The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained in an Israeli drone strike on Jenin on 2/22. Israeli settlers raid Taybeh, kidnapping 3 elderly Palestinian farmers who are later released from a military base in Tarqumiyah. Israeli forces seize a bulldozer during a raid in Nabi Salih. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 90 people. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb near Baalbek, killing 2 people and injuring 6 others. Israeli forces also bomb al-Sarira, Ayta ash Shab, Majadel, and Wadi al-Dalafa, killing at least 2 people in Majadil. Islamic Jihad says 2 of its fighters are killed in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah shoots down an Israeli drone using a surface-to-air missile and fires 60 Katyusha rockets at an Israeli military site. In Yemen, U.S. forces attack 6 sites. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AP 2/27; UNOCHA 2/28)

More than 29,782 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 12,000 children and 7,200 women, and around 70,043 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 102 children. More than 4,575 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, 238 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,396 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. 138 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. Israel allows 10 trucks carrying aid to enter northern Gaza. Jordan and France airdrop aid to Gaza from 4 C-130 planes at 11 sites. The Red Crescent says it has suspended medical missions for the next 48 hours as it is unable to ensure the safety of its staff. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AP, UNOCHA 2/27)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigns on behalf of himself and the rest of the cabinet during the weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah, saying “the next stage and its challenges require new governmental and political arrangements that take into account the new reality in Gaza and the need for a Palestinian-Palestinian consensus based on Palestinian unity.” Shtayyeh says he submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas on 2/20 but formally submitted his resignation in writing today. Abbas accepts the resignation of Shtayyeh and the rest of the cabinet, asking him and the rest of the ministers to stay on as caretakers until a new government is formed. Shtayyeh, who has been prime minister since March 2019, also cites the genocide in Gaza and the “unprecedent escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem” as reasons for resigning. Before Shtayyeh’s resignation, over the weekend it was rumored that the Palestinian government would resign in order to facilitate the formation of a technocratic government to be led by the PA as requested by the U.S. (HA 2/25; AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AP, HA 2/27)

The New York Times reports that Israel has agreed to release 15 high-profile Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 5 female Israeli soldiers as part of the potential ceasefire deal. U.S. president Joe Biden says he hopes a ceasefire agreement can be reached by 3/4. Axios reports that Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet director Ronen Bar traveled to Egypt last week to assure the Egyptian government that Israel will take measures to prevent Palestinians from fleeing to Egypt during its planned invasion of Rafah. A delegation of Israeli officials arrive in Qatar for ceasefire talks. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Palestinians will not be allowed to return to northern Gaza until all Israeli captives are released. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi and U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken discuss the ceasefire negotiations. (AJ, AP, AX, AX, HA, NYT, REU, REU 2/26; AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/27)

Israeli industry minister Nir Barkat meets with Saudi minister of commerce Majid bin Abdullah Alkassabi on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization meeting in the UAE, saying the 2 countries can “make history together.” (AJ 2/26)

During the sixth and final day of the ICJ hearings on the legality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the Arab League calls the occupation an “affront to international justice” and says Israel perpetrates “racial domination and apartheid” against Palestinians. Turkey, Zambia, Spain, Fiji, the Maldives, the African Union, and the OIC also present arguments. During the 6 days of hearings, only the U.S., Fiji, Hungary, and the UK spoke in favor of Israel’s argument that the court should not make a decision on the occupation while 50 other countries and organizations argued, to varying degrees, that the occupation is illegal and has to end. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; WAFA 2/27)

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says the UN Security Council’s “lack of unity on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and on Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October, has severely—perhaps fatally—undermined its authority,” calling for reform of the council. Arab diplomats meet with Guterres, warning him about Israeli plans to severely limit the number of worshippers allowed at the Haram al-Sharif compound during Ramadan. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA 2/26)

USAID administrator Samantha Power visits a World Food Programme warehouse in Jordan, saying only around 85 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza a day while around 500 are needed. (AJ, HA 2/26)

President Biden reiterates in an interview his previous claim that without Israel, Jews living throughout the world would not be safe. (AJ 2/27)

Israel submits a report on progress it has made since the ICJ issued provisional measures to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza as part of the South African genocide case against Israel. Human Rights Watch says Israel has ignored the ICJ provisional measures and “in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.” Amnesty International also says Israel has failed to comply with the measures. (Airwars, AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 2/26; NYT 2/27)

EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell criticizes European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in an interview with El Pais, saying her trip to Israel in October 2023 “with such a completely pro-Israeli position, without representing anyone but herself in a matter of international politics, has carried a high geopolitical cost for Europe.” Borrell also says Israeli prime minister Benjamin “Netanyahu’s plans for Gaza are unacceptable. The seeds of hatred are being sown for generations. It is an open secret that the Israelis funded Hamas and played at dividing the Palestinians.” (AJ, EP 2/26)

19,012 artists sign an open letter calling on Israel to be banned from the Venice Biennale, saying there should not be a “genocide pavilion at the Venice Biennale.” Italian minister of culture Gennaro Sanguiliano rejects the call, saying the letter is “shameful.” The Biennale later issues a statement saying it would “not take into consideration any petition or call to exclude” countries. (AJ, ANGA, HA 2/26; AJ, AJ, REU 2/27; AP, NYT 2/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack Israeli forces escorting Palestinians trying to locate stolen goats at the Hava settlement outpost. Israeli settlers also remove barbed wire fencing surrounding Palestinian farmland in Khlayel al-Louz. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raid Arab al-Milehat, threatening Palestinians. Israeli settlers also raid Huwwara, opening fire at homes; no injuries are reported. Israeli forces raid Za’atra, taking measurements of the family homes of 2 Palestinians who killed an Israeli on 2/22 for punitive demolitions. Israeli forces also prevent Palestinian farmers from working their land in Deir Istiya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seal the entrance to Bizarya with earth mounds and rocks. Israeli forces arrest 22 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Beit Furik, and Jenin. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Beit Lahiya, Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Shati’ refugee camp, Maghazi, Gaza City, Nuseirat refugee camp, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 92 people. 2 Israeli soldiers are killed in combat. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces attack Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah, damaging a boat. In Tel Aviv, Israeli police violently disperse anti-government protesters with water cannons and batons, at least 1 protestor is flogged by mounted police using a whip. In Lebanon, 20 rockets are fired at Kiryat Shmona, most of them are intercepted. Israeli forces bomb Rab El Thalathine, Ayta ash Shab, and Blida. In Yemen, U.S. and UK forces bomb 18 sites, including a factory in Sanaa. U.S. forces also shoot down a drone launched from Yemen. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/24; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 2/25; HA, UNOCHA 2/26)

More than 29,606 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 12,000 children and 7,200 women, and around 69,737 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 399 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 102 children. More than 4,545 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, 237 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,396 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. 86 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (WAFA 2/24; UNOCHA, UNOCHA 2/26)

Ceasefire negotiations in Paris attended by representatives from Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar reportedly lead to a proposal for a 6-week ceasefire but many other details remain elusive. (REU 2/23; AJ, AP, HA, REU 2/24; HA, HA, HA, REU, REU 2/25; HA 2/26)

Palestinian National Council speaker Rawhi Fattouh meets with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, briefing him on the situation in Gaza and settler attacks in the West Bank. (WAFA 2/24)

EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell condemns Israel’s 2/22 announcement that it will build 3,300 new settlement units. (AJ, WAFA 2/24)

Axios reports that the U.S. has asked Israel not to attack civilian police escorting aid trucks in Gaza, but that Israel rejected the request. (AJ, AX 2/24)

The New York Times writes a letter to the Israeli consulate in New York asking the Israeli Foreign Ministry to “cease perpetrating the provably false claim that the freelance photographer Yousef Masoud was embedded with Hamas terrorists on October 7.” (NYT 2/24; HA 2/25)

