The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shoot and injure 2 Palestinians during a raid in Qabatiya. Israeli forces also arrest 30 Palestinians during raids in and around Jalazone refugee camp, Hebron, Tulkarm, Nablus, Jenin, and Tubas. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Jabalia refugee camp, Nuseirat refugee camp, and Maghazi, killing at least 81 people, including 30 people sheltering in a home near al-Shifa Hospital. Israeli forces also continue to besiege the Nasser, al-Shifa, and al-Amal hospitals. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Tayr Harfa, Baalbek, Hermel, Ayta ash Shaab, Kafr Kila, and Dhahirah, killing 3 people. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Avivim, damaging a winery, and at the Mount Meron air base. In Jordan, police violently disperse protesters outside of the Israeli embassy. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Deir ez-Zor, killing 17 people, including a WHO staffer and an Iranian military advisor. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AJ, NYT, UNOCHA 3/27)

More than 32,414 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 74,787 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 440 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,665 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 251 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,509 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 193 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The Gaza Media Office says 12 people have drowned trying to retrieve airdropped aid that landed in the sea and 6 have been killed in stampedes while trying to reach airdropped aid in the past week. (AJ, NYT, REU 3/26; UNOCHA 3/27; UNOCHA 3/29)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh meets Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran. Haniyeh says in a press conference that the UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire from 3/25 indicates that “the Israeli occupation is experiencing unprecedented political isolation” and that Israel has not been able to achieve “any of its military or strategic objectives” in Gaza. (AJ, REU 3/26)

Israel recalls its negotiating team from Qatar, saying Hamas insists on “extreme demands: immediately ending to the war, a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip and to remain in power.” Reuters reports that the negotiation team has been recalled for consultations and a small Israeli team remains in Doha. (AP, AX, HA, REU 3/26)

Israel’s military spokesperson Daniel Hagari says Hamas deputy military commander Marwan Issa was killed on 3/11. The U.S. announced on 3/18 that Issa had been killed. (AJ, AJ, HA 3/26)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant meets with U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C. Austin calls the situation in Gaza a “human catastrophe” and says the civilian death toll is “far too high.” Gallant says Gaza will not be governed by Hamas or Israel after the war. German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock calls for unhindered access for aid to Gaza and says the “humanitarian situation in Gaza is hell” during a visit to Israel. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU 3/26)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah “would hurt Israel’s national security,” citing the potential to further isolate Israel globally. Miller also says Israel’s assertion that the passing of the UN Security Council ceasefire resolution had an impact on the ceasefire negotiations is “inaccurate in almost every respect,” noting Hamas’s response to the Israeli proposal was prepared before the Security Council vote. Lastly, Miller says the U.S. has not made a conclusive determination as to whether Israel is using U.S.-supplied weapons in accordance with international law or hindering U.S. aid from entering Gaza. (AJ, HA 3/26; AP, HA 3/27) 

During a speech at the UN Human Rights Council, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese says “Israel has committed 3 acts of genocide causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent birth within the group.” Albanese also says Israel has dropped 25,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza since 10/7/2023, equivalent to 2 nuclear bombs. Albanese released a report on Israel’s attacks on Gaza on 3/25. (AJ, HA 3/26)

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini says UNRWA only has funds to run operations until the end of May. (AJ 3/26)

Colombian president Gustavo Petro says the international community should break diplomatic relations with Israel if Israel does not comply with the Security Council ceasefire resolution. (AJ, HA 3/26)

An Israeli woman held captive in Gaza until she was released on 11/30/2023 tells the New York Times that she was sexually assaulted by one of the people guarding her. Hamas official Basem Naim tells the Times that the allegation will be investigated but that it cannot be done at the moment due to “the current circumstances.” (NYT 3/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalize 50 olive and almond trees in Majdal Bani Fadil. Israeli settlers also attack Palestinian shepherds in Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli forces shoot and kill 2 Palestinians and injure 4 others during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a 15-year-old Palestinian, claiming he tried to stab 2 soldiers at the Tunnel checkpoint near Bethlehem. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish 2 commercial structures in al-‘Awja and issue a demolition notice for a home in Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during raids in ‘Arura and Beit Umar. In East Jerusalem, 212 Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis, killing at least 88 people. Israeli forces also bomb an UNRWA food distribution center in Rafah, killing at least 6 people, including an UNRWA staffer, and injuring 20 people. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shoot and injure 9 people waiting to receive aid at the Kuwaiti roundabout in Gaza City. In Lebanon, Israeli forces assassinate Hamas member Hadi Mustafa in a drone strike in Tyre, also killing another person and injuring a third. Israeli forces also bomb Ayta ash Shab and Mis al-Jabal. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/13; UNOCHA, WAFA 3/14)

More than 31,272 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 73,024 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 425 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,665 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 247 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,475 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 154 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The U.S. airdrops 35,712 meals and 28,800 bottles of water over Gaza. (HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 3/13; UNOCHA 3/15)

The PA foreign ministry warns that Israel is attempting to spark widespread unrest in the West Bank with its continued extrajudicial killings. (WAFA 3/13)

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari says Israel plans to force “a significant amount of the 1.4 million” people sheltering in Rafah to “humanitarian islands that we will create with the international community.” Hagari also says Israel will flood Gaza with aid. Politico reports that the U.S. has communicated to Israel that it will accept a small-scale Rafah invasion. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 3/13)

The EU, U.S., UK, Cyprus, UAE, and Qatar issue a joint statement calling on Israel to open more land crossings to Gaza to enable the delivery of aid. EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell tells U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the EU and the U.S. have to do more than deplore the situation in Gaza as the “very survival of the population in Gaza is at stake today.” (AJ, HA 3/13; AJ 3/14)

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte meets with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on him to “drastically reduce the level of force” used in Gaza and not to invade Rafah. Rutte also meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo and phones PA president Mahmoud Abbas, discussing the situation in Gaza. (AJ, WAFA 3/13)

South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor says South Africans fighting with the Israeli military in Gaza will be arrested upon return to South Africa. (AJ, AP, HA, HA 3/13)

Bloomberg News reports that UK defense secretary Grant Shapps refused to allow the UK military to drop aid into Gaza, citing the danger the airdrops pose to Palestinians civilians after 5 people were killed last week. (AJ, HA 3/13)

A UNIFIL investigation finds that Israel shot and killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah with a tank shell in Lebanon on 10/13/2023, despite there being no fire or active combat in the area for 40 minutes prior to the killing and Abdallah and the other journalists being clearly marked as journalists. 6 other journalists were injured in the attack. (REU, REU 3/13; AJ, HA 3/14)

Forensic Architecture releases a report saying Israeli evacuations of Palestinians in Gaza may amount to forced displacement and that Palestinian civilians have been “bombed, shot at, executed, arrested, tortured, treated in a degrading manner, and forcibly disappeared by the Israeli military along roads, corridors and zones declared ‘safe.’” (AJ, FA 3/13)

An Italian court refuses an Israeli extradition request for a Palestinian man accused of planning an attack, saying he risked “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” if he was extradited to Israel. (HA, REU 3/13; AJ 3/14)

80 artists and panelists pull out of the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas due to the festival’s involvement with U.S. weapons companies and agencies that are tied to the U.S. Department of Defense and their links to the Israeli assault on Gaza. (AJ, NYT 3/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces assault 4 Palestinians, including a medic, during a raid in Fahma. Israeli forces deliver demolition notices for 11 residential and agricultural structures in the Abu Nawar Bedouin community near ‘Anata. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces prevent Palestinians from reaching the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Jabalia refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 183 people. Israeli forces also open fire at Palestinians fleeing from Khan Yunis to Rafah and fire tank shells at al-Amal Hospital. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis suffers a complete electricity blackout as it is besieged by Israeli forces for the fifth day in a row. In Lebanon, Israeli forces strike Bayt Lif and Deir Aames, killing 2 people and injuring 4 in Bayt Lif. Hezbollah says it attacked 2 Israeli bases near the Blue Line. In the Red Sea, the Houthi movement says its forces attacked a UK-owned oil tanker.  (AJ, AP, AP, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/26)

More than 26,083 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 10,600 children and 7,200 women, and around 64,110 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 365 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 92 children. More than 4,354 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 219 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,269 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 68 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Israelis block the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing for the third day in a row, forcing aid trucks to reroute to Egypt. The UN says the assessment mission to northern Gaza, announced by U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken on 1/9, has not been carried out. (AJ, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 1/26; AJ 1/27)

Israel orders Palestinians in several neighborhoods of Khan Yunis to flee to al-Mawasi. (AJ 1/26)

The ICJ rules that there is a basis to further investigate the South African genocide case against Israel and that the ICJ has jurisdiction to hear the case. The court issues 6 provisional measures: 1) Israel must take all possible measures to prevent acts as outlined in Article 2 of the Genocide Convention, including not killing members of a particular group [Palestinians], not causing physical or psychological harm to members of that group, not inflicting living conditions which are calculated to bring about the end of the existence of a people, and not carrying out acts to precent the births within the group. 2) Israel must ensure its military does not carry out any of the actions outlined in measure 1. 3) Israel must prevent and punish incitement to commit genocide. 4) Israel must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian aid. 5) Israel must prevent the destruction of evidence of war crimes and allow fact-finding missions access. 6) Israel must submit a report on all steps taken to abide by the measures within 1 month. 4 of the orders are approved by 15 of the 17 judges, while 2 of the measures are approved by 16 of the 17 judges. The only judge to vote against all measures is Judge Julia Sebutinde of Uganda. Aharon Barak, the judge representing Israel, votes for measures 3 and 4. The measures issued by the court fall short of South Africa’s demand for a ceasefire. Hamas welcomes the ICJ orders and calls on the international community to force Israel to implement the decisions. PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour calls the measures against Israel “historic.” South Africa calls the ruling a “decisive victory.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructs his ministers not to comment on the ICJ decision and calls the ruling “outrageous.” The U.S. State Department says the ICJ did not “make a finding about genocide” despite the court specifically saying that it is continuing its trial of Israel on charges of genocide. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Qatar, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, and the AU welcome the ICJ ruling. Turkey and Egypt express disappointment that the court did not call for a ceasefire. (AP, NYT 1/25; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/26; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/27; AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA 1/28; HA 1/29)

PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh calls on the international community and the UN Security Council to stop Israeli efforts to create a new buffer zone in Israel, saying Israel is razing homes and agricultural lands in 20% of Gaza. (AJ, WAFA 1/26)

Israel alleges that 12 UNRWA employees took part in or aided the attack on 10/7/2023 based on Shin Bet interrogations of Palestinian detainees and phone tracking. UNRWA announces an investigation and says it has terminated the contracts of the 9 of the staffers, with further investigations into 2 other staffers. 1 staff has been killed. The U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Finland, Australia, Italy, and the UK say they have paused additional funding to UNRWA while they are reviewing the allegations and UN’s steps to address them. The PA calls on the countries that suspended funding to reverse their decisions. Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf calls the suspension of funding for UNRWA collective punishment. UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini calls the aid suspensions “shocking,” saying they are based on the “alleged behavior of a few individuals.” Ireland and Norway express support for UNRWA. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, NYT 1/26; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA 1/27; HA, HA, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/28; AP, REU, REU, REU 1/29)

Hamas releases a video of 3 captives who call on the Israeli government to stop the war on Gaza and secure their release, saying other captives held with them have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. (AJ, HA, HA 1/26)

U.S. president Joe Biden speaks with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani about another temporary ceasefire in Gaza. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says the White House is doing “everything we can to facilitate another hostage deal,” and that National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk returns to the U.S. after discussions with Qatar and Egypt. Axios reports that on 1/19 Biden said in a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu that he wants Israel to end its war on Gaza soon. A Biden advisor tells Axios that the White House is concerned about losing young voters who are opposed to Biden’s policy on the war. (AJ, AX, HA 1/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 6 sheep during a raid in Qusra. Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during raids in Askar refugee camp, Surif, Dahariya, and Asira ash-Sharmaliya. 28 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Tubas, Dahariya, Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Qalandia. In Gaza, Israeli forces bombed az-Zawayda, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Jabalia refugee camp, and central Gaza, killing more than 297 Palestinians. Israeli forces also opened fire at a Gaza Ministry of Health warehouse, injuring 3 people. 3 Israeli soldiers were killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes destroyed 5 homes and damaged others in Aitaroun and attacked areas near Yaroun, Rmeish, and Aita al-Shaab. Hezbollah said it had wounded several Israeli soldiers in attacks on Israel. In Syria, Israeli forces attacked areas around Damascus, causing damage. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/10; AP, HA, NYT, NYT, UNOCHA 12/11)

More than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women, and around 49,300 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 267 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 69 children. More than 3,387 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured since 10/7. 101 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. As of 12/3, at least 52,000 housing units had been destroyed and 253,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. Around 100 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza. 25 injured Palestinians and 468 dual nationals were evacuated to Egypt. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 12/10)

The Israeli military said 1,593 Israeli soldiers have been wounded since 10/7, including 255 who were in serious condition and 446 who were moderately injured. Of these, 559 were said to have been injured in Gaza. 425 soldiers have been killed since 10/7, including 97 since the ground invasion began. Haaretz said a comparison of numbers between hospital reports and the military reporting showed a significant gap, indicating that the military was underreporting the number of injuries. (HA 12/10)

The Palestinian Prisoners Society said Israel has abducted 142 Palestinian women and children and taken them to prisons in Israel. (AJ, WAFA 12/10)

The Israeli socioeconomic cabinet voted unanimously against lifting the ban on entry for Palestinian workers from the West Bank into Israel. The security cabinet later postponed voting on the recommendation after it became clear that most ministers would vote against allowing Palestinian workers to enter Israel again. Israel is having a labor shortage after expelling all Palestinian workers from Gaza and the West Bank and is expecting thousands of workers from India and Nepal to arrive within 2 weeks. (HA 12/10; HA, HA 12/11)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh told the Doha Forum that the PA’s “main concern is not the day after. It is today. We want the stop of atrocities and genocide that is happening today,” and called for sanctions on Israel. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said Israel is trying to “empty Gaza of Palestinians” calling its campaign “genocide.” UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said the UN Security Council was paralyzed due to geopolitical divisions and said he would not give up on a ceasefire. Shtayyeh also met with Algerian foreign minister Ahmed Attaf and Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/10)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Russian president Vladimir Putin. In an Israeli readout of the conversation, Netanyahu was said to have expressed displeasure with the Russian stance against Israel at the UN. The Russian readout said the main focus of the conversation was the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.” Later during a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu thanked the U.S. for providing “important ammunition” for Israel to continue attacking Gaza and for the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council on 12/8. A spokesperson for Netanyahu said that Israel is not seeking to force the Palestinian population to flee Gaza. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU 12/10; HA 12/11)

Egypt and Mauritania invoked UN Resolution 377, prompting UN General Assembly president Dennis Francis to convene a special session of the General Assembly on 12/13. Resolution 377, adopted in 1950, allows the General Assembly to act if the UN Security Council fails to “exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.” (AJ 12/10; AP, REU 12/11)

The WHO executive board approved a resolution calling for the “immediate, sustained, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, including the access of medical personnel” to Gaza. (WAFA, WAFA 12/10; AJ 12/11)

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said dehumanization of Palestinians allowed the international community to accept the continued Israeli attacks in Gaza. (REU 12/10) 

The New York Times reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu had encouraged Qatari payments to Gaza to keep Hamas as a strong counterweight to the PA as this would lessen pressure on Israel to negotiate a 2-state solution. (NYT 12/10)

The Israeli Finance Ministry said the Israeli budget deficit rose by $4.5 billion in November, citing expenses due to Israel’s war on Gaza. (REU 12/10)

Moroccan protesters in Rabat called on the Moroccan government to cut ties with Israel. (REU 11/10)

Reuters reported that Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bodanov had spoken to officials from Hamas and other Palestinian factions, saying they should release the remaining captives. (REU 12/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers razed 5 dunams (1.2 acres) of land and threw stones at Palestinians and Israeli activists in Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli settlers also vandalized 15 vehicles in Umm Safa. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers wearing military uniforms raided Khirbet Zanuta, demolishing a residential structure, 2 agricultural structures, and part of an EU-funded school. Israeli forces shot and killed 5 Palestinians during raids in Qalqilya, Sa’ir, and Qalandia. Israeli forces also shot and injured 35 Palestinians, including 5 children, during raids in Bani Naim, Qalqilya, and Qalandia. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 6 agricultural structures in al-Ubeidiya. 60 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Dheisheh refugee camp, Jericho, Ramallah, Silwad, Jalazone refugee camp, and Abu Dis. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Kafr ‘Aqab, injuring 10 with live ammunition, 1 with a baton round, 3 with beatings, and others with tear gas. In Gaza, Paltel said telecommunications were cut off in all of Gaza. At least 349 people were killed and 750 injured in Israeli attacks, including 108 in Beit Lahiya and 40 in Khan Yunis and others in Gaza City and Khan Yunis. Israeli forces ordered Palestinians in the Dayr al-Balah district to evacuate south as Israel continued to heavily bomb the Rafah and Khan Yunis districts. Israeli forces also demolished Gaza’s main courthouse with explosives. 5 Israeli soldiers were killed in combat. Hamas’ military spokesperson Abu Obeida said Hamas had destroyed 28 Israeli military vehicles in the past 24 hours. Rockets were fired at Israel; no injuries were reported. In Lebanon, Israel conducted airstrikes, saying mortar shells were fired at Israel, injuring 3 soldiers. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/4; AJ, AX, HA, HA, UNOCHA 12/5)

More than 15,899 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 6,387 children and 4,257 women, and around 41,316 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 251 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 65 children. More than 3,313 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. 85 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.9 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. As of 11/18, at least 45,000 housing units had been destroyed and 233,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. 100 trucks carrying aid, including around 13,000 gallons of fuel, entered Gaza. Aid was only distributed in Rafah for the second day in a row. 25 wounded Palestinians and 583 foreign nationals were evacuated to Egypt. The WHO said Israel had ordered the organization to remove its supplies from its medical warehouse in southern Gaza within 24 hours. (AJ, HA, HA, UNOCHA 12/4; AJ, AJ 12/5)

Israel announced that it had approved the Lower Aqueduct plan in East Jerusalem, the first major new settlement plan to be fully approved in East Jerusalem since 2012, according to Ir Amim. The final approval greenlit the construction of 1,792 housing units on 186 dunams (46 acres) of land, including on privately owned land belonging to Palestinians in Umm Tuba. Jordan condemned the approval. The PA Foreign Ministry called on the international community to stop the implementation of the plan. (AJ 12/4; AJ, TOI, WAFA 12/5; PCN 12/6)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with U.S. vice president Kamala Harris in a phone call, discussing the situation in Palestine and need for aid to enter Gaza. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with a delegation from the EU parliament in Ramallah. Harris also spoke with Israeli president Isaac Herzog about plans for Gaza after Israel is done with its assault. (HA 12/3; NYT WAFA, WAFA 12/4)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Argentinian president-elect Javier Milei, thanking him for saying he will move the Argentinian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and inviting him to Israel. (HA 12/3; AJ, REU 12/4)

The corruption trial against Prime Minister Netanyahu resumed. Netanyahu did not attend the hearing. The judge presiding over the trial agreed to hold 2 hearings a week instead of 3 as happened before 10/7. (NYT 12/4; AJ, HA 12/5)

