The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers physically assault and pepper spray a Palestinian man in Nablus during a raid near Joseph’s Tomb. Israeli settlers also begin constructing a settlement outpost in al-Muarajat. Israeli forces shoot and kill an 11-year-old child and injure 2 others during a raid in Burin. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a 16-year-old child during a raid in al-Am’ari refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian child in Fawwar refugee camp. Israeli forces also punitively demolish the home in Jenin of a Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces in May 2023. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raid Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camp, uprooting streets. Israeli forces also arrest 55 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tubas, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Rafah, Bayt Lahiya, Jabalia refugee camp, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 124 people. A Palestinian child dies of hunger at the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp partially resumes operations after receiving fuel. In Lebanon, Hezbollah forces attack Israelis near the Blue Line, killing an Indian national and injuring 7 others near Margaliot. Israeli forces bomb al-Adisa, Chihine, Hula, Markaba, and Ayta ash Shab, killing 3 medics in al-Adisa. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/4; UNOCHA 3/5)

More than 30,534 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 71,920 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 413 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 107 children. More than 4,606 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, 244 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,453 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. 170 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 3/4; UNOCHA 3/6)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas meets with Guinea-Bissau president Umaro Sissoco Embalo in Ramallah. Embalo met with Israeli officials in Israel on 3/3. Abbas later travels to Turkey for a 3-day visit. (WAFA, WAFA 3/4)

3 Palestinian members of the Knesset, Ayman Odeh, Ahmad Tibi, and Youssef Atauna, meet with Jordanian king Abdullah II in Amman, discussing Israel’s war on Gaza and planned Israeli restrictions on Palestinian entry to the Haram al-Sharif compound during the month of Ramadan. (AJ, HA 3/4)

At the UN General Assembly, countries discuss the U.S. decision to veto a 2/20 ceasefire resolution at the Security Council and are briefed by UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini. (AJ, WAFA 3/4)

U.S. president Joe Biden tweets that he will not give up on pushing for a 6-week ceasefire. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz. A White House readout of the meeting says Harris reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself, expresses deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and urges Hamas to accept a 6-week ceasefire. Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich says Gantz is in the U.S. to advance U.S. plans to establish a Palestinian state. Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Adviser for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, discussing the escalation between Hezbollah and Israel. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says “some members of the Israeli cabinet” are working to obstruct aid entering Gaza. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT 3/4; AJ, AX 3/5; AJ 3/6)

UNRWA says some of its staff have been forced to give confessions under torture and ill-treatment by Israeli forces. The statement follows an Israeli claim that there are more than 450 Hamas and Islamic Jihad affiliated people working for UNRWA and the release of audio files purporting to be evidence that 2 UNRWA workers confessed to taking part in events on 10/7/2023. Commissioner-General Lazzarini says Israel “seeks to eliminate [UNRWA’s] role in protecting the rights of Palestinian Refugees.” (AJ, AP, HA 3/4; AJ, HA, UNOCHA 3/5)

UN special representative of the secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten says during a press conference that a UN investigation team has found that Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” in detention and are subject to “disproportionate physical and sexual violence, including sexual harassment and threats of rape during house raids, including at night, and at checkpoints.” Patten also say that the team has “found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape and sexual torture” has been committed against Israeli captives released after being held in Gaza and that there are “reasonable grounds to believe conflict-related sexual violence” occurred on 10/7/2023 in at least 3 locations. Patten says some highly publicized allegations of sexual violence were determined to be unfounded and stresses that the report is not the result of an investigation as Israel did not share any evidence of allegations. (AJ, AJ, HA, INT, NYT, REU 3/4; AP, NYT 3/5; UNOCHA 3/6)

The Israeli National Social Security Agency says 806 Israeli civilians have been killed since 10/7/2023, including 38 children. (HA 3/4)

Spain announces sanctions on 12 violent Israeli settlers. (WAFA 3/4; AJ 3/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including a medic, with baton rounds during a late-night raid in Beita; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces issued a stop-work order for a house in Masafer Yatta. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Aida refugee camp, Azza refugee camp, Beit Umar, and Qalandia refugee camp. In Gaza, 3 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces near the Gaza fence east of Rafah (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/21; UNOCHA 9/26)

