The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Qalqilya, Nablus, Salfit, Jericho, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces struck several targets, causing damage; no injuries were reported. An IDF spokesperson said that the attack was in response to a rocket fired at Israel on 12/25. Israeli forces also made incursions east of Rafah. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/26; HA, HA 12/27; PCHR 1/2)

The organizing committee of the Great March of Return announced the suspension of the weekly Great March of Return protest to the end of March 2020. The announcement also declared that from April 2020, the protest would be monthly instead of weekly. (AJ, HA 12/26)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu won the Likud leadership primary over his rival Gideon Sa’ar with 72.5 percent of the vote. Netanyahu said in his victory speech that he would work toward U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and all Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (AJ 12/26; AJ, HA 12/27)

Along Gaza’s border, unidentified Palestinians fly an incendiary device into southern Israel using a balloon. The device sparks a small fire, causing minor damage. Israeli jets then conduct air strikes on 2 sites near al-Bureij refugee camp, causing extensive damage. An IDF spokesperson says the sites were used as staging grounds for incendiary balloon attacks. Late at night, dozens of Palestinians gather along the border fence near Khan Yunis to throw stones, light tires on fire, and otherwise continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse them, injuring 6. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Khan Yunis, Rafah, and Gaza City, injuring 3 fishermen (2 of the fishermen are arrested and 2 boats are confiscated). In the West Bank, dozens of right-wing Jewish activists visit Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinians in the area; 10 Palestinians are injured, including 1 journalist. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 13 Palestinians during raids in and around Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina. (HA, JP, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/20; MNA, PCHR 2/21; PCHR 2/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian greenhouse and another agricultural structure in Bayt Iksa near Jerusalem. IDF troops arrest a Palestinian who opens fire on an IDF post outside the nearby Ma’ale Adumim settlement; arrest 2 Palestinians during raids near Bethlehem and Hebron; and patrol near Bethlehem, Hebron, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers cut down approximately 1,000 tree saplings from a Palestinian nature reserve outside Burqa village near Nablus. Settlers also uproot a number of olive trees in the courtyard of al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Separately, unidentified assailants open fire on a Palestinian police station in al-Ram near Jerusalem, sparking a firefight between PA police and the armed assailants; 1 Palestinian is killed (it’s unclear if he was a bystander or one of the assailants). Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers and shepherds working near Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. An Israeli drone bombs a Hamas post near Khan Yunis, causing extensive damage. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/13; PCHR 1/17)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops violently dispersed Palestinian protesters gathering along Gaza’s border several weeks ago. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 197. (WAFA 1/13; PCHR 1/17)

The IDF announces the conclusion of Operation Northern Shield, the operation formally launched on 12/4 to discover and demolish cross-border tunnels allegedly built by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon to northern Israel. An IDF spokesperson also announces the 1/12 discovery of a 6th major tunnel and says preparations are underway to demolish it. He says that this is the largest and most important tunnel discovered during the operation. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the UN Amal Mudallali files a formal complaint with the UN Security Council over Israel’s construction of a concrete wall along the Israel-Lebanon border. Mudallali contends that the wall is a violation of UNSC Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war. (HA, HA, JP, TOI, YA 1/13)

At the weekly meeting of Israel’s cabinet, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that Israel was responsible for the air strikes in Syria on 1/11. “The wave of recent attacks proves that we are determined more than ever to act against Iran in Syria,” he says, marking a rare instance of the Israeli government taking credit for an individual strike in Syria. Meanwhile, satellite photos depicting a demolished storehouse at the Damascus International Airport circulate in the Israeli media. (JP, YA 1/13; TOI 1/14)

Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian driver after he allegedly attempts to ram them outside Ithna village near Hebron. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure 5 Palestinians during clashes sparked by raids in Surda and Nabi Salih villages near Ramallah and Bayt Umar near Hebron. The IDF also conducts raids in Ramallah for a 2d day in a row, sparking clashes with Palestinian residents of the area; 6 Palestinians are lightly injured. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home in Jiftlik. Shortly after the demolition, they open fire on a Palestinian driver allegedly attempting to ram them. The driver, who is later identified as the owner of the demolished home, is lightly injured and his car is damaged. Israeli soldiers then assault and arrest him. Separately, Israeli forces issue stop-work orders to Palestinians building new classrooms onto a school in Bayt Dajan near Nablus. Late at night, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during raids near Hebron and patrol near Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Salfit. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 12/11; MNA, MNA, MNA 12/12; PCHR 12/13)

A Palestinian child succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops violently dispersed protests along Gaza’s border on 12/7. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 190. (EI 12/11; MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/12)

