The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers fenced off a Palestinian pasture near Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters at the Qalandia checkpoint, injuring 1 with a baton round, 2 with a tear-gas canister, and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a baton round during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces fired tear gas near a school in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries to students. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure and uprooted 15 olive trees near Dura and seized agricultural machinery in Khirbet Umm al-Jamal near Tubas. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Beitin, Nablus, Bayt Ibia, Jaba‘, and Dahariya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers and police seized and fenced off 5 dunams (1.2 acres) of land in Silwan, owned by the Greek Orthodox church and leased to Palestinians. 3 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/27; MEMO, WAFA 12/28; PCHR 12/29; WAFA 12/30; WAFA 12/31; UNOCHA 1/16)

Israel said it had arrested 1 Palestinian man on 11/29 who the Shin Bet suspect carried out the 2 bombing attacks in Jerusalem on 11/23, which killed 1 man. The Palestinian man is said to be a supporter of Islamic State and to have acted alone. (AJ 12/27)

The Hamas-affiliated media outlet Shehab News Agency leaked a 3-minute audio clip of PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh criticizing PA president Mahmoud Abbas and other leaders in the PA. In the clip Secretary-General al-Sheikh says that President Abbas “is a partner in the chaos and has an interest for it to remain.” Al-Sheikh told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the recording was fabricated. (AP 12/27; MEMO 12/28; MEMO 12/29)

The Knesset approved amendments to the Basic Law on the Government to allow 2 ministers at the defense ministry. The amendment, which was part of the Religious Zionism Party’s coalition deal with the Likud Party, allows 2 ministers to serve in 1 government office and paves the way for Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich to appoint a minister at the defense ministry in charge of the administration of the West Bank. The IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi expressed his concern about the changes to the defense ministry to prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu. Another amendment to the Basic Law allows Shas leader Arye Dery to serve as a minister in the government, despite being convicted of tax offenses. (HA, HA 12/26; AJ, HA, MDW, MEE, REU 12/27; MEMO 12/28; HA, HA 12/29)

A total of 3 Palestinians are killed by Israeli forces in clashes and small-scale violent incidents across the oPt. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver in Silwad after he allegedly attempts to ram his car into them during clashes between the IDF and Palestinians. IDF troops shoot and injure 2 other Palestinians in alleged car-ramming attempts in Silwan and Ramallah, arresting the suspect in the latter event. The IDF violently disperses Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 each nr. Hebron and Nablus, and 4 areas along Gaza’s border; 2 Palestinians are killed e. of Ramallah and nr. Khan Yunis, respectively, and 37 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts raids and house searches in and around Jenin and Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian and issuing arrest summons to 2; patrols in 1 village and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron, 11 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho. Israel also returns to Qalandia r.c. the body of the Palestinian youth killed by Israeli forces on 11/23 in an alleged stabbing incident. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion e. of Khan Yunis to level land and search the area; open fire on Palestinians approaching the border nr. Bayt Hanun, injuring 2. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 12/18; MNA 12/19; HA 12/21; PCHR 12/31)

A Palestinian is shot and killed in the n. Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian army says that he was likely killed by Sinai Province of the Islamic State (SPIS) fighters. (MNA 12/19)

In Gaza, a small group claiming affiliation with ISIS fires 3 rockets toward Israel, with 1 landing in an open area nr. the Kissufim kibbutz on the Israeli side of the border, causing no injuries or damage. The IAF launches air strikes on a Hamas military site in c. Gaza in response; 4 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Bayt Hanun shoot and injure a Palestinian teenager approaching the border fence. They also fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers nearby, causing no injuries. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces fire warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured. The IDF also patrols in a village nr. Bethlehem, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths (3 are arrested), as well as in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 each nr. Ramallah and Jenin. (HA, JP, MNA, REU, TOI, YA 8/7; MNA, WAFA 8/8; AFP 8/9; PCHR 8/13)

PA Prisoners’ Affairs Comm. head Qaraqe says that the IDF prosecutor intends to request permission from the courts to begin forcefeeding Muhammad Allan, a Palestinian prisoner who has been on hunger strike since 6/16. The International Comm. of the Red Cross says that Allan’s life is“at immediate risk” and calls for the Israeli authorities to allow his family to visit him. (EI 8/7; AFP, HA, WAFA 8/8)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Bayt Lahiya fire warning shots at Palestinians walking nr. the border fence, critically injuring 1. Off the coast nr. Gaza City and then nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, injuring 2 fishermen and causing damage. A small armed group, with self-proclaimed affiliations to ISIS, fires mortar rounds at a Hamas military base; no injuries are reported. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 9 Palestinians are injured, including 3 photojournalists. The IDF also searches a home in a village nr. Hebron late at night, issuing a summons to a Palestinian; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 4 nr. Ramallah, 3 nr. Hebron, and 1 each nr. Tulkarm and Jericho. Israeli settlers cut the branches off 3 olive trees nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces enter Silwan and Issawiyya, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youth; the Israeli soldiers respond with stun grenades and rubber-coated metal bullets. (AFP, JP, MNA, TOI 5/8; MNA 5/9; PCHR 5/14)

In the West Bank, IDF troops block a large funeral procession in a village nr. Hebron for the Palestinian man who died on 4/9 from health issues he developed in Israeli prison. The soldiers violently disperse stone-throwing mourners, killing 1 Palestinian and injuring 13 with live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets. The IDF also violently disperses Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly nonviolent demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, Nabi Salih, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and outside an Israeli settlement nr. al-Bireh; 15 Palestinians are moderately injured and 4 are arrested. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in 2 villages nr. Nablus, arresting 2 Palestinians and assaulting 1; patrols in 2 villages each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah, and 3 nr. Jericho. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 4/10; PCHR 4/16)

The Palestinian Medical Examination Union decides to halt the transfer of medical tests to Israeli labs, effectively signing the group on to the boycott of Israeli goods and products. (MNA 4/10)

Breaking the Palestinians’ nonintervention policy on the Syrian conflict, Senior Fatah official Tawfiq al-Tirawi calls for Palestinian fighters in Syria and Lebanon to defend Yarmouk r.c. against ISIS, which launched attacks in the camp on 4/1. Later, UN Dep. Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy flies to Damascus for consultations with the Syrian govt. about Yarmouk. (GDN, MNA 4/10)