Israel closed crossings to the West Bank and Gaza for the Rosh Hashanah holiday. The crossings will remain closed until the night of 9/17. The PA called the closure racist and harmful to the Palestinian economy. (HA, WAFA 9/14)

Palestinian prisoners called off a hunger strike scheduled to begin today, saying that the Israeli government had suspended its plans to reduce family visits. (WAFA 9/14)

Lebanese parliament speaker Nahib Berry said a ceasefire had been reach in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. 16 people have been killed and some 150 injured since 9/7. (MEMO 9/14)

2 Israelis were sentenced to 11 and 4.5 years in prison for an attack on a Palestinian man in Jerusalem in 2021 during the Unity Intifada. Noam Elimelech was sentenced for stabbing the man 10 times in addition to punching and kicking him and for attacking a police officer. Naftali Elmakais was sentenced for punching the man after he was on the ground. The 2 Israelis also had to pay the Palestinian man $26,000 in damages. 2 other Israelis are convicted but have yet to be sentenced. (HA 9/14)

The Israeli Ministry of Justice said it managed to reconstruct a deleted video related to the arrest and assault on a Palestinian man in Shu’fat in August who had what appeared to be a Star of David imprinted on his face. Israeli police had claimed that there was not any video of the incident and that the 16 police officers who arrested the man all had their body cameras off. (HA 9/14)

PA finance minister Shukri Bishara said that the amount of funds from the PA tax revenue that Israel has withheld since 2019 had reached $800 million. (QDS, WAFA 9/14)

Israeli authorities claimed that they had seized 16 tons of ammonium chloride bound for Gaza from Turkey. Israel said the ammonium chloride can be used for making rockets and Israel has banned the import of the substance to Gaza. (HA, REU 9/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Havana for the Group of 77+ China summit. Abbas met with Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel on the first day of his visit. (QDS, WAFA, WAFA 9/14)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that he and U.S. president Joe Biden will meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week. Netanyahu’s office also said that he will meet with South African tech billionaire and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk in California on 9/18. Musk has been under fire from the Anti-Defamation League for promoting anti-Semitism on X.  (AX 9/12; ALM, AX, HA, HA, REU 9/14)

Times of Israel reported that Saudi Arabia will co-host an event focused on revamping efforts to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine called “Peace Day Effort for Middle East Peace” on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly annual meeting. The event is also sponsored by the Arab League, the EU, Jordan, and Egypt. Neither the PA nor Israel was invited to partake in the event. (TOI 9/14; QDS 9/15; TOI 9/18)

The U.S. decided to withhold $85 million in miliary aid to Egypt due to Egypt’s decision not to release political prisoners. The funds will be redirected to Taiwan and Lebanon, which will receive $55 million and $30 million respectively. (AJ, MEE 9/14)

In the West Bank, 2 Israeli settlers were shot and killed while driving through Huwwara. Around 400 Israeli settlers then raided Huwwara and the surrounding villages ‘Asira al-Qibliya, Za’atara, Yasuf, Odala, and Burin in what was described as a pogrom, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding more than 200, and damaging 75 houses, including 35 that were burned, and 265 cars over a 5-hour period. 6 Israeli settlers were reportedly arrested, 4 of whom were released on restrictive conditions. The mayor of Huwwara estimated that around $5 million worth of property was damaged. Israeli soldiers were criticized for being present without preventing the attacks. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Tuqu’. Israeli forces also seized 1 vehicle and 2 tractors in Khirbet Humsa and leveled land in Birin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land northeast of Beit Hanun. (AJ, ALM, BBC, F24, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AP, AX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCHR, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/27; AJ, ALM, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA 2/28; GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA 3/1; HA, HA, PCHR 3/2; WAFA 3/3; HA, UNOCHA 3/4; HA, HA, HA 3/5; HA 3/6; HA 3/14)

