The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal 53 sheep in Tuqu’. Israeli forces shoot and injure a 13-year-old Palestinian girl and uproot streets and other infrastructure during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also raid Dayr Sharaf, uprooting paved roads and water pipelines. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish a house under construction in Umm al-Rihan. Israeli forces also seize a concrete pump in ‘Anin. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 30 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hizma, Husan, al-Arroub refugee camp, Halhul, Dura, Qalqilya, and Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, and Gaza City, killing at least 59 people. 2 rockets are fired at Israel; no damage is reported. In Kochav Yair, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man, alleging that he rammed and injured 4 Israeli police officers. In the Red Sea, U.S. forces shoot down a missile and 2 drones launched from Yemen. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; AJ 4/4; UNOCHA 4/5)

More than 32,975 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,750 children and 8,900 women, and around 75,577 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 446 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 112 children. More than 4,760 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, 255 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,549 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. 160 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. U.S. and Jordanian forces airdrop 38,000 meals over northern Gaza.  (AJ, HA, UNOCHA 4/3; UNOCHA 4/5)

UNOCHA says it has documented more than 700 settler attacks on Palestinians since 10/7/2023, killing 17 Palestinians and injuring more than 400 others. (UNOCHA 4/3)

6 Israeli intelligence officers tell +972 Magazine and Local Call that Israel is using an AI program called Lavender to mark Palestinians and their homes as bombing targets on the basis that they are suspected members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. According to the sources, 37,000 Palestinians have been marked as suspected militants. The report says that human analysts would spend on average 20 seconds evaluating the targets picked by Lavender, to make sure the target is male, before giving authorization. The reporting also says that a different AI system called Where’s Daddy would track targets to make sure they were at the family residence before an airstrike is conducted and that Israel permits 15-20 civilians to be killed for every junior member of Hamas and Islamic Jihad killed, while it has given authorization for the killing of more than 100 civilians to kill a commander. In November, the 2 news outlets revealed that Israel’s military uses an AI program called Gospel to mark buildings that are then attacked. (+972, AJ, HA 4/3; AJ, REU 4/4)

World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder Jose Andres tells Reuters that the Israeli attack that killed 7 WCK aid workers on 4/1 was systematic and not an accident. Andres says WCK had clear communications with the Israeli military which knew of the aid workers’ movements, saying “[e]ven if we were not in coordination with the [Israeli military], no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 4/3)

The Lebanese military says it was a landmine that wounded the 4 UNIFIL troops on 3/30. (AJ, NYT 4/3)

Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani says in a news conference that the main issue in the ceasefire negotiations is Israel allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. (AJ, HA 4/3)

PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks with Bahraini foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Italian foreign minister Antionio Tajani, and Jordanian prime minister Bisher Khasawneh in phone calls. PA president Mahmoud Abbas speaks with Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune in a phone call. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3)

Fatah accuses Iran of trying to spread chaos in the West Bank. (REU 4/3)

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz calls for early elections in September. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects the call. Israeli energy minister Eli Cohen says “[i]f the United States, our greatest friend which I value tremendously, doesn’t completely back Israel, it has nothing to do in the Middle East.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says Palestinian statehood should be determined by “direct negotiations” and not at the UN in response to a PA push to have the UN Security Council vote on full UN membership for the State of Palestine. (HA, REU 4/3; AJ, AP 4/4)

At the UN Security council, the U.S., UK, and France oppose a Russian-drafted statement condemning Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus on 4/1. UN General Assembly president Dennis Francis tweets that he is outraged by the Israeli killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers on 4/1 and expresses deep concern over the risk of an escalation after the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate. (AJ, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4

Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf writes a letter to UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, calling on him to immediately end the sale of arms to Israel. 600 UK legal professionals, including 3 former Supreme Court justices, call on the UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel, saying the UK could be complicit in genocide in Gaza.  (AJ, AP 4/3; AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 4/4)

Polish deputy foreign minister Andrzej Szejna summons the Israeli ambassador, saying he wants “to talk to the ambassador about the new situation in Polish-Israeli relations and about the moral, political, and financial responsibility for the event that recently took place in the Gaza Strip,” referring to the killing of 7 aid workers on 4/1, including a Polish national. Israeli ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne said on 4/2 in response to reports that Israel deliberately killed the aid workers that “anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites.” In a separate statement, the Polish foreign ministry says Israel does not have “the right to abuse force and illegal settlement” and that Poland recognizes the “right of Palestinians to establish a state.” (AJ, HA, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4; AP 4/5)

In Gaza, an Israeli airstrike killed 471 Palestinians in al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The hospital, which was filled with patients and Palestinians seeking shelter from Israeli bombardment, had received evacuation warnings from Israel on 10/14, 10/15, and 10/16. Israel claimed it was an errant rocket fired by Hamas that caused the mass casualties, however all evidence presented by Israel was debunked in subsequent investigations. Other Israeli airstrikes killed around 200 Palestinians, mostly in Rafah and Khan Yunis. Israel also assassinated the head of Hamas’ Shura Council Osama Mazini, who led negotiations on the prisoner exchange that saw Gilad Shalit transferred to Israel in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in 2011, and Hamas commanders Muhammad Alwadia, Ayman Nofal, and Akram Hijaz. Israeli airstrikes also reportedly killed 3 members of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh’s family. 6 were killed in an airstrike on an UNRWA school sheltering Palestinians in al-Maghazi. Rockets were fired at Israel, causing damage. In the West Bank, there were large demonstrations against the PA and the Israeli bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital throughout the West Bank, with PA forces violently dispersing Palestinian protesters, killing a 12-year-old girl in Jenin with live ammunition, and injuring many others with tear gas. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians, including a minor, during raids in Halhul and Nabi Salih. An elderly Palestinian succumbed to injuries sustained from Israeli forces on 10/13 in Nablus. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians, injuring 8 with live ammunition in Nablus. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted an ambulance driver near al-Arroub refugee camp, causing a fractured arm and bruises. Israeli forces arrested Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Aziz Dweik during a raid. 115 others were arrested during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Nablus, including 50 Palestinians from Gaza who were employed in Israel before being expelled to the West Bank. The Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs Authority said Israel has arrested 680 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked targets north of the Blue Line. Hezbollah said it fired an anti-tank missile at a vehicle in Metula; 3 were reportedly injured. Israel said it killed 4 people who had entered Israel from Lebanon. 4 were also killed in an Israeli airstrike west of Yarine. In Jordan, protesters attempted to storm the Israeli embassy in Amman. (AP 10/7; AJ, AP, HA, REU 10/16; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/17; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA 10/18)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 3,500 Palestinians have been killed and 12,500 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7, including 47 entire families consisting of 500 people. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 61 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 13 children. More than 1,230 had been injured, including at least 300 with live ammunition. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals; 4,229 have been injured since 10/7. The UN reported that over 1 million Palestinians 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. At least 11,887 housing units have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. The number is likely much higher as the latest data is from 10/14. The Palestinian civil defense team said that more than 1,000 Palestinians were under the rubble of buildings in Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 13 Palestinian, 3 Israeli, and 1 Lebanese journalist have been killed in attacks relating to the Israel-Hamas war since 10/7. (AJ 10/16; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 10/17; HA 10/18)

UNRWA said parts of southern Gaza, containing about 14% of the population, received water for 3 hours. The remaining seawater desalination plant in Gaza shut down due to a lack of fuel. (AJ 10/16; HA 10/17)

Hundreds of trucks carrying aid to Gaza were stuck near the Rafah crossing as Israel continued to prevent safe passage into Gaza. Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said the crossing was not officially closed but was not functioning due to being targeted 4 times by Israel. (AJ 10/16; HA, REU, REU 10/17)

UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said Israel’s siege and order to evacuate northern Gaza could breach international law. (AJ, REU 10/17)