The documentary No Other Land by Palestinians Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal and Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor wins Best Documentary Film at the Berlin Film Festival. The movie focuses on the plight of Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta area. During the acceptance speech, Basel Adra calls for a ceasefire and for Germany to stop sending arms to Israel while Yuval Abraham describes the Israeli system of apartheid. The German ministry of culture and media issues a statement saying that culture and media minister Claudia Roth only applauded “the Jewish-Israel journalist and filmmaker Yuval Abraham.” Berlin mayor Kai Wegner calls the speeches anti-Semitic. (HA, WAFA 2/25; HA, NA, X 2/26; GDN, TOI 2/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers bring their cattle to graze on Palestinian farmland in Khirbet al-Farisiyya, destroying crops. Armed Israeli settlers force 4 Palestinian families to leave their homes in Kisan. Israeli forces shoot 5 Palestinians with live ammunition, killing 1 child and wounding 5, and shoot 8 others with baton rounds during a raid in Beit Umar. Israeli forces also seize building equipment and arrest 4 Palestinians during a raid in Deir Balut. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 18 Palestinians during raids in Jericho, Hebron, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces demolish the home belonging to the prominent Palestinian activist Fakhri Abu Diab in Silwan, displacing 10 people. The U.S. and EU condemn the demolition. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Nuseirat refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Khan Yunis, and Gaza City, killing at least 103 people, including Al Jazeera guest analyst Ayman Rafati and his family in an airstrike on Gaza City. Rockets are fired at Zikim and Ashkelon; no damage is reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attack Nabatieh and as-Sawana, killing 11 civilians, including 6 children. Israeli forces also kill a Hezbollah member in Adashit. A Hezbollah strike on a military base in Safed kills 1 Israeli soldier and injures 8 others. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/14; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, WAFA 2/15)

More than 28,576 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 11,500 children and 7,200 women, and around 68,291 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 389 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 100 children. More than 4,475 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, 230 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,352 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. 130 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The WHO says Israel has prevented the organization from entering the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis since 1/29. (AJ, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 2/14; UNOCHA 2/15)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti has been moved to solitary confinement, claiming he was encouraging the outbreak of a third intifada. Hamas has demanded that Barghouti be released as part of a ceasefire deal. (AJ 2/14; AJ 2/15)

Peace Now reports that the Israeli housing ministry has issued tenders for 523 housing units in 10 different settlements in the West Bank since the beginning of 2024. (PCN 2/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas issues a statement calling on Hamas to quickly finalize a ceasefire deal to avoid an Israeli invasion of Rafah. The PA requests an extraordinary meeting at the Arab League. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 2/14; HA 2/15)

CIA director Bill Burns meets with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad director David Barnea, discussing ceasefire negotiations. Netanyahu orders the Israeli negotiation team not to return to Cairo for further talks. Netanyahu says Israel will “fight until complete victory and this includes a powerful action also in Rafah after we allow the civilian population to leave the battle zones.” Netanyahu speaks with French president Emmanuel Macron, who warns him against invading Rafah. Foreign Minister Israel Katz tells his German counterpart Anna Baerbock that UNRWA cannot be part of humanitarian assistance efforts in Gaza. Finance Minister Bezalel Smtorich and Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer announce a plan to provide cash payments of $550 a month for 2 years to new immigrants who settle in the West Bank and in border regions in the north and south. Communications Minister Shlomo Karni approves the UAE field hospital in Gaza’s use of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. (AJ, AX, AX, HA, NYT, REU 2/14; AJ, AX, HA, HA 2/15; AJ, HA 2/16)

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meet in Cairo, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (AJ, AP, HA 2/14; HA 2/15)

U.S. president Joe Biden signs an executive order preventing Palestinians from being deported from the U.S. for a period of 18 months. The order also compels the Department of Homeland Security to issue work permits to Palestinians in the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirms that Israel is blocking flour from entering Gaza. The State Department condemns the demolition of Fakhri Abu Diab’s home in East Jerusalem. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU 2/14)

The U.S. House of Representatives passes a resolution 418-0 condemning Hamas over accusations that Hamas used sexual violence during 10/7/2023. (HA 2/14)

Spain and Ireland call on the European Commission to investigate whether Israel is complying with international law. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 2/14)

The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. State Department is investigating Israeli usage of white phosphorus in Gaza and Lebanon. (AJ, WAFA 2/15)

The Washington Post reports that the U.S. and several Arab countries will present a long-term plan for establishing a Palestinian state, including Israeli withdrawal from many West Bank settlements, a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem, the rebuilding of Gaza, and international oversight over the Palestinian governance. (NYT, WP 2/14; HA, HA 2/15; HA 2/16)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology bans the pro-Palestinian student group Coalition Against Apartheid. (AP, HA 2/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired flare grenades at agricultural lands near Burqa, causing fires. Israeli forces also issued 19 stop-work orders for homes, a landfill, an agricultural site, and 2 roads in Qarawat Bani Hassan. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jenin refugee camp, Surif, Sa’ir, Bayt Rima, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian minor was arrested at the Bab el-Khalil in the Old City after allegedly stabbing and injuring 2 Israeli settlers. Israeli forces also demolished 2 homes, 10 commercial structures, and a barn in ‘Anata. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jabel Mukaber. (AP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/6; MDW, PCHR 9/7; UNOCHA 9/26)

Palestinian Canadian real estate developer Khaled al-Sabawi filed a lawsuit against 6 Israeli settlers, the Israeli police, and Israeli military in the Tel Aviv District court seeking $5.2 million in damages over Israeli settler attacks on a planned residential site near Turmus ‘Ayya he has been developing. The site is located in Area B and has, according to the lawsuit, been raided 74 times between 2019 and 2022, with damage recorded 26 times and workers and clients physically assaulted on 19 occasions. (HA 9/6)

Irish foreign minister Micheál Martin met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Martin met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahyu on 9/5. (HA, WAFA 9/6)

Former Mossad director Tamir Pardo told AP that “[t]here is an apartheid state here [referring to the West Bank]. In a territory where two people are judged under two legal systems, that is an apartheid state.” Pardo further said “Israel needs to decide what it wants. A country that has no border has no boundaries.” (AJ, AP, GDN, MEE 9/6; MDW, MEE 9/7; WAFA 9/8)

23 U.S. based rights organizations called on U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken to override Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)’s block on the State Department delivering $75 million in U.S. food assistance to Palestinians through UNRWA. (HA 9/6)

Israel and Russia signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of cinema. (HA 9/7)

Moroccan Senate chairperson Enaam Mayara said he had to postpone his visit to the Knesset 1 day before being scheduled to deliver a speech to the parliament, citing a medical emergency. (AP 9/6; ALM, HA 9/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian man and stole his donkey in Halaweh in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and injured 5 Palestinians during a raid in Jenin refugee camp, including 1 who was rushed to a hospital in Haifa for treatment; 3 were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian home in Tura. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kobar, Kafr Malik, Tammun, ‘Askar refugee camp, Kafr Qaddum, al-Eizariya, and Deir Sammit; 1 Palestinian was injured by live ammunition during the raid in Tammun. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assaulted and arrested 1 Palestinian woman in the Old City, claiming she had tried to stab an Israeli police officer. Israeli forces also seized Palestinian school books from students entering the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/4; MEE 9/5; PCHR 9/7; HA 9/10; UNOCHA 9/11)

Israel closed the Karim Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing to Gaza, claiming explosives were found in a shipment of clothes. (QDS, REU 9/4; AJ 9/5; PCHR 9/7)

Al Watan Voice reported that Israel transferred a group of Palestinian prisoners, including Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, from the Nafha prison to the Ofer prison. (MEMO 9/5)

The Israeli Attorney General’s office informed the family of Eyad Hallaq that it would not appeal the decision of the Jerusalem District Court to acquit the police officer who shot and killed Hallaq in Jerusalem on 5/30/2020. On 9/5, Hallaq’s family petitioned the Supreme Court through Adalah to overturn the decision. (WAFA 9/4; MDW, WAFA 9/6)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. A delegation of Palestinian officials is scheduled to meet Saudi and U.S. officials in Riyadh on 9/5 to discuss Saudi-Israeli normalization. (QDS, QDS, WAFA 9/4)

Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen attended the opening ceremony for the Israeli embassy to Bahrain in Manama. Cohen also met with Bahrain’s crown prince and prime minister Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. (AP 9/3; AJ, HA, JP 9/4)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides and Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Nicosia, discussing trilateral agreements, including the potential export of Israeli gas to Europe. (ALM, BB 9/4)

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh met with Mossad chief David Barnea in 2022 to discuss potential normalization. The talks reportedly included Jordanian, UAE, and U.S. officials. The reporting follows unrest in Libya after Foreign Minister Cohen disclosed a meeting with Libyan foreign minister Najla Mangoush on 8/27, leading to the dismissal of Mangoush by Dbeibeh. (TOI 9/4)

New Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni reversed his predecessor Ada Colau’s decision to end the city’s twinning agreement with Tel Aviv. Colau canceled the city twinning agreement in February, citing Israel’s apartheid policies. (MEE 9/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized a concrete mixer near Qarawat Bani Hassan. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya’bad, Nablus, Bethlehem, Aida refugee camp, Dura, and Bayt Rima; 4 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition during the raid in Ya’bad. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 5 Palestinian fishermen and seized their 2 boats. (PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/28; PCHR 8/31; UNOCHA 9/11)

