The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians continue to undertake emergency relief efforts, uncovering many bodies of people killed earlier during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE), while many more Palestinians succumb to injuries. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the armed Palestinian groups continue to hold to the 5-day cease-fire. In the West Bank, a group of Israeli settlers in Hebron throws stones at Palestinian houses on al-Shuhada Street and IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian in the clashes that follow. The IDF conducts raids on several houses in Dayr Istya, and patrols in 2 villages n. of Jenin. During the day, the IDF conducts 13 other incursions into various areas of the West Bank. (MNA 8/16; PCHR 8/21)

There are no talks held today between Egyptian mediators, the Palestinian delegation, and Israeli negotiators. Hamas head of foreign affairs Usama Hamdan responds to the Egyptian proposal of 8/15, saying Israel must accept the demands of the Palestinian people or face a long war, and that the proposal was, therefore, insufficient. Head of the Palestinian delegation and senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad says that he is quietly optimistic that a long-term agreement can be reached before the 5-day cease-fire expires on 8/18. Meanwhile, in a televised speech from Ramallah, Palestinian Authority (PA) Pres. Mahmud Abbas says that the “goal is to stop the fighting and to stick to the Egyptian initiative, and no other,” in an implicit reference to efforts by Qatar and Turkey to serve as alternative diplomatic channels. PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erakat meets with Hamas political office chief Khalid Mishal and urges him to continue talks with Israel based on the Egyptian initiative. The pair also reportedly discuss the possibility of Palestine becoming a mbr. of the International Criminal Court (ICC). (AFP, HA, MNA, REU 8/16)

In Tel Aviv, thousands of demonstrators gather in Rabin Square to protest the ongoing assault on Gaza with the slogan “Changing direction: toward peace, away from war.” Counterprotesters also congregate in Rabin Square, but Israeli police keep the groups separate. (HA, JP 8/16)

Meanwhile, the Qatari govt. announces that it will donate $1,000 to each Palestinian family whose home has been destroyed during the Israeli assault, of which there are reportedly 797. The funds will be disbursed through the Qatari Comm. for Rebuilding the Gaza Strip. (JP 8/17)

On the 5th day of Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense, the IDF attacks on the Gaza Strip kill 31 Palestinians, including 10 civilians from the same family (al-Dalou), who die in a single air strike on a 3-story home in Jabalya. The Palestinian death toll now stands at 66. The IDF also targets a building used by media workers, injuring 6 Quds TV employees. Israel claims it was a legitimate strike on Hamas communications infrastructure. Some 80 targets are hit by the IDF overnight, with the Israeli military reporting having struck over 1,000 sites across the Gaza Strip since the operation began. Palestinian rocket fire into Israel continues, with 2 rockets wounding 7 Israelis in separate incidents. Israel reports that Palestinians have fired around 900 rockets and mortars into Israel since the beginning of the operation, with 1/3 intercepted by Iron Dome. (REU, AFP, MNA, HA 11/18)

In Cairo, Hamas officials and an Israeli delegation discuss a possible cease-fire through Egyptian mediation, though with no sign of a breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) calls for an emergency Arab League summit to address Israel’s ‘‘aggression.’’ (HA, MNA 11/18)

French FM Laurent Fabius, speaking alongside Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman at a press conference in Jerusalem, says that his government is talking with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar in effort to deescalate the situation. (HA, MNA 11/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning and 1 village nr. Jericho in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in Hebron, 2 villages nr. Nablus, and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 11/22)