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  • December 26, 2004

    Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Khan Yunis, imposes a curfew on the al-Satar al-Gharbiyya neighborhood facing nearby Jewish settlements, raids and searches homes (forcing residents to wait...

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  • December 22, 2004

    Overnight, the IDF sends troops back into Khan Yunis, shelling residential areas, clashing with Palestinians, leaving 3 Palestinians (2 resistance mbrs., 1 civilian) dead, wounding 11, demolishing...

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  • December 11, 2004

    Hamas, the Fatah Hawks (Fatah’s armed wing, which has not staged an attack on an Israeli target since the 1st intifada) take joint responsibility for detonating a massive bomb underneath an IDF...

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  • December 5, 2004

    The IDF lifts the curfew on Hawara, imposed on 12/2; for no apparent reason fires on Palestinians waiting to cross the Tuffah checkpoint in s. Gaza, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids and house...

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  • December 2, 2004

    The IDF erects an iron gate across the road nr. al-Kifriyat checkpoint s. of Tulkarm, leaving the city entirely surrounded by gated roads, which are opened and closed at the IDF’s discretion;...

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  • October 27, 2004

    The IDF imposes a curfew on Jenin town and r.c., closes off all access roads leading to the city, conducts arrest raids and house searches, fires on residential areas; withdraws fr. Bayt Hanun,...

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  • October 5, 2004

    The IDF assassinates Islamic Jihad’s military leader Bashir al-Dabash, his bodyguard Ahmad al-Arayir, firing 2 missiles at their car as they drive in Gaza City, also wounding 3 bystanders. In n....

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  • October 4, 2004

    In continuing operations in n. Gaza, the IDF kills 5 Palestinians (including at least 2 civilians, one of them a 15-yr.-old girl) in shelling and gunfire in Jabaliya. In retaliation, Palestinians...

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  • October 2, 2004

    The IDF expands Operation Days of Penitence, using some 200 tanks and APCs to seize control of a 3.5 mi2 of costal territory in n. Gaza. In Jabaliya r.c., IDF missile strikes kill 3 Islamic Jihad...

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  • September 28, 2004

    The al-Aqsa intifada enters its 5th yr. The IDF continues operations in Jenin, searching homes, arresting some 80 Palestinians, fatally shooting a mentally handicapped Palestinian who leaves his...

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  • September 21, 2004

    The IDF launches a major incursion into Jenin, imposes a curfew, conducts house-tohouse searches, fires on residential areas, arrests at least 15 Palestinians; bulldozes 70 d. in Khan Yunis; fires...

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  • September 19, 2004

    The IDF assassinates senior Hamas cmdr. Khalid Abu Silmiyya by firing a missile at his car as he drives in Gaza City, wounding 8 bystanders; fatally shoots a Palestinian who crosses fr. Gaza into...

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  • September 10, 2004

    Israel bans Palestinians fr. entering Israel beginning at 6:00 A.M. through 10/7, while Israelis mark Rosh Hashanah (9/15-17), Yom Kippur (9/25), and Sukkoth (9/29– 10/7). The IDF continues...

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  • September 5, 2004

    The IDF tightens roadblocks btwn. Jerusalem, Ramallah; imposes a curfew on Silwad nr. Ramallah; shoots, wounds a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone nr. Morag;...

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  • September 1, 2004

    The IDF conducts a major 1-day incursion into Khan Yunis called Operation LongDistance Vision to “destroy the terrorist infrastructure” nr. Neve Dekalim, ordering 100s of Palestinians to flee...

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  • August 22, 2004

    The IDF reimposes a curfew (lifted on 8/19) on Nablus, then sends jeeps to the central market square to fire on surrounding areas to force dealers to close stalls and Palestinians to return home,...

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  • August 20, 2004

    The IDF continues bulldozing operations in Khan Yunis, pulling out early in the morning; imposes a daylong curfew on Wadi al-Hussein nr. Hebron, also transforms an empty Palestinian house into an...

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  • August 19, 2004

    The IDF fires on residential areas of Nablus but by evening lifts the curfew, withdraws troops, ending Operation Full Court Press. The IDF fires on 2 Palestinians who stray into a closed military...

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  • August 18, 2004

    The IDF launches a predawn air strike on the home of wanted Hamas mbr. Ahmad Jabari in Gaza City, assassinating 2 Hamas mbrs. and 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. (all relatives of Jabari), killing 2...

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  • August 16, 2004

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fires missiles at 4 Palestinians allegedly preparing to fire a Qassam rocket fr. Bayt Hanun into Israel, killing 2; continues large-scale operations (dubbed...

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  • June 27, 2004

    The IDF closes the Erez crossing to Palestinians, which was partially reopened on 6/17; pulls out of Nablus, ending operations that began on 6/24; lifts the curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron...