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Prime Minister Netanyahu will be tried as a war criminal for Israel’s attacks on Gaza. (HA, REU 12/4)

U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) called the proposed U.S. military aid package to Israel “absolutely irresponsible,” labelling Israel’s attacks on Gaza immoral and in violation of international law during a speech at the Senate. (AJ, HA 12/5)

Haaretz said that several stories about Hamas militants’ actions during Operation Al-Aqsa flood were unfounded, including that 40 babies were killed, some of which were said to be beheaded, a story recounted by U.S. president Biden. Other stories recounted by Prime Minister Netanyahu, such as children being bound together and burned, also appeared to be false. Netanyahu’s wife Sara also relayed a false story in a letter to Biden’s wife Jill, saying one of the captives held by Hamas was pregnant and had given birth in captivity. The woman, who has since been released, was not pregnant. (HA 12/4)

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel is considering flooding the tunnels in Gaza with seawater. (HA, WSJ 12/4; HA, HA, REU 12/5)

3 human rights organizations in the Netherlands sued the Dutch state over its export of F-35 parts to Israel. (AJ, HA, HA 12/4)

Former State Department office of public and congressional affairs director Josh Paul, who resigned on 10/18 in protest over the Biden administration’s policy toward Israel’s attacks on Gaza, told CNN that Israel had raided the offices of Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI – Palestine) in 2021 after the State Department had shared credible evidence of a Palestinian child being raped at al-Mascobiyya Interrogation Center in Jerusalem with Israel. DCI – Palestine’s office was raided on 7/29/2021 and the organization declared a terrorist organization on 10/22/2021 along with 5 other groups. Paul suggested a link between the sharing of the DCI – Palestine investigation and the Israeli terrorist designation. (X 12/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked and injured 4 Palestinians harvesting olives in Jamma’in with dogs, stones, and pepper spray. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians during raids in Arrabah and Jenin. Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during raids in Yatta, Tana, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from harvesting olives near Madama, seizing their tools. 25 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Idhna, Ramallah, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem. In Gaza, it was unclear how many Palestinians were killed and injured by Israeli airstrikes due to a collapse in services and communications at hospitals in the north. At least 13 were killed and 15 wounded in an airstrike on Rafah. Doctors Without Borders said people fleeing al-Shifa Hospital were being shot at as the hospital was surrounded by Israeli forces. Israeli attacks on al-Shifa Hospital killed 3 nurses and caused damage to several facilities including water tanks, a well, and the oxygen station. 5 Israeli soldiers were killed by Palestinian militants. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/11; UNOCHA 11/12)

The Gaza Ministry of Health was not able to update the casualty figures due to a collapse in services and communications at hospitals in northern Gaza. As of 11/10, at least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women, and 27,490 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,450 people were buried in rubble, including 1,350 children. 176 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 47 children. More than 2,552 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals had been killed and 5,431 have injured since 10/7. 47 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. Thousands of Palestinians fled from northern Gaza to the south. No one was evacuated from Gaza to Egypt. 53 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. PA health minister Mai al-Kaila said 20 out of 30 hospitals in Gaza had shut down and that 37 premature babies were at risk of death due to the lack of oxygen at al-Shifa Hospital, noting that 2 babies died early today. Al-Shifa Hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya said the hospital was without power, internet, water, and medical supplies, saying it completely ran out of fuel. Abu Salmiya also said Israel had attacked the hospital, preventing people from leaving. Jordan air-dropped medical aid to the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza for the second time. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/11; AJ, HA, WAFA 11/12)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh criticized Germany for supplying Israel with weapons during its war on Gaza. (AJ 11/11)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not support resettling Gaza, saying it is not a “realistic goal,” and said the PA should not govern Gaza. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told soldiers near the Blue Line that “[w]hat we do in Gaza, we know how to do in Beirut.” (AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA 11/11; AJ, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 11/12; HA 11/13)

Arab League and OIC leaders met for a joint session of the 2 organizations in Riyadh. In a joint statement, the members said Israel must end its “aggression against Gaza,” rejected the notion that Israel was acting in self-defense, and called for a halt to arms exports to Israel. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called on the UN Security Council and the U.S. to quickly intervene to end the Israeli attacks and to end Israel’s expulsion of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi told the joint session that the U.S. bears full responsibility for the Israeli actions in Gaza and called on the groups to designate the Israeli government and military a terrorist organization. It was the first time Raisi visited Saudi Arabia and the first visit by an Iranian president since 2012. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on the IAEA to investigate Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons and for an international peace conference to solve the overall conflict. Qatari emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said Israel was using humanitarian aid as political blackmail and said the international community had failed in stopping Israeli war crimes. Hamas representative Osama Hamdan criticized the summit for failing to outline concrete steps to stop the Israeli attacks. Abbas met with leaders of Iraq, Bahrain, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia after the summit. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/11; AJ 11/12)

Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah said Hezbollah was launching drones at Israel every day, calling it part of a “war of attrition for the Israeli air defense.” Nasrallah also said Hezbollah will introduce heavier weapons to its fight against Israel. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/11; HA 11/12)

Reuters reported that the UAE does not plan to sever ties with Israel over its attacks on Gaza. (REU 11/11)

Organizers said 1 million pro-Palestinian protestors marched in London, while London police estimated 300,000 took part. Major protests were also held in New York, Brussels, Paris, Baghdad, Karachi, Berlin, Edinburgh, and elsewhere. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 11/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians harvesting olives in Burqin, injuring them with sticks and stones. 2 Israeli settlers were shot and injured at the Itamar settlement. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinian during raids in Bethlehem and at-Tabaqa. Israeli forces also raided Bethlehem, injuring 64 Palestinians and firing tear gas near an orphanage, leading to the evacuation of 100 children. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including a child, during raids at Birzeit University and in al-Mughayyir and Sabastia. 55 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Tubas, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces demolished the family home in Shu’fat refugee camp of a 13-year-old boy who was arrested after he allegedly stabbed and killed 1 Israeli soldier on 2/13. The father and brother of the Palestinian child were arrested and beaten by Israeli forces ahead of the demolition. The U.S. condemned the demolition. In Gaza, 241 Palestinians were killed, including 43 members of the same family, and around 500 injured in Israeli airstrikes. Israel said it assassinated Hamas member Mahsan Abu-Zina. Israel also said 1 Israeli soldier was killed and 2 seriously wounded in northern Gaza. Rockets were fired at Israel; no injuries were reported. In Syria, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes near Damascus, killing 3 people said to be members of Hezbollah. (HA 11/7; AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/8; AJ, HA 11/9; AP 11/10)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 10,569 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, and 26,475 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,450 people were buried in rubble, including 1,350 children. 155 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 44 children. More than 2,397 people have been injured. Around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 injured since 10/7. 33 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting around 45% of all housing units. Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City shut down most of its operations after running out of fuel and being hit by Israeli airstrikes daily since 11/5. 106 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. No one was evacuated from Gaza to Egypt. It was estimated that 50,000 people fled the northern part of Gaza to the south, bringing the total number to 72,000 since 11/5. UNRWA said 99 of its staff members had been killed since 10/7, including 2 in the past 24 hours. The WHO said that diarrhea and chickenpox were spreading in Gaza and warned that there was a risk of cholera and other epidemics. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said 44 Palestinian journalists had been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and 25 have been detained in the West Bank since 10/7. (AP 11/7; AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/8; AJ, HA, REU 11/9; AJ 11/10)

The Israeli High Court of Justice ruled to evict Israeli settlers who had been occupying Palestinian-owned land for 30 years in the Jordan Valley. The court accepted a petition by 20 Palestinian landowners filed 5 years ago but gave the settlers 7 years to leave the 1,000 dunams (250 acres) of land which was planted with date-bearing palms. The judge wrote in her ruling that the settlers’ cultivation of the land was done in violation “of international law, but also in violation of the government’s declared policy and even contrary to halakhic law.” (HA 11/9)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki filed a complaint to the International Atomic Energy Agency over Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu’s comment that Israel could drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza, calling the comment the “prevailing discourse in Israel” and “an official recognition that Israel possesses nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who invited Abbas to the Netherlands. Abbas also spoke with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, urging him to help stop the Israeli attacks in Gaza, calling it genocide. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/8; AJ, REU 11/9)

Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri condemned the U.S. for supporting the continuation of the war on Gaza while encouraging humanitarian pauses and called on Arab states that have normalized relations with Israel to sever political and economic ties. Al-Arouri also said Hamas is ready for a comprehensive deal that would see all Palestinian prisoners released by Israel in exchange for the captives held by Hamas. (AJ 11/8)

Israeli education minister Yoav Kisch said Israel could rebuild Israeli settlements in Gaza. Military chief of staff Herzl Halevi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the PA has been working extensively to prevent pro-Hamas demonstrations in the West Bank. (HA 11/8; HA 11/9)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said Israel should not reoccupy Gaza after the war and that Palestinians in Gaza should not be forcefully displaced from Gaza. Haaretz reported that unnamed European diplomats were worried about Israeli politicians’ call to reoccupy Gaza. (HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU 11/8)

The G7 issued a joint statement after a meeting in Tokyo condemning Hamas, supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, and calling for “humanitarian pauses.” (AP, HA 11/7; AJ, AP, HA, NYT 11/8)

26 Democratic senators signed a letter to the Biden administration requesting clarification on Israel’s strategy in Gaza. More than 1,000 staffers from the U.S. Agency for International Development signed a letter calling for an “immediate ceasefire.” 100 congressional staffers also staged a walkout demanding a ceasefire. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT 11/8; AJ 11/9)

The Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had rejected a proposal by CIA director William Burns that would see Egypt take control of the security in Gaza before the PA can take over after Israel’s war. The New York Times reported that a Qatari-mediated deal to release 50 of the Hamas-held captives failed after Israel decided to launch its ground invasion on 10/27. (AJ, HA 11/8; AJ 11/9)

