The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian-owned vehicle in al-Zawiya. An Israeli settler also rams a flock of sheep with his car in Kisan, killing 1 and injuring others. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Qusra. Israeli forces also open fire at a Palestinian vehicle traveling in Hebron before arresting the driver. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 25 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Baqa al-Hatab, Jenin, Hebron, Tubas, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces prevent the movement of Palestinian worshippers to the Haram al-Sharif compound, limiting the entry to 13,000 worshippers for Friday prayers. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 112 people. Israeli forces shoot and kill 4 Palestinians at al-Amal Hospital, including the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s director of the youth and volunteers department Hedaya Hamad. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Tayr Harfa, Wadi Hassan, Majdal Zoun, Marwahin, Zibqin, and Jabal Balat. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Damascus, killing an Iranian national and causing damage. In Yemen, Houthi militants fire a ballistic missile at Eilat, which Israel says is intercepted over the Red Sea. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/2; WAFA 2/3)

More than 27,131 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 11,500 children and 7,200 women, and around 66,287 have been injured since 10/7. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 374 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 94 children. More than 4,391 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, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 222 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,296 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 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, constituting over 60% of all housing units. UNICEF says it estimates that 17,000 Palestinian children in Gaza have been left separated from their families during the Israeli assault on Gaza and that nearly all children in Gaza require mental health support. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 2/2; HA 2/4)

Hamas official Osama Hamdan says the ceasefire proposal by Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. is not acceptable, saying a permanent ceasefire is needed. Hamdan also says Hamas demands the release of Marwan Barghouthi and Ahmad Saadat in a prisoner swap as part of the deal. Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala speaks to Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, discussing the ceasefire proposal. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA 2/2; AJ 2/3)

Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemn the decision by the U.S., Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Japan, Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania to suspend funding for UNRWA, calling their decisions collective punishment of Palestinian refugees. (WAFA 2/2)

The Israeli security cabinet convenes for a briefing on the ceasefire proposal. Sources say that the proposal includes a 142-day ceasefire where 1 Israeli captive would be released every day. Many in the security cabinet reportedly oppose the plan. (HA 2/2)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant says Israel will not stop attacking Lebanon if a ceasefire deal is reached in Gaza. MK and former defense minister Avigdor Liberman tells the Jerusalem Post that Egypt should control Gaza, Jordan should control Area A and parts of Area B of the West Bank, while Israel annexes Area C and parts of Area B. (AJ, HA 2/2)

U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield says an Algerian-circulated draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza could jeopardize “sensitive negotiations” for a temporary ceasefire. (REU 2/2)

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau says he is considering sanctioning “those responsible for extremist violence or extreme settler violence in the West Bank.” The U.S. sanctioned 4 Israeli settlers on 2/1. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 2/2)

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee schedules a vote on 2/6 on a bill called “Stop Support for UNRWA ACT” that would bar the U.S. from making contributions to the agency. (INT 2/2)

U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) says he will introduce an amendment to the foreign aid supplemental package that would cut $10.1 billion in “offensive weaponry funding” to Israel, saying the U.S. “must end its complicity in the nightmare unfolding in Gaza.” (AJ 2/2)

More than 800 officials from the U.S., UK, and EU release a letter of dissent criticizing their nations’ policies of support for Israel’s war in Gaza. (AJ, NYT 2/2; WAFA 2/3)