Human Rights Watch released a report saying that Israel has killed at least 34 Palestinian children in 2023. The report criticized Israel for the killings and the international community for not holding Israel accountable, including by adding Israel to the UN list of countries that have committed grave violations against children during armed conflict. (HRW, WAFA 8/28)

Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh visited the Palestinian embassy, promising that Libya would not normalize relations with Israel after he suspended foreign minister Najla Mangoush in the aftermath of Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen saying that the 2 had held a meeting in Rome. (HA 8/28)

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smtorich said Israel would not agree to any gestures toward Palestinians as part of a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia. Smotrich also attacked the U.S. for its criticism of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s pro-apartheid comments on 8/23, calling the U.S. hypocritical for preaching human rights to Israel considering “how they operated in Afghanistan and Iraq.” (HA, MEE 8/28)

Israel’s Channel 13 reported that a delegation of Palestinian officials will travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss concessions Israel will have to make to Palestinians in order to convince Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. (TOI 8/28)

Syria said that Israeli airstrikes had put Aleppo Airport out of service. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU 8/28; REU 8/29)

The spokesperson for Papua New Guinean prime minister James Marape told Reuters that Marape will visit Israel next week and open an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. (TOI 8/27; AJ, REU 8/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided 2 schools in Ras al-Tin and Wadi al-Siq east of Ramallah, smashing windows and vandalizing classrooms. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Shukba, al-Mughayyir, Kafr Ra’i, al-Yamun, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Jerusalem, Israeli settlers blocked Route 1 and attacked a Palestinian family, injuring a child, with pepper spray during a protest calling for the release of Yehiel Indore who is charged with killing a Palestinian during a settler raid on Burqa on 8/4. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/13; HA, TOI 8/14; PCHR 8/17; UNOCHA 8/28)

The National Council of Arab Mayors in Israel said all Palestinian schools in Israel will go on strike from 9/1 if Palestinian municipalities do not receive $80 million promised to them by the previous government. The funds have been frozen by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The group also demonstrated outside of the prime minister’s office and the Finance Ministry. (HA, NA 8/13; HA, TOI 8/14)

In Syria, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes near Damascus, causing damage. (HA 8/13)

Former Israeli Northern Command commander Amiram Levin told the public broadcaster Kan that the situation in the West Bank is “total apartheid” and that soldiers are “beginning to be a partner in war crimes,” referring to a lack of enforcement against settler violence. Levin compared the situation to Nazi Germany, saying “[w]alk around Hebron, look at the streets. Streets where Arabs are no longer allowed to go on, only Jews. That is exactly what happened there, in that dark country [Nazi Germany].” (HA, JP, MEE, NA, TOI 8/13)

In the West Bank, about 50 Israeli settlers from the Oz Tzion settlement outpost shot and killed 1 Palestinian, injured 4 others, and set fire to 2 vehicles in Burqa. 2 of the settlers involved were arrested, including Elisha Yered, a former spokesperson for Otzma Yehudit party MK Limor Son Har-Melech. Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the arrested settlers heroes, while National Unity leader Benny Gantz called the incident “Jewish terrorism.” The U.S. condemned the incident as a “terror attack by Israeli extremist settlers.” 4 Palestinians were later arrested on 8/7. An Israeli settler also rammed a Palestinian child in Hebron, causing fractures. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set up a tent on Palestinian-owned land near Tulkarm. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a raid in Nur Shams refugee camp. Israeli forces also raided Biddu, injuring Palestinians with tear gas and arresting 2. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Dajan; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Deir Istiya, assaulting 1 Palestinian official and causing tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Palestinians demonstrated against poor living conditions in several cities and towns. 1 Palestinian minor was injured by an unexploded ordnance that detonated when he touched it. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/4; JP, MEE, NYT, PCHR, REU, WAFA 8/5; ALM, CNN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, REU, TOI 8/6; ALM, ALM, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, WAFA 8/7; AJ, ALM 8/8; HA 8/9; PCHR 8/10; HA, UNOCHA 8/11)

12 Palestinian families comprised of 89 people fled their homes in Ras al-Tin following Israeli settler violence in the area. (WAFA 8/12; AP 8/24)

The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Lynn Hastings said the UN has launched an assessment of how to aid 60 Palestinian herding communities that are affected by Israeli settler violence. (WAFA 8/4)

An open letter, titled “The Elephant in the Room,” began circulating among academics and public figures and received more than 1,100 signatures by 8/11. The letter stated that “[t]here cannot be democracy for Jews in Israel as long as Palestinians live under a regime of apartheid,” and called for an end to Israeli impunity at the UN and restrictions on U.S. military aid. The letter was primarily signed by Israeli and Jewish academics and public figures, including Benny Morris, Avraham Berg, Avi Shlaim, and Ilan Pappe. (Letter 8/4; HA 8/7; MEE 8/8; TOI 8/9; WAFA, WP 8/11; WAFA 8/12; MDW 8/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to agricultural fields near Burin. Armed Israeli settlers also raided Arab al-Mleihat, intimidating Palestinians. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers also assaulted 2 Palestinians and attempted to set fire to their tent in Tuqu’. In East Jerusalem, Israel forced 1 Palestinian family to demolish their own home in Bayt Hanina. Off the coast, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya and Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Tamra, Palestinian citizens of Israel protested the Israeli government’s failure to address the rising murder rate in Palestinian communities. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/29; PCHR 8/3; UNOCHA 8/11)

An unknown gunman tried to assassinate Mahmoud Khalil from al-Shabab al-Muslim, killing his companion in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon. (MEE 7/29; AJ, F24, GDN, HA, MEE, REU 7/30; ALM, BBC, MEE, NYT 7/31; MDW 8/2)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with members of the PFLP ahead of a reconciliation meeting of most Palestinian parties on 7/30 in Egypt. (HA 7/30)

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada adopted a resolution labelling Israel an apartheid state. (MDW 7/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up 6 mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, creating a new settlement outpost. It was reported Israeli forces leveled land in preparation for the settlers to create the outpost. Israeli settlers also set up caravans near Mukhmas. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers also raided ‘Urif, setting fire to homes and a mosque and vandalizing the electric panel supplying the town, cutting power for hours. Security footage also showed the settlers tearing apart a Quran outside of the mosque. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Nahalin, Yasuf, and Ras Karkar. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers with a military escort also attacked Palestinians in Jalud, injuring 1 Palestinian with live ammunition and others with stones. Israeli settlers also raided Sinjil and Umm Safa before being repelled by Palestinians. Separately, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Khirbet Tuba in the Masafer Yatta area, causing bruises and damage to property. Israeli forces raided Nablus, punitively demolishing the family home of 1 Palestinian man who allegedly took part in the killing of an Israeli soldier in October 2022; 33 Palestinians were injured by tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 4 residential structures in al-Maleh. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assaulted 5 Palestinians in Silwan. Israeli authorities demolished 1 agricultural structure, uprooted trees, and razed a plot of land in Umm Tuba. (ABC, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/22; PCN 6/23 HA, HA 6/24; PCN 6/29; PCHR 7/6; UNOCHA 7/8)

The Jerusalem District Planning Committee approved proposed plans to build a new American embassy on a plot of land known as the Allenby complex, which is privately owned by several Palestinian families. It is still undetermined if the U.S. will move ahead with its plans to build the embassy on the plot of land because it was seized by Israel from the Palestinian families after the Nakba. (HA 6/22)

U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said at a Geneva Initiative event in Tel Aviv that the U.S. does “not stand and watch settler violence. I have been very clear and very specific that we will not stand by, and we are pushing the Israelis to take whatever action they need to take to stop those people.” The Saudi foreign ministry also issued a statement condemning the settler attacks. (HA, WAFA 6/22)

The annual UN report on the treatment of children in conflict zones left out Israel on the list of shame for the killing and mistreatment of Palestinian children. According to the report, 42 Palestinian children were killed and 933 were injured during 2022. Human Rights Watch and the PA expressed disappointment that Israel was left off the list. (AJ 6/23; HRW 6/27; WAFA, WAFA 6/28 AJ 6/29)

The chair and deputy chair of the Elders, Mary Robinson and Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement after visiting Israel and Palestine, warning that the “one-state reality is now rapidly extinguishing the prospect of a two-state solution.” The statement said that Robinson and Ban did not hear a “detailed rebuttal of the evidence of apartheid. On the contrary, the declarations and policies of the current Israeli Government . . . clearly show an intent to pursue permanent annexation rather than temporary occupation, based on Jewish supremacy.” (AP, ELDERS 6/22; MEE 6/23; HA 6/26; HA 7/2)  

