The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 4 Palestinian-owned vehicles and wrote racist graffiti a building in Beit Iksa. Israeli forces made a large-scale midday raid on Nablus, killing 11 Palestinians, including 1 minor and a 72-year old man, more than 100 were injured by Israeli gunfire, including 6 critically. At least 2 anti-tank missiles were fired by Israeli soldiers at Palestinian buildings. Israeli forces also demolished 3 houses and 2 agricultural structures in al-Walaja. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house and issued demolition notices for 20 others in Ein ad-Duyuk al-Foqa. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated their boat west of Beit Lahiya. (AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AX, BBC, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, NYT, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/22; AJ, AJ, AX, GDN, HA, IN, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23; MDW 2/24; NYT 3/1; UNOCHA 3/4)

The Israeli Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Council advanced plans for 3,144 new settlement housing units, including 956 that received final approval. (HA, JP 2/22; AP, PCN, PCN, WAFA 2/23; ALM 2/24)

The PA requested emergency meetings at the UN Security Council, Arab League, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to address the Israeli raid on Nablus (see above). U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. was “deeply concerned that the impact of today's raid could set back efforts aimed at restoring calm for both Israelis and Palestinians.” (WAFA 2/22)

Former Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qurei, also known as Abu Alaa, died at the age of 85. An official state funeral was held for Qurei on 2/23 with participation of PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (AP, HA, WAFA 2/23)

Papua New Guinea said it would open an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem following a conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries. (HA 2/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 3 cars and wrote racist graffiti in al-Bireh. Israeli forces seized heavy machinery worth $50,000 from the ‘Anin village council. 1 Palestinian man rammed 2 Israeli soldiers near Nablus; the man later turned himself in saying that the incident was an accident. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians in Jabel Mukaber observed a general strike and blocked several roads leading to the neighborhood in protest over planned demolitions in the neighborhood. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/31; MEE 2/1; PCHR 2/2; UNOCHA 2/21)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Secretary Blinken urged President Abbas to resume security coordination with Israel and to accept and implement a security plan made by U.S. security coordinator Mike Fenzel, which will see PA forces trained specifically to counter militant groups in Jenin and Nablus. The PA had reportedly earlier complained to the U.S. that the plan is untenable without ending Israeli nighttime raids in the cities. Blinken also announced that the U.S. will give an additional $50 million to UNRWA and will continue to work on reopening the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem but did not give a timeframe. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEE, WAFA 1/31; ALM, AX, HA, HA 2/1; AJ 2/2; HA 2/3)

President Abbas also met with the directors of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamal and the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate Ahmad Husni. (WAFA 1/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli settlers also set fire to 2 Palestinian-owned cars and wrote racist graffiti in Sinjil. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint in Hebron. Israeli forces also issued 6 stop-work notices for houses in Deir Balut and a demolition notice for 1 residential structure in Bayt Jala. Representatives from a dozen of countries visited Palestinians threatened by forced displacement in Khan al-Ahmar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli municipal workers demolished a commercial structure and leveled land in Jabel Mukaber and demolished a wall in Silwan. (AJ, AP, GDN, HA, MEE, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/30; WAFA 1/31; MEE 2/1; PCHR 2/2; UNOCHA 2/3)

A bill that will see residency permits and citizenship revoked for Palestinians who receive money from the PA after being accused of attacking Israelis passed the first reading in the Knesset with 89 votes in favor and 8 against. (HA 1/31; MEE 2/7)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. The U.S. State Department said that the 2 spoke about Israeli-Palestinian relations and the need for a diplomatic solution. Secretary Blinken met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi earlier in the day in Cairo. According to Yediot Ahronot, the U.S. offered Netanyahu help with normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and curbing Iran’s nuclear program if Netanyahu reigns in his far-right coalition partners, ends his plans to weaken the judiciary, and maintain the status quo at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (AJ, HA, MEE 1/29; AJ, ALM, ALM, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, MDW, REU 1/30; HA, HA, HA, NYT 1/31; AJ, HA, MEE 2/3)

Adalah filed an objection to the U.S. plans to build a new embassy to Israel on land in Jerusalem that was seized from Palestinian landowners. The objection was accompanied by letters to U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides and U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. (MEE, WAFA 1/30)

In the West Bank, PA officials said that 144 settler attacks were recorded in the Nablus area overnight, including damage to some 120 vehicles and 22 shops. Israeli settlers set a Palestinian-owned vehicle on fire and wrote racist graffiti on nearby walls in Jalud. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Rawabi and Yasuf. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set fire to a house and a vehicle and threw stones and sprayed racist graffiti at other houses in Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian near Shaab al-Batum in the Masafer Yatta area. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers vandalized some 200 olive trees in Majdal Bani Fadil and Aqraba and vandalized crops and an agricultural structure in Ein al-Beida. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Nabi Salih, injuring 2, including 1 minor, with baton rounds. Israeli forces also seized artifacts from an archeological site in Sabastia. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued demolition notices for 4 homes in Yatta. Separately, Israeli forces began a siege of Jericho after an unidentified assailant opened fire at a restaurant at a nearby settlement; no injuries were reported. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces sealed the family homes of 2 Palestinians killed during attacks on Israelis on 1/27 and 1/28. The homes in al-Tur and Silwan were sealed in preparation for punitive demolition. Israeli forces also demolished a house in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 2 families. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jabel Mukaber, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids. (AJ, AP, GDN, HA, HA, JP, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/29; F24, HA, HA, TOI, WAFA 1/30; MEE 2/1; HA, HRW, PCHR, WAFA 2/2; UNOCHA 2/3; HA 2/5)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with CIA director William Burns in Ramallah. Director Burns arrived in Israel earlier in the week and have held meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials. (WAFA 1/29)

