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  • August 5, 2012

    As many as 35 unidentified gunmen attack an Egyptian checkpoint near the Rafah border, fatally shooting 16 Egyptian security officers and wounding 3. Some of the assailants then steal 2 armored...

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  • December 9, 2011

    Overnight, Palestinians fire 11 rockets (including 1 manufactured Grad) fr. Gaza into Israel, retaliating for the 12/8 assassination, causing no damage or injuries. In the morning, Israel carries...

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  • September 9, 2011

    villages nr. Salfit, 1 nr. Qalqilya (firing percussion grenades to intimidate residents), and 1 nr. Ramallah; detains 4 Palestinian children nr. Qalqilya for stone throwing; conducts late-night...

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  • February 12, 2010

    In the West Bank, a 41-yr.-old Palestinian crosses paths with 6 IDF soldiers on foot patrol in the center of Hebron who order him to halt; when he keeps walking, a soldier shoots him in the leg,...

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  • December 11, 2007

    UN officials report that Israel has now reduced daily fuel imports to Gaza by 20% and that, as a result, some 400,000 Gazans have lost (or have only limited access to) safe drinking water because...

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  • July 11, 2007

    In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Hebron, and in Jenin town and r.c., Qabatya, Qalqilya. In Ramallah, Fataha-ffiliated students at Birzeit...

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  • June 9, 2007

    Four Islamic Jihad and AMB gunmen in an armored jeep marked “TV” and “press, carrying RPGs and supported by mortar fire, break through the Gaza border fence nr. the Kissufim crossing, engage IDF...

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  • July 12, 2006

    Overnight, the IDF drops 2 quarter-ton bombs on a 3-story building in Gaza City in an attempt to assassinate chief Hamas bomb-maker Muhammad Dayif, 4 times previously the target of Israeli...

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  • July 4, 2006

    Overnight, the IDF sends another 15–20 tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) into Bayt Hanun and into the Erez industrial zone, leveling land to clear lines of sight, searching for roadside...

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  • July 15, 2005

    Citing retaliation for the death of an Israeli woman on 7/14, the IDF launches overnight missile strikes on 4 sites in Gaza: a Hamas cultural center in n. Gaza, 2 sites Palestinians have used to...

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As many as 35 unidentified gunmen attack an Egyptian checkpoint near the Rafah border, fatally shooting 16 Egyptian security officers and wounding 3. Some of the assailants then steal 2 armored personnel carriers, which they pack with explosives and drive toward Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, where the borders of Egypt, Israel, and Gaza meet. The IDF calls in an air strike on the vehicles as they breach the border, killing at least 3 assailants. No group takes responsibility. Egypt seals the Rafah border crossing into Gaza as a precaution. Israel shuts the Israeli-Egypt side of Kerem Shalom and halts fuel shipments to Gaza through the Israel-Gaza side, but otherwise continues to allow limited imports of goods from Israel to Gaza. Hamas authorities in Gaza deny any Palestinian involvement, call the attack ‘‘terrorism,’’ and close smuggling tunnels from their side as well, stating that ‘‘Palestinian resistance factions are committed to fighting only against the Israeli occupation, and they launch their operations only from the Palestinian territories.’’ (MNA, NYT, WP 8/6; NYT 8/7)

An Israeli warplane makes an air strike on Rafah targeting 2 Tawhid and Jihad mbrs. as they ride a motorcycle through Rafah, assassinating Eid Oukal and wounding Ahmad Said Isma‘il; Israel accuses the men of being behind the 6/18 Sinai attack that killed an Israeli Palestinian worker and of plotting other crossborder attacks on Israeli civilians; no mention is made of the Sinai attack earlier in the day. Later, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds by directing artillery fire and shooting from helicopters at the demolished Dahaniyya airport site and open areas e. of Rafah for several hours, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah. (NYT, PCHR 8/6; PCHR 8/9; OCHA 8/10)

The PA cancels plans to host a meeting in Ramallah of foreign envoys representing the Non-Aligned Movement to express solidarity with the Palestinians, stating that Israel has refused to grant entry permits to the representatives of Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Indonesia, and Malaysia on the grounds that their countries do not recognize the State of Israel. The PA reportedly (NYT 8/6) intended to announce plans to revive its UN statehood effort at the opening of the next UNGA session in 9/2012. The group was also expected to release a ‘‘Ramallah Declaration’’ denouncing Israeli settlement expansion. (NYT, WP 8/6)

Iran airs the confessions of more than a dozen alleged conspirators to the killing of 5 nuclear scientists since 2010, claiming that the suspects were trained in Israel by the Mossad. (WP 8/6)

