The Palestine Chronology

In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces shoot and kill a Palestinian youth late at night after he allegedly attempts to stab several officers at a checkpoint. Later, they raid the youth’s home in al-Tur, assaulting residents with pepper spray. On the Gaza border, IDF troops stationed e. of Khan Yunis open fire on agricultural lands and farmers nr. the border fence, critically injuring 1 Palestinian youth in the area. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 11 Palestinians are injured, including 2 seriously and 2 journalists. Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian farmer nr. Jenin; detain and assault several Palestinian farmers nr. Nablus, injuring 1 seriously. The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Jenin. (MNA 4/24; HA, MNA, REU, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/25; PCHR 4/29)

IAF jets conduct strikes on multiple targets, allegedly Hizballah long-range missile storage sites, in and around a Syrian military base nr. the Syria-Lebanon border, causing damage. (HA, JP, YA 4/25)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Jabaliya r.c. open fire on a group of Palestinians, moderately injuring 1. Also, 100s of Palestinians pray outside the Rafah border crossing, protesting its closure since 12/23. Meanwhile, police officers dismantle a 1,000 kg piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance left in Gaza City after OPE. Late at night, unknown persons vandalize the French Cultural Center, leaving slogans criticizing French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s recent publication of a cartoon featuring a likeness of the Prophet Muhammad. Also, the Gaza power plant resumes operation of a 3d turbine (out of 4 total), following the receipt of aid from the Qatari govt. for additional fuel. Daily scheduled power outages in Gaza decrease from 18 to 12 hours. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and nonweekly demonstrations in Surayf village nr. Hebron and outside Ofer detention center. In total, 10 Palestinians are seriously injured (2, Bil‘in; 7, Kafr Qaddum; 1, Surayf). Also, IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Ramallah, Qalqilya, and in al-‘Arub r.c.; patrol nr. Jenin; arrest a Palestinian man at a border crossing n. of Jenin. Separately, a Palestinian throws stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles between Jerusalem and Ramallah, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian in al-‘Izzariya. Meanwhile, 100s of Palestinians gather at Haram al-Sharif after Friday prayers to protest the Charlie Hebdo cartoon. In s. Israel, Palestinian bedouin residents of Rahat observe a general strike called for by the Arab High Follow-Up Comm. in protest of the 1/14 killing of Sami al-Ajar by Israeli police. The comm. also called for a strike on 1/18. (MNA 1/16; AFP, TOI 1/17; +972 1/19; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opens a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine to cover the time period since 6/13. Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women Rashida Manjoo cancels her fact-finding mission to the oPt because Israeli authorities refused to give her a visa. (MNA, TOI 1/16; EI, MNA, WAFA 1/17)

Speaking at a joint press conference, U.S. Pres. Obama affirms that he will veto any new sanctions legislation that the new Republicanled Congress may pass, and UK PM David Cameron criticizes the sanctions proposals. Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with Iranian FM Zarif in Paris and discusses the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, as U.S. and Iranian officials meet in Geneva for bilateral talks. Zarif also meets with French FM Fabius. (AFP, AP, MNA, TOI 1/16)

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire a rocket into s. Israel in the Eshkol region. Israel holds Hamas responsible and the IDF launches a latenight air strike at a Hamas military training site nr. Khan Yunis, causing damage to the site and a nearby UNRWA school. It is the 1st Israeli bombing in Gaza since the 8/26 cease-fire ended OPE. In the West Bank, Palestinians gather in Turmus ‘Ayya, Silwad, and Ofer detention center to protest the death of a senior PA official on 12/10, sparking clashes with IDF troops in which 9 Palestinians are injured with rubbercoated metal bullets and 2 are detained. In Silwad, Israeli soldiers deliberately fire at electricity transformers, causing a power outage. Also, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), Bethlehem, and Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), shooting 1 in Bil‘in with a rubber-coated metal bullet and 1 in Ni‘lin. The IDF conducts an arrest raid nr. Qalqilya; patrols nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Jericho, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Meanwhile, dozens gather in Balata r.c. to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the PFLP. In East Jerusalem, nearly 60,000 Palestinians pray at Haram al-Sharif, then march through the streets of the Old City in protest of Israeli policies regarding the site. Later, Israeli forces conduct house searches and arrest raids in the Old City, al-Wad, Silwan, and al-Bustan. Clashes break out between Israeli police and stone-throwing Palestinians late at night in Wadi al-Juz, Anata, and Silwan. Police injure 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and arrest 5. (AP, HA, MNA, 12/19; AFP, HA, MNA, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/25)

