The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian man was shot and killed after allegedly stabbing 1 Israeli soldier near the Hebron settlement Kiryat Arba. Israeli settlers, led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, toured Nabi Samwil, leading to attacks on Palestinians. Israeli settlers also vandalized a greenhouse near Zawata. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set up tents outside of al-‘Awja. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 7 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 5 with baton rounds and 23 others with tear gas. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in al-Yamun and 1 at the Za‘atra checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Ras al-Amud, displacing 11. 1 Palestinian was arrested in Shu‘fat refugee camp. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; PCHR 9/8; UNOCHA 9/16)

Japan contributed $1.5 million to UNRWA for food security programs in Gaza. (WAFA 9/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray and stones to attack Palestinians in Kisan. Israeli settlers also stole 1 water tank from a Palestinian in al-Maleh. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian home under construction in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Deir Sammit, Zeita, al-Yamun, Nablus, Kafl Haris, Salfit, Aida refugee camp, and Bayt Jala. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler shot and injured 1 Palestinian man who allegedly stabbed another settler with a screwdriver in the Ramot settlement. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Shu‘fat refugee camp. In Gaza, after claiming that gunfire from Gaza hit an industrial building in Israel, Israeli forces conducted air strikes on 2 structures near Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, 2 Palestinians were arrested near the Gaza fence. (AP, HA, JP, JP, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/19; MEE, TOI, WAFA 7/20; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 8/5)

Israel legalized the Mitzpe Dani settlement outpost near Deir Dibwan and approved plans to expand the settlement with 114 new housing units. (WAFA 7/19)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz ordered Israeli police and military forces to prevent followers of the Nachala settlement organization from setting up settlement outposts in the West Bank, as the organization had publicly announced its plans to erect settlement outposts for months. (HA, JP 7/19; HA 7/21)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis and prime minister Nicolae Ciucă in separate meetings in Bucharest. (WAFA, WAFA 7/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 3 agricultural structures in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli settlers also stole crops in the Masafer Yatta area near Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian man in Kafr Malik. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Yamun, Bayt Qad, and al-Ayn refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, singing the Israeli anthem and waving Israeli flags. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 1 house in Silwan and 1 house in Shu‘fat refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/3; PCHR 5/12; UNOCHA 5/13)

Israel closed all crossings between Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from 3pm for the Israeli celebrations of Memorial Day and Independence Day. The crossings are scheduled to reopen at midnight on 5/5. (HA 5/1)

Haaretz reported that the Jerusalem municipality and the Israeli ministry of tourism plans to erect a 328-foot flagpole donning the Israeli flag in Jerusalem. The flag, if the plans is carried out, will be visible in all of Jerusalem. (HA 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from renovating a water reservoir in Bayt Dajan. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-Yamun, Deir Balut, Hebron, Beita, and Deir Nidham. In East Jerusalem, the head of Shu‘fat’s local council Mahmoud Ali al-Shaykh was arrested during a late-night raid. In Gaza, the UN mine action service removed an unexploded Israeli bomb fired in May during Israel’s Operation Guardians of the Wall. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 8/26; MEMO 8/27; PCHR 9/2)

Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing for traffic from Egypt toward Gaza but not from Gaza toward Egypt. Egypt closed the crossing on 8/23. (MEMO, REU 8/25; AJ, MEMO, WAFA 8/26)

Israel’s defense ministry said Israel would increase the number of allowed imports of vehicles and goods to Gaza and issue more permits for Palestinian businesspeople entering Israel from Gaza. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA 8/26)

Hamas thanked Jordanian king Abdullah II for allowing its leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal to attend the funeral in Amman of former Hamas leader Ibrahim Ghosheh, who passed away today. The funeral will take place on 8/27. (MEMO 8/27)