In the West Bank, 1 unidentified person shot and injured 1 Israeli settler and 4 Israeli soldiers near Ya’bad. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 8 others during a raid in Balata refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished a car scrap yard in Ein ad-Duyuk al-Tahta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued notifications that it will seize 70 dunams (17.3 acres) of land in Azzun ‘Atma and Masha. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya’bad, Dheisheh refugee camp, ad-Doha, Askar refugee camp, and Seida. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 car wash shop in Shu’fat. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jabel Mukaber and Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian fisherman with a baton round west of al-Sudaniyya. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/13; PCHR, WAFA 6/14; PCHR 6/15; UNOCHA 6/18; UNOCHA 7/8)

Israel’s military advocate general said that the soldiers responsible for the death of Palestinian American Omar As’ad on 1/12/22 will not be criminally prosecuted. 78-year-old As’ad died of heart failure after being arbitrarily detained and left on his stomach on the floor in a yard of an abandoned house while handcuffed, blindfolded, and gagged. The U.S. State Department said on 6/14 that it is seeking more information from Israel about the decision not to charge the soldiers. (AP, HA, REU 6/13; AJ, AJ, AP, BBC, HA, MDW, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 6/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas began his 4-day official visit to China. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA 6/13)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill creating an ambassador-level position at the State Department focused on creating normalization deals for Israel. The bill, which passed 413-13, was co-sponsored by Democrat Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Republican Mike Lawler (R-NY). (HA 6/13; MDW 6/14)

The Lebanese parliament failed to elect a president for the 12th time. Lebanon has not had a president since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022. (AJ, AP, HA 6/14)

Amnesty International released a report on the Israeli attacks on Gaza between May 9 and May 13, calling on the ICC “to consider the applicability of the crime against humanity of apartheid within its current formal investigation.” Amnesty found that 31 Palestinians had been killed, including in unlawful killings and possible war crimes. Amnesty also found that 3 Palestinians in Gaza were possibly killed by rockets misfired by Palestinian armed groups. (AI 6/13; MEE 6/14)

Khader Adnan, a popular member of Islamic Jihad, died in his cell in the Magen-Nitzan prison in Ramle after an 86-day hunger strike in protest over his administrative detention. Adnan was the first Palestinian prisoner to die while on hunger strike since 1992 and several organizations had for weeks warned about his condition. In response to the death of the 45-year-old Adnan, Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired rockets at Israel, injuring 3 Chinese nationals working at a construction site in Sderot. Israeli forces conducted airstrikes and fired artillery shells at Gaza, killing 1 Palestinian man, injuring 5 in Beit Hanun, and causing damage in Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Jabalia refugee camp. A ceasefire, brokered by the UN, Egypt, and Qatar took effect on 5/3 at 4 a.m. In the West Bank, PA forces violently dispersed a march in support of Adnan in Jenin using tear gas and stun grenades, arresting 3, including activist Ghassan al-Saadi. 1 Israeli settler was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at vehicles near the Avnei Hefetz settlement north of Shufa. Israeli settlers threw stones at a Palestinian home in Kisan. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the death of Adnan in Beit Umar, al-Khader, Ramallah, Hebron, al-Ram, Nabi Salih, Kafr al-Labad, and Qalqilya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. A general strike in protest over the death of Adnan was observed in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Fawwar refugee camp, Beit Umar, and Beit Tamer, including former cabinet minister Khaled Abu Arafeh. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AX, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/2; AI, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/3; HA, MDW, PCHR 5/4; MEE, UNOCHA 5/5; MDW 5/6; UNOCHA 5/19)

Islamic Jihad spokesperson Daoud Shihab said that Israel had ignored attempts by Islamic Jihad, through Egyptian mediators, to secure Khader Adnan’s release. PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called Adnan’s death a “premeditated assassination” and the PA called for an international investigation. The International Committee of the Red Cross called on Israel to immediately release the body of Adnan to his family. (AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/2; HA 5/7)

A Jerusalem court convicted a former border police officer of assaulting a Palestinian woman in East Jerusalem in November 2021 while she was still working for the Israeli military. (TOI 5/2; HA 5/3)

Amnesty International released the report “Automated Apartheid,” saying that Israel is using a new advanced facial recognition technology called Red Wolf to collect biometric data on Palestinians in the West Bank. The facial recognition cameras are installed at checkpoints in Hebron and are linked to the Blue Wolf and Wolf Pack database systems. Amnesty called on the international community to prohibit companies from providing surveillance technology to Israel. (AI, HA, MEE, WAFA 5/2; AJ 5/7)

EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell met with Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen in Brussels more than a month after Cohen signaled that Borrell would not be allowed to visit Israel and the West Bank due to his criticism of the Israeli occupation. The 2 parties agreed to hold an Israel-EU association meeting by the end of 2023. Cohen said the meeting could take place in Jerusalem. (HA 5/1; ALM 5/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 50 olive trees in Deir Sharaf. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinians in al-Mughayyir and assaulted 2 Israeli soldiers when they tired to arrest 1 of the stone throwers. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at a Palestinian ambulance traveling near Ramallah, injuring 1 passenger and causing damage. Israeli settlers raided Madama; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces issued demolition notices for 6 homes and 2 water wells in Umm Lafsa and 1 home in Marda. Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 4. (HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/28; PCHR 3/2; UNOCHA 3/19)

Israel’s minister of public diplomacy Galit Distel Atbaryan said in a video on her Twitter account about Palestinian-Israeli relations, “[d]on’t be misled and don’t be naive, it’s not a war over territory. No, it’s a fundamentalist religious war of brainwashed murderers who are programmed to seek Jewish blood since age zero. There are hypocrites who wake up to condemn violence here, only when it suits their narrative of a so-called ‘occupying apartheid country.’” (MDW 2/28; NAT 3/1)

The U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs Hady Amr visited Huwwara, meeting with victims of the Israeli settler attack on 2/26. The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs said it wants “to see full accountability and legal prosecution of those responsible for these heinous attacks and compensation for those who lost property or were otherwise affected.” (HA, WAFA 2/28)

The UN Security Council called for an immediate de-escalation and end to “unilateral actions” in the West Bank during an emergency session. (NAT 3/1)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian man succumbed to wounds sustained during an Israeli raid in Nablus on 2/13. An Israeli settler shot and injured 1 Palestinian woman after she allegedly attempted to stab a person near the Ma‘ale Adumim settlement. Israeli settlers also opened fire at buildings in Nabi Salih; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished commercial structures near al-Jalama. In Gaza, 6 rockets were launched at Israel from Gaza; no damage was reported. Israeli forces conducted airstrikes hitting 2 sites in Gaza and causing damage; no injuries were reported. (NYT, REU 2/22; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, GDN, HA, HA, IN, MEE, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23; AJ, HA, MEE, WAFA 2/24; PCHR 3/2; UNOCHA 3/4)

A day after advancing plans for 3,144 new settlement housing units, the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Council advanced plans for a further 4,013 new settlement units, including 1,135 in Ma’ale Adumim. The total number of settlement units advanced on 2/22 and 2/23 was 7,157, of which 1,900 were given final approval and the rest were advanced for deposit. Israel advanced 4,427 settler housing units in 2022 and 3,645 in 2021. (AP, HA, PCN, PCN 2/23; ALM, AP 2/24; WAFA 2/25)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu granted Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich authority over the Civil Administration, which was previously under the defense minister’s authority, and allowed Smotrich to create a settlement authority that will seek to improve services and infrastructure in Israeli settlements. The move was described as de jure annexation as Israel transferred the authority of the occupation from the military to a civilian entity. A Haaretz editorial described the move as creating “a formal, full-fledged apartheid regime.” (HA, REU 2/23; MEE 2/24; MDW 2/25; HA 2/26; HA 2/27)

The PA Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the international community’s response to the Israeli massacre in Nablus on 2/22 “shy and weak.” A general strike was observed throughout the West Bank in protest against the event in Nablus. (WAFA, WAFA 2/23)

The Arab League condemned Israel’s deadly raid in Nablus on 2/22 after an extraordinary meeting was convened in Cairo. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the Israeli actions. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23)

Oman announced that it had opened its airspace to all carriers, allowing Israeli airlines to enter its airspace. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA, MEE, REU, REU 2/23)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian man died of wounds sustained from Israeli forces during a raid in Kafr Dan on 1/2. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at Israeli soldiers at the Tarsala settlement outpost near Jaba’. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Zwaidin in the Masafer Yatta area, causing tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Tel Aviv, around 80,000 people demonstrated against the Israeli government’s plans to weaken the judiciary by allowing the Knesset to override Supreme Court decisions on legislation. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, BBC, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/14; AP, HA 1/15; MEMO, UNOCHA 1/16; PCHR 1/19; UNOCHA 2/3)

EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell circulated a document rejecting calls from members of the European Parliament to label Israel an apartheid state and saying that the EU will not suspend the EU-Israel Association Council due to the new Israeli government’s policies. (HA, MEMO 1/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired a tear gas canister into a hospital in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries among patients and staff. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 with live ammunition and 10 with baton rounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian near Silat ad-Dhahr. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmlands north of Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 9/23; MEMO, WAFA 9/24; PCHR 9/29; UNOCHA 9/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UNGA, saying that Israel is not a partner in peace and that the country is working to undermine the 2-state solution. President Abbas called on the international community to deal with Israel as an occupying state. Abbas also lambasted Israel’s impunity in continuing its settlement enterprise, in not dealing with settler attacks, and in killing Palestinians, mentioning Shireen Abu Akleh, saying that since Israel is not abiding by the Oslo Accords, that the PA will not either and will instead seek justice at international courts. Furthermore, Abbas said that Israel is establishing apartheid, asking the audience why it is not holding Israel accountable for its crimes and to implement UN resolutions on Palestine. Lastly, Abbas said the PA will seek full membership at the UN and called on UK, the U.S., and Israel to recognize their responsibility in the Nakba. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEE, WAFA 9/23; MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 9/24; WAFA 9/25)

Australia announced that it will double its contribution to UNRWA for 2022, from $6.5 million to $13 million. (WAFA 9/23)

In the West Bank, 2 Israeli settlers were wounded by gunfire near Joseph’s Tomb. Israeli settlers opened fire at Palestinians in Kisan; no injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near the Yitzhar settlement, damaging 3. Israeli forces shot and injured 4 Palestinians with live ammunition, 5 with baton rounds, and 13 with shrapnel, and fired an anti-tank missile at a home during an arrest raid in Rujeib. Israeli forces also placed dirt mounds at the main entrance to Silwad. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Zeita, Deir al-Ghusun, Attil, Seida, Huwwara, Tubas, Qalqilya, Jenin, Beit Umar, and Deir Sammit. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan. (MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/30; MEMO 8/31; PCHR 9/1)

An Israeli district court in Beersheba sentenced the former director of World Vision in Gaza, Mohammad al-Halabi, with another 6 years in prison, in addition to the 6 years he has already spent in Israeli prison. Human Rights Watch’s Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir called the sentencing “a profound miscarriage of justice . . . The al-Halabi case exposes how Israel uses its legal system to provide a veneer of legality to mask its ugly apartheid over millions of Palestinians.” (AJ, GDN, REU, WAFA, WAFA 8/30; BBC, MDW, WAFA 8/31; MEMO 9/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian farmers in Khirbat Aqwewis in the Masafer Yatta area and let their livestock graze on land planted with barley and olive trees. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in Tell, injuring 4 with pepper spray and 1 by physical assault. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian shepherd in ‘Ain al-Hilweh. Israeli forces shot 1 Palestinian man near a military post in Huwwara; the unarmed man who was collecting bottles died of his wounds on 7/30. Israeli forces also assaulted 2 Palestinians at Solomon’s Pools near Bethlehem. Israeli forces demolished commercial structures near the Jalamah checkpoint, 1 coffee shop in Ya‘bad, and 2 agricultural structures and a dirt road in Qusin. Israeli forces also punitively demolished the homes of 2 Palestinian prisoners in Qarawat Bani Hassan, displacing 18; 4 Palestinians were injured with baton rounds while protesting the demolition. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 6 Palestinian homes under construction in al-Dirat. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Duqqu and Biddu. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians working their land east of al-Qarara and al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, and al-Sudaniyya. (HA, MEE, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/26; WAFA 7/27; PCHR 7/28; AA, MEE, TOI, WAFA 7/30; PCHR 8/4; UNOCHA 8/5)

Members of slain Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s family met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken at the White House. The family said that they demanded a U.S.-led investigation into the Israeli killing of Abu Akleh and that they want to speak to U.S. president Joe Biden about the lack of accountably for the killing. (AJ, AP, AX, HA 7/26; AP, MDW 7/27)

Israel said Russian-operated S-300 anti-aircraft defense batteries had fired at Israeli jets flying over Syria in May. Israel said the anti-aircraft fire had missed the Israeli fighter jets. (AA, HA, REU, TOI 7/26)

The Predator spyware from the Israeli company Cytrox was found on the phone of a Greek member of the European parliament representing the Panhellenic Socialist Movement. (HA 7/26)

South African minister of international relations and cooperation Naledi Pandor said in a meeting that It is South African policy that Israel should be classified as an apartheid state at the UN. (AJ 7/26; MEE, WAFA 7/27; WAFA 7/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian trying to enter Israel for work at the separation wall west of Jenin. Israeli forces also seized 1,480 dunams (366 acres) of land near the Shilo settlement, taken from Qaryut, Jalud, Turmus ‘Ayya, and al-Mughayyir villages. 3 Palestinians were arrested during a raid in al-Fasayil. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA 7/13; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

Haaretz reported that the Israeli military police was investigating 16 out of 60 killings of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli forces during the 1st 6 months of 2022. Of the 60 killed, 15 were children and 4 were women. Israeli forces killed 70 Palestinians in the West Bank in 2021, 19 in 2020, and 20 in 2019. (HA 7/13)

Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta area asked the Israeli high court of justice to issue an interim injunction against Israeli military exercises in the area, citing a munition hitting a home during an exercise on 7/6. (HA 7/13)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said that he had invited the family of the Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces on 5/11, to the White House. The invitation comes as the Biden administration has received severe criticism for whitewashing the Israeli killing by not firmly blaming Israel for the killing and by refusing to call for any consequences. It was unclear if President Biden will partake in the meeting. U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that the U.S. does not consider the case a closed matter and expects an open investigation. (+972 7/12; AJ, AJ, HA, INT, REU 7/13)

U.S. president Joe Biden landed in Tel Aviv for a 4-day trip of the Middle East that will include meetings with Palestinian, Israeli, and Saudi leaders. In a speech, President Biden voiced support for a 2-state solution but said “even though I know it is not in the near-term.” PA minister of social development Ahmed Majdalani called Biden’s words meaningless, saying Biden seeks to promote Israeli normalization with Arab countries over addressing the situation on the ground. During the 1st day of his 4-day tour, Biden also visited the Yad Vashem. (+972, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, ALM, AP, AX, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA 7/13; HA, HA 7/14)

In a prerecorded interview with Israeli Channel 12, Biden emphasized that his trip to the Middle East was about having Israel “accepted as an equal” in the region. Biden also dismissed members of his own party who call Israel an apartheid state and said that he would not remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations even if that blocked a deal in which the U.S. would reenter the Iran Nuclear Deal. (MEE 7/14; HA, MEE 7/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita and Bayt Dajan, injuring 16 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 8 with baton rounds. 1 Palestinian was arrested at the Qalandia checkpoint. (WAFA 7/8; WAFA 7/9; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke to Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid and Israeli president Isaac Herzog in phone calls. The phone calls come 1 day after defense minister Benny Gantz visited President Abbas in Ramallah and 1 week ahead of U.S. president Joe Biden’s visit to Palestine and Israel. It was the 1st direct call between Abbas and an Israeli prime minister since 2017. The PA said that Prime Minister Lapid extended his wishes for Eid al-Adha and that Abbas congratulated Lapid on becoming Israel’s new prime minister. (AP, AX, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA 7/8; ALM 7/11)

Middle East Eye reported that Israeli military officials have been traveling to the U.S. air base al-Udeid in Qatar as part of the U.S. defense department 2021 decision to transfer Israel to the Central Command. (MEE 7/8)

The Presbyterian Church in the U.S. voted 266-166 on a resolution declaring that Israel practices apartheid against the Palestinian people and voted to add May 15 as a day to commemorate the Nakba. (WP 7/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Huwwara, spraying pepper spray at 1 Palestinian man confronting the settlers who were trying to steal Palestinian flags. Israeli settlers also assaulted 2 Palestinians near Burqa, causing hospitalizations. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian family traveling in a car near Duma, spraying pepper spray at 3 Palestinians, including a 2-year-old who received medical assistance. Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders against 3 houses and 1 agricultural structure in al-Khader. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tulkarm, Kafr Qaddum, Habla, Aida refugee camp, Hebron, and al-Juwaya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians working for the Israeli municipality in the Ramat Eshkol settlement; 1 of the Palestinians was slashed with a knife in the back and the other was beaten and suffered a broken arm. The Israeli settlers had asked the 2 men if they were Arabs before assaulting them. Israeli forces raided Silwan, firing tear gas and stun grenades, causing injuries. 3 were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan and the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces shot and injured 3 Palestinian fishermen and damaged 1 boat within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/16; HA 6/17; HA 6/20; PCHR 6/23; UNOCHA 7/2)