In Iran, Israel attacked a weapons manufacturing site in Isfahan with suicide drones, causing damage and wounding 1. The Iranian defense department said 2 of the 3 drones had been shot down before reaching the facility. (AJ, AN, HA, MEE, MEE, NYT, REU 1/29; BBC 1/30; AJ, AP, HA 2/2; AP, HA 2/3)

In Syria, Israel conducted airstrikes attacking a convoy of trucks after it entered eastern Syria from Iraq, killing 10 people. (HA 1/29; HA, MEE 1/30)

Israel recorded 35 cases of “nationalist crimes” targeting Palestinians since Friday evening on 1/27. No arrests had been made. (HA, TOI 1/30)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video showing the family of the accused assailant from the 1/27 shooting removing their belongings from their home before their house was sealed. Israeli police criticized the release of the video saying National Security Minister Ben-Gvir wanted to humiliate the family. (HA 1/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian shepherd in Ein al-Beida. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 man protesting soldiers beating his son who was arrested during a house raid in Qalandia. The Palestinian man’s wife said her husband had gone outside to stop the soldiers’ assault on their son when he was shot and killed. Israeli forces also shot and killed 2 Palestinians and injured 7 others during a raid in Qabatiya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 agricultural structure in Duma. Israeli forces also issued an eviction notice to a family in Hajja in preparation for a punitive demolition. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Dheisheh refugee camp, ad-Doha, al-Baqa‘a, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers wrote hateful graffiti aimed at Christians on the walls of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate building in the Old City. Israeli forces raided the home of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith, informing him that his ban on contacting PA officials and entering the West Bank had been extended for 6 months. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/12; AP, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR 1/13’ ; UNOCHA 2/16; PCHR 1/19; UNOCHA 2/3)

Peace Now and Bimkom said that a clause in the Likud Party and Religious Zionism Party coalition agreement could see Israel seize 13,000 dunams (3,250 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in the West Bank and 70 buildings in Hebron transferred to settlers as Israel claims that the land and buildings were owned by Jewish people before 1948. The land Israel intends to seize is located near Bethlehem, Nabi Samwil, Battir, and Beit Furik, including land in Area B. (HA 1/12)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh met with U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs Hady Amr in Ramallah. Prime Minister Shtayyeh urged the U.S. to act quickly to end Israeli measures to weaken the PA and undermine the 2-state solution. (WAFA 1/12)

The head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh met with UN Middle East peace process envoy Tor Wennesland in Doha, Qatar. (MEMO 1/12)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli soldier attacked 1 Israeli activist in Hebron, hitting him in the face after forcing him to the ground in Hebron; the activist was later sentenced to 5 days of house arrest and banned from entering Hebron for 2 weeks while the soldier was placed in detention for 28 days. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 10 with tear gas. In Israel, Israelis set fire to 8 vehicles and sprayed racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh and Ein Naqquba; 1 suspect was later arrested and put in administrative detention for 4 months for the torching of cars in Abu Ghosh. (HA, HA, MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/25; HA 11/27; HA, HA 11/28; HA 11/29; PCHR 12/1; UNOCHA 12/16)

Israeli prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu signed a coalition agreement with Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir which will see the party gain 3 ministerial positions, including public security minister. The position will also be renamed to national security minister and will have its powers extended, including oversight of the Border Police in the West Bank. A 2nd ministry set to be granted to Otzma Yehudit is the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, which will also be expanded to include oversight of settlement outposts in the West Bank. Several PA officials warned about the consequences of the Netanyahu-Ben-Gvir coalition. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU 11/25; AP, MEMO, WAFA 11/26; MDW, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/27; WAFA, WAFA 11/28)

In the West Bank, a 14-year-old Israeli settler was shot in the head by a stray bullet in the Kiryat Arba settlement. It was reported that the bullet was assumed to have been fired during a wedding celebration. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Sa‘ir, causing damage. Israeli settlers also vandalized 23 Palestinian-owned vehicles in Beit Iksa, slashing tires and writing racist graffiti. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian family harvesting olives near al-Shuyukh with clubs, pipes, and stones, hospitalizing 5 members of the family. Israeli settlers also raided Burin, throwing stones at Palestinian homes, causing damage. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians, including a 14-year-old, and injured 4 others during a raid in Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Beit Duqqu. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 residential structure and sealed 2 water wells in Arab al-Feihat and demolished 2 residential structures in Bruqin. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Sira, Bayt Rima, al-Mughayyir, Aida refugee camp, Fawwar refugee camp, Nablus, Jenin, Kufeirit, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian after he allegedly stabbed 1 Israeli police officer in the Old City; 2 Israeli police officers were lightly injured by shots fired by other police officers. After the incident Israel closed the Haram al-Sharif compound to Palestinians, only allowing Jewish visitors. In Gaza, 4 rockets were fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel, 3 landing inside of Gaza and a 4th being intercepted; causing no injuries or damage. Israel subsequently conducted air strikes on Gaza hitting sites in Maghazi refugee camp, causing damage. It was later reported that Hamas authorities had arrested 2 Palestinians suspected of having fired the 4 rockets. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/3; AA, AJ, AP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, WAFA 11/4; HA, MEE, TOI 11/6; PCHR 11/10; ALM, UNOCHA 11/13; HA 11/18)

Israel said it had lifted all restrictions on movement in and out of Nablus after a 3-week siege of the city. Subsequently, PA prime minister Muhammad Shtayyeh toured the city with 30 representatives from foreign countries. Prime Minister Shtayyeh called the siege imposed on Nablus collective punishment. (HA, WAFA 11/3; ALM 11/4; MEMO 11/5)

Outgoing Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid spoke with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in a phone call. The U.S. State Department said Blinken “underscored the need for all parties to urgently de-escalate the situation” in the West Bank. (HA 11/5)

