The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers opened fire at Hizma, causing damage. Israeli settlers also attacked a Palestinian TV crew near Hebron covering the killing of 1 Palestinian woman (see below). Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian near Hebron, claiming that she had opened fire at soldiers and settlers with an M16 rifle; no Israelis were injured. Israeli forces seriously wounded 1 Palestinian near Jaba‘. Israeli forces also sealed off the entrances to Silwad and Kafr al-Dik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces fired tear gas and stun grenades at a car repair shop near al-Za‘ayyem, causing a fire damaging several vehicles. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Huwwara, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and 15 with tear gas. Separately, Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qalqilya, al-Arqa, and al-Bireh, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 29 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bani Na‘im, al-Dhariyya, al-Ubaydiyya, Tuqu‘, al-Ram, Birzeit, Bil‘in, Beita, Madama, Tell, Qabatiya, Silat al-Harithiyya, al-Tamun, Tubas, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assaulted church officials at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, causing injuries and 1 hospitalization. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Shu‘fat and Shaykh Jarrah. In Gaza, 13 Palestinians were killed, including 2 children and 1 pregnant woman, and many were injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 219 to 232, including 65 children and 3 pregnant women. The casualties included: 4, including 1 pregnant woman and 1 child, and 2 were wounded in air strikes on 2 houses in Dayr al-Balah; 2, including 1 child, during air strikes in Jabaliya; 2 in air strikes on apartment buildings in Gaza City; 1, and 1 child wounded in artillery shelling in Bayt Hanun; 1 by live ammunition while on agricultural lands east of Juhur al-Dik; 1 Palestinian succumbed to wounds sustained on 5/13 during an air strike on Bayt Hanun; 2 bodies of unidentified Palestinians arrived at al-Shifa Hospital. 7 residential buildings and 1 youth center were demolished in Israeli attacks on Khan Yunis. In Israel, 1 Palestinian-Israeli minor who was shot and injured by Israeli police while sitting in a car with friends in Umm al-Fahm on 5/18 succumbed to his injuries. 1 Israeli man stabbed and injured 1 Palestinian worker from the West Bank in Holon. 58 Palestinian citizens of Israel were reported arrested after the general strike and mass protest on 5/18. 1 Israeli was lightly wounded by a rocket from Gaza in Sderot, 2 other rockets caused damage. 4 rockets were fired at the Haifa and ‘Akka areas from Lebanon; no damage or injuries were reported. Israel subsequently shelled areas of Lebanon; no damage or injuries were reported. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/19; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, MEMO, PCHR, PCHR, WAFA 5/20; HA, MEE, MEMO 5/21; NYT 5/26)

Hamas said it estimated that $92 million’s worth of damage was sustained to residential buildings and non-governmental offices since 5/10. $22 million’s worth of damage was sustained to the power grid as people in Gaza only are receiving 3-4 hours of electricity a day. Hamas also said that Gaza’s water supply is hard hit with 95% of the water unfit for drinking. (HA 5/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech that his efforts to hold elections are ongoing, and that he is “ready to form an internationally accepted unity government.” President Abbas also discussed the situation in Gaza and East Jerusalem with UN secretary-general António Guterres. (WAFA, WAFA 5/19; ALM 5/21)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh spoke with EU representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff in Ramallah, calling on the EU to pressure Israel to stop its aggression in East Jerusalem and Gaza. Prime Minister Shtayyeh also spoke with Facebook executives about Facebook’s censuring of Palestinian voices on its platforms. (WAFA, WAFA 5/19)

An Israeli court ruled that Israeli forces had violated international law when they shot and killed 1 Palestinian 14-year-old in 2004 near Rafah, but that the family was not entitled to compensation, citing a wartime action principle. The Israeli soldiers shot her after she ran away from them as they fired warning shots. After she ran from the soldiers, they fired at her back and the commander shot her again as she lie dead on the ground. The commander was acquitted of all charges at an Israeli military court the year after. (HA 5/20)

