The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal 53 sheep in Tuqu’. Israeli forces shoot and injure a 13-year-old Palestinian girl and uproot streets and other infrastructure during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also raid Dayr Sharaf, uprooting paved roads and water pipelines. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish a house under construction in Umm al-Rihan. Israeli forces also seize a concrete pump in ‘Anin. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 30 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hizma, Husan, al-Arroub refugee camp, Halhul, Dura, Qalqilya, and Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, and Gaza City, killing at least 59 people. 2 rockets are fired at Israel; no damage is reported. In Kochav Yair, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man, alleging that he rammed and injured 4 Israeli police officers. In the Red Sea, U.S. forces shoot down a missile and 2 drones launched from Yemen. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; AJ 4/4; UNOCHA 4/5)

More than 32,975 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,750 children and 8,900 women, and around 75,577 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 446 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 112 children. More than 4,760 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, 255 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,549 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. 160 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. U.S. and Jordanian forces airdrop 38,000 meals over northern Gaza.  (AJ, HA, UNOCHA 4/3; UNOCHA 4/5)

UNOCHA says it has documented more than 700 settler attacks on Palestinians since 10/7/2023, killing 17 Palestinians and injuring more than 400 others. (UNOCHA 4/3)

6 Israeli intelligence officers tell +972 Magazine and Local Call that Israel is using an AI program called Lavender to mark Palestinians and their homes as bombing targets on the basis that they are suspected members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. According to the sources, 37,000 Palestinians have been marked as suspected militants. The report says that human analysts would spend on average 20 seconds evaluating the targets picked by Lavender, to make sure the target is male, before giving authorization. The reporting also says that a different AI system called Where’s Daddy would track targets to make sure they were at the family residence before an airstrike is conducted and that Israel permits 15-20 civilians to be killed for every junior member of Hamas and Islamic Jihad killed, while it has given authorization for the killing of more than 100 civilians to kill a commander. In November, the 2 news outlets revealed that Israel’s military uses an AI program called Gospel to mark buildings that are then attacked. (+972, AJ, HA 4/3; AJ, REU 4/4)

World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder Jose Andres tells Reuters that the Israeli attack that killed 7 WCK aid workers on 4/1 was systematic and not an accident. Andres says WCK had clear communications with the Israeli military which knew of the aid workers’ movements, saying “[e]ven if we were not in coordination with the [Israeli military], no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 4/3)

The Lebanese military says it was a landmine that wounded the 4 UNIFIL troops on 3/30. (AJ, NYT 4/3)

Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani says in a news conference that the main issue in the ceasefire negotiations is Israel allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. (AJ, HA 4/3)

PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks with Bahraini foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Italian foreign minister Antionio Tajani, and Jordanian prime minister Bisher Khasawneh in phone calls. PA president Mahmoud Abbas speaks with Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune in a phone call. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3)

Fatah accuses Iran of trying to spread chaos in the West Bank. (REU 4/3)

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz calls for early elections in September. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects the call. Israeli energy minister Eli Cohen says “[i]f the United States, our greatest friend which I value tremendously, doesn’t completely back Israel, it has nothing to do in the Middle East.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says Palestinian statehood should be determined by “direct negotiations” and not at the UN in response to a PA push to have the UN Security Council vote on full UN membership for the State of Palestine. (HA, REU 4/3; AJ, AP 4/4)

At the UN Security council, the U.S., UK, and France oppose a Russian-drafted statement condemning Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus on 4/1. UN General Assembly president Dennis Francis tweets that he is outraged by the Israeli killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers on 4/1 and expresses deep concern over the risk of an escalation after the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate. (AJ, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4

Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf writes a letter to UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, calling on him to immediately end the sale of arms to Israel. 600 UK legal professionals, including 3 former Supreme Court justices, call on the UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel, saying the UK could be complicit in genocide in Gaza.  (AJ, AP 4/3; AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 4/4)

Polish deputy foreign minister Andrzej Szejna summons the Israeli ambassador, saying he wants “to talk to the ambassador about the new situation in Polish-Israeli relations and about the moral, political, and financial responsibility for the event that recently took place in the Gaza Strip,” referring to the killing of 7 aid workers on 4/1, including a Polish national. Israeli ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne said on 4/2 in response to reports that Israel deliberately killed the aid workers that “anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites.” In a separate statement, the Polish foreign ministry says Israel does not have “the right to abuse force and illegal settlement” and that Poland recognizes the “right of Palestinians to establish a state.” (AJ, HA, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4; AP 4/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 3 cars and wrote racist graffiti in al-Bireh. Israeli forces seized heavy machinery worth $50,000 from the ‘Anin village council. 1 Palestinian man rammed 2 Israeli soldiers near Nablus; the man later turned himself in saying that the incident was an accident. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians in Jabel Mukaber observed a general strike and blocked several roads leading to the neighborhood in protest over planned demolitions in the neighborhood. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/31; MEE 2/1; PCHR 2/2; UNOCHA 2/21)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Secretary Blinken urged President Abbas to resume security coordination with Israel and to accept and implement a security plan made by U.S. security coordinator Mike Fenzel, which will see PA forces trained specifically to counter militant groups in Jenin and Nablus. The PA had reportedly earlier complained to the U.S. that the plan is untenable without ending Israeli nighttime raids in the cities. Blinken also announced that the U.S. will give an additional $50 million to UNRWA and will continue to work on reopening the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem but did not give a timeframe. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEE, WAFA 1/31; ALM, AX, HA, HA 2/1; AJ 2/2; HA 2/3)

