The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire 2 artillery shells at open areas nr. al-Nada housing project, causing no damage or injuries. Later, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire 4 flechette rounds at armed Palestinians operating 700 m fr. the border, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding 1. IDF troops at the Erez crossing fire into Gaza at Palestinians demonstrating against Israel’s imposition of a 300-m no-go zone along the length of the Gaza border, causing no injuries. Hamas authorities in Gaza extend for 15 days the detention of British journalist Paul Martin, detained (2/14) on suspicion of security offenses based on his testimony in a trial in Gaza on behalf of a Palestinian accused of collaboration with Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jericho. PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas holds his weekly cabinet session in Hebron instead of Ramallah to protest Israel’s decision to include the Tomb of the Patriarchs/ al-Ibrahimi Mosque (located in Hebron) and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem as Israeli national heritage sites, calling the move contrary to international law. (NYT 3/2; OCHA, PCHR 3/4)