The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers leveled land near Dura. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian shepherds in Burqa, stealing 20 sheep; 1 Palestinian was in serious condition after the attack. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Taqqua. In Gaza, Israeli warplanes struck 3 places in and around Gaza City with rockets after alleging that 1 rocket was fired at Israel from Gaza; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen using live ammunition and water hoses 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; 1 boat was damaged. In Israel, Palestinian citizens of Israel were striking in many places, for the 2d day in a row, to protest the disproportionately low compensation that business owners in Palestinian-majority neighborhoods have received of the COVID-19 aid, about 1.7 percent. (HA 5/5; JP, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/6; HA, PCHR 5/7)

Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett announced plans for around 7,000 new settlement units in the Efrat settlement. The plans expand the settlement by seizing 1,100 dunams (271.8 acres) of Palestinian land. (AJ, HA, INN, REU, WAFA 5/6)

The Israeli high court of justice dismissed a petition against allowing Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government because he is criminally indicted, and petitions against the coalition agreement between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. (REU 5/6; HA 5/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian at a cemetery in ‘Aqabat Jabir refugee camp during clashes after a raid; Palestinians had allegedly thrown Molotov cocktails and stones at the Israeli forces. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian using rubber-coated bullets near the separation wall in Far‘un. Elsewhere, Israeli forces handed demolition orders for 2 houses near Salfit. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in ‘Azun. In East Jerusalem, 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya. Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians during a raid in al-Tur, leading to tear-gas related injuries. (WAFA, WAFA 5/3; WAFA 5/4; PCHR 5/7)

Israel’s defense minister Naftali Bennett approved changes to the structure of the al-Ibrahimi Mosque/ Tomb of the Patriarchs without approval from the Hebron municipality, which violates the Oslo Accords. (HA, WAFA 5/4)

The PA and Israel agreed to reopen some crossings between Israel and the West Bank to allow Palestinian workers to go to Israel. The crossings are scheduled to be open 5/3 and 5/4. (AJ 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 3 Palestinian-owned buildings in Rumana; during the demolitions, clashes broke out with Palestinians, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, in Jiftlik, Israeli forces seized a residential caravan. 1 Palestinian shot by Israeli forces using rubber-coated bullets during a demonstration against settler encroachment near Nablus on 3/11 succumbed to his injuries. In East Jerusalem, 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in Issawiyya and Silwan; 2 others were arrested during the day in Issawiyya and the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also made incursions to level land near Bayt Hanun. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/1; PCHR 4/2)

Israel’s defense minister Naftali Bennett said that any aid provided to Gaza to help deal with the COVID-19 virus would be linked to Israel recovering the bodies of 2 Israeli soldiers killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. A Hamas spokesperson said in response that Israel is responsible for the consequences of the spread of the virus due to its blockade. The PA also donated 1,500 testing kits to Gaza via the World Health Organization. (REU, WAFA 4/1; PCHR 4/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces uprooted some 400 olive tree saplings west of Bethlehem and seized a residential tent, a generator, and an animal barn in al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces also arrested 15 Palestinians during raids in and around al-‘Arub refugee camp, Ramallah, Baytin, Tulkarm, Jenin, and Nablus. In Gaza, the death toll from the fire in a bakery on 3/5 rose to 13 after 2 more people succumbed to their injuries. Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 2 miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/9; PCHR 3/18)

Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett announced that the Israeli government had approved to build a separate road for Palestinians to connect the northern and southern parts of the West Bank as Israel is moving forward with building 3,500 settler units in E-1 near East Jerusalem. Defense Minister Bennett said that Israel is “applying sovereignty [over the West Bank] in deed, not words.” The PA foreign Ministry said in a statement that, with the move, Israel is seeking to close the door for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. (HA, JP, WAFA 3/9; AJ 3/10)

Qatar donated $10 million worth of medical equipment to help the PA combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the West Bank. There are 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the West Bank. (WAFA, WAFA 3/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protests of the U.S. administration’s peace plan throughout the West Bank for the 4d day in a row: 1 Palestinian was shot by live ammunition at the Qalandia checkpoint; 1 was injured by live ammunition in Nabi Salih; 1 was hit with a tear gas canister to her face near Tubas; and others suffered rubber-coated bullet and tear-gas related injuries. A Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Abu Dis to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. Israeli settlers uprooted 700 apricot and almond tree seedlings in Sabastiyya; Israeli settlers also broke windows of a Palestinian-owned home in Madama. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces stormed the Haram al-Sharif compound, leading to clashes with worshippers; 10 people were reported injured by rubber-coated bullets and 3 were arrested. In Gaza, for the 3d consecutive day, Israeli forces struck targets in Gaza. Subsequently, 2 rockets were fired at Israel; 1 was intercepted and the other landed in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. 14 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces as they were protesting near the Gaza fence, including 10 who were hit by live ammunition. 1 minor Palestinian succumbed to wounds sustained during the Great March of Return protest on 10/11/19. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 231. (AJ, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WP 1/31; HA 2/1; PCHR 2/6)

The Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett ordered a ban on all Palestinian agricultural imports to Israel, effective on 2/2. (HA, WAFA 1/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 16 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. In Israel, 3 Palestinians from Gaza who had breached the Gaza fence were shot dead by Israeli forces. The Israeli military alleged that the 3 threw improvised explosives at the Israeli forces. (REU, WAFA, WP 1/21; AJ, HA, WAFA 1/22; PCHR 1/23)

Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett said that Israel would annex the West Bank if the PA acted to erase the distinction between Areas A, B, and C. Chairperson of the Kahol Lavan party Benny Gantz separately said that he would work to advance annexation of the Jordan Valley if elected prime minister. (HA 1/21)

In Lebanon, a new government was formed under the new prime minister Hassan Diab. Prime Minister Diab described his 20 new ministers as a technocratic “rescue team.” Despite the formation of the new government, the protest that started in 2019 continued in Lebanon. (HA 1/21; AJ 1/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers cut down 50 olive trees in al-Sawiya south of Nablus. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bayt Awa, Bayt Fajjar, Ramallah, al-‘Arub refugee camp, and Abu Dis. During a raid in Jericho, 6 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries after clashes broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a raid. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/8; PCHR 1/9)

Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett told reporters that he had created a task force to develop plans for the future of Area C, to which he said, “[t]he State of Israel’s policy is that the land in Area C belongs to [Israel].” (HA 1/9)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo said via video during a Jerusalem policy forum that changing U.S. policy on the Israeli settlements in the West Bank was returning to a “balanced and sober” approach to the peace process and reiterated the administration’s position that Israeli “settlements don’t inherently violate international law.” (REU 1/8)

U.S. president Donald Trump responded to the Iranian strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq on 1/7 by announcing additional sanctions on Iran. (AJ 1/8)