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said that it had been trying to assassinate the head of Hamas’s military division Mohammed Deif throughout the duration of the ongoing attack on Gaza. Hamas later told AP that Deif is still alive and in charge of its military operations. (HA 5/19; AP 5/20)

1 Israeli journalist from Channel 20 was fired after saying, during a live broadcast, that “[o]ne [rocket] has fallen on a soccer field in a large Arab community [Shefa-Amr, a Palestinian-Israeli community]. Regretfully for us, it did not result in mass deaths there.” The rocket that the Israeli journalist Kobi Finkler was referring to was fired from Lebanon. (AJ, HA 5/20)

Haaretz reported that applications for gun licenses in Israel had risen 7-fold in the past weeks as violence had been rising in Israel. (HA 5/19)

The UNRWA appealed to have the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings opened for humanitarian access. (AJ 5/19)

U.S. president Joe Biden spoke to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to de-escalate the violence, according to a White House readout. It was the 4th time the 2 spoke in a week. Prime Minister Netanyahu said later in a statement that he was “determined to carry on with the attacks until calm and security are restored to Israeli citizens.” It was also reported that Egypt had secured a ceasefire agreement in principle between Hamas and Israel. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said calm could only be restored if Israel stopped its attack on Jerusalem and Gaza. Netanyahu also told some 70 foreign diplomats that he is considering sending group troops to Gaza to “conquer” it. (AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA, HA, MEE, REU 5/19; AP, AP, AX 5/20) 

A letter circulated among House Democrats by Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) called for the U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken to work toward a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, and to provide humanitarian relief to Gaza. The letter also called for more than doubling the U.S. funding to the UNRWA, bringing the U.S. funding back to the level it was before the Trump administration ended all funding. Separately, more than 130 members of the House called on an immediate ceasefire. 3 Democrats in the House, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) also introduced a resolution aimed at blocking the $735 million’s worth of arms to Israel. In the Senate, senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, saying that every Palestinian and Israeli life matters; 8 other Democrats later co-sponsored the resolution. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU, Twitter 5/19; AJ 5/20)

Facebook said it has set up a center to monitor Arabic and Hebrew content deemed inflammatory or otherwise violating Facebook’s policies. Facebook has been criticized for silencing Palestinian voices on its social media platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp. (WAFA 5/19; HA 5/20)

250 employees at Alphabet, the parent company of Google, wrote an open letter calling for Alphabet to review all business contracts, terminating those “with institutions that support violations of Palestinian rights,” including the Israeli military. The letter also called for not stifling free speech on Palestine. (AJ, HA, MEE, WAFA 5/19)

At the UN, the U.S. again refused to support a UN security council (UNSC) statement calling for an immediate ceasefire after intensified pressure from France. This was the 4th time the UNSC had met to discuss the escalation between Hamas and Israel since it began and the 4th time that the U.S. has blocked a statement. (AX 5/18; AJ, REU 5/19; HA 5/20)

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said to France24 that the situation in Gaza, particularly the bombing of homes and confinement to the strip, reminded him of apartheid in South Africa. When asked if Israel was an apartheid state, President Ramaphosa said that the country is an apartheid type of state. (F24 5/19; MEMO, WAFA 5/20; AM 5/21)

Norway’s wealth fund divested from 2 companies, Shapir Engineering and Industry Ltd. and Mivne Real Estate KD Ltd., due to the companies’ involvement in Israeli settlement activity. (AJ 5/20; MEMO 5/21)

Ireland announced $1.83 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza. (WAFA 5/20)

The Iranian Red Crescent said it would donate $100,000 to the Palestinian Red Crescent to help treat the wounded in Gaza. (WAFA 5/19)