U.S. Pres. Obama signs into law the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, which includes increased intelligence and military cooperation and new congressional oversight procedures. (TOI 12/20; IHY, JP, JTA 12/21)

The UNGApasses 2 nonbinding res. regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian affairs: the 1st calls on Israel to pay Lebanon $856.4 m. in damages related to an oil spill Israeli forces caused during the 2006 war; the 2d recognizes Palestinian sovereignty over the natural resources in the oPt. (AFP, WAFA 12/20)

A leaked report from the IAEA concludes that Iran is upholding commitments made to the P5+1 related to its disputed nuclear program. (JP, REU 12/18)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathered to protest outside Ofer prison, injuring 2 with live ammunition. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and in 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Nil‘in), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in, where 2 are struck by a tear gas canister and sound bomb. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities bar men under the age of 50 from praying at Haram al-Sharif. PA Pres. Abbas urges Palestinians to defend the holy site “by any means necessary,”speaking at a meeting in al-Bireh on threats to Jerusalem and the holy sites. (MNA 10/17; PCHR 10/23)

The IDF continues its aerial assault on the Gaza Strip with strikes on 46 targets, killing 5 Palestinians and injuring dozens more. The armed Palestinian groups launch approximately 130 projectiles into Israel, killing 1 Israeli child nr. Sderot, wounding 8, and causing damage across s. Israel. (One of the wounded Israelis, an IDF sgt., will succumb to his injuries on 8/29.) Meanwhile, Hamas executes 18 suspected collaborators with Israel, as the group’s crackdown on informants continues. PA Pres. Abbas’s office denounces the execution, calling it “extrajudicial.” In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and wound a Palestinian as they violently disperse Palestinians protesting OPE in Bethlehem. Additional clashes break out at demonstrations across the West Bank, including Qalandia, Ofer prison, Jalazun r.c., and Bayt Furik, where 10 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops conduct house searches and raid in Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Hebron, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Dura, arresting 3, including a mbr. of the Palestinian Legislative Council. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at a weekly demonstration against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Nil‘in), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum, where 1 is wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet. In East Jerusalem, clashes break out in al-Tur when Israeli forces patrol the neighborhood. No injuries or arrests are reported. (YA 8/22; HA 8/23; PCHR 8/28)

For a 2d day of talks, PA Pres. Abbas meets with Qatari emir Bin Hamad al-Thani and Hamas leader Mishal to discuss the continued Israeli assault and possible future cease-fire negotiations. The 2 Palestinian leaders make a statement calling on the UN to create a “timetable” for an end to the Israeli occupation. (MEMO, Yahoo! 8/22; AFP, HA, MNA 8/23)

Following the death of the Israeli boy early in the day, PM Netanyahu says that “Hamas will pay a heavy price” and that the “IDF and the Shin Bet will intensify their operations.” (HA 8/23)

Off the shore of the Gaza Strip nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, an unknown gunman opens fire on Israeli forces at Beitunia checkpoint nr. Ofer prison, causing no injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Hebron and 4 nearby villages, and 2 villages nr. Salfit at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in Hebron and 3 nearby villages and 4 villages nr. Ramallah at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in, where 2 are wounded by tear gas canisters. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces storm Haram al-Sharif to suppress a post-prayers demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners, wounding 28. (MNA 6/13; PCHR 6/19)

In response to the kidnapping of 3 Israeli teenagers on 6/12, the IDF erects numerous roadblocks and begins intensive raids in the Hebron region. PA security services spokesperson Adnan Dmeiri says that the PA is not responsible for the safety of settlers and that the area in question is under Israeli security control. Hamas spokesperson Husam Badran, meanwhile, calls on Palestinians to return the West Bank to its “natural place as the focal point of the struggle and resistance.” U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calls Pres. Abbas to discuss several issues, including the missing teenagers, and asks the Palestinian leader to help in the search. Kerry also speaks with PM Netanyahu. (HA, MNA 6/13)