An AP-NORC poll finds that 50% of Americans say the “military response from Israel in the Gaza Strip has gone too far” compared to 40% in early November 2023. (AJ, AX, AP 2/2; WAFA 2/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Bruqin. Armed Israeli settlers also threatened Palestinian shepherds in the Jordan Valley. Israeli forces attempted to assassinate 3 Palestinians traveling in a vehicle near Balata refugee camp, firing a missile at their car; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also shot and injured 4 Palestinians, including 2 children, during raids in Tuqu’, al-‘Ayn, and Shuweika. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted a Palestinian in Hebron. Israeli forces also punitively demolished the family homes of 2 Palestinians prisoners in ‘Urif. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces severely assaulted a journalist, hospitalizing him in Wadi al-Juz. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians heading to the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, telecommunications remained cut off for the second day in a row, obfuscating reporting on the number of casualties. Israeli forces bombed Khan Yunis, Rafah, Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 100 Palestinians, including Al Jazeera journalist Samer Abudaqa and Palestinian New Press journalist Ramy Budair and 3 civil defense workers during an airstrike that also wounded Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh in Khan Yunis. Abudaqa was reportedly left to bleed out for 5 and half hours while rescue teams tried to secure safe passage during Israeli shelling of the area. Several members of al-Dahdouh’s immediate family were killed in an Israeli air strike on 10/25. Israeli forces also shot and killed 3 Israeli captives that had either been freed or escaped captivity in the Shuja‘iya neighborhood of Gaza City, mistaking them for Palestinians. The 3 were shirtless and holding up a white flag. The Israeli military called the incident “a tragic error.” Separately, 2 Israeli soldiers were killed in combat. Rockets were fired at Israel, causing damage near Jerusalem. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked Ramiya, Beit Lif, and near Alma al-Chaab, saying shots were fired toward Israel. Israel also dropped leaflets in Kfar Shuba, threatening residents to stop Hezbollah from operating in the area for their own safety. In the Red Sea, projectiles fired from Yemen hit 2 cargo ships. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/15; AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU 12/16; AP, REU 12/17; AP, NYT 12/18)

More than 18,897 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women, and around 51,000 had been injured since 10/7. At least 8,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 280 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 72 children. More than 3,387 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured since 10/7. 119 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 648 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. As of 12/3, at least 52,000 housing units had been destroyed and 253,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. 115 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. (UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 12/15)

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released a report, saying 476 Palestinians, including 112 children, have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in 2023. Of the 476, 276 have been killed since 10/7. 12,566 have been injured, including 1,841 children. Israeli forces have also demolished 1,010 structures since 1/1, displacing 1,884 people while settler violence has displaced 1,442. (UNOCHA 12/15)

Israel said it found the bodies of 3 Israeli captives in Gaza, including 2 soldiers and a civilian. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said 4,420 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7. (HA, NYT, REU 12/15)

The Israeli security cabinet approved the reopening of the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing for humanitarian aid after U.S. pressure. Haaretz reported that the Israeli military, with approval from Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich and Otzma Yehudit leader  Itamar Ben-Gvir, had allowed 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank to work in Israeli settlements upon request from settlement leaders. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, UNOCHA 12/15; HA 12/16)

The Foreign Press Association and Al Jazeera condemned the Israeli killing of Al Jazeera journalist Samer Abudaqa. Al Jazeera said it would refer the killing of Abudaqa to the ICC. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called Abudaqa’s death a “heavy loss” but said there was no indication that Israel deliberately targets journalists.  (AJ, AJ, HA 12/15; AJ, AJ 12/16; HA 12/17)

Israelis demonstrated in several places over the military’s killing of 3 Israeli captives in Gaza City. (HA 12/15; HA 12/16)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the 2 discussed “governance possibilities” for after Israel’s war. Abbas told Sullivan that the U.S. must intervene to prevent the forceful displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and to stop the bombing of Gaza. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 12/15)

Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu said Gaza must be “fully occupied.” (AJ, HA 12/15)

National Security Advisor Sullivan also met with Israeli officials for the second day in a row, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Mossad director David Barnea. Sullivan told the press that the U.S. expects the Israeli war to transition to a phase that is “focused on targeting the [Hamas] leadership, on intelligence operations.” The U.S. also criticized Israel for attacking the Lebanese army 34 times since 10/7. (AJ, AJ, AP, NYT, NYT 12/15)

The UK, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the EU, Australia, and Canada issued a joint statement calling on Israel to take steps to end settler violence in the West Bank, calling the violence against Palestinians unacceptable. The statement said that settler impunity had led to unprecedented levels of violence. (WAFA 12/14; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 12/15)

