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, a Palestinian man succumbed to injuries sustained from Israeli forces in Tulkarm on 11/14. Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during raids in Qiffin and al-Khader. Israeli forces also assaulted a Palestinian man in Huwwara. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided a printing shop in Ramallah, sealing the shop, and closed and sealed the offices of an orphanage in Beit Umar, seizing files and computers. Israeli forces also issued notices that it will seize 501 dunams of land in Jaba’a and 12 dunams in Wadi Rahal. 44 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Far’un, Qusin, Dheisheh refugee camp, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police dispersed a march by Israeli extremists who called for full Israeli control over the Haram al-Sharif compound. The march was dispersed after marchers violated the agreement with Israeli police. 6 Palestinians were arrested in Sur Baher and at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bombed Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Khan Yunis, Jabalia refugee camp, and Rafah, killing around 350 people. Israeli airstrikes also destroyed the 13th century Othman bin Qashqar Mosque in Gaza City and put al-Awda Hospital under siege, opening fire at the hospital. Hamas said it had destroyed 135 military vehicles in the past 72 hours. 2 Israeli soldiers were killed, including the son of Israeli war cabinet member Gadi Eizenkot. In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike on Majdal Zoun injured several people. Islamic Jihad said 2 of its members were killed by Israel near the Blue Line. 1 Israeli was killed and 2 Israeli soldiers were lightly injured by an anti-tank missile in Matat and near Shtula. Israel said it attacked Syria after 2 missiles were launched toward Israel. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/7; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU 12/8)

More than 17,177 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women, and around 46,000 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 258 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 67 children. More than 3,325 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. 93 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.9 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. The Jordanian military air dropped medical supplies at its field hospital in Gaza. 69 trucks carrying aid, including 13 gallons of fuel, entered Gaza. Rafah remained the only place where aid was delivered to, except for the delivery of medical supplies to 2 hospitals in Khan Yunis. 121 wounded Palestinians and 491 foreign nationals were evacuated to Egypt. (AJ, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 12/7; AJ, HA 12/8)

Israeli videos of dozens of Palestinian men being stripped to their underwear, forced to sit on the ground, and taken by Israeli forces to a large hole dug in the ground circulated in Israeli media and on social media. What happened to the men, who were taken from UN schools in Beit Lahiya, remained unknown as some of them were identified as civilians, including journalists, doctors, and academics. Hamas condemned the Israeli action, calling it revenge for Israel’s failed invasion and calling on human rights organizations to intervene. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed identified one of the Palestinians as their journalist Diaa Kahlout and said several of his family members were among the detainees. (AJ, AP 12/7; AJ, NYT, REU 12/8)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered the Israel Prison Service to move members of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades to an underground wing of the Nitzan Prison. The underground wing was said to have not been used for years. (AJ 12/8)

UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said the current humanitarian mission in Gaza could not be described as an “humanitarian operation” given the pace of the Israeli attacks on southern Gaza, which prevent the UN from delivering aid. (AJ, AP, UNOCHA 12/7)

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said their investigation into the Israeli killing of Lebanese Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah on 10/13 revealed the killing was likely deliberate and should be investigated as a war crime. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said the killing should be investigated, noting that he believed Israel was already doing so. Lebanon said it would add the investigation to its complaint it has filed with the UN over Israeli attacks. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said “Israeli criminality has no limits.” (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA 12/7; AJ, REU, REU 12/8)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh told Bloomberg News that the PA was working with the U.S. to plan for the political situation in Gaza once Israel’s war is over. Shtayyeh said Hamas could become a partner under the PLO umbrella if it accepts the PLO’s political platform. The Times reported that a team of UK advisors were in Ramallah to help the PA prepare for governing Gaza. Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry expressed support for the PA governing Gaza. (AJ 12/7; AJ, HA, HA, REU 12/8)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will turn “Beirut and South Lebanon into Gaza and Khan Yunis” in a warning to Hezbollah. (AJ, AP, HA 12/7; AJ 12/8)

Secretary of State Blinken said at a press conference with UK foreign secretary David Cameron that there was a gap between Israel’s stated intent to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza and the reality on the ground. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 12/7; AJ, REU 12/8)

U.S. president Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to the White House, Biden told Netanyahu that more aid is required to enter Gaza, Israel needed to do more to protect civilians, and expressed concern over settler violence in the West Bank. Biden also spoke with Jordanian king Abdullah II, who demanded he call for an immediate ceasefire. U.S. officials said Israel had agreed to open the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing to allow more aid to enter Gaza. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA 12/7; HA 12/8)

The U.S. said it had resumed flying drones over Gaza to locate captives. (HA 12/7)

Russian president Vladimir Putin met with Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow, discussing the situation in Palestine. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU 12/7)

The G7 released a statement saying Israel should do more to protect civilians and allow more aid into Gaza. (AJ 12/7)

13 U.S. senators announced they were working on introducing an amendment to the bill that includes $14 billion in military aid to Israel, requiring that U.S. arms are used in accordance with U.S law., international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict.  (AJ, AP, HA 12/7)