128 scholars signed a statement urging the UN not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, calling it “divisive and polarizing. The IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism has been criticized for conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. The statement suggested the UN instead use the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism. (JDF, JP 11/1; AJ 11/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian vehicles in al-Bireh with graffiti. Israeli settlers also vandalized Palestinian vehicles in Deir Istya. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp; 2 were arrested. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor near the separation wall west of al-Midya. PCHR reported that the minor was playing with friends when he was shot from 164-218 yards. The PA called the killing an execution. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided Taqqua, causing tear-gas related injuries near a kindergarten, and arrested 1 minor. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in al-Arroub refuge camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Israel, an Israeli security guard pressed a knee on the neck of a Palestinian citizen of Israel for 30 minutes, pinning him to the ground at his workplace in Beersheba; the security guard claimed that the man had tried to steal a gun; the Palestinian man said the security guard refused him access to his workplace because he was Palestinian and that he accidentally touched the guard’s gun while trying to escape. (AJ, AP, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/2; PCHR, WAFA 6/3; HA, UNOCHA 6/4; MEE 6/5; PCHR 6/9; UNOCHA 6/17)

The Israeli high court of justice gave the Israeli government 2 months to explain why it is preventing Palestinian landowners from accessing their land at the partly evacuated Homesh settlement outpost. (HA 6/2)

The UN said that it had accepted Turkey’s request to formally rename the country Türkiye. (AJ 6/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces opened a new settler-only road near Wadi Fukin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians confronting settlers near ‘Azun, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 2 houses under construction in Bayt Dajan and 2 houses under construction in Khirbet al-‘Ayn. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Rumana, Nablus, Salfit, Hebron, Bayt Jala, Bayt Rima, al-Mughayyir, and Qatanna. In Israel, the tires of 17 vehicles were slashed and racist anti-Palestinian graffiti was spray-painted on houses in Jisr al-Zarqa. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/9; PCHR 5/12; UNOCHA 5/13)

The Israeli supreme court postponed the trial for Just Vision aid worker Mohammad al-Halabi, who has been held in Israeli detention since 2016 without a trial. Al-Halabi is accused, by Israel, of funneling aid money to Hamas. (WAFA 5/9)

Israeli forces began a monthlong military exercise dubbed “Chariots of Fire.” (HA 5/9; ALM 5/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers wrote racist graffiti on walls and vandalized vehicles in Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli settlers also set fire to 5 Palestinian-owned vehicles in Jalud. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 3/28; PCHR 3/31; HA 4/1; UNOCHA 4/10)

King Abdullah II and crown prince Hussein of Jordan met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Israel’s Channel 13 reported that Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz wanted to join the meeting but was not allowed to by Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett, who reportedly feared that their meeting would overshadow the normalization summit (see below). (TOI 3/26; JP 3/27; HA, NAT, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 3/28; WAFA 3/29; ALM 4/1)

The foreign ministers of the U.S., UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, and Israel met in Sde Boker for the 2d day of a 2-day summit comprised of countries that have normalized ties with Israel with U.S. support. At the summit, U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken praised Israel’s normalization deals but said they were not a substitute for peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called the normalization summit a “free reward for Israel,” given the lack of pressure on Israel to end its occupation. Israel’s foreign minister Yair Lapid said after the summit that Israel supports Morocco’s proposal to offer the Sahrawi people limited autonomy as part of Morocco. Foreign Minister Lapid further stated that Israel will work with Morocco against countries trying to “weaken Moroccan sovereignty and territorial integrity.” (ABC, AJ, ALM, ALM, AX, HA, JP, MEMO, NBC, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA 3/28; F24 3/29; CNN 3/30; NEWYORKER 4/1; HA, JP 4/3; HA 4/4)

68 Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. Senate signed a letter to Secretary Blinken urging him to lead an effort to end the UN Human Rights Council’s commission of inquiry into alleged Israeli war crimes committed during the May 2021 Israeli attack on Gaza. The effort was led by Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH). (MEE 3/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers tried to set fire to a mosque and wrote racist graffiti on Palestinian homes in Zeita Jama’in. Israeli settlers also vandalized 3 homes and 20 vehicles in Muhmas. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers uprooted some 200 olive trees in Turmus ‘Ayya and wrote racist graffiti in the village. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Rima, Jenin, Iktaba, Tubas, Dheisheh refugee camp, Hebron, and Sa‘ir; 3 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition when Palestinians confronted the Israeli soldiers in Dheisheh refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers slashed tires on more than 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles in Sheikh Jarrah. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of Abasan and Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/24; HA 3/25; PCHR 3/31; UNOCHA 4/10)

The Israeli ministry of housing and construction added 468 settlement housing units in the Givat Hamatos settlement in East Jerusalem to its lottery, providing steep discounts to the winners of the lottery in purchasing the settlement units. Peace Now said that once the winners of the lottery are announced, it will be harder to prevent the settlement expansion of the Givat Hamatos settlement. (HA, PCN 3/24)

The PA Detainees Affairs Commission said Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons had canceled a planned open-ended hunger strike scheduled to begin on 3/25 after Israel’s prison service agreed to the prisoners’ demands. (WAFA 3/24)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with EU commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi in Ramallah. The 2 discussed Várhelyi’s insistence that the PA rewrite its schoolbooks to have EU financial support for the PA released. Prime Minister Shtayyeh told Várhelyi that the PA refuses Várhelyi’s demands. Várhelyi has been a lone voice in the EU for demanding the revision of PA schoolbooks as a condition for the EU releasing its annual aid to the PA. (WAFA 3/24)

