudicial.” In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and wound a Palestinian as they violently disperse Palestinians protesting OPE in Bethlehem. Additional clashes break out at demonstrations across the West Bank, including Qalandia, Ofer prison, Jalazun r.c., and Bayt Furik, where 10 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops conduct house searches and raid in Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Hebron, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Dura, arresting 3, including a mbr. of the Palestinian Legislative Council. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at a weekly demonstration against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Nil‘in), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum, where 1 is wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet. In East Jerusalem, clashes break out in al-Tur when Israeli forces patrol the neighborhood. No injuries or arrests are reported. (YA 8/22; HA 8/23; PCHR 8/28)

For a 2d day of talks, PA Pres. Abbas meets with Qatari emir Bin Hamad al-Thani and Hamas leader Mishal to discuss the continued Israeli assault and possible future cease-fire negotiations. The 2 Palestinian leaders make a statement calling on the UN to create a “timetable” for an end to the Israeli occupation. (MEMO, Yahoo! 8/22; AFP, HA, MNA 8/23)

Following the death of the Israeli boy early in the day, PM Netanyahu says that “Hamas will pay a heavy price” and that the “IDF and the Shin Bet will intensify their operations.” (HA 8/23)

In the Gaza Strip, the 72-hour cease-fire ends at 8:00 A.M. local time and hostilities resume. The IDF continues its assault with aerial and naval bombardment, killing 5 Palestinians. The IAF strikes around 50 targets across Gaza. Armed Palestinian groups fire dozens of rockets into Israel, attacks claimed by Islamic Jihad and the PRC, injuring 3. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian during clashes nr. Psagot settlement close to Ramallah. IDF troops also shoot a Palestinian in clashes nr. Hebron, who later dies of his injuries. In the clashes, 25 are injured with live ammunition and 15 with rubber-coated metal bullets. There are further clashes in Safa village nr. Ramallah, where IDF troops shoot and injure 7 Palestinians, as well as outside Ofer prison, where IDF troops injure 6 Palestinians. 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). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum, where 4 are injured by live ammunition. The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 2 villages nr. Jericho during the day. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/8; PCHR 8/9)

Egyptian officials call for a resumption of the cease-fire, saying that only a few points remain to be agreed, but Israeli officials say that they are unprepared to negotiate under fire. Israeli officials accuse Hamas of firing a few rockets before the cease-fire even ended. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/8)