Overnight, Palestinians fire 11 rockets (including 1 manufactured Grad) fr. Gaza into Israel, retaliating for the 12/8 assassination, causing no damage or injuries. In the morning, Israel carries out more air strikes on 2 alleged Hamas training sites in Gaza City, killing a Palestinian bystander and his 12-yr.-old son and damaging a home, injuring 11 civilians (including 3 children, 2 women); Israel says it regrets the civilian casualties but blames Hamas for operating in densely populated areas. In retaliation, Palestinians fire another 6 rockets (including 1 Grad) fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night the IDF makes an air strike on a Hamas training camp in Rafah, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm (firing tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinian youths, causing no serious injuries) and 1 village nr. Salfit in the afternoon; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Ni’lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian and lightly injuring 4 others in Nabi Salih. The incident, in which a man throwing a stone at an armored personnel carrier is hit in the head with a tear gas canister at close range, is caught on camera. (JP 12/9; JP, NYT 12/10; IDFS, WP 12/11; PCHR 12/15; OCHA 12/16)

Unidentified assailants detonate a roadside bomb nr. a UNIFIL patrol nr. Tyre in s. Lebanon, wounding 5 French UNIFIL soldiers in the 3d such attack in 2011. No group claims responsibility. (NYT 12/10; WP 12/12)

villages nr. Salfit, 1 nr. Qalqilya (firing percussion grenades to intimidate residents), and 1 nr. Ramallah; detains 4 Palestinian children nr. Qalqilya for stone throwing; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah (fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, causing no serious injuries) and 1 nr. Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh settlement nr. Nablus uproot 45 olive trees on nearby Palestinian land. (PCHR 9/15; OCHA 9/16)

After Friday prayers, 1,000s of Egyptian protesters besiege the Israeli emb. in Cairo, tear down the wall recently built outside (see 9/3), scale the building to rip down the flag, gain access to the offices, and throw documents into the street. Egyptian security forces collect the ambassador, his family, and other staff who are away from the emb. and secure them at the airport for evacuation to Israel. The 6 employees inside the emb. lock themselves in an office and await rescue. Egyptian riot police arrive in 50 APCs and fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, who respond with stones and Molotov cocktails. Heavy clashes continue overnight, with riot police unable to secure the embassy. (WP 9/10; NYT, WP 9/11)

In the West Bank, a 41-yr.-old Palestinian crosses paths with 6 IDF soldiers on foot patrol in the center of Hebron who order him to halt; when he keeps walking, a soldier shoots him in the leg, and when he hobbles away seeking cover, the entire patrol opens fire hitting him 5 times; the soldiers prevent paramedics from treating him at the scene, pulling him into an armored personnel carrier; the IDF later reports that he died. The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians and nonviolent international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, also beats several protesters (2 international activists and 1 Palestinian reporter are beaten and arrested); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at 10s of Palestinians fr. Dayr Nizam and al-Nabi Salih attempting to plant seedlings on village land that is slated for confiscation nr. Halamish settlement (no injuries reported). (WP 2/13; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

UN officials report that Israel has now reduced daily fuel imports to Gaza by 20% and that, as a result, some 400,000 Gazans have lost (or have only limited access to) safe drinking water because of lack of fuel to run pumps, water treatment facilities, and generators; vaccinations and medicines have spoiled at some hospitals because of inconsistent power to run refrigerators. Overnight, the IDF sends some 30 tanks and APCs supported by helicopters and warplanes into s. Gaza border areas, allegedly to look for rocket-launching sites, clashing with Palestinian gunmen, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 3 PRC mbrs., wounding 13 Palestinians (including 5 civilians), rounding up all males age 15–50 for questioning, detaining 10s, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, bulldozing 133 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of land before withdrawing late in the evening. The IDF also makes 2 air strikes on rocket-launching sites in n. Gaza, killing 2 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Jerusalem’s Old City; raids the offices of several media outlets in Nablus (including Afaq TV, al-Nahar, al-Quds) accused of “supporting terrorism,” confiscating computers and documents, and clashing with local gunmen, wounding 3. Separately in Nablus, 1 AMB is killed when explosives he is handling detonate prematurely. (WT 12/11; OCHA, WP 12/12; PCHR 12/13; WP 12/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Hebron, and in Jenin town and r.c., Qabatya, Qalqilya. In Ramallah, Fataha-ffiliated students at Birzeit University attack a peaceful sit-in by pro-Hamas students protesting political arrests by the PA targeting Hamas; injuries figures are not reported. (PCHR 7/12; OCHA 7/18; PCHR 7/19)

The Lebanese army reinforces tanks, armored personnel carriers (APCs), troops around Nahr al-Barid r.c., prompting at least another 400 Palestinian refugees to flee the camp in fear of a major assault against the remaining FI mbrs. (WP 7/12; WP 7/13)

