The Palestine Chronology

Israel detains all but a few of 100s of pro-Palestinian protesters attempting to enter Israel through Ben-Gurion Airport to attend an anti-occupation rally in Bethlehem. Organizers claim that more than 1,500 supporters booked tickets to Israel, but only 3 make it to Bethlehem. Israel says most were stopped at their point of departure after it gave foreign governments no-fly lists identifying suspected activists. (NYT, WP, WT 4/16; JPI 4/27)

Israeli naval vessels detain a fishing boat that approaches the 3 naut. mi. boundary off the Gaza coast, detaining and questioning 3 fishermen onboard, releasing them by the end of the day, but confiscating their boat. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, an Israeli warplane makes an air strike on an open area nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols inside Jericho and Qalqilya (normally the PA security forces have security control during daylight hours and the IDF stays away), as well as in 1 village nr. Ramallah; conducts afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya (synchronized), 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho; and conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Nachliel settlement nr. Ramallah uproot around 250 olive trees on a nearby plot of Palestinian land. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on settlement nr. Hebron fire at several Palestinian farmers and shepherds working nearby, causing no reported injuries. (JP, YA 4/15; PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20)

The New York Times reports that around this date, the PASF detains 2 prominent Palestinians for posting comments critical of the PA on Facebook: Palestinian blogger Jamal Abu Raihan for posing a satirical column depicting PA Pres. Abbas as a donkey and complaining of PA corruption; and Palestinian journalist Tareq Khamees for posting a comment in support of others who have recently been arrested for criticizing the PA (also seizing his laptop). By this date, the PA Atty. Gen. Ahmad al-Mughni has also ordered PA authorities to block several websites supportive of Abbas rival, former Gaza security chief Muhammad Dahlan. (NYT 5/7) (see 4/5/12 and Quarterly Update in JPS 164 for details)

Israel says it has now detained 118 foreign activists who attempted to enter through Ben-Gurion Airport as part of the Welcome to Palestine air flotilla; some activists have made it through airport security and today join separation wall protests n. of Jerusalem. Suspected Tawhid and Jihad mbrs. fire 3 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza toward Israel; 2 land harmlessly inside Israel, 1 lands harmlessly in Gaza. In retaliation, the IDF carries out an air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the n. Gaza border and on a brick factory e. of Gaza City, causing no reported injuries. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire warning shots at a mentally handicapped Palestinian woman who approaches the border fence, wounding her. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah in the afternoon; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya and Salfit. Palestinians accompanied by Israeli and international activists stage nonviolent demonstrations in Nabi Salih and Qalandia r.c. nr. Jerusalem to protest the separation wall and settlement activities. IDF troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring a 14-yr.-old Palestinian. (JP, WP, YA 7/10; PCHR 7/14; OCHA 7/15)

As the quarter closes, Israel maintains its ban on all Gaza imports including fuel, medicine, basic foodstuffs, and currency for banks. As a result, 1.5 m. Gazans are without regular electricity, no Gazan households have daily running water (20% of households receive 6 hrs. of water/5 days, 40% receive 6 hrs. water/4 days, 40% receive 6 hrs. water/3 days), bread is being rationed due to lack of grain, and shortages of milk, red meat, and fresh produce are widespread. UNICEF reports that the Israeli government has been holding 2 shipments of vaccines for Gazan children at Ben-Gurion airport since 10/29. The WHO reports that the stock of 95 of 473 drugs it classifies as “essential” for hospitals and clinics to have on hand and 174 other medical supplies are at zero levels in the Strip. UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon calls on Israel to open crossings into Gaza for fuel, food, and humanitarian aid, stating that measures that increase the suffering of Gaza’s civilians “are unacceptable and should cease immediately.” The UN reports that Palestinians have fired some 140 rockets and mortars toward Israel since 11/4, injuring 1 Israeli and causing property damage in 1 incident on 11/14. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. (WT 11/15, 11/16; OCHA 11/17, 11/19; PCHR 11/20)

The IDF makes a predawn raid on Gaza City, evacuates 2,000 Palestinians fr. their homes, blows up a PSF post, 3 unfinished 12-story PSF apartment buildings overlooking the IDF Netzarim post attacked on 10/23. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 armed Palestinians attempting to infiltrate a Gaza settlement; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; imposes a curfew on, conducts arrest raids and house searches in Qalqilya. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, causing nodamage or injuries. At least 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received in Gaza City on 10/22. Israeli airport authorities arrest, hold for deportation 4 Belgians suspected of arriving at Ben Gurion Airport on a Palestinian solidarity visit. (HA, NYT, WP, WT 10/26; VOP 10/26 in WNC 10/28; MM, NYT 10/27; al-Quds 10/28 in WNC 10/30; PR, WT 10/29; PCHR 10/30; MEI 11/7; WP 11/21)

The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Jenin; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. Nr. the Negev village of Tal Arad, 5 Israeli policemen attempt to arrest a bedouin youth for throwing stones at cars, sparking a riot by 10s of local bedouin in which the police shoot, wound 3 bedouin; 2 bedouin, 5 policemen are also injured in scuffles. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, lightly injuring 1 Israeli. Jewish settlers set up a new unauthorized outpost, nr. the site of 1 taken down last wk. Israel bars entry at the Ben-Gurion Airport to a delegation of Belgian, Dutch doctors on a mission to assess the damage to the Palestinian health care system in the West Bank, Gaza. (HA, Medical Fact Finding Mission–Palestine press release 6/23; PCHR, WJW 6/26)