UNRWA called for extra funding of $38 million to help the organization with its humanitarian efforts after the attacks on Gaza. (WAFA 5/19; AJ 5/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided al-Twana and near Yatta. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Huwwara, al-Jalama checkpoint, and in Beita, causing tear-gas related injuries. 2 Palestinians were arrested at a checkpoint near Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces attacked Palestinian worshipers at the Haram al-Sharif compound, including inside al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring more than 100 with tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated bullets; the Palestinian Red Crescent had set up a makeshift field office at the compound, but said that Israeli forces prevented the organization from evacuating injured Palestinians; around 30 were hospitalized. Israeli forces also dispersed Palestinians gathered around the Damascus Gate plaza using skunk water and stun grenades. Elsewhere, Israeli forces physically assaulted Palestinians in Shaykh Jarrah and arrested 5 protesters. Palestinians reportedly threw stones at Israeli settler vehicles in Shaykh Jarrah. 29 Palestinians were arrested in house raids throughout East Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israel said incendiary balloons from Gaza had sparked 10 fires in Israel. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians by the Gaza fence near al-Bureij, protesting in solidarity with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, injuring 3. In Israel, Israeli forces blocked several buses carrying Palestinian citizens of Israeli to East Jerusalem where they were going to pray at the Haram al-Sharif compound; hundreds of the worshipers subsequently marched on the highway toward East Jerusalem, blocking the highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/8; AJ, AP, BBC, HA, HA, HA, NPR, WAFA, WAFA 5/9; HA 5/10; PCHR 5/11)

The Jordanian foreign ministry called on the international community to pressure Israel to cease the attack on Palestinian worshipers at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also tweeted in Hebrew that Turkey “will continue to stand by our Palestinian brothers and sisters under any circumstances.” President Erdoğan also called Israel a “terror state.” Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the EU, and the UAE also condemned the Israeli violence and threats of evicting Palestinian families in Shaykh Jarrah. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/8)

The IDF assassinates Hamas commander Ahmad Jabari and his bodyguard and separately kills 7 other Palestinians in a number of air strikes on military and civilian targets across the Gaza Strip, leaving around 90 wounded. The dead include 2 children and an elderly man. Code-named Operation Pillar of Cloud in Hebrew (a Torah reference) and renamed Operation Pillar of Defense for foreign audiences, the Israeli military attacks are described as the ‘‘beginning’’ of an effort to increase deterrence and remove Hamas’s rocketlaunching capabilities. The IQB warns that Israel has ‘‘opened the gates of hell’’ with Jabari’s assassination, and fires dozens of rockets and mortars into Israel. They are joined by the DFLP, Islamic Jihad, PFLP, and PRCs, all of whom claim responsibility for rocket and mortar fire. In total, over 90 projectiles hit Israel from the Gaza Strip, causing 4 injuries. The Iron Dome rocket-defense system intercepts 30 rockets. Overnight, the IDF undertakes air strikes on around 100 sites across the Gaza Strip. U.S. pres. Obama calls Israel PM Netanyahu to express his support for Israel’s military operation and the country’s right to selfdefense. Obama also calls Egyptian pres. Mohamed Morsi to stress the importance of de-escalation and to pledge to stay in close touch. Egypt strongly condemns Israel’s military assault, and UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon calls for a cease-fire. The UNSC holds an emergency meeting but takes no action. (Guardian, REU 11/14; JP, MNA 11/15)

Unidentified assailants fire 4 rockets from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula into Israel, landing nr. an agricultural community and causing no injuries. (HA 11/14)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho in the morning, in 1 village nr. Salfit in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Balata r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Palestinians across the West Bank demonstrate to mark the day before the 24th anniversary of the PLO’s declaration of independence, blocking roads nr. Bethlehem, Jericho, and Ramallah, and clashing with soldiers at checkpoints in Atara (nr. Ramallah) and Bethlehem. (AFP, PCHR 11/14)

Israeli DM Barak says that almost all the villages nr. the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are now controlled by the Syrian opposition. (AP 11/14)

On a 2d day of violent protests in Jordan against price hikes and in general opposition to King Abdullah’s regime, unidentified gunmen attack 2 police stations, and ensuing clashes leave 1 protester dead—the 1st fatality in Jordanian demonstrations in 2012. (AP 11/15)

