The Palestine Chronology

Unidentified Palestinians fire a mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries, marking the 1st cross-border Palestinian fire since 12/16. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in PA-controlled areas just n. of Ramallah at midday, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. and nr. Nablus. (JP, YA 12/30; OCHA, PCHR 1/6)

Before dawn, unidentified Palestinians fire several mortars or antitank missiles toward IDF troops on the central Gaza border inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF returns fire, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian civilian outside his home in al-Bureij r.c., some 700 m from the border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Nablus. (OCHA, PCHR 12/16)

In Gaza, unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with air strikes on 2 suspected weapons factories and a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, injuring 8 Palestinians (2 seriously, 2 moderately, 4 lightly) and damaging another 2 factories and 4 homes nearby. Hrs. later, Hamas announces that it has secured renewed pledges from all Gaza factions to halt all rocket and mortar fire toward Israel, to preserve the stability in Gaza and prevent further Israeli retaliation, though the factions say they will respond to any IDF incursion into Gaza. (YA 11/21; HA, WT 11/22; WT 11/23; OCHA, PCHR 11/25; WJW 11/26)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, lightly injuring the occupants of a boat that catches fire. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets or mortars into Israel, causing no reported injuries or damage. (PCHR 9/3; WJW 9/3)

In the West Bank, IDF troops fire on Palestinian youths who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at their observation tower nr. Beit El settlement n. of Ramallah, killing 1 teenager with 3 gunshots to the chest and arresting 4 others; fire sound bombs and tear gas to disperse Palestinians and medical workers who approach the area, injuring a paramedic and an UNRWA worker. The IDF also conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, in and around Hebron, arresting 6 Palestinians (including 1 teenager). (OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 8/09; OCHA, PCHR 9/3)

Israel announces that it has arrested (on 8/10, not previously reported) and indicted 23-yr.-old Israeli Palestinian Rawi Fuad Sultani for taking part in a Hizballah-orchestrated plot to assassinate IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Israel alleges that Sultani, who worked out at the same gym as Ashkenazi, was recruited by Hizballah to monitor Ashkenazi’s movements and routine. (WJW 9/3; JPI 9/10; NYT 9/12; JR 9/29)

Palestinians fire 2 mortars at the IDF position at the Erez crossing, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds late in the evening with 2 air strikes (the 1st since 6/13/09) on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. During the day, IDF troops make a brief incursion into central Gaza nr. al-Maghazi r.c. to level land along the border fence. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. and nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, Salfit. Jewish settlers in Hebron beat a Palestinian man. (WP 8/10; OCHA, PCHR, WJW 8/13)

In Gaza, Palestinian gunmen and IDF troops exchange cross-border fire, including Palestinian mortars and IDF tank fire; tank shells hit 2 homes nearby, killing 1 Palestinian girl, wounding 2 men. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Nablus. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops rally at the evacuated Homesh settlement site to protest U.S. calls for a settlement freeze. (PCHR 7/2; WP 7/3; OCHA, PCHR 7/9)

Israeli naval vessels approach within 500 m of Rafah beach, arrest 2 fishermen on 1 of 12 small boats in the area. The UN reports that in the previous wk. an 8-yr.- old Palestinian boy in Gaza was injured by unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO); 7 Palestinians were killed in tunnel-related incidents (6 in collapses, 1 electrocuted); and unidentified Palestinians fired “several” rockets and mortars into Israel causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., Balata r.c., in Nablus, and nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. A Jewish settler violently beats a Palestinian woman waiting for a taxi nr. Zatara checkpoint outside Nablus; IDF soldiers manning the checkpoint observe the beating for 15 min. before intervening and ordering the settler to leave the area. (OCHA, PCHR 5/28)

The IDF sends troops into Gaza to bulldoze land nr. the border fence e. of Jabaliya. The UN reports several previously unreported Gaza incidents that took place between 5/7 and 5/12 (no exact dates given): the IDF killed 1 armed Palestinian and wounded 1 armed Palestinian and 7 civilians (no details); Palestinians fired “several” rockets and mortars into Israel, causing no injuries but damaging 1 house; the IDF made several air strikes on Rafah border tunnels in response; there were 6 incidents of IDF gunfire and shelling across the border at Palestinian farmers, in 1 case setting 15 d. of wheat ablaze nr. al-Qarara. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a morning incursion into Qalqilya to raid and search the home of a wanted Palestinian (not at home), arresting his mother. Jewish settlers perform religious ceremonies at the vacated Homesh settlement site northwest of Nablus. Jewish settlers in Hebron stage a provocative march through the town (fr. Kiryat Arba through Wadi al-Husayn, Wadi al-Nasara, Jabir, al-Salayma, the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, al-Sahla, and al-Shuhada to Ramat Yishai settlement) in a show of force, vandalizing Palestinian homes and threatening Palestinians along the way; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (OCHA, WP, WT 5/13; PCHR, WJW 5/14)

