The Palestine Chronology

With the Rafah border breached, Israel halts emergency imports authorized on 1/22, arguing that Gazans can now get food and fuel fr. Egypt. Meanwhile, the IDF makes an air strike on a car nr. the Rafah border, assassinating Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbrs. Zayid ‘Abd al-‘Aal and Ibrahim al-‘Absi; sends troops into areas e. of Rafah to conduct arrest raids, detaining and taking back to Israel 25 Palestinians possibly connected to the 1/23 border breach. In the West Bank, 2 Palestinians fr. Bayt Umar nr. Hebron infiltrate Kefar Etzion settlement, stab and wound 3 Jewish settlers before being shot dead by settlement security officers; no group takes responsibility. The IDF sends troops into Bayt Umar, fires on residential areas, occupies the homes of the 2 Kefar Etzion attackers, interrogates their families, fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, killing 1 Palestinian teenager, wounding 2 Palestinians; later, IDF troops posted at the entrance to the village fire on a funeral procession for 1 of the assailants, injuring 1 mourner. A Palestinian gunman fires on Israeli border police outside Shu‘fat r.c. nr. Jerusalem, killing 1 Israeli border policeman, wounding another, escaping unharmed; no group takes responsibility. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Azun, nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur in Hebron, guarded by IDF troops, add 5 mobile homes to an unauthorized outpost nearby in Halhul. (AP 1/24; NYT, WP, WT 1/25; OCHA 1/30; PCHR 1/31)