Haaretz reported that Israeli soldiers are forced to register information about at least 50 Palestinians during their shifts at checkpoints and guard posts, and those who do not fill their quota are not allowed to leave their post until they have registered their quota. The registration of information is used in Israel’s Blue Wolf system, a database with photos and details about random Palestinians living in the West Bank including ID number, age, gender, residence, license plate number, and contacts. The Blue Wolf system was 1st reported by the Washington Post in November 2021. In footage obtained by the Israeli anti-occupation group Breaking the Silence, a security coordinator at an Israeli settlement is also heard telling Israeli soldiers to photograph foreign activists in the West Bank to make sure they will not be allowed to enter Israel at Ben Gurion Airport next time they try to enter. (HA, HA, MEE, WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized more than 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles in al-Bireh with racist graffiti and by slashing tires. Israeli settlers with military escort brought their cattle to graze on Palestinian lands, leading to a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Burqa and the Za‘atara checkpoint, causing damage. Israeli forces razed an olive grove in Wadi Fukin, uprooting 30 olive trees. Israeli forces also raided Qalandia refugee camp, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and dozens of others with tear gas; 1 was arrested. 9 other Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abu Shukheidim, Jalazun refugee camp, Tuqu‘, Hebron, Nablus, and Awarta. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Silwan. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel stabbed 6 Israeli Jewish people and rammed them with his car in Beersheba, killing 4 and wounding 2 others before he was shot dead by an Israeli bus driver. The Palestinian man, who was a resident of Hura, was said to be a supporter of ISIS and was reportedly arrested in 2015 and 2016 for attempting to join ISIS in Syria. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; HA, HA 3/23; ALM, HA, HA, HA, PCHR 3/24; ALM, HA 3/25; UNOCHA 4/10)

1 Palestinian resident of Sheikh Jarrah was sentenced to 1 year in prison on classified charges. (WAFA 3/22)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan met in Sharm El Sheikh, discussing energy stability, food security, and international issues. (AJ, AX, HA, REU, REU 3/22; HA, HA 3/23)

In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN special rapporteur Michael Lynk charged Israel with committing crimes of apartheid. Special Rapporteur Lynk wrote that Israel has “an institutionalized regime of systematic racial oppression and discrimination ... where Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank live their lives under a single regime which differentiates its distribution of rights and benefits of the basis of national and ethnic identity, and which ensures the supremacy of one group over, and to the detriment of, the other.” (NYT 3/23; HA, WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers wrote racist graffiti on houses and slashed the tires of Palestinian-owned vehicles in Fara‘ata. Israeli settlers also rammed 2 Israeli soldiers with their cars at a checkpoint near the Homesh settlement outpost. Israeli forces delivered a demolition notice for 1 Palestinian home in Kisan and stop-work orders for 1 school and 8 residential and agricultural structures in Shaab al-Batn in the Masafer Yatta area. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land near Beit Hanun. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Rima, Tulkarm, Tubas, Marah Rabah, Bethlehem, Hebron, Deir Sammit, as-Samu, and Yatta. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Abasan; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/14; HA, MEMO 3/16; HA, PCHR 3/17; UNOCHA 3/25)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Israeli and Palestinian affairs Hady Amr in Ramallah, discussing the PA economy and the Palestinian people’s frustration with the lack of progress in their situation. (WAFA, WAFA 3/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 15 Palestinian-owned vehicles and sprayed racist graffiti on houses in Qaryut. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets, including 1 minor. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 5 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Hebron, injuring 1 journalist with 2 rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/11; PCHR 3/17; UNOCHA 3/25)

Israel placed 1 Israeli settler on administrative detention. The Israeli settler is accused of “acts of terror, arson, vandalism and assault” on Israeli left-wing activists in the West Bank and Israel. The settler is the only Jewish person held by Israel on administrative detention and the 1st since the beginning of 2020. Later, on 3/23, an Israeli court reduced the settler’s detention by 2 weeks. (HA 3/11; HA 3/23)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian who was shot by Israeli forces during a protest in Burqa on 3/1 succumbed to his wounds. Israeli settlers uprooted and stole grape saplings and damaged a stone wall and barbed wire fence in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli settlers also razed a plot of land near Battir. Israeli forces violently dispersed a memorial service held for a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces on 3/1 at the Khadouri Technical University campus north of Hebron, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also confiscated 2 water pumps and electric cables in Birin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Khallet al-Eideh near Hebron and assaulted 2 Palestinians resisting the demolition. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition order for a residential structure in the Abu al-Nuwwar Bedouin community east of Jerusalem. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, al-Ram, Deir Abu Mash‘al, Tuqu‘, Hebron, Yatta, al-Zawiya, Jenin, and Fahma. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian house under construction in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Beit Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian famers east of Beit Hanun and Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Israel, anti-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed on 1 Palestinian vehicle and the tires of 30 vehicles were slashed in Jaljulia. (HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/9; MEMO, PCHR 3/10; UNOCHA 3/11; UNOCHA 3/25)

Israel’s police commissioner Kobi Shabtai instructed the Israeli police to halt Palestinian home evictions and demolitions in East Jerusalem and the Naqab during the month of Ramadan. (HA 3/9)

The Israeli civil administration said, after having to respond to a freedom of information petition from HaMoked, that during 2021 it had banned 10,594 Palestinians from the West Bank from traveling abroad. According to a source in the civil administration, travel bans can be applied to Palestinians by Israel automatically, for example, in cases where the person is a relative of someone deemed by Israel to be involved with terrorism. (HA, MEE 3/9; MEMO 3/10)

PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh met with Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid. Civil Affairs Minister al-Sheikh said he stressed to Lapid the need for a political horizon and an end to Israeli settlement expansion. (WAFA 3/9)

The Jewish Agency said that “[i]f all goes well, we will bring tens of thousands [of Ukrainians] to Israel in the coming year,” referring to the refugee crisis in Ukraine as Russia has declared war on the country. (HA 3/9)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. President Erdoğan told reporters after the meeting that he believes the 2 countries are entering an era of mutual ties. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU 3/9; HA, TOI 3/10)

Former U.S. vice president Mike Pence toured Hebron, including al-Ibrahimi Mosque, with Israeli settler activists MK Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel, who were both leaders of the Kach movement. Vice President Pence also received an honorary degree from the settler university in Ariel and met with former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, current prime minister Naftali Bennett, president Isaac Herzog, and foreign minister Yair Lapid. (AX 3/9; AP, HA, WAFA, WP 3/10; MEMO 3/11)