In response to the events in Huwwara, PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the raid terrorism and said he held the Israeli government responsible. Palestinian MK and leader of the Ta‘al party Ahmad Tibi compared the settler raid to Kristallnacht. MK for the Otzma Yehudit Party Zvika Fogel expressed support for the settler raid, saying it was a useful deterrence against attacks on Israeli settlers. Opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid responded by saying “MK Fogel must go to jail for inciting terror.” Israel’s chief of the central command Yehuda Fuchs called the settler attacks a pogrom. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. condemns “today’s violence in the West Bank, including the terrorist attack that killed two Israelis and settler violence, which resulted in the killing of one Palestinian, injuries to over 100 others, and the destruction of extensive property.” Price later said that the U.S. expects Israel to hold the perpetrators accountable and compensate lost homes and property. The UK ambassador to Israel Neil Wigan said that “Israel should tackle settler violence, with those responsible brought to justice.” (HA, WAFA 2/26; AJ, ALM, AX, HA, HA, HA, MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/27; HA, HA, MEE, MEE, WAFA 2/28; REU 3/1)

The Knesset’s ministerial committee for legislation approved a bill that will legalize the death penalty for Palestinians charged with terrorism against Israelis. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 2/26)

Officials from the PA, Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Jordan attended a summit in Aqaba, Jordan, to discuss the deterioration of security in the West Bank. A joint communique stated that Israel and the PA “confirmed their joint readiness . . .  to end unilateral measures for a period of 3-6 months. This includes an Israeli commitment to stop discussions of any new settlement units for 4 months and to stop authorization of any outposts for 6 months.” The parties agreed to meet again in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt next month. Israel’s national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said Israel would not roll back the decision to legalize nine settlement outposts and to advance 9,500 settlement housing units. The new head of the Israeli Civil Administration, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, said on Twitter “there will be no settlement freeze. Not even for one day,” and that the Israeli military would continue to conduct raids in all areas of the West Bank. Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu also later said that “[t]here will not be any freeze.” Hamas condemned the PA for partaking in the summit. (MEE 2/25; AJ, AJ, ALM, BBC, DOS, F24, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU 2/27; MEE 2/28; HA 3/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 1 residential tent and vandalized a fence in Khirbet Martaba. Israeli also settlers assaulted 2 Palestinian minors in Qusra, leading to the hospitalization of 1 of them. Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians in Qusra protesting the settler attack, injuring 22 with baton rounds and tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 7 Palestinians with baton rounds during a raid in Jifna; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Ras Karkar, Beit Fajjar, and al-‘Ain refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces assaulted and detained 4 Palestinians in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/22; WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

A Jerusalem court overturned an Israeli police decision to bar 3 Jewish people from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound after they violated the ban on praying at the Muslim site. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the court decision “a grave assault against the historic status quo,” and Jordan said the ruling violates international law. Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett’s office issued a statement saying that there had been no policy change at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas said that the court decision crossed “all red lines and is a dangerous escalation.” Israeli police appealed the decision on 5/23. (AJ, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI 5/22; CNN, HA, JP, MEE, TOI, WAFA 5/23)

The 6 Palestinians who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6/2021 were sentenced to 5 years in prison for their escape and each fined $1,487. 5 other Palestinian prisoners were sentenced to 4 years for assisting in their escape. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/22)

Hamas imposed a 16.5% tax on 24 products from the West Bank, including bottled water and soft drinks. PA economy minister Khaled al-Osaily called the new taxes “illegal and not permissible within the same nation.” (ALM 6/1)

Hamas and the PA warned Israel, in separate statements, against carrying out the right-wing flag march through East Jerusalem on 5/29. (HA, MEMO 5/22)

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, who on 5/19 announced that she was leaving the Israeli government coalition, said she would resume supporting the coalition after meetings with foreign minister Yair Lapid and several mayors. Rinawie Zoabi’s reversal brought the government coalition back to an equal number of Knesset members to that of the opposition. Rinawie Zoabi told her colleagues on 5/19 that she was leaving the coalition due to Israeli attacks on Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound and at the funeral for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. She further stated that the government coalition is not a government of change but a right-wing government. (AP, AX, HA, MEMO, NYT, REU 5/22; HA 5/23)