The U.S. Department of Defense said the U.S. military had attacked a facility used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in eastern Syria; 9 people were reportedly killed. Yemen shot down a U.S. drone flying over Yemeni territorial waters. (AJ, HA, NYT 11/8; AJ, HA, HA, NYT 11/9)

Italy said it would send a hospital ship to the coast of Gaza to treat injured Palestinians. (AJ 11/8)

Spanish minister for social rights Ione Belarra called on the international community to sanction Israel and said Israel was carrying out a “planned genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. Belgian deputy prime minister Petra De Sutter called on the Belgian government to place sanctions on Israel and investigate its bombings of hospitals and refugee camps. (AJ, AJ 11/8; HA 11/9)

Brandeis University banned a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, claiming the student group openly supports Hamas. (AJ 11/8)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian succumbed to injuries sustained from Israeli forces during a raid in Ras Karkar last week. Israeli settlers posing as Israeli forces made 3 Palestinian families demolish their residential tents on the outskirts of Hizma. Israeli forces shot and killed 4 Palestinians during a raid in Jenin, 9 were injured, including 1 in a drone strike on a house. Israeli forces also shot and killed a Palestinian during a raid in Yatta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 44 Palestinians during raids in Beita, Hebron, Zawata, Safa, al-Ram, Dura al-Qara’, ‘Anata, and Dheisheh refugee camp. 60 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Silwad, Hebron, Nablus, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian in Shaykh Jarrah, claiming he had stabbed and injured a police officer. In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 304 Palestinians. Israel said it had carried out 600 airstrikes in the past 24 hours. Hamas said it had repelled Israeli advances near Gaza City, forcing Israeli tanks and bulldozers to retreat. Israel hit the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, causing extensive damage. Near Lebanon, an Israeli soldier was killed and 2 others injured when an Israeli tank rolled over them. Israel attacked several places in Lebanon; 3 mortar shells were fired at Israel. In Syria, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes, saying they had hit targets that fired rockets toward Israel. (AP 10/29; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/30; HA, NYT 10/31)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 8,309 Palestinians have been killed, including around 5,000 women and children, and 21,048 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. 1,800 Palestinians, including 940 children, have been reported missing. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 122 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 33 children. More than 2,208 have been injured. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals; 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. The UN reported that over 1.4 million Palestinians, more than half the population in Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. As of 10/23, at least 27,781 housing units had been destroyed and 150,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. At least 45% of all housing units have been either destroyed or damaged in Israeli airstrikes. UNRWA said 10 of its staff have been killed in the past 3 days, bringing the total number of UNRWA staff killed by Israel to 63. 26 trucks carrying aid to Gaza entered via the Rafah crossing. The WHO said it had not been able to resupply al-Shifa and al-Quds hospitals because of the risk of Israeli airstrikes. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said an Israeli airstrike damaged its warehouse in Gaza City. Israel closed off the water to Gaza again after reopening 2 water lines in the past week. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 10/30)

Hamas released a video of 3 Israeli captives, calling on Israel to facilitate their release. Israel said it had rescued 1 captive from Hamas during an operation in Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 10/30)

Al Jazeera journalist Youmna ElSayed said her family had received a phone call from Israel warning them to flee south from Gaza City. Al Jazeera condemned the threat against their journalist in a statement, saying “Israel’s actions continue with impunity as they attempt to silence the messenger.” (AJ, AJ 10/30) 

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with Cypriot foreign minister Constantinos Kombos, discussing the need for an immediate ceasefire. (WAFA 10/30)

Israeli media reported that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, informing him that monthly payments to the PA delivering the PA’s tax revenue had stopped. (AJ 10/30)

A draft document written by the Israeli Ministry of Intelligence said Israel may try to forcefully displace Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt. 2 other options in the document included that Israel hands control of Gaza to the PA or that is establish “local Arab rule” by Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli sources verified the authenticity of the document but said the government is not expected to debate the proposals. (HA 10/30; AP 10/31)

The Israeli High Court of Justice denied a petition by 3 Israeli organizations to remove a temporary order allowing worsening conditions for Palestinian prisoners. The judges said “[t]he assessment of human rights violations in times of war is not comparable to such assessments in peaceful situations.” (HA 10/30)

Al-Haq, al-Mazan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights urged ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to issue arrest warrants for “Israeli authorities and military personnel.” (AJ 10/30; WAFA 10/31)

At the UN Security Council, PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour criticized the international community for not forcing Israel to stop its bombing of Gaza, saying “they are besieged and bombed with nowhere safe to go.” Israeli UN ambassador Gilad Erdan wore a yellow Star of David, resembling the markings forced on Jewish people by Nazi Germany, saying “Never Again.” Dani Dayan, the chairperson of the Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem, said Erdan’s actions “disgraces both Holocaust victims and Israel.” UNRWA commissioner-general Phillippe Lazzarini told the Security Council that a ceasefire was a “matter of life and death for millions,” and charged Israel with collective punishment. (AJ, NYT, WAFA 10/30; AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, WAFA 10/31; HA 11/1)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas will “die fighting” or “surrender without any conditions.” (AJ 10/30)

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. does not support a ceasefire, reiterating the White House’s position that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas. Kirby stated the U.S. position was to support “temporary, localized humanitarian pauses for aid, and for people to get out.” The U.S. also said 4 rockets were launched at the Ain al-Asad air base, causing no injuries or damage. Saudi defense minister Khalid bin Salman said he discussed the need for a ceasefire during a meeting with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. (AJ, HA, REU, REU 10/30; AJ 10/31)

UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said the UK was working to facilitate a temporary ceasefire to allow more aid to enter Gaza. UK parliamentary private secretary Paul Bristow was fired from the Conservative government for writing a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for a ceasefire. (AJ, REU 10/30; AJ, AJ, HA 10/31)

Axios reported that Mossad director David Barnea traveled to Qatar over the weekend for meetings with Qatari officials regarding a prisoner exchange with Hamas. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, discussing the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Qatari efforts to mediate a prisoner exchange. (AJ, AX, HA 10/30)

OIC secretary-general Hussein Brahim Taha condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza, calling on the international community to intervene. (WAFA 10/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided at-Tuba and Wadi Ijheish in the Masafer Yatta area, assaulting Palestinians and stealing 6 sheep and agricultural equipment. Israeli settlers also raided Qaryut, vandalizing property. Israeli forces shot and killed 5 Palestinians during raids in Askar refugee camp, Dheisheh refugee camp, Bayt Rima, Balata refugee camp, and Tammun. Israeli forces also shot and injured 38 people, including at least 3 children, during raids in Tammun, Dheisheh refugee camp, Balata refugee camp, ‘Urif, Askar refugee camp, Nablus, and Bayt Rima. Meanwhile, Israeli forces punitively demolished the family home in Askar refugee camp of a Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces in Nablus in May; the man was accused of taking part in the killing of 3 Israeli settlers in April. Israeli forces also punitively demolished the family home of a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in Burqa and delivered a punitive demolition notice to the family of a Palestinian killed in Rumana. Elsewhere, Israeli forces razed land near Abu Basal to expand a nearby settlement. Israeli forces also closed the Dream Radio station in Hebron, threating to destroy its contents if it did not stop broadcasting. 35 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Qalqilya, Tubas, Salfit, and Tulkarm. The PA Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said more than 1,590 Palestinian have been arrested in the West Bank since 10/7. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinians in Silwan, igniting a fire and causing injuries. In Gaza, some communications were restored after being cut off by Israel on 10/27. At least 302 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks. Islamic Jihad said Israel has assassinated 1 of its senior political officials, Taysir Alghouti, and killed several members of his family in Rafah. Islamic Jihad also said it attacked some Israeli military vehicles in Gaza. 2 Israeli soldiers were injured by a mortar shell in Gaza. Rockets were fired at Israel, causing damage. In Hanita, Islamic Jihad said 2 al-Quds Brigades fighters had been killed during an operation near the Blue Line. In Lebanon, Hezbollah said it had downed an Israeli drone. (AJ, HA 10/28; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/29; AP, AJ 10/30)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 8,005 Palestinians have been killed, including around 5,000 women and children, and 20,242 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. 1,800 Palestinians, including 940 children, have been reported missing. In addition, media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 115 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 33 children. More than 2,150 have been injured. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals; 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. The UN reported that over 1.4 million Palestinians, more than half the population in Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. As of 10/23, at least 27,781 housing units had been destroyed and 150,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. At least 45% of all housing units have been either destroyed or damaged in Israeli airstrikes. The bodies of 62 unidentified Palestinians were buried in a mass grave near al-Shifa Hospital. It was the third time Palestinians in Gaza had to resort to burying Palestinians killed by Israel in a mass grave since 10/7. 33 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza. Israel opened a second water pipe to Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Israel has ordered it to evacuate al-Quds Hospital; airstrikes later damaged the hospital as well as the al-Shifa and Indonesian hospitals. UNRWA said the slow flow of aid has prompted thousands of Palestinians in Gaza to take food supplies from its warehouses. The UN said nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in the West Bank since 10/7 due to Israeli settler attacks and Israeli military demolitions. (AJ 10/28; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 10/29; AJ, AJ, AP, WAFA 10/30)

Save the Children said more children have been killed in Gaza in the past 3 weeks than the total number of children killed in conflicts around the world since 2019, saying so far 3,324 have been killed in Gaza and 36 in the West Bank. (AJ 10/29; AJ 10/30)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel, actress Maisa Abd Elhadi, was charged by Israel with incitement to terrorism and expressing solidarity with a terrorist organization for an Instagram post. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel directed the Population and Immigration Authority to determine if he could revoke her citizenship. Elhadi was arrested on 10/12. (HA 10/30)