A court in the Netherlands rejected a petition by human rights organizations to halt transfers of F-35 parts to Israel. (AJ, AJ, AP, REU 12/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort marched near Fawwar refugee camp and Dura, throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles. Israeli forces closed the entrances to the camp and village to facilitate the march. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian shepherds in Khirbet Makhul. 40 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Fawwar refugee camp, Hebron, Bethlehem, Shu’fat, Biddu, Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family was forced to demolish their own home in Sur Baher. In Gaza, an explosion at a Hamas military site in Dayr al-Balah killed 1 member of the Qassem Brigades and injured 1 other. Hamas called the explosion an accident. (AP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/24; PCHR 8/31; UNOCHA 9/11)

Representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, and Norway toured Ras al-Tin and Burqa, condemning the demolition of an EU-funded school in Ein Samia and settler violence in the area. (WAFA 8/24)

The Israeli High Court of Justice approved the punitive demolition of the family home of a 13-year-old Palestinian who allegedly stabbed an Israeli police officer at the Shu’fat checkpoint on 2/13. The Palestinian child, whose trial is ongoing, was charged with murder as an Israeli settler opened fire at the child but instead shot and killed the police officer. The court rejected the argument that the family’s home should not be demolished due to the child’s age, saying the punitive demolition would deter other children from attacking Israeli forces. (HA 8/24; AP 8/31)

PA finance minister Shukri Bishara said that the Levine case against the PA and PLO had been dropped in a U.S. court. The plaintiff sought damages from the PA and PLO for $1 billion, claiming the PA and PLO were responsible for an attack that took place in Jerusalem in 2014. (WAFA 8/24)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas chaired the 11th session of the Fatah Revolutionary Council in Ramallah. (WAFA, WAFA 8/24)

Sierra Leonean president Julius Maada Bio issued a statement saying his country will open an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. The announcement followed a phone conversation between Maada Bio and Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen. (JP, TOI 8/25)

The Guardian reported that in a 43-page amicus brief sent to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July the UK government opposed the ICJ review of the legality of the Israeli occupation. The UK opinion raised 4 main arguments against the review, saying that the issue is a “bilateral dispute,” that the court is not equipped to examine the issue, that the review would conflict with existing agreements, and that the review is not appropriate as it asks the court to “assume unlawful conduct on part of Israel.” (AN, GDN 8/24)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a report that Israel had carried out 25 attacks on Syria in 2023, including 18 air attacks and 7 ground-to-ground attacks, hitting 60 targets and killing 61 people. (HA 8/24)

The BRICS group of China, Russia, Brazil, India, and South Africa invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the UAE to join the group. (NYT 8/23; AP, AJ, MEE, REU 8/24; AJ, NYT, REU 8/25; AJ 8/28)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian man at the Teneh Omrim settlement near Hebron; the man was allegedly attempting to stab settlers. Israeli settlers also raided Turmus Ayya and al-Mughayyir opening fire at Palestinians, injuring 1 with a shot to the head and 4 with stones and setting fire to vehicles and bales of hay. Palestinians said that Israeli soldiers were at the scene but did not prevent the settler attacks nor arrest any settlers. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces continued to close the main entrance to al-Mughayyir for the fourteenth day in a row. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qabatiya, Faqqua, and Balata refugee camp. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/26; PCHR 6/1; UNOCHA 6/2)

The Washington Post published an investigation into an Israeli raid in Jenin on 3/16, detailing how Israeli forces killed a 14-year old Palestinian bystander while assassinating 2 Palestinians. The investigation also found that the 2 Palestinians who were targeted were not armed and confirmed initial reporting that 1 of the targets was shot several times despite being incapacitated. (WP 5/26; WAFA 5/28)

Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and the EU released a statement called on Israel to compensate the EU for demolitions and confiscations of EU-funded items, amounting to $1.3 million. The group also called on Israel to halt all demolitions and confiscations and condemned Israeli policies in Masafer Yatta and Israel’s failures to addressing settler violence. (EU, WAFA 5/26; MEMO, TOI 5/27)

In the West Bank, 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Yatta, Sinjil, Habla, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished an apartment building in Sur Baher, displacing 12. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in ‘Anata and Shu’fat refugee camp. (WAFA, WAFA 3/14; PCHR 3/16; UNOCHA 3/31)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir signed an order to block Voice of Palestine TV from operating in Israel and East Jerusalem. (WAFA 3/20; HA, PCHR 3/21; WAFA 3/22; PCHR 3/23)