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  • June 24, 2004

    The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians who allegedly attempt to attack an IDF post nr. Gaza’s Dugit settlement; imposes an around-the-clock curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron; arrests an...

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  • June 14, 2004

    The IDF assassinates AMB Balata r.c. cmdr. Khalid Marshud, firing missiles at his taxi in Nablus, also killing the taxi driver, seriously wounding 2 bystanders. The IDF also eases a curfew on...

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  • June 4, 2004

    The IDF imposes a curfew on Ramallah, raids and searches an apartment building, arrests 3 Birzeit University students; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Hebron for construction of the separation...

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  • May 28, 2004

    A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a car bomb at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, killing only himself, lightly injuring 2 IDF soldiers. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian, wounds a 2d...

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  • May 22, 2004

    The IDF sends reinforcements into Rafah, fatally shoots 3-yr.-old Palestinian girl, bulldozes 311 dunams of agricultural land along Salah al-Din Street, demolishes 4 Palestinian homes completely,...

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  • May 19, 2004

    IDF expands operations in Rafah to Brazil r.c. and al-Salam neighborhood. IDF helicopters fire 4 missiles at some 3,000 Palestinians, mostly school children, staging a peaceful march fr....

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  • May 18, 2004

    In the pre-dawn hours, the IDF imposes a 24-hr. curfew, begins house-to-house searches in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah bordering the Philadelphi Route, occupies some buildings as...

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  • May 17, 2004

    The IDF seals Rafah as the 1st step in what the government says will be a major military offensive against Palestinian militants, dubbed Operation Rainbow. Tanks, armored personnel carriers,...

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  • May 11, 2004

    The IDF stages a major raid on Gaza City, meeting heavy resistance; Hamas and Islamic Jihad mbrs. detonate a roadside bomb, destroying an IDF armored personnel carrier (APC), killing 6 IDF...
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Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Khan Yunis, imposes a curfew on the al-Satar al-Gharbiyya neighborhood facing nearby Jewish settlements, raids and searches homes (forcing residents to wait outside, unprotected in bad weather during the search), bulldozes 3 d. of agricultural land. The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Hamas mbrs. who approach the n. Gaza border fence; sends troops back into the Bayt Lahiya bedouin village raided on 12/25, damages property, rounds up all residents over age 16, taking several to nearby Nisanit settlement for interrogation, releasing them several hrs. later; sends a 3-jeep patrol into Beitunia nr. Ramallah, forces elementary school students to stand around the jeeps for 30 minutes to prevent stone-throwing at the troops, then withdraws; shells residential areas of Rafah; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Qarara, Tulkarm. A 7-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received in the IDF shelling of Mughraqa on 10/13/04. (HA 12/26; VOP 12/26 in WNC 12/28; NYT, WP 12/27; PM 12/28; PR 12/29; PCHR 12/30)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops back into Khan Yunis, shelling residential areas, clashing with Palestinians, leaving 3 Palestinians (2 resistance mbrs., 1 civilian) dead, wounding 11, demolishing 9 Palestinian homes as well as walls around a hospital and elementary school. The IDF fatally shoots an unarmed Palestinian attempting to infiltrate the Israeli border in n. Gaza. AMB gunmen fatally shoot an Israeli security officer guarding civilian contractors working on the separation wall in Idna in the s. West Bank. Palestinians report that the curfew on Talluza, imposed on 12/11, is still in place. The IDF allows 1,000 PA policemen in the West Bank to patrol with arms through 12/23 to provide security during municipal elections. Israeli police arrest 5 teenage Jewish settler girls for robbing, stoning a Palestinian family walking in Jerusalem. (PR 12/22; VOI 12/22 in WNC 12/24; JP, JTA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/23) 

Hamas, the Fatah Hawks (Fatah’s armed wing, which has not staged an attack on an Israeli target since the 1st intifada) take joint responsibility for detonating a massive bomb underneath an IDF checkpoint on the Gaza-Egypt border, killing 5 IDF soldiers, wounding at least 10; armed Palestinians exchange fire with IDF soldiers attempting to remove the wounded, leaving 1 Palestinian attacker dead. The IDF imposes a curfew on Talluza nr. Nablus; shells an elementary school in Khan Yunis, injuring 7 children; fires on, detains crew mbrs. of 2 Palestinian fishing boats off the Gaza coast; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in al-Fara‘a r.c.; shells residential areas, bulldozes 24 d. of agricultural land and 8 greenhouses nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c., Hebron. Palestinian shepherds herding nr. ‘Aqraba nr. Nablus severely beat a Jewish settler fr. Itamar settlement who attempts to steal their sheep; other Palestinians alert police, who intervene, detain several Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron throw stones, bottles at Palestinian houses nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs (IMEMC, WP 12/12; JAZ, MENA, VOI 12/12 in WNC 12/14; MM 12/13; JAZ 12/13 in WNC 12/15; HA, MM, PR 12/15; AYM 12/15 in WNC 12/18; PCHR 12/16; PR 12/22)