U.S. president Joe Biden postponed a meeting with Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett in Washington D.C. after suicide bombs killed nearly 90 people at the Kabul airport as evacuations continue after the Taliban took over almost all of Afghanistan. Among the killed were 11 U.S. Marines and 1 other navy soldier. President Biden and Prime Minister Bennett are expected to meet on 8/27 instead. German chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly also canceled a visit to Israel next week due to the situation in Afghanistan. The attack at Kabul airport was reportedly made by Islamic State – Khorasan Province, an Afghan offshoot of the Islamic State. (HA 8/25; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, FOX, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO 8/26; AP, AP, AP, HA, REU 8/27)

The New York Times reported that when Israel attacked the Iranian Natanz nuclear facility on 4/11/2021, the Netanyahu administration gave the U.S. 2 hours’ notice before the attack. U.S. officials told the NYT that Israel deliberately gave the Biden administration too little time to ask Israel to call off its attack. (HA, NYT 8/26)

Germany provided the PA a grant of $29.5 million to develop the education sector in the West Bank. (WAFA 9/26; MEMO 8/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers opened a settlers-only road near Kisan. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man near the separation barrier west of Jenin; the man was treated at a hospital in Israel for his injuries. Israeli forces also fired tear gas at a wedding celebration in Silat al-Harithiya, causing tear-gas related injuries. Palestinians protested in Ramallah against the killing of PA critic Nizar Banat by PA forces on 6/24. 11 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces during raids in and around al-Yamun, Qiffin, Beita, Ni‘lin, Abu Dis, and Jaba‘. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler shot 1 Palestinian man in the leg in Sheikh Jarrah; Israeli police said the Palestinian man had entered the settler’s home, while Palestinian media said the man was part of a solidarity event for the residents of Sheikh Jarrah threatened by forced eviction. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Sheikh Jarrah and Shu‘fat. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers in al-Zaytun; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also made incursions and leveled land east of al-Qarara. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/2; AA, MEMO 8/3; PCHR 8/5)

The Israeli supreme court proposed that Palestinian residents under threat of eviction in Sheikh Jarrah become “protected residents” in what it considered a compromise. The proposition would allow the Palestinians to live in their homes in return for paying a rent fee to the settler organization, Nahalat Shimon, which claims to have acquired their property. The Palestinians agreed to the proposal but refused to accept the Nahalat Shimon’s demand that the families recognize its ownership of their properties, resulting in a stalemate. The court did not set a new date for the next hearing. Haaretz reported that Israeli officials had asked the Biden administration to put pressure on the Palestinian residents to agree to the compromise. The Jordanian government submitted documents to the court from before the 1967Day War, showing that the Jordanian government was in the process of registering the properties to their Palestinian residents, which was disrupted by the Israeli assault on its neighboring countries. U.S. state department spokesperson Ned Price later said that the U.S. is opposed to the plans to evict Palestinians from East Jerusalem, but that proposal from the supreme court is for the parties involved to consider. (HA 8/1; AJ, AJ, ALM, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA 8/2; MEMO, WAFA 8/3; HA 8/4; AA, MEMO 8/5; MEMO 8/6; WAFA 8/14)

Israel extended the ban of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith from moving freely within East Jerusalem. It was unclear how long the extension was set for. (WAFA 8/2)

The PA said that it and Qatar had agreed to a mechanism to transfer Qatari funds to Gaza. More than 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza will receive ATM cards with around $100, which can be withdrawn in Gaza. Hamas had previously agreed to have the PA supervise the transfer of the Qatari funds. It is unclear when the aid will reach Palestinians in Gaza. (MEMO 8/4)

Israel’s cabinet approved its 1st budget in 3 years; the Knesset will still have to approve it before it is implemented. A vote is expected to occur in November. Ra’am’s demands for a significant increase in spending for Palestinian Israeli communities was approved with $16 billion earmarked for advances, as opposed to the previous $5 billion under the Netanyahu government. The money is said to be spent on infrastructure, combatting crime, health care, education, and transportation. (MEMO 8/1; ALM, AX, JP 8/2; ALM 8/3)

Canada contributed $1.7 million to the UN World Food Programme to help its programming in Gaza. (WAFA 8/2)