Belgium signed a cooperation agreement with the PA worth $77 million over 5 years. The funding is earmarked for education, vocational training, job creation, and climate issues in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. (WAFA 3/9; MEMO 3/10)

China donated 200,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to UNRWA to help inoculate Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. (WAFA 3/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers slashed the tires of 11 Palestinian-owned vehicles and wrote racist and threatening graffiti on properties in Iskaka. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian who was hiking with a friend in a forest near al-Arroub refugee camp. The friend said the 2 heard shouting in Hebrew and began running away when the Palestinian man was shot in the back twice. The PA condemned the killing, calling for the International Court of Justice to investigate it. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 2 photojournalists with rubber-coated bullets. Meanwhile, Israeli forces fired tear gas near 2 schools in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries among students and teachers. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work notices for 3 houses under construction in Khirbet Um Qussa. Palestinians protested in support of Palestinian prisoners in several cities throughout the West Bank; the protest coincided with a 1-day hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners demanding improved conditions. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni‘lin, Beit Furik, Jenin refugee camp, Jalamah, Halhul, and Za‘atra. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished agricultural structures and razed land in Sur Baher. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/1; PCHR, WAFA 3/2; HA, MEMO, MEMO 3/3; PCHR; HA 3/4; HA, UNOCHA 3/11)

The Israeli supreme court ruled to allow 4 Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah to stay in their properties until a final decision on the property rights are made. The 4 families have been threatened with eviction as Israeli settler organizations have claimed ownership of their properties, which the families have lived in since 1951. Part of the temporary agreement with the Palestinian families is that they must pay a nominal rent, which will be held as escrow until a final decision is made by the Israeli ministry of justice—a process that could take years. The Supreme Court’s decision could also temporarily protect some 20 other Palestinian families threatened by forced eviction in East Jerusalem. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, NYT, REU 3/1; HA 3/2; ALM 3/10)

The PA summoned French consul general in Jerusalem René Trokaz in protest over French prime minister Jean Castex’s remarks calling Jerusalem “the eternal capital of the Jewish people.” Prime Minister Castex’s remarks were made during a gala dinner hosted by the representative council of French Jewish Institutions on 2/25. (MEMO 2/28; MEMO 3/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 9 Palestinian vehicles and sprayed racist graffiti in Jinsafut. Israeli settlers also razed 40 olive trees in Shufa. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians, including a disabled man, in Burqa. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian house under construction in al-Bireh. Israeli forces also released an attack dog at a Palestinian during an arrest in al-Bireh; a video of the incident shows the man with his hands in the air as Israeli forces releases the dog on him. Israeli military later defended the act, calling it proper because the dog was wearing a muzzle. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Khirbat Makhul, Qarawat Bani Hassan, Kafr ad-Dik, Balata refugee camp, ‘Anata, Abu Dis, Hebron, and Halhul; 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition during the raid in Abu Dis. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers vandalized 15 Palestinian vehicles in Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinians with stun grenades who were protesting a provocative settler presence led by Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Religious Zionism party, who had reopened a makeshift outdoor office in Sheikh Jarrah on 2/13; 1 was assaulted by Israeli police and 2 were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished 1 commercial structure in Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled 15 dunams (3.5 acres) of farmland near Khan Yunis. (ALM, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/14; MDW, MEMO, WAFA 2/15; MEMO 2/16; HA, MEE, PCHR 2/17; UNOCHA 2/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attempted to set a Palestinian-owned home on fire in Hebron, but fled when the family living in the home woke up. Israeli forces demolished 1 retaining wall and 1 agricultural structure in al-Maniya. Israeli forces also temporarily evicted 6 Palestinian families from their homes in in Khirbat Ibziq to conduct a military exercise; during the drill, 2 cows were killed and 3 were injured. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silat al-Harithiya, ‘Anata, Dheisheh refugee camp, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for several commercial structures in Wadi al-Juz; 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a late-night raid in Isawiya. In Israel, 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles were vandalized and racist anti-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed in Kafr Qasem. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/7; PCHR 2/10; UNOCHA 2/11)

Israeli police arrested 1 Israeli settler in the Givat Ronen settlement outpost in relation to an attack on Israeli activists helping Palestinians planting trees in Burin on 1/21. (HA 2/7)

According to figures obtained by Haaretz from Israeli police, charges were only filed in 3.8% of criminal cases where Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians or their property. (HA 2/7)

On the 2d day of the 31st session of the PLO Central Council, Rawhi Fattouh was elected speaker of the National Council, replacing Salim Zanoun, who retired. Hussein al-Sheikh was appointed as a PLO negotiator with Israel and the U.S. Al-Sheikh was also 1 of 3 new members elected to the PLO executive committee. Hamas called the appointments “illegal” and said they lacked support from the national consensus. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP later issued a joint statement calling the appointments “a violation of decisions based on national consensus.” (REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/7; HA 2/8; AJ 2/10)

The Knesset approved the 1st of 3 votes of the citizenship law that would prevent family reunifications of Palestinians married to Israeli citizens. Meretz and United Arab List boycotted the vote. Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told Yedioth Ahronoth in an interview that the bill is meant to prevent a “creeping right of return.” (HA 2/7; HA, MEE 2/9)

Palestinian member of the Knesset from the Meretz party and minister for Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej was hospitalized after suffering a stroke. Frej’s chief of staff said he would make a full recovery. (HA 2/8)

Calcalist reported that Israeli police used the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware against Israeli journalists, politicians, rights activists, former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son Avner, and people involved in the court case against Benjamin Netanyahu. On 2/1, Israeli police admitted to misusing the Pegasus spyware. (AP 2/6; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, TOI 2/7)