The IDF lifts the curfew on Hawara, imposed on 12/2; for no apparent reason fires on Palestinians waiting to cross the Tuffah checkpoint in s. Gaza, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids and house searches, bulldozes 30 d. of land in al-Qarara; fires on residential areas of Rafah; beats several Israeli, Palestinian, international peace activists demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Hebron as well as a Palestinian journalist covering the incident. Palestinians fire 2 mortars, 1 Qassam rocket at Jewish settlements in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers vandalize Palestinian agricultural land in the al-Mawasi area of s. Gaza. (VOI 12/5 in WNC 12/7; PCHR 12/9)

The IDF erects an iron gate across the road nr. al-Kifriyat checkpoint s. of Tulkarm, leaving the city entirely surrounded by gated roads, which are opened and closed at the IDF’s discretion; imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah; fires on Palestinian porters at the Awarta commercial crossing s. of Nablus, wounding 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Dayr al-Balah, seriously wounding an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy playing outside his home, a 52-yr.-old Palestinian woman inside her home. (VOP 12/2 in WNC 12/4; PCHR 12/9)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Jenin town and r.c., closes off all access roads leading to the city, conducts arrest raids and house searches, fires on residential areas; withdraws fr. Bayt Hanun, having leveled 100 d. of citrus groves since 10/26, 1 Palestinian home,5wells. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo attack, chase off a group of Palestinians harvesting olives in nearby al-Mughayyir village. Israeli sources confirm that the West Jerusalem municipality has completed plans for construction of a new 280-unit Jewish settlement quarter in Abu Dis in East Jerusalem following completion of the separation wall through Abu Dis. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/2 during the IDF attack on n. Gaza. In Gaza, scores of Palestinians protest increasing crime, kidnappings, violence in Gaza and demand security, legal reforms. (HJ, al-Quds, VOI, VOP 10/27 in WNC 10/29; PCHR, PRCS 10/28; PRCS 10/30; PR 11/3; PCHR 11/4)

An Israeli court rules that Palestinian residents of Jerusalem have the right to register any child under age 12 without having to apply for family reunification even if 1 parent holds a West Bank ID. Previously, the Israeli Interior Min. asserted that any such children not registered by age 1 would have to apply for family reunification. (PR 11/3)

Arafat collapses in his Ramallah headquarters and deteriorates dramatically during the day, reportedly lapsing in and out of consciousness. His personal doctor is summoned fr. Amman, a medical team fr. Egypt, and his wife fr. Paris, raising speculation that he is nearing death. (AP, BBC, CNN, HA, REU 10/27; JAZ, JP, LBC, MENA, PSCT, VOI, VOP, YA 10/27 in WNC 10/29; AP, BBC, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 10/28; PR, WT 11/3; MEI 11/5)

The IDF assassinates Islamic Jihad’s military leader Bashir al-Dabash, his bodyguard Ahmad al-Arayir, firing 2 missiles at their car as they drive in Gaza City, also wounding 3 bystanders. In n. Gaza, the IDF fires a missile at a group of AMB mbrs. allegedly preparing an attack on IDF forces in Jabaliya r.c., killing 2 AMB mbrs., wounding 3; shells residential areas of Bayt Lahiya, hitting 3 homes, killing 3 Palestinians (2 may be Islamic Jihad mbrs. targeted for assassination), wounding at least 11 (including 9 children ages 7 mos.–13 yrs.). A Palestinian militant dies of injuries received in Jabaliya on 10/4. In s. Gaza, an IDF platoon leader wounds, then executes a 13-yr.-old Palestinian girl identified by soldiers under his command as a “nonthreat." The IDF also shells residential areas, conducts arrest raids and house searches, bulldozes 9 Palestinian homes and 52 d. in Khan Yunis; fires on residential areas of al-Qarara. In the West Bank, the IDF kills an AMB mbr. in an overnight exchange of gunfire in Hebron; seals, imposes a curfew on, fires on residential areas of, conducts arrest raids and house searches in Qabatya; lifts the 10/3 ban on Palestinians entering the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The IDF announces that it has recently arrested 13 UN employees whom it plans to indict for “suspected links to terrorism”; says it has recently arrested a 24-yr.-old tanzim mbr. fr. Silwad for the Wadi al-Haramiyya shooting in 3/3/02 in which a gunman killed 7 IDF soldiers and 3 Jewish settlers using an antique rifle. (HA, PM 10/5; PSCT, VOI, VOP 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, PR, WT 10/6; VOI 10/6 in WNC 10/8; PCHR 10/7; NYT 10/10; VOI 10/10 in WNC 10/12; NYT 10/12; MM 10/13; al-Quds 10/13 in WNC 10/19; MM, WP 10/14; WP 11/28)