Reporters Without Borders said their investigation into the Israeli killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah on 10/13 in Lebanon concluded that Israel intentionally targeted him and other journalists. (AJ 10/28; REU 10/29; AJ 10/30; AP 10/31)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant signed an order to place the settler activist Ariel Danino on administrative detention for 4 months for his involvement in settler attacks on Palestinians. (HA 10/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Bahraini foreign inister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Ramallah. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki spoke with UK foreign secretary James Cleverly. (WAFA, WAFA 10/29)

A leaked internal U.S. State Department memo recommended that President Joe Biden pressure Israel to allow more aid to enter Gaza, estimating that 52,000 pregnant women and 30,000 babies were drinking brackish or contaminated water due to the lack of water in Gaza. (HA 10/29; AJ 10/30)

The Washington Post reported that the U.S. pressured Israel to turn communications back on in Gaza. (AJ 10/30)

International Committee of the Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric said “[i]t is unacceptable that civilians have no safe place to go in Gaza amid the massive bombardments, and with a military siege in place there is also no adequate humanitarian response currently possible. This is a catastrophic failing that the world must not tolerate.” (HA 10/28)

30 Israeli human rights and civil society organizations urged the international community to “act urgently to stop the state-backed wave of settler violence which has led, and is leading to, the forcible transfer of Palestinian communities in the West Bank.” The French foreign ministry called on Israel to take action to protect Palestinians in the West Bank. (AJ 10/28; HA, WAFA 10/29)

President Biden told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that more humanitarian aid has to enter Gaza immediately. Before the 2 spoke, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Israel “has a responsibility to rein in the settlers.” Sullivan also said Israel must distinguish between “terrorist targets” and civilians and claimed Hamas was using human shields. Biden also spoke with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. (AJ 10/28; AJ, HA, REU, REU, WAFA 10/29)

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said, “the world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes,” in reference to the situation in Gaza. (AJ 10/28; HA 10/29)

Pope Francis called for a ceasefire and the release of the Hamas-held captives. (HA, REU 10/29)

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan visited the Rafah crossing, saying the ICC has ongoing investigations into potential war crimes committed by Hamas and Israel. Khan said impeding aid to Gaza could constitute a war crime. (AJ 10/28; AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA 10/29; AJ 10/30)

Jordan said it has asked the U.S. to deploy the Patriot air defense system in Jordan. (AJ 10/28; REU 10/29)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held in many cities across the world, including in Islamabad, Beirut, Berlin, Madrid, Athens, and Ottawa. (AJ 10/28; AJ, REU, WAFA 10/29)

In Gaza, 8 Palestinians, including 3 children, were injured in airstrikes on Beit Hanun, Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, and Rafah. Israeli airstrikes also caused damage to Al-Aqsa Hospital. 1 Palestinian man from Gaza was killed and 2 other Palestinians were injured by a rocket fired from Gaza, which hit a construction site near Shokeda in Israel. In the West Bank, undercover Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians, injured 4, and severely damaged a house using RPGs during a raid in Balata refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian man at a checkpoint near Jenin, alleging that the man was carrying a knife. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, PCHR, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; TOI 5/14; AP 5/15; PCHR 5/18; UNOCHA 5/19)

An Egyptian and Qatari mediated ceasefire took effect in the late evening after 5 days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, dubbed Operation Shield and Arrow. 33 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, including 6 children and 4 women, and 190 were injured, including 64 children and 38 women. The UN said at least 12 of those killed were civilians. 2 people were killed by rockets fired from Gaza, including 1 Israeli woman and 1 Palestinian from Gaza working at a construction site; 9 were injured. 103 housing units in Gaza were completely destroyed and hundreds of others damaged, displacing 1,244 Palestinians. Airstrikes also damaged al-Aqsa Hospital in Dayr al-Balah, the Indonesian hospital, 2 health-care clinics, and 6 UNRWA and 20 PA schools. According to Islamic Jihad the ceasefire agreement included Israel stopping its assassination campaign. Israeli officials claimed that Hamas had not been an active participant in the alleged firing of more than 1,000 rockets at Israel, 865 of which were said to have crossed into Israel from Gaza. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the U.S. supports Israel’s security and “also will continue our efforts to improve quality of life for Palestinians.” (HA 5/12; AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; ALM, BBC, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, QDS, QDS, QDS, REU, SKY, WAFA, WAFA 5/14; AP, HA, HA, HA, UNOCHA 5/15; MDW 5/18; MEE 5/19; HA 5/20; HA 5/21; AJ 5/23)

Before the ceasefire took effect, PA presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said that the U.S. bore responsibility for the Palestinian loss of life due to its silence. PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh also called on the U.S., the international community, “and our Arab brothers” to pressure Israel to ends its attacks. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/13)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in New York City ahead of his address to the UN General Assembly on the 75th anniversary of the Nakba on 5/15. (WAFA 5/13)

In Tel Aviv, the weekly demonstration against the Israeli government was canceled by the organizers due to Israel’s attacks on Gaza, but thousands still demonstrated against the government for the nineteenth week in a row. People also demonstrated against the Israeli attacks on Gaza in Tel Aviv and Haifa. (HA 5/12; HA, HA, QDS, WAFA 5/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted and stole some 750 olive tree saplings near Burqa. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian near Bethlehem. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 Palestinians during a raid in Jericho. Elsewhere, Israeli forces punitively demolished the family home of 1 alleged attacker in Hijja. Israeli forces also punitively demolished the family home of 1 alleged attacker in Haris, using explosives. Meanwhile, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 11 houses in Jiftlik. 15 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, Hebron, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli authorities demolished an apartment building containing 16 Palestinian-owned apartments in ‘Anata. (AN, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/3; PCHR 5/4; UNOCHA 5/19)

The PA said that it and Palestinian organizations had been subject to cyber attacks the past 3 days. (WAFA 5/3)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly complained that the Israeli response to the rockets fired at Israel after the death of Khader Adnan on 5/2 was too “lenient.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently issued a statement saying that Ben-Gvir can leave the government if he does not accept the decisions made. In protest Ben-Gvir’s party held a meeting in Sderot near the Gaza fence instead of attending proceedings in the Knesset. (HA 5/3; HA, HA 5/4)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters that the U.S. has been seeking accountability for the Israeli killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by asking Israel to review its rules of engagement. Patel also called the Israeli killing of Abu Akleh “unintentional” despite several investigations having found it intentional. (AJ 5/3)

The Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) released a report saying that a strategic shift by the parties and the international community is necessary to reverse the negative trajectory of the PA. UNSCO proposed that a policy change that would include “addressing the continuing drivers of conflict and instability;” “strengthening Palestinian institutions and addressing the challenge of Palestinian governance;” “improving access, movement, and trade and thereby creating space for the Palestinian economy to grow;” and “better aligning the framework of economic and administrative relationships with the economic transformations of the past decades.” (WAFA 5/2; UNSCO 5/3)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian man succumbed to wounds sustained during an Israeli raid in Nablus on 2/13. An Israeli settler shot and injured 1 Palestinian woman after she allegedly attempted to stab a person near the Ma‘ale Adumim settlement. Israeli settlers also opened fire at buildings in Nabi Salih; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished commercial structures near al-Jalama. In Gaza, 6 rockets were launched at Israel from Gaza; no damage was reported. Israeli forces conducted airstrikes hitting 2 sites in Gaza and causing damage; no injuries were reported. (NYT, REU 2/22; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, GDN, HA, HA, IN, MEE, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23; AJ, HA, MEE, WAFA 2/24; PCHR 3/2; UNOCHA 3/4)

A day after advancing plans for 3,144 new settlement housing units, the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Council advanced plans for a further 4,013 new settlement units, including 1,135 in Ma’ale Adumim. The total number of settlement units advanced on 2/22 and 2/23 was 7,157, of which 1,900 were given final approval and the rest were advanced for deposit. Israel advanced 4,427 settler housing units in 2022 and 3,645 in 2021. (AP, HA, PCN, PCN 2/23; ALM, AP 2/24; WAFA 2/25)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu granted Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich authority over the Civil Administration, which was previously under the defense minister’s authority, and allowed Smotrich to create a settlement authority that will seek to improve services and infrastructure in Israeli settlements. The move was described as de jure annexation as Israel transferred the authority of the occupation from the military to a civilian entity. A Haaretz editorial described the move as creating “a formal, full-fledged apartheid regime.” (HA, REU 2/23; MEE 2/24; MDW 2/25; HA 2/26; HA 2/27)

The PA Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the international community’s response to the Israeli massacre in Nablus on 2/22 “shy and weak.” A general strike was observed throughout the West Bank in protest against the event in Nablus. (WAFA, WAFA 2/23)

The Arab League condemned Israel’s deadly raid in Nablus on 2/22 after an extraordinary meeting was convened in Cairo. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the Israeli actions. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23)

Oman announced that it had opened its airspace to all carriers, allowing Israeli airlines to enter its airspace. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA, MEE, REU, REU 2/23)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor and injured 2 others with live ammunition during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Abu Dis, injuring 4 with baton rounds and 71 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued stop work orders for agricultural projects and seized 3 trucks near Jericho and issued stop-work orders for 2 agricultural structures in Jayyus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces sealed the family home in al-Tur of 1 Palestinian man who rammed a car into 3 Israeli settlers on 2/10. (ABC, ALM, AP, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/12; PCHR 2/13; PCHR 2/16; UNOCHA 2/21)

The Israeli security cabinet approved the legalization of the 9 settlement outposts Avigail, Asael, Shacharit, Givat Arnon, Givat Harel, Givat Haro’eh, Malachei Hashalom, Mitzpe Yehuda, Beit Hogla, and Sde Boaz. The security cabinet also approved the connection of other settlement outposts to Israeli infrastructure. In addition, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the cabinet approved building permits for nearly 10,000 new Israeli settlement units, with the final number to be decided by the civil administration planning and zoning committee. The PA condemned the decisions and called on the international community to intervene. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken called the decisions “deeply troubling.” (AX, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/12; AJ, AN, AP, BBC, GDN, HA, HA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 2/13; WAFA 2/14; AX, HA, REU, WAFA 2/15; WAFA, WAFA 2/16; WAFA 2/17)