Hamas Political Bureau deputy head Saleh al-Arouri said Russia had invited Hamas officials for an official visit to Moscow. Al-Arouri also congratulated Iran and Saudi Arabia on their steps to reestablish diplomatic ties, announced on 3/10. (ALM, HA 3/14)

In response to an op-ed written by EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borell on 3/9, which was highly critical of Israel, Israeli foreign ministry officials said that Borell would not be allowed to visit Israel and Palestine. (HA 3/14; AP, HA, IN, TOI 3/15)

France, Denmark, the UK, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden issued a joint statement demanding that Israel not displace 6 Palestinian families in Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, and the Old City. (HA 3/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 3 agricultural structures in al-Mughayyir. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Arrabah, Jaba‘, Faqqua, Qalqilya, Dheisheh refugee camp, Dura, and Bayt Awa. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Isawiya and Kafr ‘Aqab. (WAFA, WAFA, 8/18; UNOCHA 8/19; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

Israeli forces raided the offices of Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Al-Haq, Addameer, Bisan Research Center, Defense for Children International – Palestine, Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and Union of Health Work Committees. The raid was in response to Israel’s terrorist designations against the 7 organizations. The forces seized documents and equipment from some of the Palestinian rights organizations and sealed the doors of the offices. The UN Human Rights office condemned the Israeli raids and the EU called the Israeli allegations against the organizations unsubstantiated. The U.S. expressed concern about Israel’s raids, saying that Israel has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the terrorist designations against the organizations. In a show of solidarity, officials from the EU, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK visited the offices of Al-Haq, which had been forced open by Palestinians after the Israeli forces sealed the entrance. 6 of the rights organizations were deemed terrorist organizations by Israel in October 2021, and 1 was designated as such in 2020. Several EU countries have dismissed the Israeli claims after reviewing files submitted to the EU. (+972, AI, AJ, AP, AX, BBC, B’Tselem, GDN, HA, HA, HA, JP, MDW, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NA, NBC, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, UNOCHA, WP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 8/18; AJ, HA, MDW, MEE, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/19; WAFA 8/20; B’Tselem 8/21; MDW, WAFA 8/22; MEE, MEMO 8/23; ABC 8/24 ALM 8/25; HA 8/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at 1 Palestinian vehicle driving near the Homesh settlement outpost, injuring 1 and damaging the car. Thousands of Palestinians partook in a funeral ceremony in Ramallah for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces on 5/11 in Jenin refugee camp. PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke at the ceremony and awarded her the Al-Quds star of honor. Abu Akleh will be buried in East Jerusalem on 5/13. Israeli forces prevented Palestinians in the funeral procession from accompanying her casket through the Qalandia checkpoint from Ramallah to East Jerusalem. Israeli forces also demolished a water collection pond used for irrigation in Marj Na‘aj. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during a late-night raid in Hebron, Rumana, Qabatiya, and Burqin, and 2 at flying checkpoints in Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided a house in Bayt Hanina, where friends and family of Abu Akleh were holding a memorial ceremony for her; Israeli forces confiscated Palestinian flags. Israeli police also raided Abu Akleh’s house on 5/11, confiscating Palestinian flags. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids. (AJ, AJ, AP, CNN, GDN, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/12; WAFA 5/13; PCHR 5/19; UNOCHA 6/4)

Israel’s higher planning council approved 4,427 new settlement housing units in the West Bank. 2,791 received final approval, while 1,636 were deposited for public comment before final approval. Among the new housing units are the retroactive legalization of the Mitzpeh Dani and Givat Oz VeGaon settlement outposts and expansion of the settlements of Negohot, Shvut Rachel, Dolev, Betar Ilit, and Kiryat Arba. According to Haaretz, the government’s meeting to approve the settlements was a condition by Yamina MK Nir Orbach to remain in the fragile government coalition. UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland condemned the settlement expansions. On 5/13, 15 European countries urged Israel to reverse its decision, including France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. (PCN 5/9; ABC, AJ, AP, GDN, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA 5/12; AJ, ALM, F24, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/13)

Ecuadorian president Guillermo Lasso met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, saying he will open a representative office in Jerusalem and support Israel in votes at the UN. President Lasso also met with prime minister Naftali Bennett and foreign minister Yair Lapid. (HA 5/12)

