The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 6 Palestinians during raids in and around Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers vandalized 7 Palestinian-owned vehicles in ‘Urif. In northern Gaza, Israel assassinated Baha Abu al-Ata, the commander of Islamic Jihad in Palestine. Several rockets were then fired from Gaza toward Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Subsequently, Israel heavily bombed Gaza, killing at least 10 Palestinians and injuring more than 40. CNN and Al Jazeera reported that their reporters were prevented by Israeli forces from covering the events from near the Gaza fence. Schools in Gaza and much of southern Israel were closed. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, NPR, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/12; AJ 11/13; PCHR 11/14)

After assassinating al-Ata, Israel tried to assassinate another member of Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Akram al-Ajouri in Damascus, killing his son instead during an airstrike. Syrian media reported that 2 people were killed and 6 were injured during Israel’s attack. (HA, WAFA 11/12)

The EU high court of justice ruled that the EU states have to identify products from Israeli settlements. The U.S. State Department criticized the ruling, calling it anti-Israel biased and serving the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. (AJ, Guardian, HA, WAFA 11/12; State Department 11/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished a home in Kobar village of a Palestinian convicted of wounding 7 Israeli settlers, leading to the death of an unborn baby. Israeli forces also seized several thousands of dollars allegedly meant for terror activities in Hebron. In late-night raids, Israeli forces arrested 21 Palestinians in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, and Qalqilya. The raid in Qalqilya led to clashes between Israeli soldiers and local residents seeking to block their passage. In Hebron, Israeli soldiers assaulted a Palestinian construction worker. In the West Bank village of Hizma, Israeli forces shot and injured a 13-year-old Palestinian using live ammunition during clashes when Israeli forces sealed off the entrance to the village. Israeli forces also demolished 3 agricultural structures and delivered dozens of demolition notices during their raid. Israeli forces also demolished a residential tent in Susiya near Hebron, displacing 10 Palestinians. Israeli authorities confiscated dozens of acres of Palestinian-owned agricultural land for a nature reserve south of Nablus. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli supreme court rejected Palestinian families’ appeal to protect 60 buildings in East Jerusalem from demolition. Some 500 families live in the 60 residential structures. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/16; HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/17)

The Jerusalem District Court denied a petition by Human Rights Watch director for Israel and Palestine Omar Shakir to reverse his pending deportation. Shakir is accused by Israel of supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Shakir’s lawyer said that they would appeal the decision. (HA, MDW 4/16; MNA 4/17)