In Iran, a colonel in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Forces, Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, was assassinated in front of his house in Tehran by 2 people on a motorbike. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said on 5/23 that the assassination is being investigated and that Iran will revenge the killing. The New York Times reported later, on 5/25, that Israel had told the U.S. that it was behind the assassination of Khodaei. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 5/22; AP, GDN, HA, IN, JP, MEE, REU 5/23; AJ, ALM, AP, HA 5/24; HA, NYT 5/25; HA 5/26; REU 5/29; REU 5/30)

Chairperson of the EU parliament’s relations with Palestine Manu Pineda was forced to cancel a trip to the occupied Palestinian territories with a group of other EU parliamentarians after Israel refused to allow him entry to Israel and his delegation access to Gaza. President of the EU parliament Roberta Metsola said on Twitter that she regretted the decision but that she would continue her visit to Israel. (HA, TOI 5/21; AJ, JP, TOI 5/22; HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/23; MEMO 5/25)

In the West Bank, 1000s of Israeli settlers with military protection marched to the partially evacuated Homesh settlement outpost, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians protesting the march; 79 Palestinians were injured. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz had originally warned that Israeli forces would not protect the settlers, but reversed that decision. The march was attended by Yamina MK Idit Silman and Religious Zionist MK Itamar Ben-Gvir. Israeli settlers also vandalized 40 olive trees in Jaba‘. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized solar panels, electric poles, and a water tank in Wadi Qana. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man using live ammunition in Hebron. 2 Palestinians were arrested in Wadi as-Samen. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Haram al-Sharif compound to make way for Israeli settlers touring the site. Around 622 Israeli settlers visited the compound. 2 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur and the Old City. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 4/19; WAFA 4/20; PCHR 4/21; HA, HA 4/25; UNOCHA 5/13)

The UAE summoned the Israeli envoy to the country, demanding that Israel cease to put Palestinian lives at risk at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, JP, MEMO, REU, WAFA 4/19; ALM 4/21)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi, and Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid in an effort to calm the situation at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spoke with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog about the situation at the compound. According to President Erdoğan’s Twitter account, he told President Herzog that he was “very upset” about the events at the compound over the weekend. (HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU, WAFA 4/19)

The UN security council convened to discuss the Israeli incursions into the Haram al-Sharif compound, which led to nearly 200 Palestinian injuries over the weekend. The meeting was requested by Jordan. (HA 4/19)

Citizen Lab found that spyware from the Israel company Cytrox was found on a CNN Greece journalist’s phone. The journalist was working on covering a Greek corruption scandal when his phone was infected with the spyware known as Predator. (HA 4/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and critically injured a 3d after claiming that the 3 had opened fire at Israeli soldiers at an Israeli military installation near Jenin; no Israeli was reported injured. Israeli forces also assaulted Palestinian journalists trying to cover the incident and smashed 1 camera. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also raided the home of an alleged attacker in Turmus ‘Ayya and took measurements for a punitive demolition. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in and around Aida refugee camp and al-‘Arub refugee camp, and 4 at checkpoints in Qalandia and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces attacked Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound, wounding 205 Palestinians, including 88 who were hospitalized and 3 who lost eyes; 17 Israeli police officers were also reported injured. Israeli forces threw stun grenades inside of al-Aqsa Mosque. 17 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Shaykh Jarrah. In Gaza, Israel said incendiary balloons from Gaza had started 7 fires in Israel. (AA, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/7; AJ, MEE, PCHR 5/8; HA 5/10; PCHR 5/11; MEE 5/21; HA 5/31)

The High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel called on Palestinians in Israel to support Palestinians in East Jerusalem after the Israeli attacks on worshipers at the Haram al-Sharif compound and on protesters in Shaykh Jarrah. (MEMO, WAFA 5/8)

The Kahanist lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir from the Otzma Jehudit (Jewish Power) party closed his makeshift office on the opposite side of the street from where Palestinians have been eating iftar meals in protest over Israeli threats of evicting Palestinian families in Shaykh Jarrah. Ben-Gvir said he closed the office after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested he do so. (HA 5/7)

