The Palestine Chronology

Overnight in the West Bank, IDF troops assault the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian, allegedly a mbr. of PIJ involved in the killing of an Israeli on 7/1. After declaring the village a closed military zone, they cut the Internet and electricity, fire anti-tank missiles and other artillery at his 3-story residential building for 7 hours, and eventually demolish it, killing the man and injuring a 2d Palestinian. The operation sparks clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in the area; 5 Palestinians are injured and 3 are arrested. (BBC, MNA, WAFA 7/27; PCHR 8/4)

After the major IDF operation nr. Hebron overnight, the PA announces that the IDF has agreed to begin lifting its general closure of Hebron and the surrounding district, which it put in place in the wake of a Palestinian’s shooting of a settler on 7/1. Tension remains high in Hebron, as the IDF patrols the region throughout the day. (JP 7/27)

Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids in Nablus and nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest 2 mbrs. of the Islamic Waqf after they allegedly assault 2 Israeli archaeologists at Haram al-Sharif, and arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces confront a Palestinian fishing party late at night, damaging 1 boat and arresting 5 Palestinians. Meanwhile, a Gazan succumbs to injuries sustained in a confrontation with Israeli forces on 11/23/2001. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish several structures in the bedouin village of al-Araqib for the 101st time since 6/2010. The demolitions spark minor clashes, and several Palestinians are arrested. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/27; EI, MNA, PCHR, WAFA 7/28; PCHR 8/4)

Israeli NGO Peace Now announces that the Israeli govt. has opened tenders for the construction of 323 housing units in Israeli settlements nr. Jerusalem, including 89 in Gilo, 36 in Neve Ya’acov, 68 in Pisgat Ze’ev, and 130 in Har Homa. Meanwhile, the Israeli Knesset’s Ministerial Comm. for Legislation gives preliminary approval to a bill that would make some West Bank settlements eligible for special tax breaks in connection with the severity of their security situation. (MNA, PNOW 7/27; HA, TOI 7/28)

Israel’s Public Security Minister Erdan decides to permit Jews and other nonMuslims to visit Haram al-Sharif in the last 10 days of Ramadan, marking a deviation from Israeli policy in recent years. Many Palestinians see Erdan’s decision as a breach of the status quo at the sanctuary. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raid Haram al-Sharif in the morning before a right-wing Jewish activist tour of the site, arresting 2 Palestinians, and sparking clashes with worshippers; 12 Palestinians and 1 Israeli police officer are injured. (HA, MNA, TOI 6/28)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids and house searches in and around Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron and Salfit. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage or injuries. The Israeli authorities reduce the fishing zone off of Gaza’s s. coast to 6 naut. mi., having temporarily extended it on 6/19 for Ramadan. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 6/26; MNA 6/27; PCHR 6/30)

The Israeli press reports that Israel and Turkey have finalized agreements on all remaining sticking points in their negotiations over reconciliation, and that they plan to announce a final deal on 6/27. An Israeli official says that Turkish pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to an additional document that will renew Turkish efforts to negotiate with Hamas to secure the release of the remains of 2 IDF soldiers who died in Gaza during Israel’s 2014 Operation Protective Edge. (HA, YA 6/26)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Jenin, arresting 1 Palestinian and sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; 2 Palestinians are critically injured. They also conduct late-night raids and house searches in and around Jenin, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Hebron, arresting 16 Palestinians, and assault and injure a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Jenin. Israeli forces demolish 4 residential and agricultural structures in the n. Jordan Valley. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian farmer working nr. Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, dozens of right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces carry out an unspecified operation in Issawiyya, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Israeli police officer is injured and 1 Palestinian is injured and then arrested. Late at night, Israeli forces raid a home in Issawiyya, assaulting and arresting 6 mbrs. of a single family. They also assault and arrest 2 Palestinians, 1 at a checkpoint in Silwad and 1 on a patrol in Silwan. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/28; MNA 2/29; PCHR 3/3)