Egypt allows the Rafah border crossing (closed since the incidents of 1/4) to reopen. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and Tulkarm r.c., nr. Jenin, in and around Bethlehem. Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Some 200 IDF soldiers raid, shut down the offices of the Hebrew Battalion in Tapuach settlement after intelligence shows that it is connected with the outlawed extremist Kach movement; soldiers also confiscate 6 dogs they say settlers trained to attack Palestinians. (HA, YA 1/8; IMEMC, YA 1/9; PCHR 1/19)

In the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Acre, the New Forum for Strengthening the Jewish Community in Acre holds a conference aimed at finding ways of achieving a permanent Jewish majority in the city. The group, which includes mbrs. of the elected local city council and is supported by the mayor, believes that Acre “has the right to exist as a mixed city only if it has a permanent Jewish majority.” (HA 1/8, 1/9)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Commercial strike continues in occupied territories; W. Bank shops open for 3 hours [FJ 2/21]. Israel closes Tariq al-Sharara, Hebrew-Arabic newspaper published by Nitzotz/al-Sharara Organization inside the green line [FJ 2/21]. Shin Bet agent is charged with causing death of 'Awad Hamdan while in Jenin prison [LAT 2/19]. Israel imposes new economic restrictions on Palestinians in occupied territories: Palestinians will be required to prove they have paid their taxes before traveling abroad or importing or exporting goods, and transactions of $1,000 or more must be registered [LAT 2/19]. British Labor party leader Neil Kinnock visits Gaza Strip refugee camps, describes strip as "vast slum," and accuses Israeli soldiers of using excessive force [NYT 2/19].

Arab World: Egypt requests death sentence in absentia for Khalid 'Abd al-Nasir, son of late Pres. Gamal 'Abd al-Nasir and accused leader of Egypt's Revolution, in connection with 1984-86 attacks on Israeli and U.S. diplomats. Nasir is believed to be in Yugoslavia [WP 2/18].

Other Countries: At UN, Arab representatives formally request emergency session of Gen. Assembly to discuss U.S. plan to close PLO observer mission [NYT 2/19].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers break windows and fire tear gas during raid of Shu'fat camp. Clashes are reported in Duhayshah camp, Nablus, Jenin, and Gaza City. Al-Quds reports IDF has begun using new plastic clubs that are less likely to break than wooden clubs [FJ 2/2 1]. Curfews are in effect in Qalqiliyyah, Bayt Ur al-Tahta, Idna, and Balatah, Am'ari, Jalazun, Beach, and Tulkarm camps. Entrances to Ramallah-area village of Kafr Malik are closed [FJ 2/21].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF chief of staff, Gen. Dan Shomron, orders soldiers to use force only when necessary to quell disturbances. P. M. Shamir's office prevents journalist Hanna Siniora from leaving for U. S. Shops open in Gaza. More than 40,000 Gazans return to jobs in Israel. General strike and scattered violence continue in and around E. Jerusalem [CSM, WP 1/25]. Soldiers use crowbars, break locks in attempt to force shops to open in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [FJ 1/3 1]. W. Germany's F. M. Hans Dietrich meets with 7 W. Bank and Gaza Strip Palestinians [FBIS 1/27]. Al-Sha'b editor Salah Zuhayka, arrested 1/14, receives 6-month administrative detention order [FJ 1/31]. Administration of Haifa's Rambam Hospital fires dozens of striking Palestinian workers [FJ 1/31].

Arab World: Jordanian police quickly disperse 150 protesters marching illegally to support Palestinian uprising in W. Bank, Gaza Strip, and E. Jerusalem [NYT 1/25]. Arab foreign ministers meeting in Tunis pledge financial and moral support for Palestinians inW. Bank and Gaza Strip, call for international peace conference [NYT 1/25]. Tunis and Egypt announce resumptionf full diplomatic relations [FJ 1/31].

