The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Hebron. Israeli settlers also raided Mazra’a al-Gharbiya and Qusra. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces used water cannons to attack Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/26; PCHR 8/31; UNOCHA 9/11)

Fatah’s Revolutionary Council concluded 3 days of meetings for its 11th session, calling on all Palestinian factions to engage in popular resistance. (WAFA 8/26)

In the West Bank, more than 250 Israeli settlers with a military escort raided Turmus ‘Ayya, shooting and killing 1 Palestinian, injuring 12 others with live ammunition, and setting 60 vehicles, 30 homes, and dozens of trees on fire. It was unclear if the Palestinian casualty was killed by settlers or Israeli forces during the raid. Israeli settlers also raided al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, vandalizing Palestinian property. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized farmland, a junkyard, a car wash, vehicles, and a gas station in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya. Israeli settlers also raided Kafr ad-Dik, vandalizing homes and vehicles. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers vandalized 3 agricultural structures and 25 lemon and fig trees in Burqa. Israeli settlers also set fire to farmland in Husan. Israeli forces assassinated 3 Palestinians, including 1 minor, in a drone strike on a vehicle in Jalama. The Jenin Brigades said 2 of the Palestinians were members of Islamic Jihad and 1 was a member of Fatah. It was the first time since 2006 that Israel used drones to attack Palestinians in the West Bank. Israeli forces also raided ‘Urif, arresting 5 and taking measurements for punitive demolitions of 2 homes. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Kafr Malik. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tammun, Rumana, and Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished 2 apartments in al-Tur. (AJ, AJ, AX, BBC, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/21; AP, HA, NYT, PCHR, PCHR, TIME 6/22; MEE, NPR 6/23; HA 6/24; AJ 6/29; UNOCHA 7/8)

The PA said that it had recorded 310 settler attacks on Palestinians and their property since 6/20. (ALM 6/22)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel called on Israel to investigate the incident in Turmus ‘Ayya and to compensate Palestinians for damaged property. The EU also called the settler attacks “unacceptable.” (HA, TOI, WAFA 6/21; MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/22)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would immediately advance 1,000 new settlement housing units in Eli as collective punishment for the killing of 4 Israeli settlers near the settlement on 6/20. (HA, MEE, REU, TOI 6/21; PCN 6/23)

Axios reported that U.S. senior advisor for energy and infrastructure Amos Hochstein was in Saudi Arabia to continue talks on a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. It was reported that Hochstein was discussing the Saudi demand for U.S. help in creating a nuclear program in return for formally normalizing ties with Israel. (AX 6/21)

In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives near Awarta. Israeli settlers also vandalized 8 olive trees near Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinians and vandalized 1 greenhouse in Ein al-Beida. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian child in al-Mazra'a al-Gharbiyeh as Palestinians protested an Israeli settler incursion in the village; 50 Palestinians were injured by baton rounds and tear gas and Israeli forces attacked Palestinian paramedics trying to save the Palestinian child’s life. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian child in Qalqilya at the separation wall. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 13 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also shut down an entrance to Tuqu‘. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces and settlers assaulted Palestinians harvesting olives in Wadi Rababa. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/7; CNN, PCHR 10/8; AJ, MDW, NYT 10/9; PCHR 10/13; UNOCHA 10/16; HA 11/4)

Israel’s defense ministry said that Israel will pay the family of Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad, a U.S. citizen who was killed by Israeli forces during an arrest raid in Jiljilyya on 1/12, $139,000 in exchange for the family withdrawing its lawsuit against the state. The brother of As’ad told The Guardian that his family had not been contacted by the Israeli defense ministry and that they would not accept a deal that forces them to drop their lawsuit, saying they want justice. (TOI 10/7; AJ, AP, HA 10/9; MEMO 10/10; GDN 10/11; AP 10/12; MEE 10/21)