Four Islamic Jihad and AMB gunmen in an armored jeep marked “TV” and “press, carrying RPGs and supported by mortar fire, break through the Gaza border fence nr. the Kissufim crossing, engage IDF troops for 2 hrs. in what Islamic Jihad describes as an attempt to capture a 2d IDF soldier (Cpl. Gilad Shalit was captured in 6/06 and is still being held); 1 Palestinian is killed. The IDF continues operations in Shuka, bulldozing 33 d. of Palestinian land, exchanging fire with local Hamas mbrs., leaving 1 Hamas mbr. dead. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF tank n. of Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Jenin town and r.c., Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron severely beat a Palestinian teenager nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; an ambulance sent to the scene is barred by the IDF, stoned by settlers; the IDF arrests the teenager. Separately in Hebron, Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai severely beat a 9-yr.-old Palestinian. In Rafah, Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange heavy fire (including mortars, RPGs) for several hrs., leaving 2 Palestinians dead, 38 injured. In Bayt Hanun, unidentified gunmen shoot, wound an NSF mbr. (IFM, NYT, WP, WT 6/10; NYT 6/11; OCHA 6/13; PCHR 6/14)

The Lebanese army escalates attacks on FI, sending special forces and armored personnel carriers into areas around Nahr al-Barid r.c. to root out FI mbrs., increasing tank, artillery shelling of FI positions inside the camp to the highest level to date. FI replies with mortar and sniper fire. The army reports 6 soldiers killed, more than 40 wounded during the day. FI reports 4 mbrs. killed, 6 wounded. At least 60 FI mbrs., 49 soldiers, 20 civilians are thought to have been killed since fighting began on 5/20, but figures for casualties inside the camp cannot be confirmed. (WP, WT 6/10)

Overnight, the IDF drops 2 quarter-ton bombs on a 3-story building in Gaza City in an attempt to assassinate chief Hamas bomb-maker Muhammad Dayif, 4 times previously the target of Israeli assassination since 2000, wounding Dayif, killing senior Hamas mbr. Nabil al-Salima,his wife and 7 children, wounding Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades n. Gaza cmdr. Ahmad al-Gander and at least 33 bystanders, seriously damaging 15 surrounding homes. At the same time, the IDF also expands Operation Summer Rains with a major incursion into central Gaza, sending 10s of tanks, APCs, armored bulldozers across the Kissufim crossing under helicopter and drone escort and moving troops north fr. positions nr. Abasan, cutting the Strip in half, ordering PA security forces to leave the area, shelling and bulldozing surrounding areas. During the day, the IDF reportedly kills at least 22 other Palestinians and wounds at least 14 in major gun battles nr. Dayr al-Balah in central Gaza and in air and artillery strikes around Dayr al-Balah and Khan Yunis; the PRC’s Salah al-Din Brigades Khan Yunis leader Hisham Abu Nusayra, a PA policeman are killed in separate air strikes in Khan Yunis and a police station in alQarara is hit. The IDF also bulldozes 65 d. of agricultural land, partially demolishes 8 Palestinian homes and a car, and occupies 10 Palestinian homes as military posts in Dayr al-Balah; withdraws fr. the Qarni industrial estate (held since 7/8), allowing humanitarian and commercial imports to resume, and from Dahaniyya airport (held since 6/28), allowing PA security forces to enter the airport and the Rafah crossing and around 1,000 displaced Palestinians (see 7/8) to return to their homes. Palestinians try to fire rockets fr. Gaza toward Kissufim, but they fall short, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Dura, Nablus to conduct arrest raids. A Palestinian militant dies of injuries received during the 7/7 IDF air strikes on Bayt Lahiya. (BBC, HA, IMEMC, NYT, OCHA, PCHR, WP, WT 7/12; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/13; PCHR 7/20; NYT 7/21; B’Tselem 8/3)

Before dawn, Hizballah launches a crossborder attack on Israel, dubbed Operation True Promise, firing rockets across the Blue Line into n. Israel as a diversion; sending fighters in to n. Israel to attack an IDF patrol btwn. Zarit and Shetula, capturing 2 IDF soldiers, killing 3 soldiers, wounding 2. The IDF sends troops into Lebanon to search for the missing soldiers, where an IDF tank hits a mine, killing 4 IDF soldiers and marking Israel’s 1st ground incursion into Lebanon since its 5/00 withdrawal. (An 8th IDF soldier is killed, 2 others are wounded in Lebanon late in the evening as they try to recover the remains of the 4 tank occupants.) The IDF also launches air strikes and directs heavy artillery, tank fire on some 40 Hizballah positions, roads, bridges, power stations in s. Lebanon, killing at least 2 Lebanese civilians, 1 Lebanese soldier, wounding at least 10. The Lebanese government requests that UNIFIL broker a cease-fire, but Israel says a cease-fire would be contingent upon return of the captured soldiers. Hizballah leader Shaykh Hasan Nasrallah says the group plans to hold the 2 soldiers for the release of 3–4 Lebanese held by Israel. During the day, IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz calls up a reserve infantry division for deployment to the n. Israel border and sends the Israeli navy into Lebanese waters, threatening a massive invasion of Lebanon; makes air strikes on a Palestinian guerrilla base s. of Beirut. (BBC, HA, IFM 7/12; HA, IFM, NYT, WP, WT 7/13; UNIS 7/14)