Israel attempted to deny that it killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians in an airstrike on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, presenting a range of questionable evidence to put the blame on Islamic Jihad. Israeli government social media accounts published what it claimed to be evidence that it was a rocket misfire not an airstrike, but later deleted the videos when a New York Times journalist questioned the timing of the videos. Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said “[a]ccording to our intelligence, Hamas checked reports and understood it was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad misfire, then launched a global media campaign to inflate numbers of casualties.” Israel has previously employed misinformation campaigns to deflect blame for atrocities, on occasion then taking responsibility long after the event, as in the case of the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. A UK Channel 4 investigation said evidence presented by Israel was both likely fabricated and contradictory, but did not reach a conclusion regarding the origin of the blast. Israeli president Isaac Herzog called reports that Israel conducted the airstrike “21st century blood libel.” Many Western leaders called for an investigation or referred to the loss of life without condemning the perpetrators. Leaders in the Middle East were unequivocal in their condemnation of the Israeli airstrike. King Abdullah II of Jordan, PA president Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi canceled meetings with U.S. president Joe Biden scheduled for 10/18 in Amman. The UAE and Russia called a meeting of the UN Security Council on 10/18 on the attack on the hospital. U.S. Defense Department spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in response to questions about the incident that Hamas puts “their command and control units inside hospitals,” adding the U.S. does not know who the perpetrator was. Biden said he spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu and that his national security team will gather information about the incident. Large demonstrations were held in Washington D.C., Turkey, Jordan, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Morocco. (AJ, AP 10/16; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/17; AJ, AJ, AP, C4, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/18)

The PA foreign ministry accused Israel of ethnic cleansing and genocide aimed at removing all Palestinians from Gaza. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said Israel has killed at least 3,057 Palestinians since the beginning of 2023, including 2,793 in Gaza and 264 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (WAFA, WAFA 10/17)

Fatah’s military wing, al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, called on President Abbas to step down as the head of Fatah’s Martyrs and Prisoners Commission. (AJ 10/18)

Military spokesperson Hagari ruled out a ceasefire, saying Israel continues to “prepare for the next stages of war.” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the Israeli campaign would take several months. The Israeli military also said that it could not confirm that white phosphorus was used in attacks on Gaza but maintained that it would not be “unlawful” in certain situations. Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai said, “[w]hoever wants to become an Israeli citizen, welcome. Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome. I will put him on the buses heading there now.” Shabtai also said he had outlawed demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. (HA 10/17; AJ, HA, WAFA 10/18; AJ 10/19)

After the Israeli airstrike on al-Ahli Arab Hospital, President Abbas traveled back from Amman to Ramallah to hold an emergency meeting. In a speech Abbas called the airstrike a heinous crime and declared 3 days of mourning. Earlier in the day Abbas met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in Amman. Blinken later called Abbas to offer condolences on the massacre at al-Ahli Arab Hospital. PA envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour called on the UN Security Council to intervene by demanding a ceasefire. (AJ 10/16; AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/17; AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 10/18)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke with South African foreign minister Nalendi Pandor, who conveyed support for Palestine and expressed sadness for the loss of innocent life in Gaza and Israel. (AJ 10/16; REU 10/18)

The Knesset National Security Committee approved legislation allowing Israeli prisons to admit new inmates above their legal capacity, which would worsen conditions for Palestinian prisoners. Since 10/7, family visits have been suspended, public phones have been blocked, and all electrical devices have been cut off from power. The Hadassah University Hospital refused to treat a Palestinian militant captured by Israel, saying it would “offend national feelings.” (HA, HA 10/17)

The U.S. announced that President Biden will visit Israel on 10/18. The New York Times reported that Biden’s visit will postpone Israel’s planned ground operation in Gaza by at least 24 hours. The Times also reported that Israel has asked the U.S. for $10 billion in emergency aid. Secretary of State Blinken said the announcement was made after Prime Minister Netanyahu committed to allowing aid to enter Gaza and to establishing safe zones at an 8-hour long meeting of the Israeli war cabinet that Blinken attended. New York governor Kathy Hochul said she will visit Israel. Biden also said he will visit Jordan. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said he would push through an emergency aid package to Israel “as quickly as possible.” 6 Republican senators introduced legislation to end all U.S. funding for UNRWA. All senators except Rand Paul (I-KY) sponsored a resolution in support of Israel’s war against Hamas. (AJ, HA 10/16; AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU 10/17; HA 10/18)

King Abdullah II said Jordan and Egypt would not take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza, calling it a red line. Abdullah II also met with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. Scholz warned Hezbollah and Iran to stay out of the Hamas-Israel war. Scholz later traveled to Israel where he met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, invoking the German genocide of the Jewish people as a reason for Germany to “ensure Israel’s existence and security.” Lebanese foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Israel was “pouring oil on fire” at the Lebanese border. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said Egypt will host a summit on the situation in Gaza on 10/21. (AJ 10/16; HA, REU, REU, REU 10/17; AP, HA 10/18)

Iranian sources told Al Jazeera that the U.S. had sent the Iranian UN representative a message warning Iran of war if it enters the conflict. (HA 10/17)

U.S. Central Command commander Michael Kurilla arrived in Israel for meetings with Israeli military leaders. The U.S. also sent 2,000 Marines to the Middle East. (AJ, HA, HA, HA 10/16; HA, REU 10/17; AP 10/18)

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict during a meeting in Beijing. (AJ, AJ, HA 10/17)

159 U.S. citizens were evacuated from Israel headed for Cyprus on a cruise ship. Nearly 1,000 U.S. citizens have left Israel on State Department-charted planes to Europe since 10/13. (AJ, HA, HA 10/16; HA 10/17)

Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa said Japan will donate $10 million in emergency aid to Gaza. Spain said it would donate $1 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Netherlands pledged $10 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza. (AJ 10/16; HA, REU, REU, REU 10/17)

The EU held a video conference for the leaders of its 27 members to discuss the situation in Gaza and find a unified stance after EU member states had expressed dissatisfaction with the EU leadership’s pro-Israel statements, including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s failure to call on Israel to abide by international law during her visit on 10/17. Irish president Michael D Higgins called von der Leyen’s comments about Israel’s attacks “thoughtless and even reckless,” questioning where she gets the authority to speak on behalf of the EU on the issue. After the meeting, the EU leadership agreed to condemn Hamas’ operation in Israel on 10/7, expressed solidarity with the people of Israel, said Israel has a right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law, and called on Hamas to release all captives. (AJ 10/15; AJ 10/16; AJ, EU, HA, REU 10/17)

Germany’s Mainz 05 soccer club suspended Dutch Egyptian player Anwar El Ghazi for a pro-Palestinian social media post. (AJ 10/17)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler was filmed shooting a Palestinian man point-blank in the stomach, critically injuring him during a settler raid in al-Twana. Israeli settlers also shot and injured 3 Palestinians with live ammunition in Nablus, Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized 2 agricultural structures and uprooted fruit trees in Masafer Yatta, damaged vehicles near Nahalin, and homes in Silat ad-Dhahr. Israeli forces shot and killed 15 Palestinians, including 3 minors, during raids in Tulkarm, Beit Furik, Beit Ula, al-Ram, Atuf, Biddu, Bayt Liqya, and Hebron. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Halhul, Dheisheh refugee camp, Qalandia, Huwwara, Budrus, al-Khader, Bethlehem, al-Twana, Jenin, Hebron, and Qalqilya, injuring 53 with live ammunition and baton rounds. An Israeli soldier was killed in friendly fire in Nablus. 36 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Fawwar refugee camp, Qalqilya, Dheisheh refugee camp, Beit Umar, and Halhul. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians children in Isawiya. Israel also refused Palestinians under the age of 35 entry to the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 70 Palestinians following Israeli evacuation orders were killed and more than 200 wounded in an airstrike on a road. Around 300 others were also killed and more than 1,100 were injured in Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza. Israeli forces also made incursions into Gaza, retrieving the bodies of several Israelis. Rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza; no deaths were reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdullah and injured 6 others in a missile strike. Al Jazeera said Israel targeted the group of journalists intentionally. (AP 10/7; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, 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, WAFA 10/13; AJ, HA, HA, REU 10/14; AP, REU, REU 10/15)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said that as of 2 p.m. at least 1,799 Palestinians had been killed and 7,388 had been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. Hamas said 13 of the captives from Israel, including foreign nationals, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours. Israel said it hit 750 targets overnight and destroyed 12 high-rise buildings within a minute. 51 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 11 children. More than 700 have been injured. Israeli officials said 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 3,436 injured since 10/7. The UN reported that 423,378 Palestinians 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. At least 9,283 housing units have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 10/13)