In continuing operations in n. Gaza, the IDF kills 5 Palestinians (including at least 2 civilians, one of them a 15-yr.-old girl) in shelling and gunfire in Jabaliya. In retaliation, Palestinians fire an antitank missile at an IDF patrol in n. Gaza, wounding 2 troops; fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, lightly injuring 1 Israeli. Elsewhere in Gaza, the IDF fires warning shots at a group of Palestinians in Khan Yunis, killing a 4-yr.- old Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. In the West Bank, 2 wanted Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are killed, a 3d wanted Palestinian and 4 bystanders are injured in an exchange of fire during an IDF arrest raid on Ramallah; the IDF says the soldier was killed by friendly fire. The IDF bulldozes a grove of 120 olive trees nr. Tulkarm, large areas of agricultural land in Surif for construction of the separation wall; imposes a curfew on Palestinians in Hebron to allow Jewish settlers to hold Sukkoth parades, during which settlers throw bottles, stones at Palestinian homes; conducts arrest raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm. A 70-yr.-old Palestinian dies fr. injuries she received in Nablus on 7/22/04. (MM, NYT, WP 10/4; AFP, IDF Radio, VOI, YA 10/4 in WNC 10/6; HA, NYT, PRCS, WP 10/5; PCHR 10/7; JPI 10/15)

The IDF expands Operation Days of Penitence, using some 200 tanks and APCs to seize control of a 3.5 mi2 of costal territory in n. Gaza. In Jabaliya r.c., IDF missile strikes kill 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 2 Hamas mbrs., wound 4 bystanders; gunfire kills at least 3 Palestinians (possibly Islamic Jihad mbrs.); demolitions of Palestinian homes continue; the IDF uses loudspeakers to urge 10s of Palestinians to evacuate their homes. The IDF fatally shoots another 4 Palestinians trying to infiltrate Israel fr. n. Gaza. A Palestinian militant dies of injuries sustained in Jabaliya on 10/1. The IDF also opens fire on Palestinians in central Gaza protesting against Days of Penitence; shells residential areas of Rafah, killing a 62-yr.-old Palestinian; evacuates, demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Rafah, shooting and seriously wounding a Palestinian woman (6-mos. pregnant) in the process; fires on several residential areas of Khan Yunis, bulldozing 14 d., damaging an elementary school and forcing students to evacuate; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara. In the West Bank, the IDF imposes a 1-day curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron, fires on stone-throwing youths; conducts arrest raids at Hebron University and in Abu Nujaym and Artas nr. Bethlehem, Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, Silwad, Tulkarm, Tura nr. Jenin. A 4-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/30/04. (HA, NYT, XIN 10/2; AFP, JAZ, VOI, VOP 10/2, VOI 10/3 in WNC 10/5; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; PCHR 10/7)

The al-Aqsa intifada enters its 5th yr. The IDF continues operations in Jenin, searching homes, arresting some 80 Palestinians, fatally shooting a mentally handicapped Palestinian who leaves his Jenin home after dark during the curfew (ongoing since 9/25); the death brings Palestinians to the streets to riot; the IDF fires on protesters (killing a 17-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding 6), blows up a Palestinian home. The IDF also raids Nablus, arrests, then fatally shoots wanted AMB mbr. Majdi Khalifa in an outright execution; sends troops into Shaykh Ajlin nr. Gaza City; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c., Tulkarm r.c. and villages around Nablus, Ramallah. Palestinians fire at least 4 Qassam rockets at Sederot, damaging a house but causing no injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF sends 30 tanks into Bayt Hanun, Jabaliya r.c. in response, also cutting electricity to n. Gaza. Palestinians release without comment CNN producer Ali (kidnapped on 9/27), who says his captors were AMB mbrs.; the AMB denies this. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar burn 100s of d. of olive groves belonging to nearby Bayt Furik. (AP, HA, MM, PM, REU 9/28; AFP, VOI, VOP 9/28 in WNC 9/30; MM, NYT, PR, PRCS, WP, WT 9/29; VOI, YA 9/29 in WNC 10/1; PCHR, WJW 9/30; PCHR 10/1)