The German news outlet Deutsche Welle fired 5 Palestinian and Lebanese employees, saying the had posted anti-Semitic content on social media. The social media posts in question were largely criticism of Israel and not targeting Jewish people. Deutsche Welle was criticized for trying to silence criticism of Israel. (AJ 2/11; MEMO 2/15; HA 2/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers slashed the tires of 6 vehicles and wrote racist and incendiary graffiti on Palestinian homes in al-Zawiya, near the Ariel settlement. Israeli settlers also vandalized 40 olive saplings in Yasuf and 50 grape trees in Kafr ad-Dik. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian herders and killed 20 sheep in Khirbet Zanuta. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with live ammunition, 7 with rubber-coated bullets, including 2 journalists, and others with tear gas. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli activists, including 3 members of Knesset from Meretz and Joint List, partook in a tree planting event in Burin. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kafr Qaddum, Jenin, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler assaulted 1 Palestinian protesting against forced Israeli evictions in Sheikh Jarrah. (HA, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/4; PCHR 2/6; PCHR 2/10; UNOCHA 2/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized some 70 olive trees in Khillat al-Dabe in Masafer Yatta. The Hebron Rehabilitation Committee said Israeli forces prevented its workers from renovating 12 Palestinian-owned homes in the al-Jabari area of Hebron. 12 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Bethlehem, Tuqu‘, Beit Fajjar, Beit Sahour, al-Am‘ari refugee camp, Beita, Bayt Dajan, and Rujeib. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian minor, facing eviction by Israeli settlers, allegedly stabbed an Israeli settler in her neighborhood in Sheikh Jarrah; the settler was lightly injured. The Palestinian girl was found in a nearby school 1 hour later and was arrested by Israeli forces; she denied involvement. Israeli forces also arrested 3 other people at the school and raided the girl’s home, arresting her mother. Israeli settlers toured Sheikh Jarrah, chanting “death to Arabs.” Israeli forces later closed off Sheikh Jarrah, preventing activists and journalists from entering the neighborhood. 5 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya. In Israel, Israeli right-wing activists vandalized a mosque in Umm al-Fahm by spraying racist graffiti and drawing the Star of David on it. (AJ, HA, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/8; ALM, HA 12/9; HA 12/10; PCHR 12/16)

The Israeli Jerusalem municipality advanced early-stage plans for a new Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem near Bayt Safafa, to be called Givat Shaked. The plans for the new settlement include 473 settler units, 2 schools, and synagogues. The settlement was 1st proposed by former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, but shelved after international outrage, including from the U.S. (HA, MEE 12/6; MEMO 12/7; TOI 12/8)

Members of the Hamas political bureau visited Moscow for meetings with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov. (MEMO 12/8)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Tunisian president Kais Saied in Tunis. (WAFA 12/7; WAFA, WAFA 12/8)

Jordan rescinded its submission to the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, and apologized after pressure from Palestinians who called the film Amira offensive. The film depicts a Palestinian girl who is ostracized from her community after she discovers that she was conceived by sperm from an Israeli prison guard and not the Palestinian prisoners she thought was her father. The PA and Hamas were among those lobbying against the movie. (HA, MEE, MEMO 12/9)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz claimed, in response to a formal query by members of the Meretz party, that the 6 rights organizations he had declared terrorist organizations on 10/22 had PFLP members who did not work for them on their payroll. He also claimed that PFLP members controlled the organizations. (HA 12/8)

Lebanon’s labor minister Mustafa Bayram said Lebanon would ease restrictions on what professions Palestinian refugees in the country are allowed to work. Labor Minister Bayram’s office quickly sought to clarify that the changes would be within the confines of the current Lebanese legislation. The legislation does not allow much leeway for substantial changes to the rules banning Palestinians from certain jobs. Bayram, who is from the Amal party, was quickly shunned by Lebanese politicians from other parties, who said he does not have the authority to make any changes on the issue. Gebran Bassil of the Free Patriotic Movement called the comments “‘naturalization in disguise’ of the Palestinians . . . there shouldn’t be any stealing of jobs from Lebanese under the current circumstances.” Bayram eventually completely retracted his initial statement, saying that there will be no changes. (AA, JP 12/9; HA 12/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets, including a minor; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets, including 2 minors; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Hebron and Atuf, and 1 at the Container checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers vandalized the home of the prominent activist El Kurd family in Sheikh Jarrah, spraying graffiti with the star of David on the home and defacing murals. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian bird hunters east of Khuza‘a. In Israel, 1 Palestinian Israeli man was killed by Israeli forces in Umm al-Fahm after he allegedly rammed into 2 border police officers with his car; 1 other Palestinian man was injured; 1 of the Israeli officers was reportedly moderately injured while the other was lightly injured. (HA, JP, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 12/3; AP, MEMO 12/4; PCHR 12/16)

Israel handed over the body of 1 Palestinian shot and killed at a checkpoint in Ni‘lin in August 2020 to his family. (WAFA 12/3)

Reuters reported that 9 U.S. state department officials working in Uganda, or whose work focused on Uganda, had their phones infected with the Pegasus spyware from the Israeli company NSO Group. (ALM, AP, HA, REU 12/3; MEMO 12/4; HA 12/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Israeli soldiers and 1 Palestinian man with tear gas when the 2 soldiers were asking the Palestinian about settler vandalism at al-Mughayyir near the Adei Ad settlement outpost. Israeli settlers from the Ariel settlement also vandalized Palestinian property in Marda, spraying racist graffiti on walls and vehicles and puncturing tires. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers stole olive harvesting equipment in Burin. Israeli forces issued a demolition notice for a newly built road connecting Ya‘bad and Khirbat Emreha. Israeli forces also delivered notices for the seizure of 40 dunams (9.9 acres) of land in Yasuf. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around ‘Azzun, Beita, Burqa, Nawawrah, Beit Umar, and Hebron; during the raid in Beit Umar, Israeli forces damaged 2 vehicles and fired tear gas at Palestinians confronting the soldiers. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians from the Damascus Gate plaza, forcing them to leave the area. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (HA, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; HA, PCHR 10/14; AJ 10/17)