Israel’s ministerial committee for legislative affairs voted to repeal parts of the 2005 Disengagement Law, allowing Israeli settlers to enter settlement outposts evacuated in 2005, including the Homesh settlement outpost. The bill to repeal parts of the law will have to pass 3 readings in the Knesset. (HA, WAFA 2/12)

The Israeli Civil Administration issued a new directive prohibiting Palestinians from the West Bank under the age of 22 from participating in organized peace-building activities in Israel. Married Palestinians over the age of 22 will be allowed to participate as will single Palestinians over the age of 27. The civil administration also limited the number of permits for peace-building activities to 500. (HA 2/12)

Arab leaders met at the Arab League Conference in Support of Jerusalem in Cairo. The conference was attended by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian king Abdullah II, and foreign ministers from other Arab League members. The final communique condemned Israeli actions at the Haram al-Sharif compound and urged the ICC to investigate Israeli war crimes. (AJ, AJ, AP, F24, HA, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 2/12)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog gave a televised address urging the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government not to continue with its plans to change the balance of powers by overhauling the judicial system and proposed a compromise instead. Justice minister Yariv Levin said that he and the government coalition will not delay its plans. (AP, AX, HA, HA, REU 2/12; HA 2/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Huwwara; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian and arrested 1 other near Salem. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Nabi Salih, injuring 1 with live ammunition. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in ‘Usarin, injuring 1 with live ammunition, 5 with baton rounds, and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Umar, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 minor with a baton round and 10 others with tear gas. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Rima and Bayt Dajan. In East Jerusalem, Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan led a tour for foreign diplomats at the Western Wall. The Romanian, Italian, Slovenian, and Moldovan ambassadors to Israel canceled their participation in the tour after the EU voiced concerns. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Beit Lahiya and al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/9; MEMO 12/10; PCHR 12/15; UNOCHA 12/22)

Leaders at the Arab-China Summit in Riyadh called for a just and lasting solution, based on the 2-state solution, to the Israeli occupation of Palestine in their final communique of the summit. In a speech at the summit PA president Mahmoud Abbas called for the international community to not work with any Israeli government that refused to work within the framework of international law. Chinese president Xi Jinping said in a speech that he supports Palestine’s effort to gain full membership at the UN. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/9; MEMO 12/10)

Palestinian member of the Knesset and leader of the Hadash party Ayman Odeh met with UN secretary-general António Guterres in New York, briefing Guterres on his concerns about the government Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present within a couple of weeks. Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan called the meeting “cowardly and shameful.” Israeli media reported that the meeting was made in coordination with the PA rather than with the Israeli foreign ministry. (ALM, HA 12/9; MEMO 12/12)

Egypt’s foreign ministry issued a statement warning Israel against continuing its attacks on Palestinians, noting that more than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in 2022. The ministry warned that the situation will continue to deteriorate if Israel continues its current practices. (HA 12/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired a tear gas canister into a hospital in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries among patients and staff. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 with live ammunition and 10 with baton rounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian near Silat ad-Dhahr. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmlands north of Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 9/23; MEMO, WAFA 9/24; PCHR 9/29; UNOCHA 9/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UNGA, saying that Israel is not a partner in peace and that the country is working to undermine the 2-state solution. President Abbas called on the international community to deal with Israel as an occupying state. Abbas also lambasted Israel’s impunity in continuing its settlement enterprise, in not dealing with settler attacks, and in killing Palestinians, mentioning Shireen Abu Akleh, saying that since Israel is not abiding by the Oslo Accords, that the PA will not either and will instead seek justice at international courts. Furthermore, Abbas said that Israel is establishing apartheid, asking the audience why it is not holding Israel accountable for its crimes and to implement UN resolutions on Palestine. Lastly, Abbas said the PA will seek full membership at the UN and called on UK, the U.S., and Israel to recognize their responsibility in the Nakba. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEE, WAFA 9/23; MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 9/24; WAFA 9/25)

Australia announced that it will double its contribution to UNRWA for 2022, from $6.5 million to $13 million. (WAFA 9/23)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians marking Prisoners’ Day in Hebron and Bethlehem, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas in Bethlehem and 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas in Hebron. Israeli forces also confiscated 1 excavator in Deir Istiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound and inside al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring 17 Palestinians, including 5 who were taken to hospitals for treatment. More than 728 Israeli settlers toured the compound. Palestinians threw stones at buses carrying Israeli settlers to the compound, injuring 7 settlers. 18 Palestinians were arrested. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Tur, injuring 1 with a baton round. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; HA, WAFA 4/18; PCHR 4/21; UNOCHA 4/23)

The Jordanian foreign ministry said “Israel’s measures to change the status quo on the Haram al-Sharif compound are a dangerous escalation. Israel bears full responsibility for the consequences of the current escalation that is thwarting efforts invested to bring about calm,” in response to the many Palestinian injuries at the compound in the past days. The spokesperson for King Abdullah II also called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its escalation at the holy site. PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who condemned the Israeli violence. Hamas and Islamic Jihad also slammed the Israeli-led violence on the compound. The PA also warned that Israel is attempting to spatially divided the Haram al-Sharif compound like it has done to al-Ibrahimi Mosque. (HA, HA, HA, JP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; MEMO, MEMO 4/18)

The United Arab List (UAL) froze its membership of the Israeli coalition in response to Israeli punitive measures against Muslim worshippers at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Members of the UAL are expected to start working with the government coalition again after the end of the month of Ramadan, which is before the Knesset recess ends on 5/8. (AJ, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU 4/17; MEMO 4/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling south of Jenin on the Jenin-Nablus road. Israeli settlers with military escort also attacked Palestinian herders east of Yatta, leading to a confrontation between Israeli forces and Palestinian herders; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers with military escort attacked Palestinians in al-Lubban al-Sharqiya, leading to a confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli forces; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and injured 1 other during a raid in Jenin refugee camp; 1 of the victims was described as unarmed and the other a member of Islamic Jihad, who resisted the Israeli raid; 1 Palestinian was arrested during the raid. 4 other Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in Beit Umar and Hebron, 1 was arrested at a flying checkpoint in Jannatah; Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the raid in Beit Umar, causing tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians celebrating al-Israa wa al-Miraj in the Old City, injuring 36, including 1 11-year-old girl who was hit in the head with a stun grenade, fracturing her jaw; there were several videos circulating showing Israeli forces assaulting Palestinian minors; 20 were arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Khuza‘a. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (HA, JP, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/28; AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA 3/1; HA 3/2; PCHR 3/3; UNOCHA 3/11)

The Israeli high court of justice denied a petition by Palestinians in Hebron to end Israeli forces’ use of a building on Palestinian-owned land in Hebron, saying that returning the land to its Palestinian owners would be a security risk. Israel has expressed its desire to expand Israeli settlements in Hebron on parts of the Palestinian-owned land that the Israeli forces use. (HA 3/2)

The Israeli Jerusalem district planning and construction committee rejected a petition by the committee of Muslim cemeteries and Palestinian landowners to block plans to construct a promenade at al-Yusufiya cemetery at the Old City walls in East Jerusalem. The Israel nature and park authority said that Israel does not intend to “expropriate the area in question.” (HA 3/1)

At the UN human rights council, PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki called out the international community’s double standard in its sanctioning of Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine while shielding Israel from similar sanctions. (WAFA 2/28; MEMO 3/1; HA 3/4; HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/5; WAFA 3/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home near al-Ramadin. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Araqah, Beit Umar, Jaba‘, and Burqin. In East Jerusalem, some 100 Israeli police officers raided the Salhiya family home in Sheikh Jarrah, throwing stun grenades and beating family members, including minors, before escorting them out and demolishing their home, displacing the family of 18; 18 Palestinians were arrested, including family members. The family members were released on 1/20 under the condition that they do not return to Sheikh Jarrah for 1 month. Israel had attempted to displace the family since 1/17, but was unable due to resistance from the family and a large presence of international diplomats and local activists. The PA called the eviction a war crime, calling on the U.S. to protect Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and the EU condemned the displacement of the family. The U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at a UN security council meeting that Israel must refrain from “demolitions, and evictions—like what we saw in Sheikh Jarrah.” At the meeting, PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki also called on the international community to end Israeli impunity. A representative for the Salhiya family said the family is referring the case to the ICC. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Wadi al-Juz, displacing 8. In Jerusalem, Israeli police violently dispersed activists in front of Mayor Moshe Leon’s home protesting forced displacement of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah; 5 were arrested. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, CNN, EI, F24, GDN, HA, HA, HA, I24, JDF, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, NAT, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, VICE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 1/19; HA, HA, IN, JP, JP, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/20; MEMO, MEMO 1/21; MEE, TOI 1/22; ALM, WAFA 1/23)

Israeli police arrested 3 Jewish Israeli men for attacking 2 Palestinian Israeli men in Bat Yam on 11/14/2021. The 3 Jewish Israeli men were charged with racially motivated violence prompted by the 2 Palestinians socializing with Jewish Israeli women. (HA 1/20; HA 1/21)

Hamas officials concluded a visit to Algeria, presenting the group’s vision for national unity and reconciliation with Fatah. The delegation arrived in Algeria on 1/17. Members of the DFLP, PFLP-GC, and Islamic Jihad are expected to visit Algeria soon. PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Algerian officials on 1/15. (MEMO 1/18; MEMO 1/20; ALM 1/24)

The Citizenship Law bill, created to prevent family unifications between Palestinians and Israeli citizens, was sent back to the Israeli cabinet after the Meretz party filed an objection to the legislation in the Knesset. The Citizenship Law is being pushed by Israeli interior minister Ayelet Shaked. (HA 1/20)