An IDF spokesperson announces that Israeli forces have discovered another of Hezbollah’s cross-border tunnels in the context of Operation Northern Shield. According to the spokesperson, the tunnel has been booby-trapped so anyone entering from the Lebanese side would “face a serious danger to their lives.” Meanwhile, Lebanese president Michel Aoun says that U.S. officials have told him that Israel has no “aggressive intentions” behind Operation Northern Shield, adding that he too has no “aggressive intentions.” Aoun also says that his government takes the issue of Hezbollah’s tunnels “seriously.” Tensions along the border remain relatively low, although sources both in Israel and Lebanon say that there is potential for the situation to escalate quickly. (HA, HA, TOI, TOI, YA 12/11)

An Israeli aircraft conducts an air strike along Gaza’s border fence near Khan Yunis, killing 3 Palestinian minors. An IDF spokesperson says that the Palestinians were attempting to place a suspicious object along the border fence. Hours after the strike, hundreds of Palestinians march to the homes of senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine (PIJ) leaders demanding that they retaliate against Israel. PIJ then puts out a statement threatening to respond and rejecting the Israeli narrative about what the 3 minors were doing. Meanwhile, IDF troops stationed along the border fence open fire on Palestinian bird-hunters working near Bayt Hanun; 1 Palestinian is injured. In the West Bank, Israeli forces chase a Palestinian shepherd off his land in the northern Jordan Valley. IDF troops assault and injure a Palestinian, arrest 9 other Palestinians, issue 1 arrest summons, and confiscate a Palestinian vehicle during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Nablus, Hebron, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlement security guards assault 2 Palestinians near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Anata refugee camp, and Shu‘fat. (HA, JP, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, YA 10/28; MNA 10/29; PCHR 11/1)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border fence on 10/26. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 185. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/28)

The PLO Central Council convenes in Ramallah for the first of 2 days of meetings on a variety of issues facing the Palestinian people. Opening the meetings, PA president Mahmoud Abbas says, “We are facing a historical moment; either to be or not to be.” He calls for the Palestinian people to support the PLO and reaffirms that there can be no Palestinian state without Gaza or a capital in Jerusalem. (HA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 10/28)

An Israeli drone bombs a site east of Bayt Hanun in Gaza in the evening, moderately injuring 1 Palestinian. An IDF spokesperson says that the strike targeted a group of Palestinians who were throwing firebombs across the border fence into Israel earlier in the day. Separately, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian at a Great March of Return tent camp near Gaza City. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uproot or otherwise destroy approximately 370 grape vines and 30 olive trees outside al-Khadir village near Bethlehem, 50 olive tree saplings outside Tell village near Nablus, 22 olive trees from a grove near Qalqilya, and 100 olive trees outside al-Mughayyir near Ramallah. Separately, an Israeli settler driver runs over 2 Palestinians near Qalqilya, injuring both. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 16 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Hebron; and patrol near Hebron, Salfit, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers uproot dozens of Palestinian trees in Silwan. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Abu Dis. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; MNA, MNA, MNA 10/15; PCHR 10/18)

Amid escalating violence along Gaza’s border fence, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that if the attacks from Gaza don’t stop, Israel will offer a “different” response. “Hamas apparently didn’t get the message,” he says, referring to the last round of Israeli air strikes in Gaza. “If they don’t stop the attacks against us, they will be stopped in a different way and it will be painful—very painful.” Later, Israel’s security cabinet reportedly decides to wait and see if Hamas will heed Netanyahu’s warning before ordering a broader assault on Gaza. (HA, JP, TOI, TOI, YA 10/14; MNA 10/15)

The Israeli cabinet approves NIS 22 million (approximately $6.1 million) to expand the Israeli settlements in Hebron. The plan calls for the construction of 31 housing units, 2 new kindergartens, a daycare center, and a public park on the site of a former IDF post. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 10/14)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse them near Gaza City, al-Bureij refugee camp, Jabaliya refugee camp, Rafah, and Khan Yunis; more than 120 Palestinians are injured. Amid the protests, Hamas snipers shoot and kill an Israeli soldier on the other side of the border fence. After the killing, Israeli forces carry out extensive air strikes and artillery shelling across Gaza; 3 Hamas fighters are killed in strikes near Khan Yunis and 1 more Palestinian is killed in Rafah. An IDF spokesperson says that 68 Hamas targets were hit and the attacks “eliminated about 60 buildings and infrastructures and revoked significant military and command and control capabilities.” Amid the attack, unidentified Palestinians launch 3 rockets into Israel; 2 are intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, and 1 lands in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; 3 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 1 Palestinian during raids near Bethlehem, and patrol near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, unidentified persons attach an incendiary device to a balloon and fly it from Bayt Jala into the Har Gilo settlement, marking the first use of such devices in the city, but causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 7/20; HA 7/21; PCHR 7/26)