The New York Times reported that the FBI stated in a 2018 letter to the Israeli government that it wanted to use NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware “for the collection of data from mobile devices for the prevention and investigation of crimes and terrorism” before purchasing the spyware later the same year. (NYT 5/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided the Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm, leading to a confrontation with students; 2 were injured by baton rounds and 16 suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also seized 1 residential tent, demolished an agricultural structure, and seized agricultural equipment in Beit Samia. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Shu‘fat. In Israel, Israeli police shot and killed 1 Palestinian man from Hebron who was working at a construction site in Ashkelon after he stabbed a police officer. The Israeli police officer approached the Palestinian man who was working at the construction site without a permit before he lightly wounded the officer. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/12; WAFA 4/13; PCHR 4/14; UNOCHA 4/23)

The Israeli Civil Administration signed an order declaring 22,000 dunams (5,445 acres) of land in Area C south of Jericho an Israeli nature reserve. The nature reserve, dubbed Nachal Og Nature Reserve, is situated on 6,000 dunams (1,483 acres) of privately-owned Palestinian land. The nature reserve designations means that Palestinians will not be allowed to cultivate the land or have their livestock graze on it, without approval from the Israeli nature reserve officer. (PCN 5/24; HA, WAFA 5/25)

The office of the Israeli attorney general approved connecting Israeli settlement outposts built on Israel-declared state lands in the West Bank to the electrical grid. In the decision, the attorney general’s office also said that Palestinian villages in Area C, not recognized by Israel, should be given equal consideration in being connected to the electrical grid, citing international law of non-discrimination. (HA 4/12; MEMO 4/13)

Representatives from Ireland, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden signed a letter to EU enlargement commissioner Olivér Várhelyi of Hungary, urging him to disburse EU aid to the PA. Commissioner Várhelyi has been withholding the aid, saying that the PA needs to reform its schoolbooks to conform with a pro-Israeli narrative. (WAFA 4/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man trying to enter Israel for work by the separation wall near al-Yamun. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Dura and in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for 2 houses in Abu Nawwar and a stop-work order for a house in Nahalin. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qalqilya and Ras al-Far‘a. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28; PCHR 11/4)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Swiss president Guy Parmelin in Ramallah. (WAFA 10/28)

New York state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said that a review of Unilever had found that its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s is engaged in BDS activity, leading the state’s pension fund to divest from Unilever due to New York’s anti-BDS law. Ben & Jerry’s announced on 7/19 that it would no longer sell its ice cream in Israeli settlements and that it would not renew its licensing agreement with an Israeli company to produce Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Arizona, New Jersey, and Florida have also divested from Ben & Jerry’s since the announcement. The New York state pension fund is said to have $111 million in investments in Unilever. (REU 10/28; NYP 10/29; MEMO 11/1)

U.S. house democrat Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced a resolution condemning Israel’s terror designation of 6 Palestinian rights groups. The resolution calls the decision repressive and anti-democratic. The resolution was cosponsored by representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Cori Bush (D-MO), Chuy García (D-IL), Marie Newman (D-IL), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and André Carson (D-IN). (TOI 10/28; MEMO 10/29)

The EU released a statement saying that it wants to see evidence from Israel that the 6 Palestinian rights groups that were designated terrorist organizations on 10/22 are in fact involved in terrorism. The EU noted that Israel in the past has misled the EU in saying it was funding terrorist-supporting rights groups. 12 European countries, including Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Norway released a joint statement, calling on Israel to reverse its decision from 10/27 to advance plans for new Israeli settlement units in the West Bank. Russia said in a tweet that it was disappointed by Israel’s decision. The UK urged Israel to reverse its decisions from 10/24 and 10/27 to expand settlements. (AJ, ALM, CNN, HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28; WAFA 10/29)