Israel announced that it will close the crossings to the West Bank and Gaza from 10/9 at 4 P.M. to 10/10 at 11.59 P.M. and again from 10/16 at 4 P.M. to 10/17 at 11.59 P.M. for the Jewish Sukkot holiday. (HA 10/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers razed a tract of Palestinian-owned farmland near al-Farisiyya. 1 Israeli settler also hit 1 Palestinian minor with his vehicle near Beita, causing fractures. Israeli forces opened fire at a vehicle it claimed had tried to ram Israeli soldiers at the Hizma checkpoint; no injuries were reported and the driver fled the scene. 4 others were arrested as additional suspects. Israeli forces also delivered a stop-work order for a house in al-Khader and a demolition notice for a residential structure in al-Arroub refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces injured 6 Palestinians, including 3 with live ammunition 1 with a baton round, and 2 by ramming them with a car in Mazra‘a al-Gharbiya. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni‘lin, al-Midya, Nur Shams refugee camp, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested in the Old City. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/20; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

In Syria, Israeli forces fired missiles at the southern part of Damascus from the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, killing 3 people and causing damage. It was also reported by Syrian media that the missiles created a fire at the Damascus international airport. (AP, HA 5/20; AJ, REU 5/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Homesh settlement outpost threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Burqa. Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from working their lands near Beit Umar. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians trying to enter Israel for work near Dahariya with tear gas and stun grenades, causing burns to 1 Palestinian. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids, including 4 near al-Bireh and 1 during a house raid in Mazra’a al-Qibliya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinians at the Damascus Gate plaza, injuring 19 with batons and baton rounds; 10 were arrested. Israel also summoned the deputy director of the Islamic Waqf department Najeh Bkeikat, issuing him a ban from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound for 6 months. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; AP, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/4; PCHR 4/5; PCHR 4/7; UNOCHA 4/10)

1 Palestinian citizen of Israel said he was detained in Qalansawe by Israeli undercover forces who beat him before leaving him in a forest after discovering they had mistaken his identity for another person. The Israeli forces also damaged the man’s car during the incident. (HA 4/5)

1 Palestinian prisoner, arrested on 24 December 2020, was sentenced to life in prison and issued a fine of $936,600. The man’s family home was punitively demolished by Israeli forces on 10 February 2021. (WAFA 4/3)

In Lebanon, 1 member of the PA National Security Forces was shot and killed in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. It was unclear who the perpetrator was. (JP 4/4)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Jordan’s king Abdullah II in a phone call. King Abdullah urged Prime Minister Bennett to avoid steps that could escalate violence during the month of Ramadan and to allow Muslim worshippers free access to the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, MEE 4/3; ALM 4/4)

Approximately 7,000 Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border fence to continue the Great March of Return. Most protesters stay about 700 meters from the border fence, comporting with the limits the main Palestinian factions reportedly agreed to on 11/1. Some Egyptian intelligence officers attend the protests near al-Bureij refugee camp to monitor the situation. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Khan Yunis; 7 Palestinians are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians and international activists at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya and 3 villages near Ramallah (al-Mazra‘a, Ni‘lin, and Bil‘in); 1 Palestinian is injured and another is arrested. They also shoot and injure a Palestinian during clashes sparked by an arrest raid in Nablus; arrest 1 more Palestinian during another raid near Nablus; and patrol near Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers throw Molotov cocktails at Palestinian vehicles in 2 locations on the road from Nablus to Jenin, causing no reported damage. (HA, HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 11/2; PCHR 11/8)