A delegation of Israeli officials arrived in Sudan for meetings with Sudanese officials, according to Israeli and Saudi Arabian media. (HA 1/19; MEMO 1/20)

The UNRWA called on the international community to donate $87.5 million to help the agency with programming in Lebanon, where the financial crisis is further impeding its work to assist Palestinian refugees. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, WAFA 1/19; WAFA 1/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Burqa, throwing stones at 2 homes and physically assaulting residents, causing 1 hospitalization; settlers also vandalized tombstones in the village. Israeli settlers also raided Jenin but were repelled by armed Palestinians. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers with military escort marched to the Homesh settlement outpost, leading to clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protests; 42 Palestinians were injured with rubber-coated bullets and 83 suffered tear-gas suffocation. Israeli settlers also uprooted 60 olive trees in Yatta and 300 olive tree saplings in Tarqumiyah. Israeli forces dismantled 6 structures erected by Israeli settlers in the Homesh settlement outpost; the Israeli forces did not demolish the yeshiva in the settlement outpost. Elsewhere, Israeli forces placed roadblocks on roads leading to Burqa. Israeli forces also assaulted 1 Palestinian man in Bazariya, who was hospitalized for his injuries. 14 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Burqa, Asira, Qarawat Bani Hassan, Anabta, Silat al-Harithiya, Tammun, and Dheisheh refugee camp; 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by an Israeli sniper during a protest against the raid in Dheisheh refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land north of Beit Lahiya and east of Maghazi. Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Shuka; no injuries were reported. (HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/23; AJ, HA 12/24; ALM 12/27; PCHR 12/30)

An Israeli court postponed the eviction of the Palestinian Salem family in Sheikh Jarrah after Israeli police asked it to, citing a security risk. (HA 12/23)

The lawyer of a Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike in protest against his administrative detention warned that his client was in critical condition and in need of hospitalization. The man has been on hunger strike for 129 days. (WAFA 12/23)

An Israeli military court sentenced 2 Palestinians to life in prison for the killing of 1 Israeli soldier in 2019. The 2 men were also ordered to pay the soldier’s family $480,000. (HA 12/23)

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned Israel’s inaction against the rise in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and called on the international community to intervene. (MEMO 12/24)

At the UN, 125 countries voted to support the UN Human Rights Council’s investigation of Israel’s assault on Gaza in May. In a separate vote, 8 countries, including Israel and the U.S., voted to defund the investigation; 34 countries abstained, including Canada and Australia. (WAFA 12/24; MEMO 12/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with live ammunition. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Biddu, injuring 1 Palestinian when a tear gas canister hit his back. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Sheikh Jarrah, physically assaulting 2. Israeli forces assaulted several Palestinians during a house raid in Jabal Mukaber; 4 were arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli navel forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (PCHR 10/28)

Islamic Jihad said its members had ended a mass hunger strike against Israeli collective punitive measures put in place in the wake of 6 Palestinians fleeing Gilboa prison on 9/6. An Islamic Jihad official said Israel had lifted the measures against the Islamic Jihad prisoners that first prompted the prisoners to start the hunger strike on 10/12. An Israeli security official told the Times of Israel that the Israel Prison service had not made any concessions to the hunger-striking prisoners. (ALM 10/22)

Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz signed an order declaring 6 Palestinian rights groups terrorist organizations: Addameer, al-Haq, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, the Bisan Centre for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and Defense for Children International – Palestine. Defense Minister Gantz alleged that the 6 groups are “part of a network of organizations operating under cover in the international arena” on behalf of the political party the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which Israel considers a terrorist organization. Israel’s evidence for the allegations was classified and Israel did not state any plans to prosecute individual members. The general director of al-Haq Shawan Jabarin called the accusations “nonsense” and said Israel’s “occupation has no limits to its injustice and insanity.” The PA called the designation “a strategic assault on Palestinian civil society.” The U.S. did not officially criticize the move but said it was not informed of it prior to the announcement and said it would like to review the evidence. Israel claimed that the U.S. had been informed. Several U.S. congresspeople condemned the Israeli government for its attack on the Palestinian organizations, including Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Mark Pocan (D-WI). Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released a joint statement calling the designation “appalling and unjust” and said that the international community must respond. Later, on 10/24, Israeli officials said members of the Shin Bet and the Israeli military would travel to Washington to present evidence of the 6 organizations’ links to the PFLP. (AJ, AP, CNN, HA, HA, HRW, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/22; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, NPR, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/23; AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/24; AHQ, ALM, MEE, MEMO, WAFA 10/25; AP 10/26; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; AJ 10/28; AHQ 11/1)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia. The 2 were said to talk about Iran, Syria, and economic relations. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEMO 10/22; HA, HA 10/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized dozens of olive trees in Burin. Israeli settlers also stole olives from a Palestinian farmer near Salfit. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Balata refugee camp, Kobar, al-Bireh, Ni‘lin, and Kafr Ein. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished fencing in Silwan, leading to a confrontation with its owners, 2 were injured by Israeli forces assaulting them with their rifles, including 1 minor. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Bayt Hanina. 2 Palestinians were arrested near the Damascus Gate plaza. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/3; WAFA 10/4 PCHR 10/7)

Israel charged the 6 Palestinian prisoners who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6 with offenses related to their escape, potentially carrying additional sentences of up to 7 years. 5 other Palestinian prisoners were charged with helping them escape, also risking 7 more years. Israeli police had initially said that the 6 had planned to carry out attacks; however, no such charges were filed against them. (AJ, HA, MEMO 10/3)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with 2 Israeli ministers from the Meretz (Vigor) party: health minister Nitzan Horowitz and regional cooperation minister Issawi Frej. The meeting took place in Ramallah to “boost” cooperation between the PA and parts of the Israeli government and to ensure that steps to hurt the 2-state solution are curbed. President Abbas said he invites all Israeli ministers to come to Ramallah and engage with the PA, saying “[w]e don’t have to agree, but we need to talk.” (ALM 10/1; HA 10/2; HA, MEE 10/3; ALM, MEMO, WAFA 10/4)

The PA urged the international community to intervene as settler violence against Palestinians continued to rise in the West Bank. (WAFA 10/3)

A delegation of Hamas officials met with Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel to discuss a long-term ceasefire with Israel and intra-Palestinian relations. Hamas later released a statement, saying that the organization did not reach an agreement with Egypt about a long-term ceasefire with Israel despite media reports on the contrary. It was also reported that 19 members of the Hamas political bureau from Qatar, Turkey, and Gaza would meet in Egypt. (MEMO 10/3; ALM 10/12)

Palestinian officials told Haaretz that the U.S. is planning to reopen its consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem after the Israeli government passes its budget in the Knesset. (HA 10/3; MEMO 10/4)

King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke to Syrian president Bashir al-Assad for the 1st time since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. (REU 10/3; MEMO 10/5)

In the West Bank, 3 Israeli settlers were shot by unknown assailants during a drive-by shooting by an Israeli settlement near Yasuf; 1 of the settlers was said to be in critical condition. The Israeli military subsequently sent more soldiers to the West Bank to partake in the hunt for the perpetrators. Israeli settlers raided Qusra, causing damage to Palestinian-owned houses. Israeli settlers also raided Jalud, setting Palestinian property on fire; Israeli forces intervened on behalf of the Israeli settlers, arresting 11 Palestinians and injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian 60-year-old woman, claiming she had attempted to stab the soldiers at a checkpoint north of al-‘Arub refugee camp; a video of the incident did show that the woman was carrying a knife but that she was several feet away from the soldiers and walking very slowly, displaying no imminent threat to the soldiers. Israeli forces also injured 5 Palestinians with live ammunition and arrested 11 during a raid in Beita. 5 other Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Hizma and 1 at a checkpoint near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Shaykh Jarrah demonstrating against the eviction of Palestinians from the neighborhood (see below), tear-gas related injuries were reported and 1 was arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces attacked Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 5/2; AJ, AP, HA, HA, JP, MEE, PCHR, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 5/3; HA 5/4; HA 5/5; PCHR 5/6; HA, MEE 5/7)

An Israeli supreme court judge postponed the eviction of 6 Palestinian families from their homes in Shaykh Jarrah until 5/6. The judge said the 6 families, 27 people, had to “reach an agreement” with the Israeli settlers set to displace them from their homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood. The 6 families rejected having to reach an agreement with the settlers, maintaining that the land belongs to them. PA Jerusalem affairs minister Fadi al-Hidmi called on the international community to prevent Israel from evicting the Palestinian families. (AJ 5/1; WAFA, WAFA 5/2; MDW, MEMO, WAFA 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 3 cars and sprayed racist graffiti in Bayt Iksa. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near ‘Urif, damaging 2. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Bayt Hanina, Husan, Bethlehem, and Tubas; 1 Palestinian was hospitalized for his injuries after Israeli forces assaulted him during the raid in Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police said it had arrested 8 Israeli settlers for 2 attacks on Palestinians involving pepper spray. 8 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israel said that 2 rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel but landed within Gaza. The Gaza fishing zone was closed by Israeli authorities. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen on 2 separate occasions, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. (WAFA 4/27; HA, HA, WAFA 4/28; HA, PCHR 4/29)

Israel said it shot down a drone flying into Israeli airspace from Lebanon, claiming it was operated by Hezbollah. (AP 4/27)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is standing trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, tried to appoint Ofir Akunis, a member of his own party, as justice minister. Hours later, the Israeli supreme court canceled Akunis’s appointment. (HA 4/28)