The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo told Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett that he intends for his country to open an economic diplomatic mission in Jerusalem during a meeting. (JP, MEMO 10/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling between Bethlehem and Hebron; 1 Palestinian child was injured by broken glass in his eye. Israeli settlers also uprooted dozens of Palestinian-owned olive saplings east of Yatta. Israeli forces opened fire at a vehicle with 5 Palestinians inside at a military checkpoint near Jenin, causing damage to the vehicle; no injuries were reported. 7 Palestinians were arrested in and around Hebron, Qalqilya, and Nablus; during a raid in Tammun, Israeli forces seized mobile phones, leading to confrontations with Palestinians; no injuries were reported. During a different raid in Sabastiyya, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces detained the secretary of Fatah in Jerusalem Yasser Darwish and banned him from entry to the West Bank for 3 months. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya, the Old City, and al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Shawka; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 4 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/8; WAFA 10/9; PCHR 10/15)

An Israeli court ruled that Israel can demolish 1 school east of Ramallah under the pretext that it was built without a permit. The school enrolls 50 students and was financed by donations from France, Finland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, the UK, and Sweden. (WAFA 10/8; WAFA 10/9)

Secretary-general of the PLO Saeb Erakat said that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. (AJ, JP, TOI, WAFA 10/9)

Israel and Jordan signed a deal allowing airlines from each country to fly over each other’s airspace. (HA 10/8)

Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Hariri, who resigned after prolonged protests at the end of 2019, said that he is a possible candidate to head the new Lebanese government. (REU 10/8; AJ 10/9)

The U.S. Trump administration announced new sanctions on Iran that effectively shuts off the country from the global financial system. The new sanctions are expected to halt flows of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid to Iran. (AJ, REU 10/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 1 other near Kafr Haris. According to the Israeli military, the 2 had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the Israeli forces; the governor of Salfit said that the 2 had done nothing wrong and were hanging out with friends when they were attacked. During the funeral procession for the deceased Palestinian man, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed in Kafr Haris; 1 Palestinian was hospitalized after being hit by a rubber-coated bullet to the neck. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum and Asira; 2 people were injured by sound bomb canisters in Asira, leading to fractures and an amputation of 1 finger; in Kafr Qaddum, 1 Palestinian was hit by a rubber-coated bullet; tear-gas related injuries were also reported. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work orders for 2 homes under construction in al-Khadir. 2 Israeli soldiers were injured by Israeli settlers while dismantling an Israeli settlement outpost near the Yitzhar settlement. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in and around Yatta, Hebron, and Jalazun refugee camp; and 3 at checkpoints near Nablus and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was closed to curb the spread of COVID-19; no date was set for its reopening. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/10; PCHR 7/16)

According to the Saudi Arabian news channel al-Arabiya, 1 senior member of Hamas, Mohammed Omar Abu Ajwa, defected and fled to Israel for which he allegedly had been spying on Hamas for more than 10 years. Hamas denied al-Arabiya’s report. (HA 7/12; HA 7/14)

In a letter to the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the foreign ministers of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and Sweden demanded that he accelerate the process of formulating possible responses to Israel annexation. The 1st request for Foreign Policy Chief Borrell to do so was made on 15 May at an unofficial meeting. (HA 7/14)

After a second day of clashes and confrontations at Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village near Jerusalem slated for evacuation and demolition, Israel’s High Court of Justice issues a temporary freeze on the demolition orders amid a dispute over land ownership. During the clashes, 3 international activists are detained and 4 vehicles belonging to activists and journalists are impounded. Meanwhile, The UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain jointly convey a formal protest to the Israeli authorities over their plans to demolish the village, warning that such demolitions make a two-state solution less viable. UN officials also protest the demolition plan. UK, Italian, Swedish, Belgian, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Swiss, German, Spanish, and Irish diplomats all visit Khan al-Ahmar today. The IDF blocks them from seeing the community’s 10-year-old schoolhouse, which was made from tires. (ALM, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/5; EI, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 7/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces confiscate a length of water pipe in Bardala village near Jericho and a residential tent outside Susiya near Hebron. They also patrol near Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Hebron. Israeli settlers cut down 350 grapevines in Palestinian farmland near Bethlehem. They leave racist graffiti at the scene as well. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 4 agricultural buildings, a gas station, and a car wash in Hizma village and arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya and the Old City. Along Gaza’s border fence, IDF troops open fire on a Palestinian riding a motorcycle near Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In Gaza, an Israeli drone bombs a Palestinian motorcycle in Dayr al-Balah, destroying the vehicle and causing no injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 7/5; HA 7/6; PCHR 7/12)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops operating from a watchtower on the border fence nr. Dayr al-Balah open fire on a Palestinian farmer, injuring him. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon; patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 village nr. Jericho, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the morning, in 1 village nr. Jericho and 3 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night. Israeli soldiers also attack regular demonstrations by Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and the occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum) and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara), causing no serious injuries except in Bil‘in, with 1 injury from a tear gas canister and 1 from a rubber-coated metal bullet. (MNA 6/14; PCHR 6/20)

