The Palestine Chronology

During an undisclosed operation in southern Gaza, undercover Israeli special forces open fire on Hamas fighters from a moving car in Khuza‘a, sparking an exchange of heavy fire; 1 Israeli soldier and 1 Hamas fighter are killed and another Israeli soldier is critically injured. While the Israeli special forces are still in Gaza, the Israeli Air Force targets armed Palestinian fighters near Khuza‘a with a number of air strikes, killing 6, including a senior member of Hamas’s military wing. After the strikes, unidentified Palestinians launch at least 17 rockets and other projectiles into southern Israel. Three are intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system; the rest land in open areas, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli artillery and aircraft then strike more than 50 sites across Gaza, causing dozens of Palestinian injuries and extensive damage. Separately, dozens of right-wing Israeli activists block the road leading to the Kerem Shalom border crossing, preventing trucks bearing basic commodities and fuel to enter Gaza for hours in protest of the violence at the border protests on 11/9. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse dozens of Palestinian students at a rally commemorating the late Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat in Hebron; there are no reported injuries. They also arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem; deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian school under renovation in Hebron; and patrol in and around Qalqilya and Hebron. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 11/11; HA, HA, JP, JT, MNA 11/12; PCHR 11/15)

Along Gaza’s border fence, armed Gazans open fire on an Israeli army vehicle near Gaza City, causing no major damage. Israeli forces then fire flash bombs toward the source of the gunfire. The IAF conducts an air strike on a site near Jabaliya refugee camp allegedly being used as a staging area for incendiary kite and balloon attacks; 3 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering along the border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp to continue the Great March of Return; 1 Palestinian is injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, and Nablus; and patrol near Qalqilya and Hebron. (MNA, TOI, YA 7/24; PCHR 7/26)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when Israeli snipers opened fire on Great March of Return protesters along Gaza’s border on 5/14. His death brings the Great March of Return death toll to 135. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/24; HA 7/25)

The Israeli authorities partially reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing, allowing more imports into Gaza. Gas, fuel, food, and medicine are now allowed to cross; commercial imports are still blocked. A statement from Israel’s Defense Ministry explains that the crossing is only being partially reopened because Hamas “has not put a complete end to terrorism, but is trying to maintain a low level of incendiary balloon launches and friction on the border fence.” (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/24)

The IAF conducts an air strike on a site in Jabaliya refugee camp, targeting a group of Palestinians allegedly preparing to launch balloons fitted with incendiary devices into Israel; 2 Palestinians are injured. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian minors gathering near al-Bureij refugee camp to continue the Great March of Return; 1 Palestinian is injured. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids near Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Ramallah, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, approximately 1,440 Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning; 15 are arrested for praying in the sanctuary. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct late-night raids in Tulkarm, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of the area; there are no injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 7/22; JP, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/23; PCHR 7/26)

Hours before an air strike in Jabaliya refugee camp, Israeli DM Lieberman says that Israel will reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing and expand the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast as early as 7/24 if Hamas enforces a de-escalation of tensions, including an end to rocket fire and incendiary balloon and kite attacks. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 7/22)

The IAF conducts airstrikes on Palestinian agricultural land near Bayt Hanun, causing moderate damage. The IDF later states that it was targeting a tunnel that had not yet been built into Israeli territory. Meanwhile, IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border fence open fire on a Hamas observation post near alMaghazi refugee camp, and violently disperse Great March of Return protesters near Jabaliya refugee camp and al-Bureij refugee camp (3 Palestinians are injured, including 1 minor). In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 13 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Qalqilya; and patrol in and around Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Abu Dis. (HA, JP, WAFA, YA 5/12; PCHR 5/17)

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained when the IDF violently dispersed peaceful protesters along Gaza’s border on 5/11. His death brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 44. (HA, WAFA 5/12)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing in both directions for the first of 4 planned days. (AHR 5/14; OCHA 5/24)

Following the attack on a pipeline in Gaza on 5/11, Israeli DM Lieberman announces that the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza has been closed and will remain closed indefinitely while the damage is repaired. Meanwhile, the IDF musters troops along Gaza’s border in preparation for an escalation of the Great March of Return on 5/14. (HA, JP, YA 5/12)