Al Jazeera published an image of the bullet that killed Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin refugee camp on 5/11. Ballistic and forensic experts said that the bullet was 5.56mm, used by Israeli forces, and manufactured in the U.S. (AJ, AP, HA 6/16)

The Catalonian parliament passed a resolution saying Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people. (MEE 6/16; WAFA 6/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized more than 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles in al-Bireh with racist graffiti and by slashing tires. Israeli settlers with military escort brought their cattle to graze on Palestinian lands, leading to a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Burqa and the Za‘atara checkpoint, causing damage. Israeli forces razed an olive grove in Wadi Fukin, uprooting 30 olive trees. Israeli forces also raided Qalandia refugee camp, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and dozens of others with tear gas; 1 was arrested. 9 other Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Abu Shukheidim, Jalazun refugee camp, Tuqu‘, Hebron, Nablus, and Awarta. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Silwan. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel stabbed 6 Israeli Jewish people and rammed them with his car in Beersheba, killing 4 and wounding 2 others before he was shot dead by an Israeli bus driver. The Palestinian man, who was a resident of Hura, was said to be a supporter of ISIS and was reportedly arrested in 2015 and 2016 for attempting to join ISIS in Syria. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; HA, HA 3/23; ALM, HA, HA, HA, PCHR 3/24; ALM, HA 3/25; UNOCHA 4/10)

1 Palestinian resident of Sheikh Jarrah was sentenced to 1 year in prison on classified charges. (WAFA 3/22)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan met in Sharm El Sheikh, discussing energy stability, food security, and international issues. (AJ, AX, HA, REU, REU 3/22; HA, HA 3/23)

In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN special rapporteur Michael Lynk charged Israel with committing crimes of apartheid. Special Rapporteur Lynk wrote that Israel has “an institutionalized regime of systematic racial oppression and discrimination ... where Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank live their lives under a single regime which differentiates its distribution of rights and benefits of the basis of national and ethnic identity, and which ensures the supremacy of one group over, and to the detriment of, the other.” (NYT 3/23; HA, WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort, for the 3d day in a row, tried to prevent Palestinian students from reaching their school in al-Lubban al-Sharqiya. Israeli forces violently dispersed the funeral procession for a 14-year-old boy who was killed by Israeli forces on 2/22, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also prevented Palestinians from digging a water well in Thaher al-‘Abed near Ya‘bad. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 4 residential structures and 1 agricultural structure in Lasifer, displacing 30 Palestinians, and demolished 4 residential structures in Shaab al-Batm in the Masafer Yatta area, displacing 40 Palestinians. Israeli forces also delivered a punitive demolition notice against the home of 1 Palestinian prisoner in Silat al-Harithiya. 22 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Arroub refugee camp, Salfit, Nablus, Jenin, and Deir Jarir. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir toured Sheikh Jarrah in protest over the 2/22 Israeli court decision to freeze the eviction of the Salem family. 14 Palestinians from the West Bank were arrested near the Damascus Gate plaza for being in East Jerusalem without a permit. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23; PCHR 2/24; UNOCHA 3/11)

In Syria, Israeli forces fired missiles at Syria from Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing material damage in the province of Quneitra. (AJ, AP, HA 2/23)

Minister at the negotiations affairs department of the PLO Dr. Shaddad Attili spoke at the Israel Climate Change Conference in Jerusalem, saying that Israelis and Palestinians, along with others in the region, have to cooperate on climate change. Dr. Attili said that Palestinians have pushed back on climate initiatives because of the economic crisis in the PA. 1 of the issues Attili pointed to was the lack of water security and the inequity in distribution of water between Israel and Palestine. The climate conference was organized by Haaretz and Hebrew University. (HA, HA 2/23)

At the UN security council, a French representative said that France will continue to support the 6 Palestinian rights organizations that Israel deemed terrorist organizations in October 2021, citing a lack of evidence. Also at the security council meeting, the PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour charged Israel with crimes of apartheid, listing a number of violations committed by Israel, while wearing a mask with the text “End Apartheid.” (MEMO, TOI 2/23; AJ, MEE, MEMO 2/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort raided Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians protesting the incursion; no injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian farmers with pepper spray east of Hebron. Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 1 mosque, 3 houses, and 1 commercial structure in Marda. Israeli forces also forced Palestinian business owners to close their shops in Huwwara, claiming that stones had been thrown at Israeli settlers near the shops. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 4 water wells in Khallet al-Dabe. Israeli forces also demolished 1 commercial structure in ‘Anata. Israeli military said that shots were fired from a car at Israeli soldiers near Nablus; no injuries were reported. 13 Palestinians were arrested, including 10 during late-night raids in Dahariya, Za‘atra, Silwad, and Zeita; 3 were arrested at checkpoints near Bethlehem and Nablus. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/2; MEMO, MEMO, PCHR 2/3)

Haaretz reported that Israeli attorney general Avichai Mendelblit authorized establishing an Israeli settlement on the evacuated Evyatar settlement outpost near Beita. Attorney General Mendelblit is leaving office this week. Palestinians have held weekly protests at the site since the outpost was erected in May 2021. The outpost was evacuated in June 2021, but the houses erected remained as the settlers struck a deal with the Israeli government that they could move back if Israel deemed that the land is state-owned. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz will have to declare the area state-owned, after which there will be a 45-day period to file objections. Several Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the past year while protesting the outpost. In a letter from Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Lapid warned that if the Israeli government legalized the Evyatar settlement outpost, it “could have serious diplomatic consequences and damage foreign relations, first and foremost from the United States,” saying that the U.S. has already made this clear to him. Labor and Meretz publicly opposed legalizing the settlement outpost. (AP, HA, IN 2/2; HA, JP, MEE, TOI, TOI, TOI 2/3; HA, HA, HA 2/4; UNOCHA 2/11)

The Shin Bet admitted to having threatened random Palestinians in Israel that it would “settle the score” if they had participated in protests related to the May 2021 uprising in Israel that coincided with Israeli attacks on Gaza and eviction threats against Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. (HA, MEE 2/3)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Amnesty International’s secretary-general Agnès Callamard in Ramallah, discussing the report Amnesty released on 2/1 that charged Israel with the crime of apartheid. (WAFA 2/2)

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, at a conference in Tel Aviv, that the Israeli military on 4 occasions had offered assistance to Lebanon. According to Gantz, the offers were made to strengthen the Lebanese army in facing “the strengthening of Hezbollah under Iran’s support.” Israeli military sources later denied that Israel had made such offers and that Israel had only offered humanitarian aid following the explosion in the Beirut port. (HA 2/2; MEMO 2/3)

Israel, Oman, and Saudi Arabia all took part in the International Maritime Exercise 2022, led by the U.S. and with the participation of nearly 60 countries. It was the 1st time that Saudi Arabia and Oman partook in a naval exercise with Israel, which they have no formal relations with. (AJ, ALM 2/2)

The FBI confirmed reporting from the New York Times published on 1/28 that the agency had bought the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, but claimed to never have used it. The FBI further stated that it had bought the spyware for “product testing and evaluation.” (ALM, AP, HA, REU 2/2; MEMO 2/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized equipment worth around $30,000 in a quarry near Beit Fajjar, Israeli forces had earlier in the day sealed off a road leading to the quarry. Israeli forces also set up mobile structures on Palestinian-owned land in Khirbat Humsa. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 3 Palestinian-owned structures near al-Ramadin; 1 Palestinian journalist working for WAFA was assaulted and another Palestinian was detained during the demolition. Israeli forces also demolished 25 produce stands near al-Jalama checkpoint north of Jenin. 32 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids, including 21 in al-Am‘ari refugee camp, 1 Palestinian was also was bitten by a police dog. PA forces opened fire at a sit-in protest in front of the education directorate headquarters in Tubas, injuring 2 with live ammunition bullet shrapnel. The Palestinian students were peacefully protesting in Tubas, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarm, and Nablus, demanding that parts of the matriculation exams are removed due to the COVID-19 virus. The Tubas governor said that an investigation into the incident was underway and that it was the action of 1 individual. 11 others were arrested during late-night raids in Qalqilya, Qatanna, Tuqu‘, and Sa‘ir. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces punitively demolished the family home, in Shu‘fat refugee camp, of 1 Palestinian man who was killed after killing 1 Israeli settler and injuring 4 others in the Old City on 11/21/2021. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled agricultural land east of Khan Yunis and north of Bayt Lahiya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of the shore; no injuries were reported. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/1; MEMO 2/2; AJ, MEMO, PCHR 2/3; UNOCHA 2/11)