Israeli DM Moshe Ya’alon declares that U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry’s effort to restart peace talks has failed and that the Arab League proposal is just spin. Ya’alon’s remarks are made in an address to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, ahead of a meeting with U.S. Defense Secy. Chuck Hagel. His remarks are criticized by Israel’s Science and Technology Minister Jacob Perry as not conducive to resuming negotiations. (HA, JTA 6/14)

Norway’s Dep. DM confirms that UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon has asked Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark to contribute soldiers to the UNDOF in the Golan Heights, following Austria’s withdrawal. Meanwhile, U.S. Amb. to the UN Susan Rice says that the Obama administration has determined that sarin gas was used on 3/19 in an attack by the Syrian army in Aleppo and that unidentified chemical weapons were also used on 5/14 and 5/23. Separately, Hizballah leader Hasan Nasrallah declares in a televised speech that his group will continue to fight alongside Syrian pres. Asad and that the decision to intervene had been a calculated one. (AP, DS, HA, REU 6/14)

Military Action:

Druze-Phalange militia gunbattles in Maarufiye-Bsada region, near Baabda; Lebanese internal security forces deployed in areas of Tripoli to monitor cease-fire.

Casualties:

Government offices, banks, shops and many schools reopen in Tripoli.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials say Government is prepared to allow UNIFIL a 2 month extension, to operate around Palestinian refugee camps above 25 mile security zone, do not want UNIFIL within security zone; MK Yitzhak Rabin says war in Lebanon was illegal use of IDF for far-reaching political goals; Defense Ministry informs Umm al-Fahm residents that 15,000 dunums of their land is declared a military zone and cultivation must cease; troops raid Najah University, remove Palestinian posters and flags; military authorities close Kadri Tukan high school after border police injured by stones following celebration of 18th anniversary of Fateh in Nablus; all Nablus and neighboring Balata camp under undeclared curfew; Israeli traffic stoned in Ramallah and Bethlehem, with total of 5 settlers injured during week; Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs spokesman Avraham Hoffmann says $150,000 promotion campaign will encourage Israelis to settle in West Bank, and provide clearing house for information on available housing, World Zionist Organization goal is 100,000 settlers by 1985, current number is 25,000.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat meets with Jordanian Prime Minister Mudar Badran, holds press conference in Amman in which he praises the Reagan plan for calling for a settlement freeze, and criticizes plan for denying Palestinian right to independent state; Abu lyad says meeting of Fateh Central Committee in Kuwait on 6 January rejected the Reagan plan; Lebanese-Israeli-US talks held in Khalde deadlocked over agenda as US compromise proposals are unacceptable, but new proposals submitted.

US and Other Countries: US State Department confirms several encounters between IDF and Marines in Beirut; Special Envoy Habib confers with Reagan, Shultz and Bush before leaving for Middle East, amid growing Administration frustration that delay in Israeli and Syrian troop withdrawals impede Jordan's involvement in peace negotiations as proposed in Reagan Plan; B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League releases report that anti-Semitic violence in US decreased by 15% in 1982, to 829 incidents, mostly in New York, California, New Jersey and Massachusetts; New York City Mayor Koch presents key to city to President Navon, pledges support of Israel, Navon tells Yeshiva University students to settle in Israel; Italian Defense Minister Lelio Lagorio, in Beirut, announces Italy considering sending another battalion to Lebanon, bringing total troops to 4,000.

UN: Senegal, Fiji, Norway, Ireland, Holland, Ghana, Finland, France, Sweden and Italy will keep troops in UNIFIL; Nigeria will remove troops from UNIFIL.