The IDF launches a major incursion into Jenin, imposes a curfew, conducts house-tohouse searches, fires on residential areas, arrests at least 15 Palestinians; bulldozes 70 d. in Khan Yunis; fires on Palestinians, internationals holding a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Budrus, where the IDF has bulldozed 250 d. in the past wk.; fires on residential areas of Nablus; conducts arrest raids and house searches in Asira, ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Jenin r.c., Kharas nr. Hebron, Nablus, Silat al-Harith nr. Jenin, Silwan, Tulkarm r.c., Yatta. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets at Sederot and the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus attack, severely beat a Palestinian farmer picking dates, leaving him with skull fractures, multiple injuries. (PM 9/21; VOI, VOP 9/21 in WNC 9/23; PR 9/22; PCHR 9/23)

The IDF assassinates senior Hamas cmdr. Khalid Abu Silmiyya by firing a missile at his car as he drives in Gaza City, wounding 8 bystanders; fatally shoots a Palestinian who crosses fr. Gaza into Israel nr. Kissufim crossing; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too nr. Gush Katif; fires live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, international peace activists demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Hebron; fires tear gas, stun grenades outside 2 girls’ schools in Beitunia while classes are in session, seriously wounding 1 student in her classroom; fires on stone-throwing youths in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bir Basha nr. Jenin, Dahaysha r.c., Duha, Qalqilya; tightens access to Tulkarm and places a curfew on nearby Bayt Awa. (VOI, VOP 9/19 in WNC 9/21; AP, PCHR, WP, WT 9/20; JAZ, VOI, VOP, YA 9/20 in WNC 9/22; PCHR 9/23)

Israel bans Palestinians fr. entering Israel beginning at 6:00 A.M. through 10/7, while Israelis mark Rosh Hashanah (9/15-17), Yom Kippur (9/25), and Sukkoth (9/29– 10/7). The IDF continues operations in n. Gaza, shelling Jabaliya r.c., killing 1 armed and 2 unarmed Palestinians, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes; imposes a curfew on Karabatha al-Musbah nr. Ramallah; bulldozes land around Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs nr. Avraham Avino settlement, apparently to create a clear path to 3 other settlements nearby; fires at Palestinians waiting to cross the Mahatin checkpoint. (HA, VOI, YA 9/9, VOI 9/10 in WNC 9/14; NYT 9/11; PCHR 9/16)

The IDF tightens roadblocks btwn. Jerusalem, Ramallah; imposes a curfew on Silwad nr. Ramallah; shoots, wounds a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone nr. Morag; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Bayt Rima and Dayr Ghassana nr. Ramallah, Madama nr. Nablus, Salfit; begins work on new segments of the separation wall running s. of Hebron and btwn. East Jerusalem and the Qalandia checkpoint s. of Ramallah, bulldozing 500 d.; reportedly bulldozes large areas in Wadi al-Malih in the n. Jordan Valley. Palestinians in Nablus report that the IDF is digging a trench 3 m deep and 4 m wide to encircle Salim, Azmut, Dayr Hatab, Bayt Dajan, and Bayt Furik villages (combined population 30,000); 3 km have been completed. Armed Palestinians calling themselves the Fatah Fighters kidnap the PA’s security dir. for the Rafah checkpoint Saad al-Sayfan, accusing him of corruption. 15 armed Palestinians occupy the Khan Yunis governate building for 2 hrs., demand that the PA compensate local Palestinians who have lost their homes to IDF bulldozing. Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. A PA court in Gaza opens a trial against 7 alleged collaborators, including Muhammad and Rami Abu Qaynas, accused of providing Israel with information used to assassinate Hamas leader ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Rantisi on 4/17/04. ( JAZ 9/5; MENA 9/5 in WNC 9/7; VOI 9/6 in WNC 9/8; PR 9/8; PCHR 9/9; PR 9/15)

The IDF conducts a major 1-day incursion into Khan Yunis called Operation LongDistance Vision to “destroy the terrorist infrastructure” nr. Neve Dekalim, ordering 100s of Palestinians to flee their homes and evacuate the area, firing missiles fr. helicopters (wounding at least 6 Palestinians and damaging a hospital), blowing up 2 vacant 5-story apartment buildings and 1 Palestinian home (wounding at least 10 Palestinians, rendering homeless at least 141). Citing security reasons, the IDF bars UNRWA head Peter Hansen fr. leaving Gaza through the Erez crossing; UNRWA condemns the incident as “unprecedented.” The IDF also imposes a curfew on Hebron; searches houses nr. Bethlehem, Ramallah. (MENA 9/1 in WNC 9/3; PCHR, WP 9/2; VOI 9/2 in WNC 9/4; VOP 9/5 in WNC 9/7; PR 9/8)