The Israeli military told around 1.1 million Palestinians in the northern part of Gaza, including Gaza City, that they should flee south within the next 24 hours. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that would have “devastating humanitarian consequences” and strongly appealed to Israel to rescind the order. Many countries also called on Israel to reverse its order. The WHO called relocating severely ill people a “death sentence.” UNRWA offered its staff and their families shelter at an UNRWA compound in southern Gaza but said it did not have plans to evacuate Palestinians sheltering in UNRWA schools throughout Gaza as it does not have any capacity in the south and has no means of transporting the many thousands of people. Hamas’ refugee affairs authority called on Palestinians to remain in their homes, calling the Israeli evacuation order “disgusting phycological war.” Egypt moved thousands of troops to its Gaza border to prevent Palestinians fleeing Israeli attacks from breaching the border fence. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; AJ, AJ, AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; WAFA, WAFA 10/15)

Adalah, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, ACRI, and HaMoked sent letters to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara, and Israel Prison Service head Katy Perry demanding that water and electricity be restored in the security wings of Israeli prisons that hold Palestinians. The Commission for the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs said on 10/12 that Israel had started collectively punishing prisoners in the Naqab prison on 10/11. (Adalah, WAFA 10/14)

The UN appealed for $294 million in aid to help around 1.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. (REU 10/13)

A Turkish cargo plane with humanitarian aid arrived in Egypt for transfer to Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog blamed Palestinian civilians in Gaza for the Hamas operation, saying “[i]t is not true this rhetoric about civilians [being] not aware, responsible for the attack . . . They could have risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup d’état.” (FT 10/13)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said Israel received a second plane carrying U.S. ammunition. (AJ 10/13)

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Baghdad and Tehran against the Israeli attacks in Gaza. Jordanians marched toward the border with the West Bank in protest against the Israeli attacks. Jordanian police violently dispersed protesters at the border. Large protests were also held in Yemen, Pakistan, and elsewhere. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, WAFA 10/13)

After meeting Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati and Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel that if it does not stop its attacks on Gaza the war could spread to other parts of the Middle East. (AP, REU, REU 10/13)

U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin III arrived in Israel to meet with Israeli leaders. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan for meetings with Jordanian king Abdullah II and PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas told Blinken that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and called for the opening of humanitarian corridors and for aid to enter Gaza. Blinken offered condolences for the Palestinian victims of the Israel-Hamas war. Abbas also spoke with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. 55 members of Congress wrote a letter to U.S. president Joe Biden, urging him to pressure Israel to protect civilians in Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13)

Russia introduced a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. President Vladimir Putin compared the siege of Gaza to the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II. (HA 10/13)

Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had frozen normalization talks with Israel and the U.S. due to the attacks on Gaza. (HA, HA 10/13; AJ 10/14)

The New York Times and NBC News reported that they had obtained documents that allegedly show how Hamas instructed militants to target schools and seize captives during its 10/7 operation. Israeli schools were closed on 10/7 as it was a Saturday. The documents were allegedly found on the bodies of militants killed by Israel and were labeled “top secret” in Arabic. Other media outlets questioned whether the documents were fabricated. (HA 10/13; HA 10/14)

The Huffington Post reported that the U.S. State Department was telling its diplomats not to use the terms “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed,” and “restoring calm,” when referring to Israel and Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

New South Wales police force said it has sought legal advice on if it can use special stop-and-search powers for the first time since 2005 to demand the identities of pro-Palestinian protesters attending an unauthorized demonstration in Sydney, Australia on 10/15. (REU 10/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued their attacks on Jenin refugee camp, killing 4 Palestinians, bringing the death toll to 12, including 5 children. 143 Palestinians were injured during the 48-hour assault on the camp. 1 Israeli soldier was killed by friendly fire. Israeli forces also raided 3 hospitals in Jenin, including the Khalil Suleiman Government Hospital, injuring 3 with live ammunition and causing tear-gas related injuries. The deputy governor of Jenin said that 80% of homes in Jenin were damaged in the Israeli attack. About 4,000 Palestinians were displaced during the attack. UNRWA reported damage to 4 of its schools and 1 of its health clinics in the camp. The Latin Church said that its Holy Redeemer Church in Jenin was severely damaged. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Dan, injuring Palestinians with live ammunition and baton rounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Bireh, injuring 2 with live ammunition. Israeli forces also issued stop-work orders for 1 agricultural structure and 1 house and a demolition order for 1 agricultural structure in al-Karmil near Yatta. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles near Jericho, causing damage. Israeli settlers also raided Deir Dibwan, shooting and injuring 1 Palestinian and throwing stones at vehicles. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Halhul, Jalazun refugee camp, Husan, Tubas, Nablus, and Qalqilya. In Gaza, Israeli forces shot and injured 4 Palestinians protesting Israel’s attack on Jenin at the Gaza fence west of Gaza City. In Tel Aviv, 1 Palestinian was shot and killed after he rammed a car into several Israelis before stabbing others, injuring 8. Israeli forces subsequently raided the family home of the Palestinian man killed in Tel Aviv in as-Samou taking measurements for a punitive demolition. (ALM 7/2; MEE 7/3; AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, GDN, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 7/4; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, NYT, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 7/5; AJ, AJ, HA, PCHR, UNOCHA, WAFA 7/6; HA, CNN 7/7; UNOCHA 7/8; WAFA 7/10; BBC, UNOCHA 7/11; CBS 7/12; UNOCHA 7/13; UNOCHA 7/26)

Palestinians observed a general strike in protest over the Israeli assault on Jenin. (WAFA 7/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers destroyed a memorial for 1 Palestinian rights activist who was killed by Israeli forces on 1/5 in Umm al-Khair. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer in Kisan. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 3 by live ammunition and 2 with baton rounds during a raid in Halhul. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Nablus. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians with live ammunition during a raid in Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also raided Jayyus, injuring 1 Palestinian with live ammunition and confiscating 1 bulldozer. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolished an apartment building under construction in Beit Jala. Israeli forces also delivered a punitive demolition notice and took measurements for a separate punitive demolition in Rumana. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Baytin, al-Mazra‘a ash-Sharqiya, Tell, Tammun, Nur Shams refugee camp, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, 9 Palestinians were arrested, and 1 Palestinian was assaulted before being taken to a hospital for treatment during a late-night raid in Isawiya and the Old City. (AJ, AN, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/9; AA, PCHR 6/10; PCHR 6/16; UNOCHA 6/17)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett met with UAE president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Israeli media speculated if the meeting was part of Israeli and U.S. preparations to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, NYT, REU 6/9; HA 6/10)

Israel announced that Israeli citizens will be able to travel to the Qatar 2022 soccer World Cup, despite Israel and Qatar not having formal relations. Foreign minister Yair Lapid said the development “opens a new door for us to warm ties [with Qatar].” Israel is not qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. (MEE, REU 6/9)

The U.S. state department announced that the Palestinian Affairs Unit at the Israeli embassy will change its name to U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs and start reporting directly to the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau in the State Department “on substantive matters” instead of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. The diplomatic representative to the PA was also changed from U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides to Hady Amr, who was promoted to the state department envoy to Palestinians. The PA has demanded that the Biden administration uphold president Joe Biden’s promises made during his presidential campaign, including to reopen the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. (AJ, AP, AX, GDN, HA, MEE, REU 6/9; JP 6/12)

A bipartisan group of members of the U.S. house and senate introduced legislation that would require the defense department to submit a strategy for an integrated air and missile defense system for Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman within 180 days. The bill, “the Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses Act of 2022,” was described as an effort to bolster Israeli ties with countries in the Middle East. The senate version of the bill was introduced by Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and James Lankford (R-OK), while the house version was introduced by Brad Schneider (D-IL), David Trone (D-MD), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), and Don Bacon (R-NE). (HA 6/9)

The director general of the international atomic energy agency (IAEA) Rafael Grosso warned that Iran is in the process of removing 27 surveillance cameras from the country’s nuclear sites. The Iranian move comes as the progress in talks for the U.S. to renter the Iran nuclear deal has stalled, and Israel has intensified its assassinations of Iranian military personnel and scientists. Director General Grosso said that Iran would leave some 40 surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities. The announcement came 1 day after 30 members of the IAEA board released a joint statement urging Iran to cooperate with the agency. (AJ, HA, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU 6/8; AJ, AP 6/9; AP 6/10)