Al-Haq and Global Legal Action Network filed a legal challenge to UK exports of weapons to Israel in the UK High Court. (AP 12/7)

Axios reported that Egypt had warned Israel and the U.S. of a “rupture” in Egyptian-Israeli relations if Palestinian refugees begin to flee to Egypt as a result of Israeli attacks on Gaza. (AX 12/7)

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said it had received 2,171 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate between 10/7 and 12/2. (AJ 12/7)

Austria ended its suspension of aid to Palestinians, saying there was no indication the funds had been spent on funding or promoting terrorism or to spread anti-Semitic content. (HA 12/7)

In the West Bank, Palestinian militant factions protested PA cooperation with Israel by burning tires and throwing stones at PA security forces in Nablus and Jenin. In Nablus, 1 Palestinian was killed and 2 were injured during the unrest; the PA claimed it was not present during the killing of the man, who was said to be a bystander. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man during a funeral procession in Beit Umar; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also fired tear gas at Palestinians protesting a raid in Rumana, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrested 1 Palestinian NGO worker, detained others, and seized 1 vehicle while the workers were doing maintenance work on solar panels in Wadi al-Faw. Israeli forces also pumped cement in 2 water wells in al-Ras and Kafr Abbush and seized a stone-cutting machine in Beit Fajjar. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Biddu, Beit Duqqu, Bethlehem, Bayt Rima, and Deir Nidham. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian merchants at the Old City’s al-Khawajat market. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur. In Israel, 1 elderly Israeli woman was beaten to death in Holon; the Palestinian suspect was later found hanged in Tel Aviv. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/20; GDN, HA, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 9/21; AP, HA, PCHR, TOI, TOI 9/22; MDW 9/23; ALM 9/28; UNOCHA 9/30)

1 Palestinian cancer patient died in Gaza while waiting to obtain a permit from Israel to travel to East Jerusalem for treatment. The man is the 6th Palestinian in Gaza to die of cancer this year while waiting for Israeli permission to travel for treatment. (PCHR 9/21)

A group of lawyers and rights organizations said they had referred the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh to the ICC on behalf of her family. A forensic investigation by Al Haq and Forensic Architecture also found that Israeli soldiers deliberately targeted Shireen Abu Akleh when she was shot on 5/11/22. (AHQ, AJ, FA, INT, MDW, MEE, WAFA, WAFA 9/20; GDN, MEE 9/21; HA, JP, MEMO, TOI 9/22; MEMO 9/25)

An Israeli court ruled that Israel can revoke the residency permits of 17 Palestinians related to a Palestinian accused of killing 4 Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem in 2017. Interior minister Ayelet Shaked subsequently said that she would revoke the 17 Palestinian family members’ residency permits and work to deport them to the West Bank. The family lives in Jabel Mukaber in East Jerusalem. (HA 9/21; MEMO 9/22)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with King Abdullah II of Jordan on the sidelines of the UNGA. (MEMO, WAFA 9/21)

Türkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid held a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA. It was the 1st time since 2008 that an Israeli prime minister has met with the leader of Türkiye. (AX, HA 9/20; AJ, ALM, MEE, REU 9/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 20 olive trees in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Deir Salah in Area A. Israeli forces also raided the Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces opened fire near a girl’s school in Duma, causing panic among students. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested at the Havat Maon settlement. 9 others were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Harmala, Rafat, Tell, Jenin refugee camp, and al-Yamun. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/18; PCHR, WAFA 5/19; UNOCHA 6/4)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra in Ramallah. Foreign Minister Hoekstra also met with representatives from the Palestinian NGO Al Haq, drawing ire from Israel as Al Haq is 1 of 6 Palestinian rights organizations that were deemed terrorist organizations by Israel in 10/2021. Hoekstra subsequently told reporters that “there isn’t a single European state—nor the United States—that has arrived at the same conclusions as has Israel [in regards to the terrorism accusations]. If there is proof, then we should see and we should review it. An accusation in and of itself can never be sufficient for a country that subscribes to the rule of law.” (WAFA, WAFA 5/18; JP 5/19)

The Hamas-affiliated Islamic Wafa bloc won the Birzeit University student council elections with 28 of 51 seats. The Fatah-affiliated Shabibia bloc won 18 seats. (MEE, MEMO, MEMO 5/19; MEMO 5/20; ALM 5/25)

Haaretz reported that the leaders of Turkey, Jordan, and the UAE had accepted an invitation by Israel’s president Isaac Herzog to discuss regional cooperation in climate change. (HA 5/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted dozens of almond trees and grapevines in Bayt Umar and threatened the Palestinian landowners with guns. Israeli forces razed Palestinian-owned land in ‘Ayn Bus and seized 1 greenhouse in Bethlehem. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition as he was trying to enter Israel for work through the separation barrier near Far‘un. Elsewhere, Israeli forces dismantled and seized 1 agricultural structure in Tuqu‘. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian at the Qalandia checkpoint, claiming he wanted to stab a soldier with a screwdriver. 15 others were arrested during raids in and around Qabatiya, Jenin refugee camp, Burqin, Ramallah, Kafr Malik, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 7 nautical miles northwest of Rafah. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/12; PCHR 1/14)