Overnight, the IDF sends another 15–20 tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) into Bayt Hanun and into the Erez industrial zone, leveling land to clear lines of sight, searching for roadside bombs and tunnels that could obstruct a large-scale military incursion into Gaza (as PA security forces pull out of their border positions at Erez, Palestinians stream into the industrial zone to scavenge fr. closed businesses there); continues to break the sound barrier over Gaza and to make air and artillery strikes on n. Gaza, killing 1 PA security officer, wounding several Palestinians, and destroying an empty building on Islamic University campus. During the day, the IDF continues the n. Gaza build-up, reoccupying the fmr. Nisanit settlement site, occupying 2 more Palestinian homes as operational bases, bulldozing a PA security force base in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas around Erez (wounding a Palestinian child) and on a Palestinian Energy Authority repair crew attempting to fix a transformer in the area. The IDF also allows Qarni crossing to reopen for several hrs. to import humanitarian supplies from the World Food Program (WFP) and UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East); WFP reports that there are only 2 days left of sugar and 8 days left of animal feed in Gaza and that milk and dairy products are only available in small quantities. Meanwhile, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades fire a 2-engine Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting an empty school nr. Ashqelon, 7.5 mi inside Israel (the longest-range rocket to date). In the West Bank, the IDF raids Jenin, ambushes and fires on a car, assassinating wanted AMB Jenin cmdr. Fida’i Qandil, wounding a passenger; raids a PA police station in Ramallah, detaining 3 Palestinians captured by the PA in connection with the murder of a Jewish settler on 6/29; arrests Hamas spokesman Farhat Asad nr. Ramallah; patrols in, fires on residential areas of al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Jenin, wounding 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah, in Nablus and Qalqilya, and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Mehola nr. Tubas attack Palestinian farmers working their fields nearby. (HA, IMEMC, MM, NYT, OCHA, PCHR, WT, YA 7/4; NYT, WP, WT 7/5; OCHA, PCHR 7/6)

Citing retaliation for the death of an Israeli woman on 7/14, the IDF launches overnight missile strikes on 4 sites in Gaza: a Hamas cultural center in n. Gaza, 2 sites Palestinians have used to launch rockets in s. Gaza, and a metal workshop (alleged weapons factory) in central Gaza; at least 2 Palestinians are injured. Later in the day, an IDF drone fires a missile at a car driving in Gaza City, assassinating 4 Hamas mbrs. (Sabir Abu Assi, ‘Assim Abu Ras, Amjad Arafat, ‘Adil Haniyeh), wounding more than 12 bystanders; an IDF helicopter and ground troops fire 3 missiles at a car driving in Salfit, assassinating 3 wanted Hamas mbrs. (Muhammad Ayyash, Samir Dawahqa, Muhammad Mar’ai); an IDF helicopter fires at 3 Palestinians firing mortars at Gush Katif, injuring them. In clashes in Salfit after the assassinations, the IDF fatally shoots a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager. The Israeli strikes mark the definitive end of the 2/8 cease-fire; Hamas announces that it is considering massive retaliation. Israel blames Abbas for failing to crack down on militant groups. The IDF also continues operations in and around Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus. Overnight, PA police searching for Hamas gunmen clash again with Hamas mbrs., this time in Gaza City, leaving 2 Palestinian children dead; during the clash, Hamas mbrs. destroy a PA armored personnel carrier with rocket-propelled grenades, burn a police station and a PA office building; Hamas, Fatah quickly convene an emergency mtg. to defuse tensions. Palestinians fire a barrage of at least 19 rockets and 10s of mortars at Neve Dekalim, lightly injuring 2 settlers, damaging 5 houses; 1 shell hits an industrial zone in the Negev, sparking a fire. A Jewish settler seriously injures a Palestinian teenager in a hit-and-run incident in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones, bottles at Palestinian homes in Hebron and at a Palestinian teenager, lightly injuring him. An Israeli court sentences an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 5 mos. in jail for joining Force 17 in 2000, calling it a “severe crime”; says at least 80 “Jerusalem Arabs” have been indicted on similar charges since 9/00. (IMEMC, JTA, NYT, UNIS, WP, YA 7/15; VOI 7/15 in WNC 7/15; Interfax, ITARTASS, JP, MENA, VOI, VOP, XIN 7/15 in WNC 7/16; HA, IMEMC, NYT, PRCS, REU, WP, WT, YA 7/16; VOP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; HA 7/17; OCHA, PR 7/20; PCHR 7/21)