A study by the organization AirPressure.info found that Israel has violated Lebanese air space 22,000 times in the past 15 years. (GDN, MEE 6/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from working their land in al-Diyouk al-Tahta and Khirbet Humsa, confiscating 1 tractor in Khirbet Humsa and demolishing 1 fence and 1 storage room in al-Diyouk al-Tahta. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 3 poultry sheds in Ya‘bad. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beitunia, al-Bireh, Jenin, Halhul, Tulkarm refugee camp, Qalqilya, and Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed the funeral procession for 1 Palestinian man who, on 5/14, succumbed to injuries sustained by Israeli forces at the Haram al-Sharif compound on 4/22; 1 Palestinian man was resuscitated after being shot by Israeli forces using a baton round, some 70 were injured, including 13 that were taken to hospitals, and 20 were arrested. 11 journalists were prevented from covering the event. Israel said 6 police officers were lightly injured by stone throwing. Israeli forces also arrested 1 of the pallbearers who was attacked by Israeli police during the funeral procession for Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/13. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction and 3 agricultural structures in Isawiya. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/16; MDW, WAFA 5/17; AJ, MEE, WAFA 5/18; AJ, REU 5/18; PCHR 5/19; UNOCHA 6/4)

U.S. congressperson Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced a resolution to the U.S. House to recognize the Nakba. The resolution was co-sponsored by Betty McCollum (D-MN), Marie Newman (D-IL), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Cori Bush (D-MO). (AJ 5/16; MDW, MEMO, WAFA 5/17; AJ, JP 5/18; TOI 5/19)

The Intercept reported that 2 U.S. congresspeople André Carson (D-IN) and Lou Correa (D-CA) were circulating a letter demanding that the FBI investigate the 5/11 killing of Abu Akleh, who was an American citizen, in the West Bank. By 5/19, the letter had received 57 signatures from members of the U.S. House. (INT 5/16; AJ 5/19; HA, MEE, WAFA 5/20; MDW 5/26)

The EU announced a donation of $26 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. (WAFA 5/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians and wounded 6 others during a raid in Kafr Dan. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian using live ammunition during a raid in Nabi Salih. Israeli forces also raided the Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm, injuring 1 Palestinian with live ammunition and 1 with a baton round to his face. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians during a raid in Budrus, injuring 1 with live ammunition and arresting 7. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Abwein, injuring 1 minor with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Separately, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Bireh, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians during a funeral procession in Beita, causing 35 injuries from tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces blocked the entrances to al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also delivered notices that it will seize 264.4 dunams (65 acres) of land in Humsa al-Tahta and Furush Bayt Dajan for military purposes. 33 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Nur Shams refugee camp, Kafr Dan, al-Yamun, Tell, Balata, al-Bireh, al-Khader, Beit Umar, Halhul, al-Arroub refugee camp, and Hebron. Palestinians in the Ramallah and Bethlehem districts held a general strike in protest against the killing of several Palestinians by Israeli forces in the past 24 hours. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City and al-Tur. (ABC, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/14; WAFA, WAFA 4/15; PCHR 4/21; UNOCHA 4/23)

The Israeli military announced a curfew for Palestinians in the West Bank between 4 P.M. on 4/15 and 4/17 for the Jewish holiday of Passover. Crossings between Gaza and Israel will close during this period. Israel also announced that the restrictions on Jenin will end with the curfew on 4/17. The wide-ranging punitive restrictions in Jenin were instituted on 4/9. (HA 4/14; HA 4/15)

Haaretz reported that the Israel education ministry is requiring outside administrators of educational programs declare that their presentations do not portray the Israel Independence Day as the Nakba or challenge the notion of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. According to the Haaretz reporting, Adalah filed a challenge to the requirement in an Israeli court on 4/13. (HA 4/14)

Israel said it had successfully tested a laser-based missile defense system. The “Light Shield” is intended to be fully operational years from now, but will be placed near Gaza by the end of 2022 for further testing. (AP, HA 4/14; ALM 4/15)

In Syria, Israeli forces conducted air strikes on several targets near Damascus, causing damage. (AJ, AP, HA 4/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces uprooted 50 olive trees in Wadi Fukin. Israeli forces also demolished 9 residential and 14 agricultural structures in Ibziq. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished a house under construction in Qalqas. Israeli force shot and injured 6 Palestinians using live ammunition during a late-night raid in Tubas. 13 Palestinians were arrested during raids in al-Am‘ari refugee camp, Beit Umar, Halhul, Yatta, Jenin, Ya‘bad, and Kaft Laqif; 1 Palestinian was injured by Israeli live ammunition during a protest against the raid in al-Am‘ari refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces physically assaulted 2 Palestinians in Isawiya and Jabel Mukaber. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza City; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/28; MEE, WAFA 12/29; PCHR 12/30)

The Jordanian Detainees Committee in Saudi Arabia said that a Saudi court had reduced the sentence of former Hamas official Mohammad al-Khodari from 15 years to 3 years in prison. Al-Khodari was 1 of some 60 Jordanian and Palestinian nationals to receive sentences by Saudi Arabia earlier this year for an affiliation with Hamas or other resistance groups. (MEMO 12/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz at Gantz’s residence in Rosh Ha’ayin. The 2.5-hour-long meeting was attended by Israel’s coordinator of government activities in the territories Rassan Aliyan, PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh, and head of PA security service Majed Faraj. Civil Affairs Minister al-Sheikh said the 2 sides spoke of a political horizon while Defense Minister Gantz tweeted that the meeting was about economic and civic measures and security coordination. An Israeli statement said Israel had agreed to register 6,000 Palestinians living in the West Bank and 3,500 living in Gaza, give the PA a $32-million advance on its tax income, and grant more business permits and VIP passes for the PA. Israeli and Palestinian officials said that President Abbas demanded more action against settler violence and the revocation of terror designations for 6 Palestinian rights organizations. It was President Abbas’s 1st meeting with an Israeli official in Israel since 2010. A Hamas spokesperson condemned Abbas’s visit, saying he was accommodating the occupation and “deepening Palestinian political divisions.” Islamic Jihad and the PFLP also condemned the meeting. (AP, HA, JP, TOI 12/28; ABC, AJ, ALM, AP, AX, F24, HILL, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 12/29; ALM, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO 12/30; ALM, MEMO 12/31; TOI 1/1; TOI 1/2)

Israeli justice minister Gideon Sa‘ar said he wanted the Homesh settlement outpost legalized in response to the killing of 1 Israeli settler on 12/16. (HA 12/28)

In Syria, Israel conducted air strikes in Latakia, causing damage at the city’s port. Israeli sources claimed that Israeli missiles had hit Iranian munitions stored in containers. A Russian official said 4 missiles were fired from 2 Israeli F-16s, causing minor material damage. The Russian official also said that the Syrian air defense system was deactivated because a Russian plane was landing nearby. (AJ, AP, AP, GDN, HA, HA, NWK, REU 12/28; MEMO 12/29; AP, HA 12/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers near Huwwara, injuring 2 with iron rods and stones and killing 1 sheep and injuring 3 others. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during a rally on the 17th anniversary of the death of Yasir Arafat in Ramallah; 14 were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians throwing stones at checkpoints near Halhul, al-Bireh, and Abu al-Rish, injuring several with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 car parts store in Hebron. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jenin, ‘Urif, Dura, Idhna, and Halhul. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/11; PCHR 11/18)

1 Palestinian prisoner held on administrative detention ended his 113-day-long hunger strike after Israel agreed not to extend his detention beyond February. (AP, MEE, REU 11/11; WAFA 11/13)

The lawyer of 1 Palestinian prisoner complained that his client was convicted of a crime that he allegedly committed outside of prison while being in Israeli custody. The man is convicted of throwing rocks at Israeli forces in June of 2019 in Jalazun refugee camp. He was in prison at that time. (HA 11/11)

