The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians in Ma’in, causing light injuries. Israeli settlers also set fire to a Palestinian-owned vehicle in Rujeib. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling between Jenin and Nablus. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in Burin, demolished parts of a house, and set fields on fire. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian child during a late-night raid in Tubas and injured 1 other by running him over. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in al-Fawar refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint near Huwwara, claiming he had tried to attack 2 Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 2, including 1 with live ammunition. Separately, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Yatta, injuring 1 with live ammunition and 2 with rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Umar, injuring 1 minor with live ammunition and 3 others with rubber-coated bullets. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in Bethlehem, Harmala, al-Khadir, and Dayr Sharif, resulting in tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 3 using rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Tulkarm, injuring 3 with live ammunition. 40 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, al-Fawar refugee camp, Nablus, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 2 Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian with a sharp tool, slicing her face as she was leaving the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Tur, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet; others suffered tear-gas related injuries and 2 were arrested. 6 other Palestinians were arrested during house raids in the Old City, Jabal Mukabir, Silwan, and Shu‘fat. In Gaza, 34 Palestinians were killed, including 6 children, and dozens injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 30 to 64, including 16 children. The casualties included: 4 in a drone strike on a car east of Bayt Lahiya; 8, including 3 children, in 3 air strikes on apartment buildings in Gaza City; 1 child in an air strike on a butcher in Gaza City; 6 in a drone strike on a car in Gaza city, including 3 inside the car and 3 passersby; 1, and 1 wounded, in another air strike on a vehicle in Gaza City; 1 in an air strike in Khan Yunis; 1 in an air strike on agricultural lands near Khuza‘a; 4, and 2 injured, in a drone strike on Nuseirat refugee camp; 2, and 1 child injured, in an air strike on a liquefied petroleum gas distribution vehicle in Khan Yunis; 2, and 3 wounded, including 1 child, in an air strike on a house in Khan Yunis; 2, and 2 wounded, all children, after a helicopter fired missiles at a gas station in al-Fukhari; and the body of 1 Palestinian was found in rubble near Bayt Hanun, it was assessed that he was killed in an air strike on 5/10; the body of 1 Palestinian was found near a mosque in Rafah, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said it was unclear if he had been killed by debris from an intercepted rocket or in an Israeli air strike. Hamas reported that the interior ministry and the passport office along with other government buildings had been hit by Israeli air strikes. Israeli air strikes also demolished 2 high-rise buildings, the 10-story al-Jawhara building, and the 14-story al-Shorouq building, which housed news outlets and other offices, and the headquarters of the interior ministry and UNRWA schools. In Israel, 1 Israeli soldier was killed and 2 injured from an anti-tank missile fired from Gaza and 1 child succumbed to injuries sustained in Sderot, raising the Israeli death toll to 7. Dozens of rockets were also fired at Israel from Gaza, most of them intercepted. A mob of Jewish-Israelis pulled 1 Palestinian-Israeli out of his car and beat him while tv cameras were rolling in Bat Yam; the man was said to be in serious condition. A mob of Jewish-Israelis also raided a number of Palestinian-owned businesses in Tel Aviv, causing severe damage. 1 Jewish-Israeli man was attacked by 5 Palestinian-Israelis in ‘Akka; he was said to be in serious condition. Jewish-Israelis also attacked a tent set up to mourn the death of 1 Palestinian-Israeli who was shot by a Jewish-Israeli on 5/10 in Lydda, throwing stones at the mourners. Elsewhere in Lydda, 1 Jewish-Israeli was shot and injured and 2 more were injured in stabbings, 21 Palestinian-Israelis were injured, including 1 by gunshot. Israeli police announced a nighttime curfew in Lydda from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. 1 Palestinian-Israeli man was injured when rammed by a car­ and beaten near Or Akiva. 1 Palestinian-Israeli was lightly injured by a mob of Jewish-Israelis while driving in Tiberias. 1 Jewish-Israeli was injured in a stabbing incident in Tamra. A mob of Jewish-Israelis also attacked 1 Palestinian-Israeli in Haifa. (AJ, NYT 5/11; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, BBC, CNN, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/12; AP, CNN, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; PCHR 5/14; TOI 5/16; HA 5/18; WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/20; MEE 5/21; HA, NYT 5/26; HA 5/27)