Following a divestment campaign led by Palestinian solidarity activists, a spokesperson for Leeds University tells the school’s student newspaper that the university has divested from Airbus, United Technologies, and Keyence Corporation. The holdings reportedly comprised $1.2 million. The activists called for the university to divest from HSBC as well, but the $1.7 million investment Leeds holds in HSBC reportedly remains unchanged. The spokesperson says that the investment in HSBC does not represent a “direct investment” in an “armament company,” but that the university is in ongoing talks to learn more. “This is a massive success,” says the head of the Leeds Palestine Solidarity Group. (MEMO 11/5; EI 11/6)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. They set fire to tires, throw improvised explosive devices, and chant slogans. IDF troops violently disperse them near Rafah, Khan Yunis, al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Jabaliya refugee camp; 3 Palestinians are killed and at least 126 are injured (3 critically). This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 170. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery also shell a Hamas post near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, an IDF patrol in al-Mazra‘a near Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 7 Palestinians are injured. They also patrol near Hebron and Nablus; arrest 1 Palestinian during late-night raids in Jenin; and violently disperse Palestinians at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya and Luban al-Sharqiyya near Nablus (7 Palestinians are injured). Israeli settlers harass Palestinians picking olives near Nablus, sparking minor confrontations between the harvesters and their own IDF escort; there are no reported arrests or injuries. Israeli settlers also assault and attempt to block Palestinian farmers from accessing their lands in 2 separate incidents near Salfit and 1 near Qalqilya. IDF troops intervene in each ensuing confrontation; 1 Palestinian is injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Hizma village, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; 1 Palestinian is injured. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/5; MNA 10/6; PCHR 10/11)

In a statement, UNRWA expresses “concern” about Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat’s 10/4 announcement that he plans to remove the agency from East Jerusalem. “UNRWA has continuously maintained its operations in East Jerusalem since 1967 with the cooperation and on the basis of a formal agreement with the State of Israel, which remains in force,” UNRWA’s statement reads. It’s still unclear when or how Barkat intends to implement his plan. (REU, YA 10/5)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation, as well as U.S. president Trump’s 12/6/17 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 4 villages near Ramallah (al-Mazra‘a, Nabi Salih, Ni‘lin, and Bil‘in), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Abu Dis, and along Gaza’s border near Bayt Hanun and Jabaliya refugee camp; 21 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, and patrol near Hebron and Nablus. (MNA, WAFA 3/23; PCHR 3/29)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the first of 3 planned days, allowing passage in both directions. (TOI, WAFA 3/23)

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against U.S. president Donald Trump’s 12/6/17 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as well as Israel’s settlements, the separation wall, and occupation in 2 villages near Ramallah (al-Mazra‘a and Nabi Salih), al-Bireh, Jericho, Salfit, Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, 2 villages near Nablus (Beita and Huwwara), and along Gaza’s border near Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Jabaliya refugee camp, and al-Bureij refugee camp; at least 41 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct a raid in Nablus overnight, sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents; 7 Palestinians are injured. They also assault and lightly injure 5 Palestinian minors in central Hebron. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 3 homes under construction near Bethlehem, issue arrest summons to 1 Palestinian during a raid near Hebron; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 2/16; WAFA 2/17; PCHR 2/22)

Israeli forces return the corpses of Palestinians killed in deadly confrontations with the IDF on 9/26/2017 and 2/7 to their families in Bayt Surik near Jerusalem and Halhul near Hebron, respectively. (JP, MNA, TOI 2/17)

For the 10th consecutive Friday, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at protests against U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as well as Israel’s settlements, separation wall, and occupation, in al-Mazra‘a and al-Bireh near Ramallah, 3 villages near Nablus (Beita, Dayr al-Hatab, and Madama), the Huwwara checkpoint, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City; at least 41 Palestinians are injured (1 critically). Meanwhile, Israeli border police arrest a Palestinian in central Hebron, claiming he is carrying a knife. The IDF temporarily shuts down the Huwwara checkpoint near Nablus following clashes in the area earlier in the day. IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid near Tubas, and patrol near Salfit and Hebron. In 4 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp and Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/9; PCHR 2/15)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing in both directions for the 3d and final day. (OCHA 2/15)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction material in the fmr. settlement sites, wounding 1. Hamas’s acting FM Mahmud Zahhar warns that Gazans who fire rockets at Israel violate an agreement among Palestinian factions not to initiate strikes on Israeli targets and face possible arrest. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and Jenin in the morning, making no arrests; makes a late-night raid into Mazra‘a village nr. Ramallah, patrolling streets and firing rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries; makes a late-night raid on a Palestinian apartment building in Ya‘bad village nr. Jenin, photographing it and questioning the owner; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Askar r.c. and nearby Nablus, in Hebron, and nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo settlement throw stones at Palestinians driving on the nearby Nablus– Ramallah road, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces raid and search a Palestinian home in the alBustan area of Silwan early in the morning, arresting 2 Palestinians. (al-Hayat 10/31; PCHR 11/4; OCHA 11/5)