The PA foreign ministry said that NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was detected on phones belonging to 3 Palestinian officials working on preparing material for the ICC in the case against Israel. The foreign ministry did not name the organization that had detected the spyware, but said it was a professional Palestinian institution. NSO Group also sent a letter to Israel’s government urging it to lobby on NSO’s behalf to remove U.S. sanctions against the company. (NYT 11/8; AP, HA, HA, NYT, TOI 11/11; HA 11/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Harmala, 1 house in Bayt Ta‘mar, and 3 agricultural structures in Duma. 4 Palestinian children were arrested during late-night raids in Bethlehem. 11 others were arrested, including 9 during raids in and around Bayt Rima, Kobar, Jenin, Jaba‘, Bethlehem, Bayt Jala, Halhul, and Dura, and 2 were arrested at checkpoints in Bethlehem and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Muslim Girls Secondary School in Wadi al-Juz and arrested 2 employees, including the principal of the school. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters east of Rafah, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet and others with tear gas. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/1; MEE, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 9/2)

Israel said it would expand the Gaza fishing zone to 15 nautical miles at its largest, increase the number of merchant permits for Palestinians in Gaza from 5,000 to 7,000, and provide 175 million cubic feet of fresh water. (HA 8/31; ALM, ALM, AP, MEE, MEMO 9/1)

1 Palestinian prisoner in administrative detention ended his 33-day hunger strike after the Israeli prison service promised not to extend his detention beyond 2/14/2022. (WAFA 9/1)

Israel’s foreign minister Yair Lapid said that reopening the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem is a “bad idea,” saying it would weaken the Israeli government coalition and send the “wrong message.” Israeli and U.S. government sources have told Haaretz that the U.S. is moving slowly on reopening the consulate because of the potential ramifications it could have on Israel’s government coalition. Foreign Minister Lapid also criticized the way the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. The spokesperson of Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett also denied reports that Bennett and PA president Mahmoud Abbas would meet. (AJ, ALM, GDN, HA, HA, MEE, REU 9/1; MEMO 9/2; ALM 9/7)

Haaretz reported that Israel’s public security minister Omer Bar-Lev had ordered the Israeli police to stop its policy of confiscating Palestinian flags during protests except in exceptional circumstances. (HA 9/1)

The U.S. Central Command announced that it had taken over the responsibilities of Israel from the U.S. European Command. The move, welcomed by Israel, was seen as an effort to strengthen the normalization deals between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain as it allows for easier coordination of military exercises arranged by the U.S. (JINSA 9/2; Defense News, Defense News 9/7)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian teen shot by Israeli forces during an anti-settlement protest on 6/16 in Beita succumbed to his injuries. Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Halhul and displaced 8 Palestinians, demolished 1 car wash in Jinsafut, delivered demolition orders for 8 structures in Jawaya, and demolished 1 agricultural structure in Wadi Muhaisen. Israeli forces also shot and injured 4 Palestinians during a late-night raid in Jenin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces continued blocking the main road to ‘Azun for the 2d day in a row. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jalazun refugee camp, Yatta, Tarqumiyya, and Kafr Dan. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted air strikes in Khan Yunis and Gaza City, causing damage; no injuries were reported. Israel said the air strikes were in response to incendiary balloons sent toward Israel, which were said to have ignited 8 fires. In Israel, a Palestinian Israeli journalist had large parts of his home blown up by a bomb planted in his house in Taibeh, causing severe damage but no injuries. This happened 2 weeks after his house was shot at by unknown assailants on 6/3. (ABC, AJ, AP, CNN, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/17; HA, MEMO, WAFA 6/18; WAFA 6/21; PCHR 6/24)

The Palestinian Health Work Committees reopened its office in al-Bireh despite an Israeli order to close the office for 6 months after a raid on 6/9. The PA health minister Mai al-Kaila attended the reopening ceremony. (WAFA 6/17; WAFA 6/19)

The new Israeli health minister Nitzan Horowitz of Meretz (Vigor) decided to loan the PA 1.2 million nearly expired doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in exchange for a shipment of Pfizer vaccines set to arrive to the PA in 2022. (AP, HA, REU, WAFA 6/18)

An Israeli court ordered a Palestinian woman be released into house arrest and criticized Israeli police for trying to force her to confess that she intended to hit an Israeli soldier with her car at a checkpoint in East Jerusalem on 6/15. (HA 6/20)

Israel arrested a Palestinian Israeli imam of Lydda’s largest mosque, Shaykh Yousef al-Baz, saying he had incited violence by sharing a clip from a movie showing people killing a police officer on Facebook. (HA 6/17; MEMO 6/18)

The Israeli justice ministry indicted 1 Israeli border police officer for reckless homicide in relation to the shooting of Eyad al-Hallaq, a Palestinian man with special needs, in the Old City of East Jerusalem on 5/30/2020. The indictment stated that the Israeli soldier executed al-Hallaq while he was lying on the ground, wounded and incapacitated. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU 6/17)

Israel shelled a location near the village of al-Qahtaniah in Quneitra, Syria. (TOI 6/17)

Haaretz reported that former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered official documents shredded on the last day in office. (HA 6/17; HA 6/21)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken and foreign minister Yair Lapid spoke for the 2d time since the formation of the new Israeli government on 6/13. (REU 6/17; JP, HA 6/18)

In Lebanon, a general strike was held in protest over the Lebanese politicians’ inability to form a government. (AP 6/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian herders near Susiya. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices against 4 residential structures, 1 water tank, and 2 sheds near Nablus, 3 houses in al-Khadir, and 1 agricultural structure in Halhul. 19 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bayt Umar, Hebron, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Dayr Nidham, Jenin, Tubas, and al-Khadir; during the raid in Bayt Umar, Israeli forces also confiscated 1 vehicle and during a late-night raid in Ramallah, clashes erupted, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian from the West Bank was arrested in al-Tur for not having an East Jerusalem ID. In Israel, 1 Palestinian from the West Bank was arrested at his workplace. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/11; PCHR 2/18)

PA civil affairs commission chairman Hussein al-Sheikh met with Marwan Barghouti in the Hadarim prison in Israel to discuss whether Barghouti will be running in the upcoming Palestinian elections. Barghouti is serving 5 life sentences and 40 years in Israeli prison. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission said that 2.4 million Palestinians, around 85 percent of eligible votes, have registered to vote in the West Bank and Gaza. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 2/11)

Israel’s Walla news reported that the Jewish National Fund (JNF) is expected to announce that it will start buying land in the West Bank to expand Israeli settlements. It is already operating in the West Bank but using a subsidiary. According to the proposal, which will be discussed at the JNF’s highest level on 2/14, the JNF will focus on expanding settlements around East Jerusalem such as the Gush Etzion settlement bloc between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Spokesperson of the U.S. state department Ned Price responded to questions about the plan by saying that neither party should engage in unilateral steps to undercut negotiations for a 2-state solution. (AX, HA 2/11)

Israeli soccer club Beitar Jerusalem, notorious for its racist fans, announced that it will no longer move forward with selling half of the ownership of the club to UAE royal Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. Al Nahyan had started acquiring ownership of the club shortly after the UAE-Israeli-U.S. normalization deal in August. According to the club, the Israeli football association had been questioning Al Nahyan’s integrity and actual financial assets. (HA 2/11; AJ 2/12)

Israeli forces were said to have attacked 2 locations in Syria, including in the Quneitra province and near the border of Syria and Iraq. There were no reports of damage or casualties. (HA 2/12)

Oman’s foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi said his country is “content so far with the level of our current relations and dialogue” with Israel. (HA 2/11)

China donated protective equipment for health workers in UNRWA medical facilities that deal with COVID-19 patients in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. UNRWA also said it needed $1.5 billion in contributions for its 2021 budget. (WAFA, WAFA 2/11)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian teen was severely injured by an unexploded ordinance left behind by Israeli forces in the Masafer Yatta area near Yatta. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in the Masafer Yatta area; 1 Palestinian was run over by an Israeli military vehicle and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 Palestinians who were hit by tear gas canisters. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan and Dayr Jarir, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians in Kafr Malik; 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by a rubber-coated bullet and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in Bayt Umar and east of al-Bireh, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also confiscated a Palestinian-owned tractor in Sinjil and a tractor and bulldozer in Bayt Dajan. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Jenin refugee camp, Halhul, and Dayr Jarir; clashes broke out during the raids in Jenin refugee camp, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assaulted Palestinian minors and their older relatives, claiming that the minors had thrown stones at them in the Old City. 1 Palestinian family demolished part of their house in Ras al-Amud to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Juhur al-Dik and al-Bureij refugee camp; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian who had entered Israel through the Gaza fence. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/8; PCHR 1/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort threw stones at Palestinians protesting settlement expansion west of Salfit; Israeli forces also beat several Palestinian protesters. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 3 Palestinian-owned homes in Ya‘bad and demolished 1 house in al-Khadir; 1 house under construction and 1 well near Halhul; and 2 shacks in Qalqilya. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Izzariya, Anata, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying exorbitant Israeli demolition fees; 6 people were displaced. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level agricultural lands east of al-Bureij. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinians near the Erez crossing; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/30; WAFA 12/1; PCHR 12/3)

