The Palestine Chronology

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel nr. Bayt Lahiya. They do not inform his family, who will spend the next 2 days searching for him. (The Israeli govt. will release a statement on 12/28 announcing that the man is a Hamas military operative. His family will deny the report, asserting that he has no affiliation with Hamas and that he is mentally unstable.) In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah; and patrol nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian returning from work s. of Jerusalem. He suffers serious injuries, and the settlers flee the scene. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan, Qalandia r.c., and Qatanna. (MNA 11/27; JP 11/30; PCHR 12/1; HA 12/28; MNA 12/29)

Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) fighters in Syria launch mortars at IDF troops patrolling along the border in the Israeli controlled Golan Heights, causing no injuries. The IDF returns fire, bombing a car armed with a heavy machine gun. 4 ISIS fighters are reportedly killed. Late at night, Israeli fighter jets launch air strikes on an abandoned facility in the Syrian Golan Heights causing damage. (HA, JP, YA 11/27; JP, TOI, YA 11/28)

IDF troops shoot and critically injure a Palestinian in Hawara village nr. Nablus after he allegedly attempts to stab a soldier with a screwdriver. Late at night in the West Bank, Israeli forces use concrete to seal the entrance to the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian accused of assisting in the killing of 4 Israelis in Tel Aviv on 6/8. They also confiscate a tractor from Ras al-Amud village in the n. Jordan Valley and reopen the entrance to Aqraba village nr. Nablus, which was closed on 9/20 as collective punishment for reported stonethrowing in the area. The IDF arrests 14 Palestinian during late-night raids nr. Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron; and patrols nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a car wash in Bayt Hanina overnight. They also conduct raids in Abu Dis, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; there are no serious injuries. Around 100 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khan Yunis. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/9; PCHR 11/10; PCHR 11/17)

A Palestinian from Jalazun r.c. succumbs to a head injury he sustained in clashes with the IDF in the camp in 1992. (IMEMC 11/9)

An errant mortar shell fired from Syria lands in an uninhabited area of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds later in the day, firing artillery at Syrian army targets. There are no reported injuries. (JP, TOI 10/9)

In the 3d such incident in the area in less than 24 hours, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian youth in c. Hebron after he stabs and injures an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint. After the attack, the IDF raids the alleged attacker’s nearby home and deploys reinforcements to the West Bank. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 9/17; PCHR 9/22)

Meanwhile, the IDF conducts raids in the Hebron-area village of Bani Na‘im, home to 2 of the Palestinians killed on 9/16, issuing multiple arrest summons and searching several homes. IDF troops arrest 9 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons on further raids in and around Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Silwan and Issawiyya. A group of 5 Israeli youths, including an off-duty IDF soldier, assault a Palestinian child in Gilo, moderately injuring him. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/17; PCHR, YA 9/22)

Unidentified fighters fire 2 mortar shells from Syria into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. For the 1st time along the Israel-Syria border, Iron Dome missile defense batteries intercept both rockets, preventing any damage or injuries. (HA, JP, TOI 9/17)

The Israeli authorities return the body of a Palestinian killed in a confrontation with Israeli troops on 9/5. His family buries him in the Anata village cemetery nr. Bethlehem. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops assault a Palestinian at a mobile checkpoint nr. Jenin, and arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Hebron. (MNA 9/13; WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/22)

For the 4th time in 2 weeks, errant mortar fire from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launches retaliatory air strikes on Syrian govt. sites nr. the border, causing an unknown amount of damage. During the Israeli sortie, the Syrian army fires 2 surface-to-air missiles at the IAF aircraft. The Syrian army claims that it downs a jet and a drone; the IDF denies that any of its aircraft were shot down. Later in the day, another round of 3 mortar shells from Syria falls in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and again, the IDF responds, launching air strikes on Syrian govt. sites nr. the border. No damage or injuries are reported. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 9/13)

The PA and Israel reach an agreement on repayment of the Palestinians’ outstanding debts to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), which reportedly total almost NIS 2 b. (approx. $350 m.). The IEC reduced the flow of power to several West Bank cities, starting in 5/2016, as punishment for the unpaid debts. (TOI 9/13; JP, WAFA, YA 9/14)

