The Palestine Chronology

Alleged stabbing incidents continue throughout the oPt and, for the 1st time this quarter, in Israel. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli civilian shoots and injures a Palestinian woman in the Old City. The Israeli police and paramedics report that she attempted to stab the Israeli man prior to the shooting, while Palestinian witnesses say she did not have a knife and that the Israeli man instigated the physical confrontation. After the incident, Israeli forces raid the woman’s home in Sur al-Bahir, and conduct late-night raids in Issawiyya and the Old City, arresting 6 Palestinians. Elsewhere, an Israeli soldier shoots and kills a Palestinian in Kiryat Gat nr. Beersheba after he allegedly attempts to stab the soldier and steal his gun. Later, a Palestinian stabs and injures an Israeli in a mall in Petah Tikva; Israeli police arrest him. Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians gather in Jaffa, Umm al-Fahm, and Lydda to protest the Israeli occupation for the 2d day in a row. After several protesters throw stones at passing vehicles, Israeli police violently disperse them and later conduct night raids, arresting 27 Palestinians total in the 3 areas. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/7; HA, PCHR 10/8)

Across the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches and clash with Palestinian protesters, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian, injuring at least 100 others (including 2 journalists), arresting 7, and confiscating over NIS 18,500 (around $4,788). In 1 set of clashes nr. Ramallah, Israeli forces dressed as Palestinian protesters shoot and injure 2 Palestinian youths, then assault another before arresting all 3. A video of the incident goes viral and makes international headlines. Nr. Bethlehem, Palestinians attack an Israeli settler in her car, then IDF troops shoot and injure the 2 principal assailants, sparking minor clashes in the area (2 Israeli settlers are injured). Israeli settlers continue attacking and harassing Palestinians, attempting to kidnap 3 Palestinian youths nr. Hebron and shooting 2 Palestinian youths in clashes nr. Bethlehem. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/7; JP, MNA, PCHR, WAFA 10/8; PCHR 10/14)

In an interview with Palestinian media outlets, Israel’s COGAT Yoav Mordechai says that the IDF is not interested in an escalation of violence and affirms that all restrictions on access at Haram al-Sharif have been dropped now that the major Jewish holidays are over, marking the 1st time an Israeli official has directly addressed the Palestinian people since the recent escalation of violence began on 10/1. (HA, YA 10/7)

In Gaza, 2 rockets are fired toward Israel, with 1 falling short of the n. border and the other exploding in open land on the Israeli side of the border fence; neither cause major damage. Off the n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian refugees gather in front of UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City for the 2d Sunday in a row to protest the agency’s recent reduction in services. In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians march in Duma, nr. Nablus, in solidarity with the victims of the 7/31 arson attack in the village. Israeli forces erect mobile checkpoints outside the village to stop the march, sparking clashes in the evening; there are no serious injuries. IDF troops assault 1 Palestinian each in c. Hebron and Bethlehem; conduct late-night raids and house searches in 2 villages nr. Nablus, arresting 2 Palestinians; patrol during the day in 3 villages nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers return to the evacuated Sa-Nur settlement, harassing Palestinians in the area; throw rocks at a Palestinian bus s. of Hebron, causing minor damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities increase restrictions on Palestinians’ access to Haram al-Sharif, barring all Palestinian women and men under the age of 30 from entering between 7:00 and 11:00 A.M. Israeli forces detain 5 Palestinians as they leave the sanctuary. Later, minor clashes break out when 30 right-wing Jewish activists tour the sanctuary; there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces also set up mobile checkpoints at 5 entrances to the Old City. In c. Israel, 3 Jewish Israelis assault a Palestinian in Lydda, shouting that he should be forced out of the city. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/2; MNA, TOI 8/3; PCHR 8/6)

U.S. and Egyptian officials, including U.S. secy. of state Kerry, meet in Cairo for a Egypt-U.S. strategic dialogue, the 1st such meeting since 12/2009. (SIS 7/17; AHR 7/27; AP, NYT, REU 8/2)

In Gaza, Egyptian authorities close the Rafah border crossing after keeping it open since 6/13. IDF troops on the border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on 3 Palestinians nr. the border fence, injuring 1. In the West Bank, a Palestinian man shoots and wounds 2 Israelis from Lydda who are traveling nr. an Israeli settlement outside Ramallah; 1 of the Israelis succumbs to his injuries later in the day. (The IDF will arrest 5 Palestinians allegedly responsible for the shooting attack on 7/15, including 3 mbrs. of Fatah’s military wing.) Later, the IDF conducts a violent raid in a village nr. Ramallah, destroying personal property, detaining several Palestinians, and confiscating recording equipment. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih) and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 3 Palestinians are injured. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin and 2 each nr. Ramallah and Jericho. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles nr. the Beit El settlement, breaking 1 windshield. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT 6/19; MNA, NYT 6/20; PCHR 6/25; NYT 7/15)

Cypriot pres. Anastasiades calls PA pres. Abbas to discuss the possibility of Abbas addressing an upcoming EU meeting in Brussels in an effort to restart the peace negotiations with Israel. Anastasiades discussed a similar possibility with Israeli PM Netanyahu on 6/15. (HA 6/29)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities detain a Palestinian businessman as he is passing through the Erez border crossing. In the West Bank, after Palestinian and international activists rebuild the “Gate of Jerusalem” protest camp over the last few days, IDF troops raid the camp and pass along a 24-hour evacuation notice, demolishing the camp for a 5th time late at night. IDF troops raid the home of a deceased Palestinian in Hebron, confiscating NIS 50,000 (around $13,000) and issuing a summons to his father. The man was killed in a firefight with Israeli soldiers on 9/22 after he and 2 others kidnapped and killed 3 Israeli settler teenagers in 6/2014. Israeli forces raze 30 dunams of land nr. Bethlehem, preparing the area for the expansion of nearby Efrat settlement. The IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Bethlehem; patrols nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Silwan, displacing 14 Palestinians; deliver 3 demolition orders to families in Silwan. They also arrest a Palestinian at the Shu‘fat checkpoint. In c. Israel, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian family’s home in Lydda. (MNA, WAFA 2/10; EI, JP, MNA, WAFA 2/11; PCHR 2/12)

PA Pres. Abbas meets with the Swedish PM Stefan Lofven in Stockholm, then inaugurates a new Palestinian embassy. Lofven announces a new aid program that will see 1.5 b. kronor (around $180 m.) spent on projects that help fight corruption, promote gender equality and human rights under the PA. (AFP 2/9; REU, WAFA 2/10)