PA and Israeli officials met to discuss the details of transferring the $756 million to the PA in taxes owed. (WAFA 11/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. According to WAFA, President al-Sisi confirmed Egypt’s support of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. (WAFA 11/30; WAFA 12/1)

A court in Israel rejected a lawsuit brought by 1 Palestinian-Israeli on behalf of his nephew and niece who have to travel outside the city of Carmiel to go to school as there are no Arabic-speaking schools in their city. The suit asked for the city to pay their expenses for traveling to the Arabic-speaking school, but the Israeli court dismissed the suit, citing the Jewish Nation-State Law saying the city’s Jewish character had to be preserved. The judge wrote in his ruling, “Carmiel, a Jewish city, was meant to establish Jewish settlement in the Galilee . . . Establishing an Arabic-language school . . . [and] funding school rides for Arab students . . . could change the demographic balance and damage the city’s character.” (Adalah, HA, HA 11/30)

Saudi Arabia allowed Israeli airlines to fly over their airspace for commercial flights 1 day before the 1st commercial flight between Israel and the UAE was set to happen. The flight was said to be at risk of being canceled; however, according to a U.S. official, U.S. special advisor to the president Jared Kushner and Saudi officials were able to “reconcile the issue.” Special Advisor Kushner is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar this week. (AJ, HA 11/30; MEE 12/1)

The EU donated $11.15 million to the PA to help pay for medical transfers to East Jerusalem hospitals. (WAFA 11/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 car wash in Anata. Israeli forces also razed Palestinian-owned land near Hebron. 13 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ya‘bad, Jenin, Nablus, Beitunia, Halhul, and Dura. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during raids in Issawiyya; clashes erupted during the raids. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level farmland east of Dayr al-Balah. Israeli forces also opened fire at agricultural lands east of Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/10; PCHR 11/12)

The secretary-general of the PLO Saeb Erakat succumbed to the COVID-19 virus after battling the infection since 10/8. Secretary-General Erakat was moved to a hospital in West Jerusalem on 10/18 and reported to be in critical condition on 10/19. PA president Mahmoud Abbas declared a 3-day mourning period. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, LAT, MEE, NBC, NPR, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 11/10)

1 Palestinian prisoner, 46 years old and suffering from throat cancer, died at an Israeli hospital. According to the Palestinian Human Rights Centre, medical neglect and a COVID-19 illness contributed to his early death. (PCHR 11/12; PCHR 11/11)

The Israeli Knesset approved the Bahrain normalization deal 62-14. All 14 nay votes were cast by members of the Joint Arab List. (HA 11/10)

Israeli claimed to have shot down a drone belonging to Hezbollah over Israeli airspace. (HA 11/10)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced that he had authorized the sale of 50 F-35 fighter jets, 18 Reaper drones, and air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions to the UAE, citing the normalization deal the country made with Israel. (AP, HA 11/10; DT 11/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers in the Yitzhar settlement erected a sign saying, “[e]ntry for Arabs is dangerous.” Israeli settlers also stole olive harvests in Burin. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Burqa, injuring 5 with rocks and damaging vehicles. Palestinians accessing their land on the other side of the separation barrier from where they live found some 60 olive trees were vandalized and olive crops were stolen. Israeli forces blocked off several roads to villages in the Jenin area, preventing Palestinians from harvesting their olive crops. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Halhul, Kafr Qaddum, Nablus, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/12; PCHR 10/15)

Israel approved construction of 500 new settlement housing units in the Tzur Hadasah settlement near Bethlehem. (MEMO, WAFA 10/12)

B’Tselem said that a Palestinian man who has been hunger striking to protest his administrative detention for nearly 80 days is “on the verge of death.” (AJ 10/12)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh asked members of the EU parliament, during an online debate, to recognize the state of Palestine and to be more active in a future peace process. (WAFA 10/13)

The Israeli cabinet approved Israel’s normalization deal with the UAE; the Knesset is set to vote on the deal on 10/15. (HA, HA, REU 10/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds in Aqraba. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Za’atra, causing damage. In Sabastiyya, Palestinian students visiting an archeological site were briefly detained by Israeli forces. Israeli forces also seized a Palestinian-owned vehicle during a house raid near Bethlehem. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Halhul. 2 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire in 2 separate incidents near Jenin and Tulkarm. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11; PCHR 12/12)

A Palestinian power distribution company said that Israeli- forced power cuts will start on 12/15 with Ramallah cutting power for 3 hours daily and on 12/17 with Bethlehem cutting power 3 hours daily. (WAFA 12/11)

In Israel, the Knesset was dissolved by its members as Israeli citizens are set to vote in a 3d general election in under 1 year on 2 March 2020. Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Benny Gantz were able to secure a majority government since the last Israeli elections on 17 September. Netanyahu’s Likud party also agreed to hold primaries on 26 December. Netanyahu’s main rival in the Likud party is Gideon Sa’ar, who previously served as Israel’s minister of education and minister of internal affairs. (HA, HA 12/11; HA, JP 12/12)

U.S. president Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Combatting Anti-Semitism” at a White House Hanukkah party. The order, which folds anti-Semitism under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is officially aimed at combatting anti-Semitism in the U.S. education system. However, the order explicitly mentions the highly controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of anti-Semitism which conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. Many thus fear that the new executive order is intended to stifle criticism of Israel rather than protecting Jewish people against anti-Semitism. President Trump said during the signing ceremony that, “I will always celebrate and honor the Jewish people, and I will always stand with our treasured friend and ally, the State of Israel.” (NYT 12/10; CNN, HA, JP, NYT, WhiteHouse 12/11; HA; WAFA 12/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces entered Bardala in the Jordan Valley and shut down the village’s water pipes. Israeli settlers with military escort entered a mosque in Halhul, leading to clashes with Palestinians; several Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces raided several buildings in Ramallah, including the Addameer office, and confiscated documents and computers. The raid led to clashes with Palestinians; several Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work orders for 5 residential structures and animal barns in the Jordan Valley. Israeli forces arrested 18 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Nablus, Jenin, Salfit, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid and 1 Palestinian was handed a summons for interrogation. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/19; PCHR 9/26)

Israel returned to their families the corpses of 2 Palestinians killed in East Jerusalem and the West Bank in April and August. (WAFA 9/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 8 Palestinians, including 7 during late-night raids in and around Qalqilya, Ramallah, Halhul, and Salfit, and 1 at a flying checkpoint in Hebron; among the arrested at a late-night raid in Ramallah was 1 Palestinian instructor from Birzeit University in Ramallah. Israeli forces also conducted house raids in Zabbuba near Jenin; no arrests were reported. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles travelling on a road northeast of Ramallah, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya. 1 Palestinian demolished his store in Silwan after receiving a demolition order by Israeli authorities. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/1; PCHR 9/5)

After more than 340 Palestinians had been arrested in Issawiyya in East Jerusalem during the summer, it was reported that the Israeli police, the Jerusalem Municipality, and residents of Issawiyya had come to an agreement on limiting Israeli operations in Issawiyya. The agreement includes that residents of Issawiyya cancel a school strike on 9/2, the 1st day of the school year. (HA 9/1)

According to the Palestinian Energy Authority, Qatar will be cutting the amount of fuel it funds for Gaza by 50 percent, causing the hours of electricity available in Gaza to drop from 8 hours per day to 5 or 6. (HA 9/1)

At a visit to the Israeli settlement of Elkana, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that that he aspires to apply Israeli sovereignty to all Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s announcement comes 2 weeks before the Israeli general election. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/1)