Palestinians reported that information shared about Shaykh Jarrah had been censored by social media companies like Instagram and Twitter and in some instances, Palestinian accounts sharing information about Shaykh Jarrah had been closed by the companies. Instagram and Twitter later blamed technical errors for the problem. (AJ, MEE 5/7; HA 5/10; AJ 5/11; HUFF 5/12)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Israeli aggression in Jerusalem, saying he has called on the PA ambassador to the UN to request an emergency session at the UN security council. (WAFA 5/7)

A Saudi official confirmed that Iran and Saudi Arabia are in direct talks to resolve the issues between the 2 countries. (HA 5/7; MEMO 5/8)

The U.S. issued a statement saying that the country “is extremely concerned about ongoing confrontations in Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount and in Sheikh Jarrah, which have reportedly resulted in scores of injured people . . . It is absolutely critical that all sides exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount—in word and in practice.” The UN also warned Israel that forced evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem could amount to war crimes. (AJ 5/7; HA, WAFA 5/8)

U.S. senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Andy Levin (D-MI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) called on Israel not to evict Palestinians from their homes in Shaykh Jarrah. Representatives Marie Newman (D-IL) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) circulated a letter in congress calling on secretary of state Antony Blinken to pressure Israel not to move forward with the eviction and to stop home demolitions in al-Bustan. (HA, MEE 5/7; HA 5/8; WAFA 5/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot 1 Palestinian near al-Fawar refugee camp; Israeli forces alleged that the man was wielding a knife when he was shot. Israeli forces also assaulted 1 minor near Jenin; he was taken to a hospital for treatment. 3 Palestinians were arrested trying to enter Israel near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 6 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur and the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian bird hunters northeast of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire on agricultural lads east of Abasan; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA 11/8; PCHR 11/12)

1 Palestinian sued 1 Israeli settler for vandalizing his property in a Nablus court. The suit against an Israeli settler in a Palestinian court is the 1st of its kind. (WAFA 11/8)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas congratulated president-elect Joe Biden on his victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections. In a statement, President Abbas said, “I look forward to working with the President-elect and his administration to strengthen the Palestinian-American relations and to achieve freedom, independence, justice and dignity for our people, as well as to work for peace, stability and security for all in our region and the world.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated President-elect Biden in a tweet and immediately after, in another tweet, thanked President Donald Trump for “recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.” (HA, REU, Twitter, Twitter, WAFA, WAFA 11/8; HA, WAFA 11/9)

A delegation of Israeli settlers led by Yossi Dagan of the Samaria Regional Council met with Emirati businesspeople to promote their settler businesses. The settler business trip in the UAE is set to commence on 11/12. An aide to President Abbas called it “painful to witness Arab cooperation with one of the worst manifestations of aggression against the Palestinian people, which is the Israeli settlements on our land.” (AP, HA 11/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinian during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Jericho, and Halhul. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested by Israeli forces during a late-night raid. (WAFA 5/21)

PA social development minister Ahmed Majdalani said that, “There will be no Palestinian participation in the Manama workshop,” and further stipulated that, “Any Palestinian who would take part would be nothing but a collaborator for the Americans and Israel.” The message came in response to the White House announcement that the economic component of U.S. president Donald Trump’s peace plan would be presented in Bahrain in June. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said that, “The [Palestinian] cabinet wasn’t consulted about the reported workshop, neither over the content, nor the outcome nor timing.” (AJ, HA, WAFA 5/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with the Emir of Qatar Shaykh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani during the 1st day of a 3-day meeting. (WAFA 5/20)

Four hundred out of 535 members of the U.S. congress signed a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to support Israel. The letter read, “With the region in flux, it remains critical that we reiterate to both friend and foe in the region that we continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself.” (HA 5/21)

Trump tweeted that, “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!” Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif called Trump’s tweet a genocidal taunt in a separate tweet. (HA 5/20)