The Israeli government told its high court of justice that it had delivered 100 COVID-19 vaccine doses to the PA and that more doses would arrive in some 10 days. The PA health ministry denied having received any doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Israel. (HA, WAFA 1/13)

The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem released a position paper “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: this is apartheid,” calling Israel an apartheid state. B’Tselem argued that the distinction between Israel proper, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza has been obfuscated so that “the entire area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River is organized under a single principle: advancing and cementing the supremacy of one group—Jews—over another—Palestinians.” B’Tselem said it no longer could treat the occupied Palestinian territories as distinct from Israel as it has in the past and therefore needs to treat the area as 1 entity operating as an apartheid state. 2 particular developments led B’Tselem to change its viewpoint: the Nation-State law and the threats of annexation of Area C. Several Palestinian human rights organizations including al-Haq and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have already called Israel an apartheid state. (AQ 11/12/2019; +972, AJ, AP, B’Tselem, CNN, GDN, HA, IN 1/12)

Israel attacked several places in Dayr al-Zur and Abu Kamal in eastern Syria with airstrikes, killing 57 people and wounding at least 37. According to a U.S. intelligence official, the strikes were made with intelligence from the U.S.; U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo had discussed the airstrikes with Mossad director Yossi Cohen at a D.C. restaurant on 1/11. Secretary Pompeo also announced that the terrorist group Al Qaeda has a home base in Iran without providing any evidence, a charge the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called “warmongering lies.” On 1/10, Secretary Pompeo said that the Houthi rebels in Yemen would be added to the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, a designation many humanitarian organizations lambasted as it will make it impossible to deliver aid to the civilian population living in Houthi-controlled areas who are heavily hunger stricken. (REU 1/10; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU 1/11; AJ, AJ, REU, REU 1/12; AA, AJ, FOX, HA, HA, HA, JP 1/13; HA 1/15; HA, HA 1/17)

The IDF makes an air strike on a Hamas training facility nr. Jabaliya r.c., killing 2 Hamas mbrs.; fires at least 4 missiles at another empty training facility in al-Mawasi, destroying it; sends ground troops into areas nr. Jabaliya, shooting and wounding 1 Palestinian. In Nussayrat r.c., 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. are killed when a bomb they are making explodes prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Ramallah to ambush, assassinate AMB mbr. Omar ‘Abd al-Halim, wounding 5 bystanders; sends undercover units into Kafr Dan nr. Jenin to ambush, assassinate Islamic Jihad mbr. ‘Id Hisham Khalil; makes arrest raids in and around Jenin town and r.c. (fatally shooting Muhammad Marai‘, who announced a wk. ago the formation of a new Fatah splinter group, the Martyr Abu Ammar Brigades, in what may be an assassination) and in Nablus (detaining Fatah PC mbr. and PA General Intelligence Nablus head Jamal Tirawi, 3 others), Tulkarm r.c. (al-Haq press release, NYT, OCHA 5/30; NYT, PCHR, WP 5/31)

Hamas detonates a roadside bomb nr. a Jewish settler bus in Gaza, lightly injuring 8 Jewish settlers. The IDF fatally shoots a mentally disabled Palestinian in Bureij r.c.; shoots, wounds, captures a wanted tanzim mbr. in Tulkarm; demolishes a Palestinian home in Tubas; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. (HA, MM 5/23; al-Haq, WP 5/24; PR 5/28; LAW, PCHR 5/29)

In a carefully coordinated process, U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell, Rice release a statement saying that Israel has explained its “significant concerns” regarding the road map and that the U.S. will take those concerns into consideration during implementation. Sharon says Israel “is prepared to accept the steps set out in the road map.” (HA, NYT, WP 5/23; MENA 5/23, DUS, QA, alQuds 5/24, JT, MA 5/25, AYM, SA 5/26 in WNC 5/27; HA, NYT, WP, WT 5/24; al-Quds 5/25 in WNC 5/28; MEI 5/30)

In retaliation for the 7/31 bombing, the IDF stages a predawn raid into Nablus, which Israel says is the "possible source" of the bomb, sending in more than 150 bulldozers, tanks, APCs; conducting house-to-house searches in the old city, moving fr. building to building by breaking through walls; ordering all men ages 15-50 to surrender for questioning; arresting 10s of Palestinians; demolishing 2 apartment buildings allegedly housing bomb-making labs; meeting light resistance, leaving at least 2 Palestinians dead, 5 wounded. The IDF also detains, questions, handcuffs, then fatally shoots Hamas mbr. Amjad Jabour outside his home Salim, nr. Nablus; shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, killing an 85-yr.-old Palestinian woman in her home; clashes with Palestinian gunmen in Rafah, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes (1 Hebron, 3 Rafah, 1 Tulkarm, 1 elsewhere in the West Bank) belonging to the relatives of Palestinian militants; prepares to expel 2 brothers of 2 assailants to Gaza. (AP, MM, NYT, UPMRC, WP, WT 8/2; al-Haq, NYT, WP, WT 8/3; LAW, PCHR 8/7; WJW 8/8)