The IDF reimposes a curfew (lifted on 8/19) on Nablus, then sends jeeps to the central market square to fire on surrounding areas to force dealers to close stalls and Palestinians to return home, injuring 15 Palestinians (including 8 children). The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian land in Bardala in the northeastern tip of the Jordan Valley for construction of security and tax offices; fires on residential areas in Rafah, nr. Ramallah. Palestinian Hussein Jabari dies of injuries sustained in the IDF assassination attempt against his brother, Ahmad Jabari. Palestinian Authority (PA) Prisoner Affairs M Hisham ‘Abd al-Raziq, 70 Palestinian figures begin a hunger strike in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners; Israeli prison officials say that the number of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners has nearly doubled to 2,900 since the strike began on 8/15. (WP 8/23; PR 8/25; PCHR 8/26; MM 8/27)

The IDF continues bulldozing operations in Khan Yunis, pulling out early in the morning; imposes a daylong curfew on Wadi al-Hussein nr. Hebron, also transforms an empty Palestinian house into an observation post; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Aza r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Dayr Ghassana nr. Ramallah. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 8/19 in Brazil r.c. (PRCS 8/20; PCHR 8/26)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Nablus but by evening lifts the curfew, withdraws troops, ending Operation Full Court Press. The IDF fires on 2 Palestinians who stray into a closed military zone in Rafah, injuring 1, then fatally shoots another Palestinian youth who attempts to reach him to provide aid; later shells residential areas of Rafah, killing a 62-yr.-old Palestinian; fires tear gas, live ammunition at Palestinians waiting to cross al-Mahatin checkpoint nr. Dayr al-Balah in central Gaza; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., Khan Yunis (seriously damaging a hospital); bulldozes 60 d. of agricultural land, shells residential areas in Wadi al-Silqa in s. Gaza; occupies a building under construction in Hebron as a military post. Late in the evening, the IDF sends bulldozers into Khan Yunis, demolishing 4 Palestinian homes. Palestinians fire 5 Qassam rockets at Sederot, lightly inuring 1 Israeli. (HA, XIN 8/19; NYT 8/20; PCHR 8/26)

The IDF launches a predawn air strike on the home of wanted Hamas mbr. Ahmad Jabari in Gaza City, assassinating 2 Hamas mbrs. and 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. (all relatives of Jabari), killing 2 bystanders, wounding 7; Jabari is moderately wounded. The IDF lifts the curfew on all of Nablus, except the Old City and al-‘Ayn r.c.; seals al-Fara’ r.c. nr. Nablus, patrolling streets, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops; fires missiles at 2 workshops in Gaza City (alleged to be weapons factories), destroying both but causing no injuries; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, 4 shops in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; raids, confiscates equipment and files fr. a charitable association nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c., Nablus, Qalqilya; begins bulldozing a 350 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) nr. Qalqilya for construction of the separation wall. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Gaza’s Neve Dekalim settlement, lightly injuring 2 Jewish settlers; detonate a roadside bomb by an IDF tank in Gaza, causing some damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Pdu’el raze olive trees, place barbed wire around a plot of Palestinian land outside Salfit. Some 60 internationals, 20 Palestinians who began a Freedom March along the separation wall route to protest the wall’s construction in Zababda nr. Jenin on 7/30 arrive at their destination, Jerusalem, a day ahead of schedule. (NYT, PCHR, WP 8/18; PCHR 8/19, 8/25)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fires missiles at 4 Palestinians allegedly preparing to fire a Qassam rocket fr. Bayt Hanun into Israel, killing 2; continues large-scale operations (dubbed Operation Full Court Press) in Nablus that began on 8/7, imposing a curfew, fatally shooting a Palestinian standing on his roof, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops; blows up 3 residential buildings housing 13 Palestinian families (76 individuals) in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Brazil refugee camp (r.c.), Khan Yunis, Rafah; bulldozes 2 wells, a commercial building in Bayt Hanun; conducts arrest raids, house searches in villages outside Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun, orders Palestinians to evacuate several homes nr. Erez Crossing, searches and digs around homes for several hrs. looking for tunnels. Islamic Jihad fires 2 mortars at Gaza’s Gush Katif settlement as a solidarity gesture with the Palestinian prisoners (on hunger strike since 8/15), causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (AP 8/16; PRCS press release, WP, WT 8/17; PR 8/18; PCHR 8/19)