Hamas mbrs. fire 5 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with 3 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, injuring 4 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who tries to take the gun of a soldier posted outside the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 4 villages nr. Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. and Bayt Umar nr. Hebron. (Israel Radio News 5/6; NYT, PCHR 5/7; OCHA 5/13; PCHR 5/14)

Palestinians fire several mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with air strikes on several smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, killing 2 Palestinians inside a tunnel. IDF troops also make an incursion into Gaza e. of Jabaliya, firing on houses and agricultural areas, while artillery inside Israel shells the area; IDF troops withdraw after nearly 5 hrs., causing no reported injuries. IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. Khuza village nr. the border, lightly wounding 1. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on Palestinian homes and agricultural land northeast of Bayt Hanun, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. (WT 5/3; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/7)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi r.c. fire on residential areas of the camp, wounding 1 Palestinian. Late in the evening, the IDF makes 2 air strikes on the Rafah border, causing no reported casualties. Israeli naval vessels shell the Bayt Lahiya coast, nearly hitting a police car, injuring 4 Hamas-affiliated police officers. Palestinians fire 5 rockets and mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, all of which land nr. Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. The UN reports that in the previous wk. (including today), Palestinians have fired 29 rockets and mortars into Israel, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a midday incursion into Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, imposing a curfew, raiding and searching homes, temporarily occupying 3 as observation posts, chasing and firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, seriously beating 1 teenager; sends troops back into Bayt Umar late in the evening, imposing a curfew, raiding and searching 10s of homes and shops, occupying several as observation posts, heavily damaging several houses, arresting 25 Palestinians; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. (OCHA 3/11; NYT, PCHR 3/12; OCHA 3/17)

In the West Bank, Israel reopens a main road to Bani Na‘im nr. Hebron (closed since 2001); authorizes the Palestinian Authority (PA) to build an additional 12 police stations across the West Bank (Israel previously approved 20 and the PA has built 19); issues VIP travel permits to 120 high-ranking PA security officers and Palestinian personalities (bringing to about 390 the number of VIP permits issued to date); increases the number of Palestinian workers allowed into Israel (no figures given); allows Israeli Palestinians to visit Nablus and Jenin on weekends (intended to boost those local economies). The IDF also levels Palestinian land to expand an IDF checkpoint nr. Einav settlement nr. Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, in Hebron, nr. Jenin and Ramallah. In Gaza,IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on unarmed Palestinians inspecting damaged homes e. of Khuza nr. the border fence, wounding a Palestinian teenager. The UN reports that Palestinians have fired 21 rockets and mortars into Israel since 2/18, causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian teenager dies of injuries sustained during the 1/15 IDF air strikes that assassinated Gaza’s acting interior minister Sa‘id Siyam during OCL. (IFM 2/24; OCHA 2/25; PCHR 2/26)

Israel’s new parliament, elected on 2/10/09, is sworn in. (WP 2/25)

IDF ground forces backed by naval and air support continue to enter Gaza overnight, with troops taking up positions across n. Gaza (from which most Palestinian rockets have been fired), surrounding Gaza City, retaking the former Netzarim settlement site nr. the Gaza coast south of Gaza City, and bifurcating the Strip into e. and w. (cutting a swath roughly from the Qarni and Nahal Oz crossings to Netzarim on the coast, driving 1,000s of residents from Juhur al-Dik, al-Mughraqa, and al-Zahra’ with heavy artillery and tank fire), but not entering dense urban areas.

Combat notes: IDF-Palestinian ground fighting is described as “fierce,” characterized by heavy IDF artillery fire and heavy Palestinian sniping and mortar fire. Because the IDF stays out of built-up areas, there are few reports of close-quarter combat or heavy exchanges of gunfire. While ground troops concentrate in the north, Israeli air strikes and naval bombardment focus equally on the north and south, hitting more tunnels on the Rafah border and targeting Hamas leaders for assassination. (The IDF claims to assassinate Hamas rocket cmdr. Hussam Hamdan and IQB and long-range rocket cmdr. Muhammad Hilu in Khan Yunis, senior IQB mbr. Muhammad Shalbush in Jabaliya, but there is no independent confirmation.)

The IDF reports hitting 45 sites and carrying out 40 air strikes during the day, striking a produce market in Gaza City, several mosques, a medical building and 3 mobile clinics in Shati’ r.c. run by a Danish charity, homes of at least 4 Hamas mbrs. (most of whom have gone into hiding), and suspected weapons depots across Gaza. Target areas include Abasan, Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, al-Bureij r.c., Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City (al-Daraj, Tal al-Hawa, al-Tuffah, al-Yarmuk, al-Zaytun), Jabaliya, Juhur al-Dik, Khan Yunis, al-Mughraqa, al-Nasser (n. of Rafah), Rafah, Shati’ r.c., al-Shuka, al-Zahra’. After dark, IDF troops conduct door-to-door searches on the outskirts of Gaza City.

Palestinians fire 29 rockets (including at least 12 Grads) and 5 mortars into Israel, hitting Ashdod, Ashqelon, Netivot, Ofakim, and Sederot; 1 house in Sederot is damaged and 1 Israeli woman lightly injured. 