The Jerusalem local planning committee approved the expropriation of land in the planned East Jerusalem Israeli settlement of Givat Hamatos, where 1,257 housing units are planned, along with filing plans to expand Pisgat Ze’ev. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO 10/14; AP, TOI 10/15)

Some 400 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons started an open-ended hunger strike to protest new restrictions imposed after 6 prisoners escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6. (MEMO, WAFA 10/14)

In Syria, Syrian officials said Israel had conducted an air strike near Palmyra, targeting a telecommunications tower and causing damage. Russia said that the Syrian air defense system did not engage the Israeli-fired missiles because the Israeli jets firing them were using civilian airplanes as cover. 9 people were killed in the attack, according to the London-based Syrian opposition group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (AP 10/13; TOI 10/15)

Chairman of the Religious Zionist party Bezalel Smotrich told Palestinian Israeli lawmakers during a Knesset discussion that they are only in Israel because “Ben-Gurion didn’t finish the job and throw you out in 1948.” Smotrich also called the lawmakers “terror supporters.” (HA 10/13; MEMO 10/14)

Israel’s regional cooperation minister Issawi Frej and deputy minister of foreign affairs Idan Roll met with Sudanese justice minister Nasredeen Abdulbari in Dubai. They talked about promoting future projects between the 2 countries and how to further their normalization deal. (AP 10/13; ALM 10/14)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid and later had a trilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Lapid and foreign minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Washington D.C. During a press conference, Secretary Blinken said that the U.S. is moving forward with reopening the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem, despite Israeli opposition. Lapid also later confirmed that the U.S. had raised the issue of Israeli settlement expansion during his meetings with U.S. officials. (AJ, ALM, AX, HA, HA, MEE, REU, REU 10/13; AP, REU 10/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive, sage, and thyme seedlings and wrote racist graffiti on 1 well and 1 agricultural structure in Qusra. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with live ammunition, 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man south of Bethlehem, alleging that he tried to stab an Israeli soldier with a broken bottle. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Israeli harassment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, at the Separation wall near Bethlehem, leading to tear-gas related injuries and 2 arrests. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Israeli harassment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, at a checkpoint in Jenin, 1 minor was injured by live ammunition and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in Bethlehem, and 2 at checkpoints near Jenin and Yatta. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Damascus Gate plaza dispersing Palestinians in the area; 1 Palestinian minor was reportedly beaten by Israeli police before he was arrested. 1 other Palestinian minor was arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire and fired tear gas at Palestinian protesters east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 4 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; PCHR 5/6)

Chief of Mossad Yossi Cohen met with U.S. president Joe Biden as he and other Israeli senior officials tried lobby the U.S. not to reenter the Iran nuclear deal. Cohen and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan also met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken on 4/29. (AJ, HA 4/29; ALM 4/30; HA 5/1; AJ, JP 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 3 cars and sprayed racist graffiti in Bayt Iksa. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near ‘Urif, damaging 2. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Bayt Hanina, Husan, Bethlehem, and Tubas; 1 Palestinian was hospitalized for his injuries after Israeli forces assaulted him during the raid in Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police said it had arrested 8 Israeli settlers for 2 attacks on Palestinians involving pepper spray. 8 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israel said that 2 rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel but landed within Gaza. The Gaza fishing zone was closed by Israeli authorities. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen on 2 separate occasions, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. (WAFA 4/27; HA, HA, WAFA 4/28; HA, PCHR 4/29)

Israel said it shot down a drone flying into Israeli airspace from Lebanon, claiming it was operated by Hezbollah. (AP 4/27)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is standing trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, tried to appoint Ofir Akunis, a member of his own party, as justice minister. Hours later, the Israeli supreme court canceled Akunis’s appointment. (HA 4/28)

A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report said that Israel is guilty of committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The 213-page report named “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution” maintained that “Israeli authorities methodically privilege Jewish Israelis and discriminate against Palestinians. Laws, policies, and statements by leading Israeli officials make plain that the objective of maintaining Jewish Israeli control over demographics, political power, and land has long guided government policy. In pursuit of this goal, authorities have dispossessed, confined, forcibly separated, and subjugated Palestinians by virtue of their identity to varying degrees of intensity. In certain areas, as described in this report, these deprivations are so severe that they amount to the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the report, urging the international community to intervene. The Israeli foreign ministry said that HRW is known to be anti-Israel. B’Tselem reached the same conclusion earlier this year and many Palestinian organizations have maintained for many years that Israel is guilty of apartheid. (AJ, CNN, GDN, HA, MDW, NPR, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/27; ALM, CSM, HA, HA, TOI 4/28; TOI 4/29; IN 4/30)

In the West Bank, 4 Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian farmer working his land in al-Khadir; the man was later taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. Israeli forces raided Salfit, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 26 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bayt Kahal, Hebron, Dheisheh refugee camp, al-Mughayyir, Tell, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces handed the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Shaykh Ekrima Sabri a notice banning him from traveling for 2 months. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire and sprayed water on Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of Dayr al-Balah, causing damage to 1 boat, which sank; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, anti-Palestinian Israelis vandalized more than 30 cars by slashing tires and writing in Hebrew “expel or kill” on them with graffiti in Kafr Kassim; The mayor of Kafr Kassim called it “an act of terrorism.” Israeli forces demolished the bedouin village al-‘Araqib for the 185th time since 2000. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/25; PCHR 4/1)

Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that 1 Israeli-owned cargo ship was hit by an Iranian missile in the Arabian Sea. (REU 3/25; ALM, HA 3/26)

The U.S. state department announced that it would send $15 million in COVID-19 aid to the occupied Palestinian territories through Catholic Relief Services and U.S. AID emergency food assistance programs. (ALM, AP, HA, WAFA 3/25; AJ, WAFA 3/26)