1 Palestinian prisoner suspended a 56-day-long hunger strike as Israel promised not to renew his administrative detention after 7/17. (WAFA 5/12)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas discussed the current situation with EU high representative Josep Borrell, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Iraqi president Barham Salih. A White House statement also said that U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with President Abbas and they discussed “the violence in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and the Secretary expressed his condolences for the lives lost as a result. The Secretary condemned the rocket attacks and emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions and bring the current violence to an end.” (HA, WAFA 5/12)

At a security cabinet meeting, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers decided not to accept a potential ceasefire and continue its attack on Gaza for the time being. (HA 5/13)

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin condemned what he called a “pogrom” by “an Arab mob” on 5/11, despite the majority of the violence in Israel being perpetrated against Palestinian-Israelis. (HA 5/12)

Turkey said that its president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin had discussed the situation in Jerusalem and Gaza, and that Turkey had called for international action against Israel. (AJ, AP, REU 5/12)

U.S. president Joe Biden said, during a press conference, that he believes that “Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying in your territory,” and that his “hope is that we’ll see this coming to conclusions sooner than later.” President Biden also spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, where he gave his “unwavering support for Israel’s security and for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people, while protecting civilians,” according to the readout. The Biden administration also dispatched deputy assistant secretary of state for Israel and Palestine Hady Amr to Israel for talks with Palestinian and Israeli officials. The White House said that senior officials have had more than 25 calls with officials from Israel, the PA, Qatar, Tunisia, Jordan, and Egypt about the situation. (HA 5/12; NYT 5/13)

25 house democrats signed a letter circulated by Marie Newman (D-IL) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) urging secretary of state Antony Blinken to condemn the planned evictions of Palestinian families from Shaykh Jarrah. (HA 5/13)

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that she was following the situation in Gaza and Jerusalem with concern. (MEE, REU, WAFA 5/12)

The UN security council held a 2d meeting in 3 days to discuss the escalation of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. (TOI 5/12)

The IDF conducts mock air raids over the Gaza Strip, breaking the sound barrier; imposes a curfew on, sends troops into al-Shayukh and Sa’ir nr. Hebron based on false reports that an Israeli pilot had landed a glider in the area, fires percussion grenades, tear gas, and live ammunition at residents to keep them in their homes during the search, causing no injuries; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Jenin and Tulkarm, and in Aida r.c., alAzza r.c., Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c. Jewish settlers write slogans in Hebrew defaming the Prophet on the walls of a mosque in Nabi Elias nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 2/16)

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 escalates attacks on Jenin r.c., firing at least 20 missiles into residential areas, demolishing occupied buildings to widen narrow allies so tanks can pass, killing at least 30 Palestinians; 2 IDF soldiers are also killed. Some 200 Palestinian women, children suffering fr. dehydration walk out of the camp, 5 days after the IDF cut off water, electricity, food, ambulance access. The ICRC says it has only been allowed to evacuate 3 injured Palestinians fr. the camp, 2 of whom were arrested by the IDF. IDF troops throw percussion, smoke grenades into St. Catherine's church and convent in the Church of the Nativity complex, setting a conference hall afire; exchange gunfire with PSF officers who leave the church to put out the blaze, killing 1. After 45 mins., the IDF allows fire fighters into the church to extinguish the blaze, which causes serious damage. In Nablus, the IDF orders Palestinian men age 19-60 to surrender, in some cases threatening to destroy homes if Palestinians do not turn themselves in. The IDF also allows ICRC and PRCS medics into Nablus to removed the wounded, bodies of 10 Palestinians killed in recent days of fighting; another 14 bodies were buried in a mosque courtyard earlier, when they could not be removed. In Ramallah, the IDF lifts the curfew for several hrs.; raids, damages offices of 2 Arab TV stations. (CNN, WP 4/8; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/9; JT, al-Quds 4/9 in WNC 4/10)