The al-Kasom Regional Council in the Negev, which presides over a large Bedouin community, announced that 17,000 students would not start the school year as planned on 9/2 as the Israeli education ministry had not given it enough money to begin the school year as planned. (HA 9/1)

Israeli forces and Hezbollah operatives exchanged missiles near the border of Israel and Lebanon. According to Hezbollah, it fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli military vehicles. The Israeli military and Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that it had hit the Hezbollah cell that fired the anti-tank missiles with “100 shells, aerial fire and various measures.” (HA 9/1; AJ, AJ, HA 9/2; HA 9/4)

In the West Bank, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces erupted in Halhul and Hebron during protests against the Bahrain workshop scheduled to start on 6/25. Protests against the workshop were also held in Ramallah, Tulkarm, Yatta, Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem. Israeli setters slashed tires and sprayed racist graffiti on 10 Palestinian-owned vehicles and on homes in Sinjil. Israel forces arrested 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/24; WAFA 6/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked the entrance to the town of Tuqu‘ near Bethlehem and stormed the city center, leading to clashes with local residents; no injuries were reported. Israel also issued a military order to confiscate 401 dunams (99 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in al-‘Arub, Bayt Umar, and Halhul near Hebron. Israeli forces also confiscated 4 Palestinian-owned vehicles during late-night raids. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, and Salfit. Separately, a 19-year-old Palestinian woman was also arrested at the al-Zaayim checkpoint for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier. In East Jerusalem, around 87 Israeli settlers along with Israeli forces stormed Haram al-Sharif to perform prayers. Israeli forces sealed the Damascus Gate of the Old City and arrested 2 Palestinians in the vicinity. Later, demolition notices were delivered for 13 residential structures in the al-‘Izzawiya neighborhood. In Gaza, Israeli forces razed land east of Rafah and fired toward Palestinians east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 4/10; MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/11)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory after the 4/9 Israeli general elections and will serve his 5th term as prime minister. Both U.S. president Donald Trump and secretary of state Mike Pompeo congratulated Netanyahu with his victory. The PR firm behind the Likud party’s initiative to place cameras at the Palestinian-majority polling stations (see 4/9) boasted a historically low turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel in a Facebook post that also depicted 2 of its employees with Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel was less than 50 percent. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi called Netanyahu’s victory a vote to “entrench and expand apartheid.” (HA, HA, WAFA 4/10; HA 4/11)

The Palestinian activist and co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement Omar Barghouti was denied entry to the U.S. to embark on a speaking tour in several U.S. cities and to attend his daughter’s wedding. He was stopped before boarding his plane in Tel Aviv and was told that the American consulate had ordered that he could not board the plane. (NYT 4/11)

In the West Bank, unidentified assailants set fire to a cherry orchard in the Israeli settlement Kfar Etzion overnight, causing moderate damage. Israeli settlers then set fire to a Palestinian wheat field near Hebron and spray racist graffiti on the walls of a home nearby. Israeli settlers also cut down approximately 1,000 grape vines in a Palestinian agricultural area outside Halhul village near Hebron. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in Balata refugee camp near Nablus late at night, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian minors; 3 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during raids near Qalqilya, Jenin, Hebron, and Ramallah. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries (2 fishermen are arrested). (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 5/23; HA, PCHR, WAFA 5/24; PCHR 5/31)

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained during a violent clash with IDF troops in Ramallah on 5/15. (HA, WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/24)

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announces that the State of Palestine deposited an instrument of accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention on 5/17/17 (the State of Palestine is set to formally adopt the convention on 6/16/18). Meanwhile, U.S. officials say that the Trump administration is considering punitive measures against international organizations that accept Palestine as a member, including the OPCW. In a similar vein, the Times of Israel reports that the Trump administration is considering action against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington in response to the Palestinians’ 5/22 referral to the ICC. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA 5/23)

The Arab League cancels a cooperation understanding with the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry in protest of the recent move of the Guatemalan embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. (WAFA 5/23)

Palestinians fire some 7 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting a gas station in Sederot, lightly injuring 2 Israelis. An Islamic Jihad mbr. is injured when explosives he is handling detonate prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Jenin town and r.c., firing on residential areas and stonethrowing youths who confront the troops, wounding 5 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and in al-Khadir. Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur and Kiryat Arba set up a tent on a hill northeast of Halhul, later leave but vow to establish a new settlement on the site; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Jewish settlers fr. Einav nr. Tulkarm set fire to 80 d. of Palestinian olive, almond trees nearby. Nr. Ramallah, Palestinian gunmen fire on a convoy delivering gas to a Jewish settlement, wounding an Israeli security guard. Some 70 Palestinian protesters thought to be aligned with the Army of Islam throw stones, possibly fire at Fatah lawmaker Majid Abu Shamalah as he leaves an end-of-the-school-year celebration at a Rafah UNRWA school, prompting his bodyguards to open fire, killing 1 of their own and leaving 2 teachers, 2 protesters, and 2 schoolchildren (ages 9, 14) wounded; the attack on the school comes days after the Army of Islam warned the school against holding the celebration, which they condemned for involving “the mixing of adolescent boys and girls, which is forbidden in Islam.” Unidentified gunmen fire on a Fatah base in Bureij r.c., causing no injuries. A Palestinian possibly affiliated with the Army of Islam orders UNRWA employees off an agency minibus in Rafah before tossing a hand grenade inside, damaging it. (Jerusalem Post 5/6; NYT 5/7; OCHA 5/9; PCHR 5/10; AHR 5/15)

In Gaza, the IDF makes 3 air strikes destroying a Palestinian home in al-Shuka, after warning residents and neighbors to leave; later sends troops into al-Shuka, firing on residential areas, rounding up all males over age 13 for ID checks, searching homes, holding 50 Palestinians for several hrs. of interrogation, eventually arresting 3 before withdrawing. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Burkin nr. Jenin in a car with Palestinian license plates, arresting a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr.; patrols, searches businesses, conducts random ID checks in various areas of Hebron and nearby Halhul; patrols in, fires percussion grenades, tear gas, and rifles on residential areas of al-Zababda; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, nr. Jenin. Palestinian gunmen raid WAFA press agency offices in Gaza City, beating a reporter, vandalizing equipment, accusing WAFA of biased news coverage in favor of Abbas, Fatah; no group takes responsibility. Armed, masked Jewish settlers fr. Suissa severely beat a 79-yr.-old Palestinian outside Hebron. (NYT, OCHA 9/20; PCHR 9/21)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz acknowledges that Hizballah has fully abided by the cease-fire and that Israel had detected no significant resupplying of weapons and missiles fr. Iran, Syria. By this date, 4,950 new UNIFIL soldiers fr. France, Italy, Spain and 10,000 Lebanese troops have been deployed in s. Lebanon. Meanwhile, UN relief coordinator in Lebanon David Shearer says that Israel left behind at least 350,000 unexploded cluster bomblets in s. Lebanon, stating that “the outrageous fact is that nearly all of these munitions were fired in the last three to four days of the war.” (NYT, WP, WT 9/20)

Overnight, the IDF launches a major raid on Nablus, surrounding and searching houses, assassinating senior Hamas military cmdr. for the n. West Bank, Amjad Hinnawi, and arresting several other Palestinians. The IDF also partially demolishes an apartment building in alZababda nr. Jenin; imposes a curfew on parts of Hebron, conducts arrest raids and house searches, occupying 1 Palestinian home as an observation post; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Yatta (arresting local Islamic Jihad leader Mahmud al-Haddar), nr. Bethlehem. A Palestinian gunman fires on a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Halhul, causing damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar burn 30 Palestinian olive trees in Nablus. In Rafah, gunmen of a previously unknown group called the Islamic Army raids and orders closed a PA Central Election Commission (CEC) office, saying that the upcoming parliamentary elections are un-Islamic and a plot by the U.S. and Israel; CEC officials refuse to leave, PA security forces arrive, the gunmen leave. (HA 11/14; IMEMC, REU, WP 11/15; PCHR 11/17)