Israel’s interior ministry said it would start processing family unification requests from Palestinians over the age of 50 who had received residency permits within the last 5 years. The ministry said it would start with that age group because they pose less of a security threat. If a family unification request is approved, the Palestinian will be “upgraded” to “temporary resident” with social benefits. There are 1,680 requests waiting as the Israeli interior ministry has refused to process the requests despite a temporary ban on Palestinian unifications expiring in July 2021. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Hamoked, and Physicians for Human Rights said Israel should start reviewing all applications and not just those for Palestinians over the age of 50. (HA 2/1)

Amnesty International released a 280-page report named “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity,” prepared over the last 4 years. Amnesty said in its report that it had found that “Israel has imposed a system of oppression and domination over Palestinians wherever it exercises control over the enjoyment of their rights—across Israel and the OPT and with regard to Palestinian refugees. The segregation is conducted in a systematic and highly institutionalized manner through laws, policies and practices, all intended to prevent Palestinians from claiming and enjoying equal rights to Jewish Israelis within Israel and the OPT, and thus intended to oppress and dominate the Palestinian people.” Amnesty concluded that this institutionalized discrimination perpetrated by Israel is “the international wrong of apartheid, as a human rights violation and a violation of public international law wherever it imposes this system.” Its research was based on “relevant Israeli legislation, regulations, military orders, directives by government institutions and statements by Israeli government and military officials.” Amnesty said that “Israel must grant equal and full human rights to all Palestinians in Israel and the OPT in line with principles of international human rights law and without discrimination, while ensuring respect for protections guaranteed for Palestinians in the OPT under international humanitarian law. It must also recognize the right of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return to homes where they or their families once lived in Israel or the OPT. In addition, Israel must provide victims of human rights violations, crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law—and their families—with full reparations. These should include restitution of and compensation for all properties acquired on a racial basis.” The Israeli foreign ministry called the report anti-Semitic. Amnesty refuted the charged said that Israel is diverting attention away from its violations of Palestinians’ human rights. U.S. state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. does not agree with Amnesty’s assessment “that Israel’s actions constitute apartheid.” Neither U.S. or Israeli senior officials commented on the evidence presented in the report. The UK and Germany also said they disagreed with the terminology of apartheid used in the report. The PA foreign ministry welcomed the report. (AP, HA, HA, JDF, WAFA 1/31; +972, AI, AJ, AP, CNN, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HILL, IN, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, POL, REU, SKY, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 2/1; HA, HA, JP, JP, MDW, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 2/2; +972, MEE, MEMO 2/3; TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/4; AJ 2/5)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said at a conference in Tel Aviv that Israel will start using lasers to intercept missiles “within a year.” (ALM, AP, HA, JP, MEMO, REU 2/1)

A vice president of the American telecommunications company Mobileum said that he had alerted the FBI to a meeting between the Israeli company NSO Group and Mobileum in 2017, saying that the NSO Group sought to buy access to the SS7 network. Mobileum did not deny the meeting but said that no deal was made with the NSO Group. The former employee who now works for Citizen Lab filed a whistleblower complaint about the meeting and presented evidence to the U.S. justice department, the securities and exchange commission, and the federal communications commission in June 2021. The former VP said that NSO Group senior employees explicitly said during the meeting that they would “drop off bags of cash in [the VP’s] office.” The former VP also said that if the NSO Group had gained access to the SS7 network, it would have “access to the home networks of operators around the world, access to millions and millions of users without bypassing any sort of security controls. That’s a very tantalizing capability for them to have.” (AJ, GDN, HA, MEE, WP 2/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 2 Palestinians and injured 5 others with stones near Khalat al-Daba; 3 cars were also damaged. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Ur al-Tahta, al-Bireh, Jenin, Bethlehem, Husan, Dura, and Fawwar refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the home of 1 Palestinian prisoner in Wadi al-Juz and ordered its occupants to demolish it; municipality workers demolished parts of the inside of the home before leaving. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 11/10; HA, PCHR, WAFA 11/11)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh told reporters during a press conference in Ramallah that if Israel does not embrace a 2-state solution, it will result in a 1-state reality of “apartheid.” Prime Minister Shtayyeh reiterated his charge against Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, accusing him of a 3-no mantra: no to meeting PA president Abbas, no to peace negotiations, and no to a Palestinian state. (AP, HA 11/10)

Palestinian politician, nephew of Yasir Arafat, and former chairman of the Arafat Foundation Nasser al-Kidwa charged PA president Mahmoud Abbas with destroying the Arafat Foundation in an advance statement for the anniversary of Arafat’s death. Al-Kidwa said that President Abbas is destroying the foundation by dismissing its board and canceling its independence from the PA. (MEMO 11/11)

Israel claimed to have new evidence against the 6 Palestinian rights organizations recently deemed terrorist organizations by the state, based on a plea deal from a Spanish citizen who worked for Health Work Committee, which is not 1 of the 6 rights organizations in question. According to the indictment, some money raised by the woman was transferred to the PFLP without her knowledge. The woman, however, only said that she had suspected the organization acted on behalf of the PFLP. (AP, HA, JP, TOI 11/10; +972, MEE 11/11)

Israel, the U.S., Bahrain, and the UAE participated in a joint military drill in the Red Sea. The naval drill is scheduled to last for 5 days. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO 11/11)

6 progressive-leaning members of U.S. congress, including Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CT), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), and Mark Pocan (D-MN) met with Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett during a J Street-sponsored trip to Israel and Palestine. Representatives Bowman and Pocan also visited Hebron and Susiya with Palestinian activist Nasser Nawajah and the executive director of Breaking the Silence Avner Gvaryahu. A bipartisan group of House representatives and senators led by Chris Coons (D-DE) also met with Prime Minister Bennett and PA prime minister Shtayyeh. Senator Coons said the group had asked Israel to provide more evidence against the 6 Palestinian rights organizations (see above). Members of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Bowman is a member, debated whether to expel Bowman due to his participation in the meeting with Naftali Bennett and his association with J Street. In the end, the Democratic Socialists of America did not expel Bowman but said that it expected to see significant movement from him on Palestine if it was to endorse him for the 2022 elections. (HA, TOI, WAFA 11/10; HA, MEMO 11/11; FOX, HA, MDW 12/1; HA 12/3)

The U.S. Biden administration reverted to the voting pattern of the Obama administration on UNGA resolutions pertaining to UNRWA. The U.S., Cameroon, Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Uruguay abstained on 1 resolution in support of Palestinian refugees’ right of return, while Israel was the only country that voted against. The U.S. and Israel were the only 2 countries to vote against a resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights. The U.S., Canada, Hungary, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Israel also voted against a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity and evictions in East Jerusalem. (MEMO, WAFA 11/10; FOX, JNS, JP 11/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Susiya, causing bruises, during a visit by EU representatives to the village. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Beita, killing 1 Palestinian using live ammunition; 7 others were hit by rubber-coated bullets and live ammunition, and 18 suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Yatta, Bani Na‘im, Bayt Liqya, Bethlehem, Biddu, Aqabah, and Qabatiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces injured 1 pro-Palestinian activist and arrested 4 others for waving a Palestinian flag during a protest in Sheikh Jarrah; at least 1 was released from jail on 9/25 after an Israeli judge ruled that flying Palestinian flags was not illegal. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/24; HA 9/27; PCHR 9/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN general assembly, outlining the territorial dispossession of Palestinians from historic Palestine at the time of the British Mandate to the current situation where Palestinians control 12% of the same land. President Abbas demanded that Israel withdraw from to the 1967 borders within 1 year. Abbas warned that if the world does not act to ensure the PA demand for a 2-state solution, then the “developments on the ground will dictate a reality [in which] the Palestinian people will demand its rights in the territory of all of historic Palestine,” hinting at moving toward demanding a 1-state solution. Abbas also accused Israel of ethnic cleansing and apartheid. Abbas addressed the UN general assembly in a pre-recorded video message. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA 9/24; AJ, HA, MEMO 9/25; ALM 9/26; ALM 9/29; ALM 10/5)

It was reported that Egypt refused to allow Mohammad Dahlan to relocate his office to Egypt from the UAE. (MEMO 9/25)