A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report said that Israel is guilty of committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The 213-page report named “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution” maintained that “Israeli authorities methodically privilege Jewish Israelis and discriminate against Palestinians. Laws, policies, and statements by leading Israeli officials make plain that the objective of maintaining Jewish Israeli control over demographics, political power, and land has long guided government policy. In pursuit of this goal, authorities have dispossessed, confined, forcibly separated, and subjugated Palestinians by virtue of their identity to varying degrees of intensity. In certain areas, as described in this report, these deprivations are so severe that they amount to the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the report, urging the international community to intervene. The Israeli foreign ministry said that HRW is known to be anti-Israel. B’Tselem reached the same conclusion earlier this year and many Palestinian organizations have maintained for many years that Israel is guilty of apartheid. (AJ, CNN, GDN, HA, MDW, NPR, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/27; ALM, CSM, HA, HA, TOI 4/28; TOI 4/29; IN 4/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used dogs to attack Palestinian farmers near Yatta. Israeli forces seized 4 Palestinian-owned tractors in al-Hadidyya. Israeli forces also fired tear gas at Palestinians trying to enter Israel near al-Midya. The Nablus governate was placed on a partial lockdown for 5 days after a rise in COVID-19 cases. The PA asked residents to stay inside between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. 2 Palestinians were arrested; 1 during a late-night raid in Hebron and 1 at a military checkpoint near Nablus. In Gaza, Hamas launched 2 rockets at Israel, both landing in open areas, and Israel fired missiles at Gaza, causing damage near Rafah, Bayt Hanun, and Khan Yunis. A source from Hamas said that the rockets were launched by mistake due to lighting and that Hamas does not seek an escalation of violence. Israel later said it believed the claim that the rockets were launched by mistake. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/15; HA, PCHR 11/19)

The Israeli Lands Authority issued tenders for construction of a new settlement, Givat Hamatos, in East Jerusalem, dubbed the doomsday settlement as it would cut East Jerusalem off from Bethlehem and cut Bayt Safafa off from its surrounding towns. Tenders for a total of 1,257 settler units were issued. Israel’s plans drew condemnation form the PA, and the international community. The Israeli anti-occupation organization Peace Now called the plans a “lethal blow” to the 2-state solution. The EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement that he was “deeply worried” about the decision and that “Israel should instead show vision and responsibility and reverse these negative decisions at this critical and sensitive time.” The UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Nickolay Mladenov also condemned the plans, saying “settlement construction is illegal under international law and I call on the authorities to reverse this step.” (AJ, EEAS, HA, PCN, REU, WAFA, WAFA 11/15; AJ, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/16; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/17; SG, WAFA 11/18; WAFA 11/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces confiscated 2 diggers and 2 trucks working on a cancer treatment facility near Yatta. 22 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, Bethlehem, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians erupted during a late-night raid in Issawiyya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 9/22; PCHR 9/24)

The health minister of the PA Mai al-Kaila said Israel had obstructed a shipment of 100,000 COVID-19 testing swabs via Jordan, causing them to be destroyed. (WAFA 9/22)

Senior officials from Fatah and Hamas met in Turkey to continue talks about reconciliation between the 2 parties. (AJ, HA, WAFA 9/22)

The PA announced it would no longer chair Arab League meetings, citing the UAE and Bahrain’s normalization with Israel. The PA had 6 months left of its chairmanship preceding over Arab League meetings. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/22)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz met with senior advisor to president Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, in Washington D.C. to discuss Israel’s qualitative military edge and normalization with Arab and Muslim nations. Gantz also met with U.S. secretary of defense Mark Esper. (HA 9/22)

In a video speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) the emir of Qatar Shaykh Tamim Hamad al-Thani castigated the international community’s inaction over the Israeli occupation of “Palestinian and Arab land.” Emir al-Thani also said that the Arab Peace Initiative is the only way for peace. French president Emmanuel Macron, also via video link to the UNGA, called for decisive negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. (AJ 9/22; WAFA 9/23)

Germany contributed $65.5 million to different public sector programs in the occupied Palestinian territories, including $31.6 million for the water sector in Gaza. (WAFA 9/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian-owned property in al-Sawiya, slashing tires on 12 cars and writing racist graffiti on houses. Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for 1 park, 1 unpaved road, retaining walls, 1 playground, and 1 storage space in Haris; for several residential structures, 1 barn, and 1 water well south of Hebron; demolished and seized residential shacks and tents south of Hebron; and demolished and seized 1 greenhouse in Sawahara al-Sharqiyya. Thousands of Palestinians protested in Ramallah against Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the West Bank. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around al-‘Izzariya, al-Khadir, Bayt Fajjar, and Qabatiya. In East Jerusalem, 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur, Wadi al-Juz, Silwan, Issawiyya, and the Old City; during a raid in al-Tur, Israeli forces seized 1 vehicle. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/8; PCHR 6/11)

PLO secretary general Saeb Erakat, in an op-ed in Haaretz, called on the international community to begin imposing sanctions on Israel to force Israel to back away from annexing parts of the West Bank. (HA 6/8)

In an interview with the New York Times, Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the PA’s general authority of civil affairs, said that if Israel moves ahead with annexing parts of the West Bank the financial repercussions for the PA would mean it would have to cut its $105 million a month in payments for salaries and medical expenses in Gaza. Al-Sheikh also said that the PA forces no longer would extradite Israelis arrested in PA controlled areas and that these would be tried in PA courts. (NYT 6/8)

An Israeli border police officer was convicted of assault and reckless use of a weapon after a court found that she had shot a Palestinian man using a rubber-coated bullet in the back “for fun.” (HA 6/8)

Hundreds of right-wing Jewish activists visit Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinians in the area; 2 Palestinians are killed and 12 more are injured. The IDF later says that an explosive device was thrown at a patrol, prompting the fatal shooting. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians in a vehicle outside al-Khadir near Bethlehem; 1 Palestinian is killed and another is injured. The IDF later says that the men were throwing stones at Israeli vehicles. The local authorities in Bethlehem declare a general strike in protest of the killing. Meanwhile, IDF troops also shoot and injure a Palestinian youth in Bayt Sira village near Ramallah; arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids near Jenin; patrol in and around Tulkarm and Hebron; and violently disperse Palestinian students gathering in al-Bireh to protest the Israeli occupation (there are no serious injuries reported). Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home and dismantle 3 Palestinian makeshift residential structures south of Hebron. Unidentified assailants open fire on an Israeli settler bus near Salfit, causing minor damage. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Nablus, damaging several. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Muslim worshipper and an Islamic Waqf guard at Haram al-Sharif. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries (2 fishermen are detained). Along Gaza’s border, hundreds of Gazans gather near al-Bureij refugee camp to set tires on fire, throw stones, and otherwise continue the Great March of Return late at night. After unidentified Gazans fly an incendiary balloon into southern Israel, the Israeli Air Force conducts an air strike near the protesters near al-Bureij refugee camp, causing damage. Meanwhile, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Gaza City and open fire on Palestinian farmlands near Khan Yunis, causing no major damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. (EI, HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/20; MNA, MNA, WAFA 3/21; PCHR 3/28)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo meets with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. They discuss a range of issues, and in a press conference after the meeting Netanyahu calls on the international community to recognize Israel’s control over the Golan Heights. (HA, JP, TOI 3/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uproot 473 olive trees from Palestinian groves near Hebron. IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids near Qalqilya, Jenin, and Nablus; and patrol near Qalqilya and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Dayr al-Balah and open fire on Palestinian farmlands near al-Maghazi refugee camp, causing no damage. (MNA, MNA, WAFA 2/5; PCHR 2/7)

A senior U.S. official says the U.S. president Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner is planning to discuss the Trump administration’s long-awaited Palestinian-Israeli peace plan at an international security conference in Warsaw on 2/14. The Trump administration is co-organizing the conference on 2/13–14 and has invited Israel and a number of Arab states to attend (The Palestinians are not invited). A principle focus of the conference is Iran and its influence across the Middle East. In response, PA president Mahmoud Abbas calls for the international community to come together for a peace conference to devise a multilateral mechanism to advance the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. “This is where the European Union and its member states can play an important role alongside the [UN] Security Council,” he says. Abbas also says that the Palestinians will not participate in any peace conference not based on past UN resolutions. (JP 2/5; MNA, WAFA 2/6)

Israeli forces conduct raids in Abu Dis overnight, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 9 Palestinians are injured, including several schoolchildren. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, approximately 240 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid a charity in central Hebron, damaging files and other property. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering in central Hebron to welcome a member of their community home after spending 14 years in an Israeli prison; 3 Palestinians are arrested and none are seriously injured. The IDF also arrests 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid near Qalqilya and patrols near Jenin and Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 9/20; PCHR 9/28)

Addressing the UNGA in New York, PA pres. Abbas reiterates his support for a 2-state solution, promises to send PA officials to take control of Gaza next week, and expresses hope for U.S. pres. Trump to forge a “historic” Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement. He says the Palestinians are giving Trump’s efforts a chance, but that they will ask for equal status within the international community if Israel undermines the U.S. efforts. Later, Trump and Abbas meet. According to Palestinian and U.S. sources, Trump asks Abbas to give him and his administration time to draft a new peace plan. Abbas reportedly agrees. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/20; HA 9/24)

IDF troops conduct raids in and around Nablus, sparking clashes in Balata r.c. and ‘Askar r.c.; 4 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 4 Palestinians on further raids in and around Jenin, and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. Israeli forces demolish a number of agricultural structures and a water tanker nr. Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Rafah. (MNA, WAFA 12/27; PCHR 12/29)

PA pres. Abbas says he hopes the Paris peace conference set for 1/15 enables the international community to stop Israeli settlement construction. Meanwhile, the State Dept. announces that U.S. secy. of state Kerry intends to give a major speech on 12/28 outlining principles for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as he had announced on 12/23. In the evening, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov reportedly rejects Kerry’s request, made via telephone, for the Middle East Quartet to adopt the principles he plans to present. (AP, HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 12/27)