The IDF reoccupies Beitunia, Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c.; expands bases there and in Jenin, Qalqilya; conducts raids into Halhul, Tulkarm town and r.c.; raids Shaykh Ajlin, bulldozing Palestinian land, firing on Palestinians working the fields, killing a Palestinian boy; fires on residential areas of Birzeit. The IDF issues a limited call-up of reservists, bars Palestinian workers fr. entering Jewish settlements. In Jenin town, IDF troops evacuate and vandalize a hospital admin. building, throwing a grenade in the foyer, blowing up a safe, spraying the building with heavy machine gun fire, breaking doors, destroying $13,600 of equipment; fire on, seriously damage 2 fire trucks. The IDF reportedly has transferred more than 600 Jenin r.c. residents to Salim detention center for questioning; some 150 are released today, sent to Romani village, are told to stay there for 2-4 wks. Late this evening, a PFLP gunman, retaliating for the arrest of PFLP 2d-in-command Malluh on 6/11, attacks a home in Itamar settlement, killing 4 Jewish settlers and 1 settlement guard, wounding 2 settlers and 2 border policemen before being shot dead. A pregnant Palestinian woman is fatally hit by stray IDF gunfire in her home in Qalqilya. In Gaza, 1,500 unemployed Palestinians who have been cut off fr. their jobs in Israel since 9/00 hold a "March of Hunger," protesting Israeli closures, lack of support fr. the PA. (AFP, AP, HA, LAW, WP, WT 6/20; MA 6/20 in WNC 6/21; XIN 6/20 in WNC 6/24; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/21; PRCS press release 6/24; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

In Jerusalem, Sharon, Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav address a "Transfer Now" conference hosted by the right-wing Moledet party. (Peace Now press release 6/20; MA 6/21 in WNC 6/24)

Israel's air, land, and sea assaults continue, leaving at least 16 Palestinians dead, more than 70 injured. The IDF enters Tulkarm r.c. and Nur al-Shams r.c., meeting fierce resistance. In Tulkarm r.c., IDF fire kills 2 Palestinian ambulance workers, wounds 4 others, plus 10s of Palestinians. IDF soldiers halt an ambulance in Salem, abduct a wounded Palestinian. After a Hamas gunman sneaks into a Atzmona settlement in Gaza and opens fire, killing 5 Jewish settlers and wounding 23 before being shot dead, the IDF sends 10s of tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) into Aida, Bethlehem, Dahaysha, 2 neighboring villages, meeting little resistance; soldiers cut electricity, conduct house-to-house searches, occupy numerous homes and schools as observation and staging posts. F-16s bomb PA security offices in Bethlehem, destroying the Force 17 headquarters, a clinic. A PFLP suicide bomber detonates a device in Ariel settlement, lightly injuring 5 settlers; another Palestinian with a large bomb in a backpack is captured, disarmed in a Jerusalem cafe. A Palestinian gunman seriously wounds a Jewish settler nr. Nablus. IDF gunboats shell PA government buildings, political offices, intelligence headquarters, and a PSF compound in Gaza City, injuring 13 PSF officers and leaving only 2 of 25 buildings in the compound standing. The IDF also sends tanks into Jenin; shells PSF offices in Halhul, Hebron, Yatta; shells, destroys the PFLP headquarters in Bayt Hanun; invades the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce, confiscating files related to Palestinian land, property ownership; demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Tayasir, Jenin; fire on a Palestinian school in Hawara. Some 150 Israeli intelligence officers, border police, troops seal off the Jabal Mukabir section of East Jerusalem, where they surround the home of human rights activist Khader Shkirat, briefly take him into custody, search his home. (AP, CNN, HP, LAW, NYT, WP 3/7; AFP 3/7 in WNC 3/8, 3/11; LAW, MM, NYT, WP 3/8; MA 3/8 in WNC 3/11; LAW 3/13, 3/20; MEI 3/22)

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush orders U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni back to the region to attempt to secure an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. (AP 3/7; NYT, WP, WT 3/8; MM 3/11; AYM 3/12 in WNC 3/14; MEI 3/22)

Addressing the UNGA, Arafat welcomes Bush's 10/2 and 11/10 comments in support of a Palestinian state, reiterates the PA's desire to resume peace talks with Israel and willingness to confront "international terrorism," requests an international monitoring mechanism for the West Bank and Gaza. Powell meets separately with Arafat, Peres. (AFP, AP 11/11; MM, NYT 11/12; MM 11/14; MENA 11/18 in WNC 11/19)

A Palestinian gunman kills an Israeli security officer in the Israeli village Kefar Hess, nr. the West Bank border. A Palestinian dies in a mysterious explosion in Bethlehem. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 11/9. Jewish settler driving nr. Hebron hits, seriously injures an 82-yr.-old Palestinian man. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Hebron enter the Palestinian village of Halhul, vandalize property, fire in the air, throw stones at cars, assault residents. Jewish settlers, under IDF protection, move caravans and electrical generators to a new settlement site outside Jinin. The IDF confiscates, bulldozes 10s of dunams of land in Jabi', n. of Jerusalem, for annexation to Adam settlement. The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land along the Gaza border, nr. Bayt Hanun; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia, Khan Yunis; tightens the closure on Hebron. (HP, PMC 11/11; AFP, NYT 11/12; MM 11/13; PCHR 11/15)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Sec. of State Shultz holds separate meetings with P.M. Shamir, F.M. Peres, and Def. Min. Rabin. Palestinian leaders boycott talks with Shultz [WP 2/27]. Shamir rejects proposed international conference and exchange of land for peace [NYT 2/27]. Members of Likud and Tehiya parties demonstrate outside meeting between Shamir and Shultz [NYT 2/27]. IDF bans media from several W. Bank, Gaza Strip cities [WP 2/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Protests are reported throughout the W. Bank and Gaza Strip. In Gaza's Jabalya cmp, youth is killed accidentally by piece of concrete thrown by protesters; some sources claim youth was shot and killed at mosque in Bayt Lahiyah [FJ, LAT 2/28]. At least 20 are hospitalized after soldiers break into homes in Jabalya [H 2/28]. Officials at Gaza's Shifa Hospital reportreating 11 wounded by gunshot, about 20 injured by tear gas, beatings. In Tubas near Nablus, soldiers open fire on worshipers leaving mosque after Palestinian throws knife at officer; bystander is shot, killed. Army is investigating whether Hebron resident was killed by tear gas inhalation or gunfire. Army is also investigating death of resident of 'Arrub refugee camp near Bethlehem; hospital sources report he was shot in chest by soldiers. Army announces arrest of 4 soldiers filmed beating, breaking arms of 2 Palestinians and suspension of unit's deputy commander; the Palestinians are released [WP 2/27; LAT 2/28]. In Jenin 3,000 marching Palestinians clash with IDF troops; soldiers respond to crowd throwing stones and bottles with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, wounding 3 [LAT 2/28]. Soldiers shoot, kill 2, wound 6 during clash in Halhul [Fl 3/6]. At least 6 are wounded by gunfire in violent clash in Dahriyyah, near Hebron. Troops in military vehicles accompanied by bulldozer and helicopter clash with villagers in Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah, Dayr al-Sudan, Ibwayn, and Mazra'ah al-Nubani [Fl 3/6]. Ya'bad village, near Jenin, is ordered under curfew after Palestinian is run over, killed by military vehicle [Fl 3/6]. Curfews are imposed in Maghazi camp, Rafah's Shabura quarter, and Dayr al-Balah camp; curfews continue in Yamun village and Beach, Jalazun, and Am'ari camps [FJ 2/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Several cars are set afire in Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem [WP 2/15]. Palestinian dies of injuries resulting from army beating in Gaza City [NYT 2/16]. Seventh leaflet signed by PLO and Unified National Command for the Uprising in the Occupied Territories begins circulating in occupied territories [FJ 2/21].

Other Countries: In Washington meeting to discuss new U.S. peace proposal, Israeli envoy Ehud Olmert warns U. S. State Dept. official Charles Hill that P. M. Shamir will never accept land for peace principle [WP 2/16]. In Cypriot port of Limassol, bomb blast kills 3 PLO officials [NYT 2/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Majdal Shams, 1,600 police use tear gas to disperse stonethrowing Druze demonstrating to protest 1982 Israeli annexation of Golan Heights; about 20 are arrested [WP 2/15]. Scattered demonstrations are reported in Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jenin [WP 2/15; FJ 2/21]. Military seals off Nablus-area village of Burin following clash between villagers, settlers, and soldiers. Curfews are imposed in Halhul and Hebron [FJ 2/21].