Israel seals the West Bank and Gaza crossings through 9/30 for Sukkoth holidays. A private Israeli security guard posted outside Beit Yonatan settlement building in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem (where some 400 settlers live among 30,000 Palestinians), fatally shoots a Palestinian, sparking massive street clashes across East Jerusalem between stone-throwing Palestinian youths and Israeli security forces who fire tear gas, stun grenades, and water cannons. The security guard, who is questioned and released by Israeli police, says he opened fire with his automatic weapon because he felt he was in mortal danger when local Palestinians blocked and stoned his car while he was patrolling around the building. Meanwhile, the IDF raids a Hebron school and detains 2 Palestinian teenagers for beating up a settler youth who harassed them, releasing them in the afternoon; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; patrols late at night, without incident in villages west of Ramallah. Some 60 armed Jewish settlers storm a residential section of al-Mazra‘a village nr. Ramallah, occupy rooftops, and photograph the area before withdrawing without incident. (NYT, PCHR, WP 9/23; OCHA 9/24; PCHR 9/30; OCHA 10/1)

In Gaza, a Palestinian teenager shot by the IDF during its 5/7 Abasan raid dies. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. As has occurred on numerous occasions since Israel’s 2005 disengagement, 100s of Jewish settlers temporarily set up tents at the site of the evacuated Homesh settlement in the c. West Bank, vowing to rebuild the settlement and challenge any government efforts to remove additional settlements; the IDF closes off Palestinian traffic to the area and observes but does not intervene. (PCHR 5/15)

Hizballah leader Hasan Nasrallah makes a speech accusing Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora’s government of launching a war against Hizballah, warning of increased conflict if the 5/6 decisions are not reversed. Soon after, Hizballah sends more gunmen into Beirut’s streets and clashes intensify, especially in the mixed Sunni-Shi‘i neighborhoods of Mazra‘a and Ras al-Naba’a, and include machine gun and RPG fire, leaving 6 Lebanese dead, 8 wounded. (BBC 5/8; NYT, WP, WT 5/9; Asia Times 5/13)

Overnight, the IDF makes several air strikes on Gaza, killing 5 Hamas mbrs. before withdrawing ground troops fr. Gaza in the morning, stating that it is suspending Operation Hot Winter during U.S. Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice’s upcoming 3/4–5 visit. The toll for the 5-day operation is at least 110 Palestinians (half of them civilians, including at least 24 children; Hamas says it lost 37 mbrs.; Islamic Jihad and the PRCs say they lost 15) and 3 Israelis dead (1 civilian inside Israel, 2 IDF soldiers in Gaza), and nearly 400 Palestinians injured (most of them civilians). In addition, 21 Palestinian homes were destroyed (leaving 147 Gazans homeless) and 88 heavily damaged (affecting 616 Gazans), 90 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of agricultural land was bulldozed, and 80 Palestinians were detained for questioning (at least 5 were remanded to Israel). Palestinians fired more than 200 rockets (allegedly including 21 Grads). The IDF, however, makes more air strikes during the day, killing another 3 Palestinians (at least 2 of them civilians, including a child), destroying the Palestinian Council (PC) headquarters in Gaza City. Palestinians fire 18 rockets (allegedly including 1 Grad) into Israel, causing damage but no injuries; 1 rocket lands inside Gaza, hitting a home, wounding 2 Palestinians. In the West Bank, 1,000s of Palestinians demonstrate against Operation Hot Winter; a Jewish settler fr. Talmon B settlement nr. Ramallah fires on demonstrators in nearby al-Mazra‘a, killing a Palestinian teenager; IDF soldiers fire on another protest nr. Hebron, wounding 2 Palestinians. The IDF also exchanges fire with Palestinian gunmen nr. Bethlehem, wounding 3; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Nablus. (BBC, NYT, PCHR, REU, WP 3/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/4; PCHR 3/6; OCHA 4/18)