Other Countries: Rabbi Alexander Schindler, pres. of Union of Am. Hebrew Congregations, criticizes Iraeli policy of "might, power, and beatings" in occupied territories as "morally wrong" [WP 1/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews are lifted for Gaza Strip's Nusayrat, Burayj, and Maghazi refugee camps; only Jabalya camp and part of Rafah camp remain under curfew [CSM, WP 1/25]. In the W. Bank, old and new 'Askar camps and village of Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta remain under curfew; Hebron-region village of Sa'ir is still closed military zone [FJ 1/31]. Protesters blockade roads, throw stones in scattered incidents in Jerusalem and 'Anata refugee camp [FBIS 1/25]. In Ramallah, soldiers use tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to disperse peaceful demonstration; Palestinian bystander is shot in back, seriously injured [FJ 1/31]. Several people are injured, arresteduring clash between army and demonstrators in Hebron district's Bani Na'im village [FJ 1/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli govt. officials state Jordan has provisionally agreed to be involved in choosing and appointing Palestinian mayors for some of the largest towns in the West Bank, including Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, and al-Bireh [LT 10/30]. Birzeit U. and Bethlehem U. students demonstrate against deportation orders issued 10/28. Another demonstration takes place outside Min. of Defense building in Tel Aviv; group of professors from Tel Aviv U. and Hebrew U. issue statement calling for cancellation of orders [JP 10/31]. Green Patrol evict 40 Bedouin families from Negev land, cutting down their tents [JP 10/31].

Arab World: PLO promises Jordan it will avoid repetition of incidents like Achille Lauro hijacking or "any act that would hurt the 11 February agreement" [NYT 10/31]. New York Times reports Pres. Amin Jumayyil of Lebanon is trying to open negotiations with Israel on S. Lebanon and has sent former For. Min. Elie Salem to Damascus for talks with Syrian For. Min. Faruq al-Shar' on the subject [NYT 10/31].

Other Countries: Israeli and U.S. officials state some Arab nations, including Jordan and Egypt, have recently urged the Soviet Union to restore diplomatic ties with Israel as a way to help promote peace talks [NYT 10/31]. Israel Radio reports Hungary has agreed to open diplomatic mission in Israel, will permit Israeli rep. to work from a foreign embassy in Budapest [JP 10/31].

Military Action:

Reports that 5000 of Bashir Gemayel's militiamen, sent to Israel for training right after Israeli invasion, were to come under direct IDF control; Reagan approves Lebanese request for US Marines to join French and Italian troops in mobile patrols through East Beirut; car bomb explodes near US Marines camp outside Beirut, one Marine and two civilians injured.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: One British and one US doctor and US nurse from Gaza Hospital, in testimony before Commission of Inquiry, say they heard gunfire but were unaware of massacre until after it was over, saw hundreds of Palestinian refugees lined up along Sabra Street under guard when they were forced to leave hospital, Phalange had many walkie-talkies, contrary to Sharon's testimony; overheard IDF officers refer to presence of Haddad men in area, saw tractors in Shatila with Hebrew markings; 360-room luxury hotel at Taba near Eilat opens despite Egyptian protests; Shamir tells Knesset committee that Egypt has broken many Camp David agreements; Israel reportedly asks Roumania's help in securing release of IDF POWs held in Syria; Shamir says Arens supports continued settlement on West Bank.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat ends visit to Bucharest, issues joint statement with Ceausescu calling for renewed diplomatic peace efforts; Gemayel visits Morocco, talks with King Hassan focus on speeding up withdrawal of foreign forces and Moroccan offer to send 22,000 troops for peacekeeping; Gemayel meets with PLO leader Salah Khalaf in Morocco; Wazzan warns that Lebanese who collaborate with Israel may lose their citizenship, accuse Israel of paralyzing Lebanese Government functions.

Arab Governments: Mubarak restates Egyptian objections to Taba hotel opening, says Egypt will proceed with talks.

UN: US Ambassador Kirkpatrick says UN critics of Israel aim at "annihilation of Israel."