Following the extensive Israeli strikes in Gaza, Hamas and Israel agree to a cease-fire mediated by Egyptian and UN officials. A senior Hamas official says that the agreement provides for the “cessation of all forms of military escalation,” including air strikes, mortars, and rockets. However, he says that incendiary balloons and kites are not part of the agreement (a senior Israeli official will dispute this on 7/21). The Egyptians reportedly threatened to impose their own restrictions on Gaza should Hamas not end the incendiary kite and balloon attacks on Israel. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 7/21)

After a night of rocket fire emanating from Gaza, the IAF conducts air strikes on at least 9 Hamas sites across Gaza in the morning; 4 Palestinians are injured. Hours later, armed groups in Gaza launch more than 190 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, injuring 4 Israelis near Sderot and causing light damage. The IAF retaliates with air strikes across Gaza into the night, targeting approximately 40 Hamas sites in and around Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Bayt Lahiya; 2 Palestinians are killed and at least 15 are injured. According to an IDF spokesperson, the strikes also “destroyed, vaporized” a Hamas command post in Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shoot and injure a Palestinian minor near Nablus. It’s unclear what caused the confrontation. IDF troops violently disperse protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya (1 Palestinian is injured), arrest 1 Palestinian during late-night raids in Hebron, and patrol near Nablus, Hebron, and Tulkarm. Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian agricultural structure near Nablus. (EI, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/14; MNA 7/15; PCHR 7/19)

Following a day of violence and regional and international mediation efforts, Hamas and PIJ announce that they’ve agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza. Egyptian diplomats reportedly brokered the deal. (WAFA 7/14; HA 7/15)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when Israeli snipers opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border fence on 7/13, bringing the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 132. (HA, WAFA 7/14)

Along Gaza’s border fence, IDF troops open fire on 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel near Rafah, killing 1 and injuring the other. An IDF spokesperson says that they were armed with an axe. Later, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level lands along the border fence near Gaza City. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces block a Palestinian farmer from working his lands near Qalqilya. IDF troops patrol in Bayt Fajjar near Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 12 Palestinians during late-night raids near Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Jenin; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 6/4; PCHR 6/7)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border on 5/14, bringing the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 117. (MNA 6/5)

Breaking the cease-fire brokered by Egypt on 5/30, unidentified Gazans launch a number of rockets and other projectiles into Israel late at night. Three are intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system; the others cause no major damage or injuries. The barrage is reportedly a response to the Israeli killing of a Gazan paramedic on 6/1. The IAF then conducts retaliatory air strikes on 15 Hamas weapons-production, storage, and other sites across Gaza, causing major damage. Earlier in the day, IDF troops open fire on a small group of Palestinian minors approaching the border fence near Khan Yunis; 1 Palestinian is injured. The IDF alleges that the group was attempting to sabotage Israeli security infrastructure. Meanwhile, unidentified Gazans fly incendiary kites across the border fence into Israel, sparking a number of fires in a nature reserve in southern Israel. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian after he allegedly attempts to run them over with a bulldozer in southern Hebron. The IDF says that the soldiers asked him to stop when he was 10 meters away, but he refused. Witnesses say that the soldiers killed him deliberately. Later, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian who filmed the shooting. They also violently disperse Palestinians protesting the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya (1 Palestinian is injured); arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids near Bethlehem and Hebron; and patrol in and around Tulkarm and Hebron. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian farmer working outside Surayf village near Nablus, causing moderate injuries and sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian residents; 2 Palestinians are injured. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian school under construction near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Hizma. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 6/2; HA, JP, WAFA 6/3; PCHR 6/7)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border fence on 5/14. His death brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 116. (WAFA 6/3; PCHR 6/7)

An IDF spokesperson announces that the IDF has begun an investigation into the killing of a Palestinian paramedic on 6/1 (the IDF will announce, on 6/5, that the paramedic was not deliberately targeted). (AP, JP, REU, YA 6/2; NYT 6/5)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return for the 5th consecutive Friday. This week’s protests, dubbed the “Friday of Rebellious Youth,” are dedicated to the 37 Palestinians killed since the March began on 3/30. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations in multiple locations; 3 Palestinians are killed and at least 150 are injured. After hours of Israeli sniper fire, the IDF considerably escalates its crackdown on the protests with artillery shelling and air strikes on 6 Hamas sites across Gaza, causing damage and injuring 4 Palestinians. An IDF spokesperson later says the strikes were a response to the “terrorist actions and extensive attempts to breach Israeli territory earlier today.” In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in Hebron, Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, and Ramallah; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid near Bethlehem and patrol near Hebron and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers slash the tires of a number of Palestinian vehicles near Nablus overnight, and chop down 12 olive trees in a Palestinian grove outside ‘Urif near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with stonethrowing Palestinians in al-‘Izzariya; 1 Palestinian is arrested and 1 is wounded. A Palestinian demolishes his own car park in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. (EI, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/27; YA 4/28; PCHR 5/3)