At least 47 Palestinians (including 4 paramedics) are killed and 400 wounded (including 3 paramedics) during the day; 1 IDF soldier is killed, 1 is seriously wounded in a heavy exchange of gunfire nr. Jabaliya; 15 IDF soldiers are wounded (3 seriously) by Palestinian mortar fire inside Gaza. The UN and Palestinian medical workers estimate the Palestinian toll to have reached at least 507 dead, 2,400 injured. The Israeli toll stands at 5–6 killed, more than 40 injured.

Humanitarian notes: The Israeli FMin. announced a new joint office of the FMin. and Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, called the Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Center (HACC), to coordinate humanitarian organizations operating on aid transfers to the Strip. The UN reports that shortages of fuel, electricity, and water are worsening. Gazan hospitals report drastic shortages of anesthesia, surgical equipment, heaters, spare parts. (AP, BBC, IDF, JAZ, National Public Radio, OCHA, REU, WT 1/4; IDF, IFM, NYT, RFM, UNOSAT, WP, WT 1/5; BBC 1/6; IFM, PCHR 1/8; WP 1/27)

In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian demonstrator who attempts to climb the separation wall nr. Qalqilya; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, nr. Jenin. Israel’s High Court rules that the IDF may seal 2 floors of the home of the East Jerusalem Palestinian who killed 8 students at the Mercaz HaRava yeshiva in Jerusalem in 3/6/08, even though the gunman was killed during the attack and sealing the home would serve only to punish his extended family; another floor of the home will not be sealed because it is being rented to an unrelated family. (PCHR 1/8)

Israel begins phase 2 of OCL, a massive ground advance into Gaza, in the evening. The IDF states that “the objective . . . is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the precise area of operation, while taking control of some of [sic] rocket launching areas used by Hamas in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians.” Israeli FM Livni acknowledges that Israel has broader aims, stating that toppling Hamas is “a strategic Israeli objective,” but that it might take more than one large-scale military operation such as OCL to do the job.

Israeli actions: Before phase 2 begins in the evening, the IDF launches artillery strikes on some 40 targets concentrated in open areas around Bayt Hanun, east of Rafah, and along Gaza’s main north–south artery in an apparent effort to clear the areas of mines and tunnels, to move Palestinians away from those areas in preparation for the insertion of ground forces.

The IDF also continues air strikes and naval bombardments across Gaza. Target areas include Bayt Lahiya, Gaza City (al-Nasser, al-Rimal, al-Shuja‘iyya, al-Tuffah, al-Zaytun), Jabaliya, Juhur al-Dik, Khan Yunis, Khuza, al-Mughraqa, Nussayrat, Rafah, al-Shuka (e. of Rafah). Targets include 2 mosques in Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya, killing at least 13 worshipers and injuring 30 during evening prayers; a car in Khan Yunis, assassinating senior Hamas military cmdr. Muhammad Ma‘aruf; 2 PA security compounds in Gaza City; the al-Aqsa Radio and the al-Risala newspaper offices in Gaza City; tunnels on the Rafah border; suspected rocket-launching sites and weapons depots. By evening, the Palestinian toll reaches at least 460 dead and more than 2,000 wounded.

At dusk, the IDF drops leaflets on n. Gaza warning residents that troops will soon operate in this area and that they should evacuate for their safety. Around 8:00 P.M. local time, the IDF cuts power to the Strip and begins sending ground forces into n. Gaza, taking up positions on the outskirts of Bayt Hanun and Bayt Lahiya (occupying homes as operational bases); securing areas e. of Gaza City nr. the Qarni crossing, but notably keeping a distance from Jabaliya (considered a Hamas stronghold), and just inside the s. Gaza border e. of Rafah (with tanks firing flechette shells at houses and agricultural areas, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding 7 inside their homes). Heavy gun battles are reported, with Hamas issuing a statement that it is firing mortars at IDF ground forces. After ground operations begin, the IDF announces a naval blockade of Gaza out to 20 nautical miles.

Palestinian actions: During the day, Palestinians fire 28 rockets and 7 mortars into Israel, hitting as far as Ashdod and Ashqelon to the n., and Netivot to the e., lightly damaging 3 homes and an apartment building, lightly injuring 2 Israelis.

Of note: Embedded with some IDF ground units are the first Israeli journalists and 2 foreign reporters (BBC and Reuters) allowed into Gaza since late 10/08. These journalists have been given “trusted” status by the government for their “long history of relations with the IDF” and are under the strict rules of the IDF censor; the general ban on foreign journalists is still in place, despite a 12/31 High Court ruling ordering the government to allow journalists access. (AFP, AP, BBC, IDF, IFM, ITV, Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] press release, REU, YA 1/3; HA, IFM, JAZ, JP, NYT, OCHA, WP, WT 1/4; NYT, UNOSAT, WP, WT 1/5; IFM, PCHR 1/8; HA 1/11; JP 1/22; JPI 2/6; Harpers 3/09)