The IDF closes the Erez crossing to Palestinians, which was partially reopened on 6/17; pulls out of Nablus, ending operations that began on 6/24; lifts the curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron imposed on 6/24. Hamas mbrs. dig a tunnel underneath an IDF outpost in Gaza; detonate an explosive device, collapsing part of the concrete building, killing 1 IDF soldier, injuring at least 4; exchange fire with troops who come to the rescue; 2 Palestinian bystanders (a PA Preventive Security Force [PSF] officer, a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy) are killed by IDF return gunfire. In response, the IDF fires 10 missiles at 2 metal workshops (alleged weapons factories) in Gaza City, destroying the buildings, causing “no major injuries.” The IDF also fires on a Palestinian truck approaching a checkpoint nr. Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/28; XIN 6/28 in WNC 7/1; PR 6/30; PCHR 7/1; PCHR 7/22)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians who allegedly attempt to attack an IDF post nr. Gaza’s Dugit settlement; imposes an around-the-clock curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron; arrests an ambulance driver transporting an ailing child at a checkpoint nr. Qalqilya; fires on, shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. The IDF also launches a major raid on Nablus to “clear the casbah of Palestinian fugitives,” surrounding refugee camps in search of 7 wanted AMB mbrs., sending in 100s of troops, taking over more than 12 buildings; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah, Hebron and nr. Tulkarm; evacuates an apartment building in Bethlehem, then blows up 1 unit, severely damaging several others; bulldozes 1 Palestinian home, some olive trees in the n. Gaza Strip. Homeless Palestinians end their sit-in strike (begun 6/19) after the PC announces plans to build some homes for the homeless. (VOI, VOP 6/24 in WNC 6/26; MM, NYT 6/25; NYT 6/26; PR 6/30; PCHR 7/1)

The IDF assassinates AMB Balata r.c. cmdr. Khalid Marshud, firing missiles at his taxi in Nablus, also killing the taxi driver, seriously wounding 2 bystanders. The IDF also eases a curfew on Nablus, allowing Palestinians over age 30 to exit and enter; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Bethlehem, 2 in al-Qarara (also bulldozing 6 dunams of land); conducts arrest raids in, fires on residential areas of Jenin; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, al-Mughraqa, Nablus. The IDF starts construction of a 3.5 km segment of the separation wall east of Ariel settlement. (AP, HA, MM 6/14; VOI, VOP 6/14 in WNC 6/16; NYT, WP 6/15; PR 6/16; PCHR 6/17; MEI 6/24)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Ramallah, raids and searches an apartment building, arrests 3 Birzeit University students; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Hebron for construction of the separation wall; bulldozes land in al-Qarara in apparent preparation for a new IDF post; bulldozes 10 dunams of agricultural land in Wadi al-Silqa; fires on residential areas nr. Gaza’s Morag settlement; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron, Nablus. (VOI 6/5 in WNC 6/8; PCHR 6/10)

A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a car bomb at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, killing only himself, lightly injuring 2 IDF soldiers. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian, wounds a 2d nr. Dayr al-Balah; bulldozes tents and tin shacks housing 95 Palestinians nr. a settler bypass road leading to Gaza’s Gush Katif bloc; bulldozes 12 dunams of land in Wadi al-Silqa nr. Dayr al-Balah, 9 dunams nr. the Rafah crossing; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah; imposes a curfew on, conducts house searches and arrest raids in Jaba‘ nr. Jenin; confiscates 5,500 m2 of agricultural land nr. Salfit, located btwn. the separation wall and the Green Line, that provides income for some 60 Palestinian families. In Hebron, 15 Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by IDF troops, attack Palestinian homes. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF raid on Rafah on 5/20. (VOP 5/28 in WNC 6/1; NYT 5/29; PCHR 6/3)

The IDF sends reinforcements into Rafah, fatally shoots 3-yr.-old Palestinian girl, bulldozes 311 dunams of agricultural land along Salah al-Din Street, demolishes 4 Palestinian homes completely, damages 5, finds its 1st smugglers’ tunnel since operations resumed on 5/17. The UN now estimates that as many as 60 Palestinian homes have been demolished since 5/17. Tanks continue to surround Tal al-Sultan; troops allow an UNRWA convoy to bring in emergency food supplies, water, blankets into the neighborhood, but bar private relief groups. In the West Bank, the IDF raids Yabad nr. Jenin, imposes a curfew, fires on residential areas. Nr. Nablus, a Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF checkpoint outside a Jewish settlement, killing himself, wounding 3 Palestinians, 1 IDF soldier. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (VOI, VOP 5/22 in WNC 5/25; NYT, WP, WT 5/23; PR 5/26; PCHR, WP 5/27)

IDF expands operations in Rafah to Brazil r.c. and al-Salam neighborhood. IDF helicopters fire 4 missiles at some 3,000 Palestinians, mostly school children, staging a peaceful march fr. neighboring Shabura to Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in protest against the incursion, killing at least 8 Palestinians, wounding more than 60; Israel apologizes for the deaths, saying “warning shots” went astray, but says Operation Rainbow will continue. Also in Rafah, the IDF fires a missile at 5 Palestinian gunmen, killing them all; fatally shoots a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy who leaves his home under curfew to get water for his family; continues house-tohouse searches; orders all Palestinian males between ages 16 and 50 to gather in a local school, transfers them to bases at nearby Jewish settlements for interrogation, releases most by sunset; demolishes at least 5 Palestinian homes. In the West Bank, the IDF shells an apartment building in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, claiming that wanted Palestinians were hiding inside but finding none. (HA, MM, YA 5/19; HA, MM, NYT, PCHR, REU, WP, WT 5/20; HJ, Interfax, XIN 5/20 in WNC 5/22; CSM, MM, NYT 5/21; WP 5/25; PR 5/26; PCHR 5/27)