For the 2d time in a week, the IEC cuts power to a major West Bank city, this time affecting large areas of Bethlehem between 2:00 and 6:00 P.M. The cuts are part of a broader punitive effort to disrupt power supplies to the West Bank in response to the PA and JDECO alleged failure to pay their bills. (HA, MNA, TOI 4/4; EI 4/7)

In Gaza, Hamas says 1 of its fighters died today during an unspecified military exercise. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes and a livestock building in a village nr. Nablus, as well as a home and a store late at night in villages nr. Hebron. IDF troops conduct late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Salfit, Jenin, and Bethlehem, arresting 8 Palestinians, issuing arrest summons to 3, and confiscating a vehicle; patrol during the day nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles on the road between Nablus and Ramallah, causing damage to 1 car. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Jabal Mukabir overnight, injure 1 Palestinian youth amid clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in Issawiyya, and arrest 12 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya, Jabal Mukabir, Abu Dis, and Hizma. (HA, MNA, WAFA 4/4; MNA 4/5; PCHR 4/7)

COGAT suspends cement imports to the Gaza Strip for private use “until further notice,” accusing Hamas of diverting construction materials for its own purposes. Imports for large international projects will continue (HA, JP, TOI 4/4; MNA 4/5)

Israeli PM Netanyahu invites PA pres. Abbas to meet with him in Jerusalem, responding to Abbas’s recent claim that he would accept such an invite. Netanyahu adds, “I’m clearing my schedule this week. Any day he can come, I’ll be here.” Later Netanyahu’s Twitter account sends this message: “I heard [Pres.] Abbas say that if I invite him to meet, he’ll come. So I’m inviting him. I’ve cleared my schedule”; the PLO’s Negotiations Affairs Dept. account responds: “Negotiate what exactly?” (JP, YA 4/4)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries or damage to vessels. In the West Bank, the IDF shoots and injures a Palestinian in Dahaysha r.c. in Bethlehem after troops entered the camp, provoking clashes. IDF troops also clash with residents in Jaba‘ village nr. Jenin during a patrol, with Palestinian youth throwing stones and soldiers responding with rubber-coated metal bullets. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night, patrols in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the morning, 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jenin at night. (PCHR 8/29; WAFA 8/22)

Palestinian officials say that U.S. envoy Martin Indyk and his team have not attended any of the negotiating sessions thus far at the request of the Israelis. Both Yasir ‘Abid Rabbuh and Hanan Ashrawi claim that Israel intends for the lack of U.S. participation in the 3 meetings, since the resumption of talks to strengthen Israel’s power over the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Pres. Mahmud Abbas meets with a delegation from the Israeli party Meretz in Ramallah, telling them that signing a peace agreement will mean the “end of the conflict” and that a future Palestinian state would agree to be demilitarized. Abbas also tells the Israeli politicians that the Palestinian leadership is unhappy with the slow pace of negotiations. (HA, JP, ToI 8/22)

Suspected mbrs. of the al-Qa‘ida-linked Brigades of Abdullah Azzam fire 4 rockets from s. Lebanon into n. Israel, causing no damage or injuries (and with 1 intercepted by Iron Dome missile defense batteries). The IDF says it views the attack as an isolated incident, and attributes it to “global jihad” elements. On 8/27, the brigades appear to directly claim responsibility for the attack via a statement published on the Twitter account of a Salafist cleric known to be affiliated with the group. Meanwhile, gunmen in Tripoli open fire and kill 3 outside the home of Hizballah supporter. (AP, HA, REU 8/22; YA 8/27)

Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz says that the govt. believes that Syrian forces are responsible for a chemical weapons attack that reportedly killed hundreds of people in Ghouta, a rebel-controlled suburb of Damascus. Meanwhile, Syria’s dep. PM says that foreign fighters and their international supporters are to blame for the attack. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich says that his govt. urges the Syrian authorities and the UN to agree on chemical weapons experts visiting the site of the alleged attack. (AP, AFP, REU 8/22)

Former Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak is released from a prison cell and moved to house arrest at a military hospital. (NYT 8/22)