Norway donated $900,000 to the Palestinian Central Election Commission to support the 2021 Palestinian elections. (WAFA 3/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 2 vehicles and sprayed racist graffiti in Bayt Iksa. Israeli settlers also attacked 1 Palestinian man in Susiya, causing moderate injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers toured a site near Luban al-Sharqiyya, leading to clashes between the settlers’ military escort and Palestinians, causing tear-gas related injures. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a protest in Bayt Dajan; the man, who is an imam at a local mosque, was shot in the head. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in ‘Ayn al-Bayda, causing injuries from physical assault with rifle butts. 2 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a house raid in Tura and 1 at a checkpoint near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed an anti-eviction protest in Shaykh Jarrah, causing injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israel naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Palestinians continued their weekly protest against gun violence and Israeli police inaction in Umm al-Fahm and Qalansawe. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/19; PCHR, WAFA 3/20; PCHR 3/25; HA 3/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole and broke farming equipment and sprayed racist graffiti in Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli forces raided 1 hospital in Tulkarm, firing sound bombs inside of it. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure near Bethlehem. 10 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Qalandia. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian bird hunters northeast of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 11/9; HA 11/10; PCHR 11/12)

The UNRWA announced that it needs to raise $70 million by the end of November to be able to pay its 28,000 employees in full for November and December. (WAFA 11/8; AJ, HA, WAFA 11/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 1 Palestinian-owned vehicle and sprayed racist graffiti on a house in Asira. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 using rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed in Hebron, leading to 1 Palestinian being shot by live ammunition. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-‘Arub refugee camp and ‘Azun. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya; according to Israeli authorities, 1 Israeli soldier was injured by a stone thrown at him; 3 were arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired missiles at Gaza, causing damage after claiming 6 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/28; HA 8/29; PCHR 9/3)

The UN security council extended UNIFIL’s mandate to operate in southern Lebanon for 1 year but reduced the number of UN peacekeeping troops allowed in the area. (AJ 8/28; HA 8/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a tractor and wrote racist graffiti in ‘Urif and slashed tires on several vehicles and wrote racist graffiti on buildings in Yasuf. Israeli settlers also threw stones and paint at an Israeli border police vehicle near the Yitzhar settlement. Israeli settlers also set fire to Palestinian agricultural lands in Asira; subsequently, local Palestinians and Israeli forces clashed in the area, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also razed land east of Tulkarm. Separately, Israeli forces injured 3 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets as they were seeking to enter Israel via the separation wall near Far‘un. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hizma, Bethlehem, Salfit, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished part of their house built to accommodate their disabled son in Sur Bahir. 4 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in Issawiyya and the Old City, and 1 Waqf guard at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israel fired missiles at Gaza City, Bayt Hanun, and Dayr al-Balah, causing damage; incendiary balloons were launched from Gaza toward Israel, sparking fires. 1 unexploded Israeli shell was found at an UNRWA school west of Gaza City. Israel announced that it would stop all imports of fuel into Gaza as collective punishment for incendiary balloons landing in Israel. (AJ, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/13; HA, HA 8/14; PCHR 8/16; PCHR 8/17; PCHR 8/19)

Russia announced that it would open trade representation offices in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Nablus. (WAFA 8/13)

U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Israel and the UAE had agreed to establish full diplomatic ties and that Israel, as part of the agreement, had decided to suspend annexation of parts of the West Bank. In a joint statement from the 3 parties, it said that “Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world.” Later, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that annexation is “still on the table” and a promise he is committed to. Subsequently, President Trump said, “Israel agreed not to annex parts of the West Bank. It is more than taking it off the table—they agreed not to do it. This is a very smart concession by Israel. It is off the table now.” U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman later said that annexation is “off the table now but it’s not off the table permanently. You can’t have peace and annexation at the same time.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the deal a “betrayal of Jerusalem, al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause.” The PA also recalled its ambassador to the UAE. Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said of the deal: “[t]his announcement is a reward for the Israeli occupation’s crimes . . . The normalization is a stabbing in the back of our people.” U.S. officials also said that Bahrain and Oman are likely to soon normalize relations with Israel. (HA, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 8/13; AJ, AJ, REU, REU, REU 8/14; HA 8/15; REU 8/16; AJ 8/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque and wrote racist graffiti on walls in al-Bireh. Israeli forces razed Palestinian farmland to expand an Israeli settlement near Burqin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 4 animal barns in Nahalin. 11 Palestinians were arrested, including 9 during late-night raids in and around Anata, Hebron, Shu‘fat, and Jenin; 2 were arrested at a military checkpoint near Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of Rafah. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/27; PCHR 7/29)

In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants were said to have exchanged fire near the Lebanese border; no casualties were reported. Israel claimed that Hezbollah operatives had entered Israel, leading to an exchange of fire. Hezbollah, however, said that it had not opened fire on Israeli forces and that the Israeli claims were a publicity stunt. The Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab later said that Israel’s conduct was a dangerous military escalation in violation of Lebanese sovereignty. (REU, REU 7/27; AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU 7/28)

The U.S. Democratic Party finalized its platform for the 2020 elections. While the platform states opposition to Israeli annexation of West Bank settlements and calls for a 2-state solution, it also dismissed progressive amendments to dealing with Israel, such as conditioning military aid and calling for an end to the occupation of the West Bank. The amendments were voted down 117-34. The platform also recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Jewish Voice for Peace called the platform “wildly out of touch with the Democratic base.” (HA 7/27; JVP Action 7/28; WAFA 7/29)

The EU said it was “deeply concerned” about the detention of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Gheith and called for “full respect of bilateral agreements between Israel and the PLO” with regard to East Jerusalem. Governor Gheith was arrested on 7/19 during a house raid; it was the 18th time he has been arrested since becoming governor 2 years ago. (WAFA 7/28)

The EU contributed with $27 million to the PA to help pay for the June salaries for PA civil servants. The PA has only paid civil servants half their salaries, citing the refusal to receive tax revenue payments collected by Israel because it would include coordination between the PA and Israel. (WAFA, WAFA 7/27)