A 6-year-old Palestinian is killed when an Israeli settler rams her with his vehicle outside Bethlehem. Early reports on the incident say it was an accident, but the driver’s intentions are unclear. IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons on late-night raids nr. Jenin and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian farm lands nr. Qalqilya, destroying 13 olive trees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats. There are no injures in either incident. (MNA 9/10; PCHR 9/22)

In the 3d such incident this week, an errant mortar from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no serious damage. The IDF responds by firing artillery shots at Syrian govt. sites nr. the border. It is not clear how much damage is caused. (HA, JP, TOI 9/10)

Along Gaza’s border, unidentified Palestinian fighters open fire on IDF troops stationed nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries or damage. In response, the IDF launches air strikes on at least 2 Hamas military sites in n. Gaza, injuring 3 Hamas fighters. IDF troops also open fire on Palestinian homes nr. al-Maghazi r.c., causing no damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City and then nr. Rafah, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops attempt to remove a Palestinian flag from a public space in a village nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents throughout the day; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 2 Palestinian youths allegedly planning to carry out stabbing attacks in c. Hebron. Both boys were found to be carrying knives. Israeli forces destroy personal property and threaten to arrest a Palestinian infant during a raid on the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian who was killed on 11/1/2015 after attempting to stab an Israeli soldier. They also impose strict closures on 3 villages nr. Nablus after reports of stone-throwing in the area (the closures will be enforced through 9/10). The IDF arrests 3 Palestinians during raids and house searches nr. Salfit, Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, sparking clashes in Balata r.c. (1 Palestinian is injured); and patrols nr. Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Salfit, and Qalqilya during the day. Meanwhile, unknown assailants throw Molotov cocktails at the Nablus-area home of a Palestinian woman running for office in the 10/8 municipal elections, causing minor damage. She is affiliated with Fatah. In East Jerusalem, around 60 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Shu‘fat. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/4; MNA 9/5; PCHR 9/8; MNA 9/10)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian cases passing in both directions for the 2d of 2 planned days. (OCHA 9/8)

The PA and Israel sign an agreement to improve postal service in the oPt. The deal gives Palestinians more control over the transfer of mail in and out of the West Bank. (JP, MNA, TOI 9/4)

An errant mortar round fired from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF returns artillery fire on Syrian govt. positions along the border, causing an unknown amount of damage. (HA, MNA, TOI 9/4)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct heavy raids and weapons searches in and around Hebron and Bethlehem, arresting 5 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; 6 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts further raids nr. Qalqilya, arresting 3 Palestinians and assaulting a 4th (he is moderately injured). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Silwan and Issawiyya. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage. (WAFA 8/22; HA, MNA 8/23; PCHR 8/25)

After an errant mortar shell from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the IDF launches a strike on a Syrian govt. site nr. the border fence. There are no reported casualties in either incident. (HA 8/22)

A violent outburst in Hebron punctuates a period of relative calm in the West Bank. IDF troops shoot and kill 2 Palestinians in Hebron’s Old City after they allegedly stab and moderately injure an Israeli soldier. A video of the incident later shows that an IDF soldier killed 1 of the alleged assailants after he had been detained and disarmed. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities keep the Erez border crossing closed for the 2d of 3 planned days, and maintain the closure of the West Bank, as decided on 3/22. IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids nr. Ramallah, Jenin, and Bethlehem, arresting 2 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to another 2; patrol nr. Tulkarm and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, over 50 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif while 4 Palestinians are detained outside the sanctuary. Palestinian men under 50 are still banned from entering. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 3/24; HA, TOI 3/25; HA 3/27; HA 3/29; PCHR 3/31; VN 4/28)

Jordan’s FM Nasser Judeh meets with PA pres. Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to discuss the ongoing Jordanian-Israeli negotiations on new surveillance infrastructure at Haram al-Sharif. Judeh relays a message to Abbas that Jordan plans to go ahead with the 10/24/2015 agreement to do so. (JP, TOI 3/24)

The UN Human Rights Council approves a res., 32–0, with 15 abstentions, condemning Israel’s settlements and calling for the creation of a “blacklist” of all Israeli and international firms operating directly or indirectly in Gaza, the West Bank, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 3/24; HA 3/25)