The U.S. think tank Center for Peace Communications hosted some 300 people in Erbil, Iraq, in a conference for normalizing ties between Iraq and Israel. Iraq’s presidential office, the prime minister’s office, and several influential organizations condemned the conference. An Iraqi court also issued arrest warrants for several of the attendees. (MEMO, MEMO 9/25; HA, MEMO, TOI 9/26; ALM 9/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers leveled Palestinian agricultural land near Deir ‘Ammar before Israeli forces removed them from the area. Israeli forces sealed off Sabastia for the 2d day in a row and closed Palestinian stores. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Bani Na‘im, Bayt Awa, Ya‘bad, and Beit Sira. In East Jerusalem, some 600 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 6 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan, al-Tur, Isawiya, and at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land north of Beit Lahiya and east of Dayr al-Balah. Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis and Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fisherman within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/23; PCHR 9/30)

2 Palestinians who had been missing after going fishing on 9/3 off the coast of Gaza were reported detained at a prison in Egypt. (MEE 9/23)

The PA commission of detainees’ affairs said in a statement that 1 39-year-old Palestinian who died of leukemia 7 months after being released from an Israeli prison perished because of medical neglect while he was incarcerated by Israel. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 9/23)

The PLO rejected an agreement made between the U.S. and UNRWA to keep the U.S. providing funds to the agency, saying that the agreement is an attempt to abolish the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees. (WAFA 9/23)

It was reported that Sudan had seized a number of companies and bank accounts belonging to Palestinians. According to the reporting, the assets belong to Hamas as a means to generate revenue for the organization. Later, on 9/24, Hamas said that it did not have links to the companies and individuals targeted by Sudan. 1 day later, on 9/25, the PA urged Sudan to hand over the assets to the PA. A Hamas official said the seizing of the funds by Sudan was a way for the new government to win the support of the U.S by slandering Hamas. (HA, REU, TOI 9/23; AA, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA 9/25; ALM 9/30)

The U.S. house of representatives passed a bill 420-9-2, providing Israel with another $1 billion of military aid to allegedly restock Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system after Israel’s attack on Gaza in May. The $1 billion was removed from a stopgap government-funding bill on 9/21, prompting Democratic majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) to present the funding as a stand-alone bill. The 9 representatives to vote against the bill were Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), André Carson (D-IN), Marie Newman (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Cori Bush (D-MO), And Thomas Massie (R-KY). Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Hank Johnson (D-GA) voted present. Representative Tlaib gave a speech before the vote calling Israel an apartheid state, drawing ire from several pro-Israel Democrats, including Ted Deutch (D-FL) who said that calling Israel an apartheid state was anti-Semitic. Later, Israel’s envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan said that the 9 representatives who voted against the bill were “either ignorant or antisemitic.” It is estimated that the deployment of the Iron Dome during May cost Israel a maximum of $120 million. (AJ, AP, FOX, FOX, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, REU, TOI 9/23; CNN 9/24; WAFA 9/25; HA 9/26; HA 9/27; JCUR, MEE 9/28)

Also in the house of representatives, representative Andy Levin (D-MI), supported by more than 24 Democrats, introduced the Two-State Solution Act, aimed at preserving the feasibility of a 2-state solution. Among its provisions, the bill aims at distinguishing between Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, defined as the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The authors of the bill want the U.S. to label products from occupied Palestine as such and not as Israeli products. It also aims at pushing the U.S. administration to reopen the PLO mission in D.C. and U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. Lastly, the authors want the PA to end its payments to Palestinian prisoners and their families convicted of terrorism by Israeli military courts. (POL 9/22; AJ, HA, JP, MEE 9/23; TOI 9/24)

Texas’s state comptroller Glenn Hegar said that Ben & Jerry’s had been added to the state’s list of companies that boycott Israel and that Texas will start to divest from the company. Texas is the 4th state to divest from Ben & Jerry’s over its decision to stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements and to move its franchise regional office from Israel. (NWK 9/23; JP 9/24)

Denmark and the PA signed an agreement for Denmark to provide $72 million in grants over the next 5 years to help development in, among other areas, local government, agriculture, and civil society. (WAFA 9/23; MEMO 9/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished stone fencing and a water well, uprooted olive and grape trees, razed 10 dunams (2.5 acres) of land in Qusra, and handed demolition orders for 2 agricultural structures and 1 stop-work order for a house in ‘Azzun. Israeli forces also set up mobile homes in Hebron. 1 Palestinian was arrested after allegedly opening fire at Israeli forces at the Qalandia checkpoint; 1 Israeli soldier was said to be lightly injured. 9 others were arrested, including 7 during late-night raids in Beit Fajjar, Sur Baher, Dura, Aqraba, and Hebron, 1 was arrested at a checkpoint near Bethlehem and 1 during a raid in Biddu, were 1 car was also seized. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in al-Tur. Off the coast of Gaza, Israel naval forces also opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 1.5 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at the Gaza fence north of Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/13; HA 7/14; PCHR 7/15)

A survey conducted between 6/28-7/1 on 800 Jewish-American voters by the Jewish Electorate Institute showed that 25% of the respondents said that Israel is an apartheid state and 34% said that “Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is similar to racism in the U.S.” 22% agreed that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. 20% of the respondents under 40 believed that Israel does not have right to exist and 38% of that group agreed with the statement that Israel is an apartheid state. (MEE, TOI 7/13; JNS, MDW, MEMO 7/14; JTA, TOI 7/15 JP, TOI 7/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole some 100 Palestinian-owned hay bales in Burin. Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians while traveling in the same car near al-Bireh. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kafr Na‘im, al-Bireh, Askar refugee camp, and Sa‘ir; 2 Palestinian children were injured by rubber-coated bullets during a confrontation with soldiers in Askar refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 10 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Jabal al-Mukabir and al-Tur. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian injured in Israeli air strikes in al-Bureij on 5/17 succumbed to his injuries, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 259 to 260, including 67 children and 3 pregnant women. In Israel, 1 Palestinian guard at a construction site was severally beaten by 10 Jewish-Israelis in Binyamina. 1 firebomb was thrown at a house occupied by Jewish-Israelis in Lydda; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/27; HA, WAFA 5/28; PCHR 6/3)

Israel approved 560 new settlement units in the Mtsad settlement near Kisan. (WAFA 5/27; MEMO 5/28)

According to Middle East Eye, the PA has been arresting at least 14 critics of the government in the West Bank since 5/1, with the largest arrest campaign on 5/22. (MEE 5/27; AJ 5/28)

At a meeting in the Knesset, it was revealed that 1,892 Israelis had been arrested in protests and in confrontations and clashes between Palestinian-Israelis and Jewish-Israelis, and that only 183 of them are Jewish-Israelis. Israeli police dubbed its arrest campaign “Operation Law and Order.” Palestinian-Israeli lawmakers called the operation racist, saying it only targets Palestinian-Israelis. (AJ, HA 5/28; MEMO 5/29; AJ 6/1)

1 Palestinian-Israeli imam Shaykh Kamal Khatib, the deputy leader of the northern faction of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was charged with incitement to terrorism and identification of a terrorist organization. Shaykh Khatib was arrested on 5/16. Khatib’s lawyer called the charges a political persecution. (HA, MEE 5/27)

An Egyptian official said that Egypt had invited Israeli, Hamas, and PA officials to Egypt for separate talks about reinforcing the ceasefire and accelerating the rebuilding of Gaza. A Hamas official said that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would visit Cairo next week and that Hamas is ready to talk about a prisoner swap. The Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi is expected to meet the Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry as part of the talks. (ALM, AP, HA, HA 5/27)

Israel summoned the French ambassador to Israel after the French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on 5/23 said, about Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, that the “risk of apartheid is strong if we continue to follow a logic of one state, or of status quo.” (HA, MEMO 5/26; ALM, HA, HA 5/27)

A public opinion poll released by the Arab American Institute said that 51% of Americans are for restricting U.S. military aid to Israel. 62% of Democrats supported restricting U.S. military aid to Israel. The poll was conducted on 5/20, the day the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced. (MEE 5/27)

The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution to investigate the latest escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas and Israeli attacks on Palestinians in East Jerusalem. 9 countries voted against the resolution, including Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Germany, Malawi, the Marshall Islands, U.K., and Uruguay. 14 countries abstained. Israel said it would not cooperate with the investigation. Hamas said its actions during the 11 days of violence were “legitimate resistance.” The U.S. said it opposed the investigation. The UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet stated that Israeli attacks on Gaza may be war crimes and that rockets fired from Gaza were a violation of international law. Separately, the UN appealed countries to raise $95 million in aid to Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. (AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, VOA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/27; ALM, MEMO, MEMO 5/28)

Japan announced $10 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza. (WAFA 5/27)

More than 600 prominent international musicians signed a calling Israel a “settler-colonial project committed to the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population” and calling for a boycott of Israel. (HA 5/28; MEMO 5/29; WAFA 5/30)