Off Gaza’s coast, Egyptian naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Rafah, killing 1 Palestinian fisherman. Nearby, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians protesting U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in central Jerusalem, Nabi Salih village near Ramallah, outside Jayyus village near Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near Gaza City; 8 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. Hours later, the IDF declares Nabi Salih a closed military zone. The village is home to the Tamimi family of activists, whose resistance to the IDF has garnered international headlines in recent weeks. IDF troops also arrest 12 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. Israeli settlers destroy approximately 80 Palestinian-owned olive trees in a grove near Nablus and torch a Palestinian tractor in nearby ‘Urif village. (HA, MNA, TOI 1/13; TOI 1/14; PCHR 1/18)

Late at night, the IAF bombs and completely destroys a Palestinian tunnel south of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. There are no reported injuries. The IDF later rejects Palestinian claims that the tunnel was used for smuggling goods from Egypt, and alleges that it extended from Egyptian territory all the way to the area of the Kerem Shalom border crossing. The Israeli authorities also announce the indefinite closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing, starting on 1/14. (TOI 1/13; HA, TOI 1/14)

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says that Iran “will accept no changes” to the 7/14/2015 nuclear deal, responding to U.S. pres. Trump’s 1/12 call for a “follow on” agreement to address a number of provisions he finds problematic. (FARS, TOI 1/13)

For an 11th consecutive day, Palestinians across Israel and the oPt gather to protest U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Israeli forces violently disperse them in Tulkarm, al-‘Arub refugee camp near Hebron, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp and Gaza City; 5 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raze 500 dunams (approximately 123 acres) of Palestinian land near Nablus and cut down dozens of Palestinian trees near Hebron. Israeli border police arrest a Palestinian carrying pipe bombs into an Israeli military court near Nablus. IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Qalqilya, and Bethlehem; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Dayr al-Balah and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/17; PCHR 12/21)

Unidentified parties fire 2 rockets into Israel; 1 lands in an open area and the other explodes in the yard of a home near Ashqelon, causing minor damage. The IAF conducts air strikes on 6 Hamas sites in northern Gaza, causing damage and no injuries. (HA, WAFA, YA 12/18)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 2d of 4 planned days, allowing passage in both directions. (WAFA 12/17)

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories reopens the Kerem Shalom crossing. The Israeli authorities closed it and the Erez border crossing on 12/13. (TOI 12/17)

Late at night in Gaza, an armed group fires a rocket into s. Israel nr. Ashqelon, causing no damage. The IAF then launches air strikes on 2 “terrorist infrastructure” targets in c. and n. Gaza, according to the IDF; 1 Palestinian woman is lightly injured. Earlier in the day, Dutch FM Bert Koenders visits Gaza to inaugurate a new Dutch scanning machine donated to Israel for use at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. He says the scanner will allow for an increase in the amount of materials that can be shipped into Gaza for reconstruction purposes. Koenders also tours several UNRWA sites throughout Gaza. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian woman after she stabs and lightly injures an Israeli soldier in n. Ramallah. Later, they raid her home nr. Ramallah. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Ramallah during the day. Along the Syria-Israel border, IDF troops raid the al-Shahar r.c., which houses internally displaced Syrians in the UN-administered buffer zone. They evacuate the camp and demolish several tents. (HA, MNA 7/15; HA, MNA, TOI, YA 7/16; AP 7/17; EI 7/20; PCHR 7/30)

U.S. national security advisor Susan Rice says that the U.S. is looking forward to discussing with Israel possible ways of increasing Israeli security, following the P5+1’s deal with Iran on 7/14. (JP, JTA, REU 7/16)

In the morning, the Israeli air force drops leaflets over Gaza warning residents that they will be shot if they approach closer than 300 m to the Gaza border fence; a map showing the no-go zones places the southern villages of Abasan and Khuza within the no-go area. Claiming retaliation for the 1/5 IDF air strike that killed 2 of its mbrs., the PRCs fire at least 10 mortars toward the Kerem Shalom crossing (3 land inside Gaza), causing no damage or injuries. Israel shuts the Kerem Shalom crossing through 1/9 in response. Later, unidentified Palestinians fire an antitank weapon across the border at an IDF patrol operating inside Israel e. of Jabaliya, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF directs artillery fire (6 shells) at the launch site causing no injuries. Late in the day, unidentified Palestinians fire a manufactured Grad-type rocket that lands nr. Ashqelon, causing no damage or injuries. (IFM, YA 1/7; JP, NYT, WP 1/8; OCHA 1/13; PCHR 1/14)