In the pre-dawn hours, the IDF imposes a 24-hr. curfew, begins house-to-house searches in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah bordering the Philadelphi Route, occupies some buildings as observation posts; begins digging a trench to separate a section of Rafah r.c. fr. the rest of the camp, demolishing at least 3 Palestinian homes, cutting water and electricity supplies. Around daybreak, the IDF begins bulldozing operations, launches 3 missile strikes inside Rafah: the 1st killing 3 Hamas mbrs., wounding 5 gunmen and bystanders; the 2d killing 1 Hamas mbr. laying a roadside bomb nr. a mosque where Palestinians are leaving dawn prayers, also killing 5 bystanders, wounding several others, starting a fire that severely damages the mosque; the 3d hitting a residential area, killing 7 Palestinians (many in their homes), wounding at least 16. The IDF reports killing at least 3 more Palestinians, demolishing at least another 9 Palestinian homes during the day. A 20th Palestinian reportedly dies when explosives he is handling detonate. At least 2 ambulances are deliberately targeted by IDF snipers. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF ambushes, assassinates wanted al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbr. Muhammad Obeid as he drives nr. Sanur nr. Jenin, also wounding his passenger; raids Jenin r.c., fatally shoots wanted AMB mbr. Ahmad Judah in an apparent assassination, wounding a 2d Palestinian; fatally shoots an AMB mbr., a Palestinian gunman in separate incidents in Nablus; conducts arrest raids targeting Hamas in Tulkarm; orders the confiscation of 380 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in 4/04. (BBC, HA, MM, NYT, PCHR, PRCS, PM, WP 5/18; ITAR-TASS, ITV, MENA, PSCT, VOI, VOP, XIN 5/18 in WNC 5/20; HA, NYT, PR, WP, WT 5/19; PCHR 5/20; NYT 5/21; PR 5/26)

The IDF seals Rafah as the 1st step in what the government says will be a major military offensive against Palestinian militants, dubbed Operation Rainbow. Tanks, armored personnel carriers, armored bulldozers, helicopters, troops ring the city, firing on any traffic attempting to enter or exit. Many residents nr. the Philadelphi Route evacuate their homes, taking their belongings with them. IDF troops also fire on the area to encourage Palestinians to leave. In Gaza City, the IDF fires missiles at offices of Fatah, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, causing damage but no reported injuries. The IDF also imposes a curfew on Silwad nr. Ramallah, fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c. nr. Nablus, Bethlehem, Yatta nr. Hebron; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes nr. Hebron for construction of the separation wall; evacuates the unauthorized settlement outpost Mitzpe Yitzhar nr. Nablus; arrests an Israeli Arab fr. Um al-Fahm for allegedly plotting with Hamas to stage attacks inside Israel. (AFP, HA, MM, WP 5/17; VOI, VOP 5/17 in WNC 5/19; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/18; PR 5/19; PCHR 5/20; JPI, MEI 5/28)

The IDF stages a major raid on Gaza City, meeting heavy resistance; Hamas and Islamic Jihad mbrs. detonate a roadside bomb, destroying an IDF armored personnel carrier (APC), killing 6 IDF soldiers (the highest IDF toll since 11/02); AMB, Islamic Jihad mbrs. take the soldiers’ remains. The IDF sends in massive reinforcements, vows to conduct house-to-house searches until the remains are found, bulldozing roads and water systems, cutting electricity, uprooting trees, crushing Palestinian cars, fatally shooting 8 Palestinians, wounding more than 120. Hamas officials, Muslim authorities, the PA, and International Comm. of the Red Cross unsuccessfully appeal to the Palestinian militants to release the remains. The IDF also imposes a curfew on, fires on residential areas of Ya‘bad nr. Jenin; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Dura, Tulkarm, Yamun nr. Jenin. UNRWA reports that the IDF has demolished or damaged beyond repair 131 Palestinian homes in Gaza since 5/1, leaving more than 1,100 Palestinians homeless. (BBC, HA, MM, NYT 5/11; PSCT, VOI, VOP 5/11 in WNC 5/13; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 5/12; HA, JP, MA, QA, YA 5/12 in WNC 5/14; PCHR, WJW, WT 5/13; QA 5/13 in WNC 5/18; MEI 5/14)