Bush publicly reiterates his call for Sharon to halt incursions, immediately begin a withdrawal, telling him "I meant what I said." Zinni presses the issue privately with Sharon, who says the IDF will begin pulling out of Qalqilya, Tulkarm within hrs. but will maintain a tight cordon around the 2 towns; vows attacks on other areas will continue "until the mission is completed," after which he would willing to hold Madrid-style negotiations with "moderate and responsible Middle Eastern leaders." (MM 4/8; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/9; MM 4/10)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel announces 100 Palestinians will be released from Gazan detention centers and several soldiers will be disciplined for excessive use of force. Commercial strike continues in many E. Jerusalem communities [NYT 1/30]. Nearly 200 demonstrators march in protest at al-Haram al-Sharif; 6 are arrested for incitement and carrying Palestinian flags [WP 1/30].

Other Countries: U.S. Sec. of State Shultz calls for "new blend of approaches" to Middle East peace process. Nimrod Novik and Simha Dinitz, Israeli Foreign Ministry envoys, arrive in Washington [WP 1/30]. U.S. officials state Attorney Gen. Edwin Meese was told of plan to give money to Israeli Labor party in return for assurances Israel would not attack proposed Iraqi oil pipeline [NYT 1/30].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli officials continue to insist that calm is prevailing in occupied territories. UNRWA workers in E. Jerusalem charge at least 50 Palestinians were injured in military raid of Shu'fat [NYT 1/30]. Worshipers leaving mosques in Am'ari and Tulkarm refugee camps clash with soldiers, who use tear gas to disperse crowds; camps are briefly placed under curfew [FBIS 1/29; WP 1/301. In Jerusalem, 6 Palestinians are arrested on charges of raising Palestinian flags, chanting nationalist slogans after prayers on al-Haram al-Sharif [FBIS 1/29]. Troops use tear gas to disperse demonstrators leaving mosques in Ramallah and al-Birah [FBIS 1/29; FJ 1/31]. Military lifts curfews on Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta and Tulkarm and Am'ari camps [FJ 1/31]. Curfew on Sa'ir is lifted [FBIS 1/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs David Mellor meets with P. M. Shamir [WP 1/6]. Journalist Hanna Siniora, Birzeit U. Prof. Sari Nusaybah, Nablus attorney Ghassan Shaka'ah, and nonviolent activist Mubarak 'Awad announce nonviolent civil disobedience campaign against Israel, call for boycott of Israeli products [CSM, NYT 1/6].

Arab World: In Cairo, about 200 Egyptian lawyers burn Israeli flag; 'Ayn Shams University students demonstrate against Israeli tactics in occupied territories [LAT 1/6].

Other Countries: UN Security Council unanimously approves resolution condemning Israel's plan to deport 9 Palestinians from occupied territories [WP, NYT 1/6]. In Pakistan, 5 Palestinians on trial for hijacking Pan American airliner in 1986 state they intended to release passengers, blow up plane over Israel after securing release of Palestinian prisoners [WP, LAT 1/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Khan Yunis, supporters of Hasan Ghanim Abu Shaqra, Muslim leader ordered deported by Israel, throw stones, burn tires. Israeli troops respond with water cannon, tear gas, then open fire when demonstrators try to march from Abu Shaqra's home to mosque; 1 demonstrator is killed, 4 others wounded. In separate Khan Yunis clash, soldiers shoot, wound 3 protesters; 1 other is wounded in Gaza City confrontation. Palestine Press Service reports another Palestinian killed in the Khan Yunis clashes. Scattered violence is reported in East Jerusalem and W. Bank towns of Bethlehem, Bir Zeit, Tulkarm, and Qalqiliyyah [NYT, WP 1/6]. Tulkarm and 'Azzah refugee camps are placed under curfew following protests. Women demonstrating in front of Nablus military court are attacked by Israeli soldiers [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: In Cairo, students at 'Ayn Shams University stage anti-Israel demonstration. Lawyers burn Stars of David in front of Egyptian bar association [WSJ 1/8].