President Abbas also met with the directors of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamal and the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate Ahmad Husni. (WAFA 1/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian working on rehabilitating a road east of Yatta and damaged the excavator he was using. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 20 residential structures in Rujeib, a house under construction, and an agricultural shack in Battir. Israeli forces also seized a mobile home in Khallet al-Nahleh, south of Bethlehem. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian who tried to enter Israel through a hole in the separation wall near ‘Anin before arresting him. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jenin, Jenin refugee camp, Rummana, Tulkarm, and Qarawat Bani Hassan. In East Jerusalem, 44 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli settlers led by Israeli MKs from HaTzionut HaDatit (The Religious Zionist) party Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Strock harassed Palestinian residents under eviction threat in Shaykh Jarrah. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Issawiyya. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya and al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/22; MEMO 6/23; PCHR 6/24)

After meeting in a Hamas office, various political and military factions in Gaza issued a warning to Israel to ease the blockade. The factions said that if Israel does not comply, they would allow the launching of incendiary balloons and protests by the Gaza fence. (AJ, MEMO 6/23)

Iran said it had foiled a drone attack on a building belonging to the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization in Karaj City, 25 miles west of Tehran. According to the New York Times, the building was on a list of potential targets Israel had presented to the U.S. and which the Trump administration had approved for targeting by Israel. Iran later said that Israel had attacked the building to undermine the nuclear deal negotiations. (AJ, NYT 6/23; HA 6/24; AJ, AP, REU 7/6)

The U.S. seized the domain name for the news site Palestine Today and more than 30 Iranian and Iranian-linked websites, including state-run news agencies. (HA, MEE, REU 6/22; AJ 6/23)

The EU provided the PA and Palestinian banks with a loan of $425 million to help keep the Palestinian economy going as it is facing an economic crisis due to the Israeli occupation and the COVID-19 pandemic. (HA 6/22)

Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast nr. al-Waha, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin in the morning, in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 3 villages each nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm, and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in Bethlehem, Hebron, Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem, and 1 village nr. Bethlehem at night. In the West Bank, Palestinian activists set up a new protest camp called al-Asra in ‘Anin village nr. Jenin; the IDF forcibly disperses protesters, including the governor of Jenin, Talal Dweikat. (MNA 1/26; PCHR 1/31)

Secy.-gen. of the teachers union, Ahmed Anis, announces that teachers in the West Bank will go on strike for 3 days starting on 1/27 to protest irregular salary payments by the PA. (MNA 1/26)

The Israeli govt. approves construction of up to 500 West Bank settlement housing units in Ariel, Gush Etzion, Kiryat Sefer, Ma’ale Adumim, Mod’in Ilit (large settlements Israel expects to keep under final status) in retaliation for the killing of 5 settlers on 3/11 by suspected Palestinians, with PM Netanyahu telling relatives of the victims: “They murder and we build.” The U.S. expresses “deep concern,” saying “continued Israeli settlements are illegitimate and run counter to efforts to resume direct negotiations.” Meanwhile, the IDF continues searches in Awarta, raiding and searching several homes and turning a few into observation posts. At least 16 attacks on Palestinians and their property by armed Jewish settlers exacting revenge for the Itamar murders are reported in Qalqilya (10), Salfit (3), Nablus (2), and Ramallah (1). Incidents involved: setting up a new outpost on Palestinian land (1); rampaging through Palestinian areas (9); attacking Palestinian homes (4, including firing on Palestinian homes, shooting fireworks at Palestinian homes, and attempting to break into houses); and stoning and vandalizing cars (8). The IDF also patrols in Dayr Istya nr. Salfit, photographing several old buildings; raids ‘Anin village nr. Jenin, searching several stores and rounding up patrons for questioning, but making no arrests; patrols in Tulkarm and 3 villages nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts late-night patrols, arrest raids, house searches in 3 villages nr. Salfit and 1 nr. Ramallah. (WP, WT 3/14; PCHR, WJW 3/17; OCHA 3/18; JPI 3/24)

On the evening of the settlement freeze expiration on 9/26, Clinton meets with Abbas in Washington to brief him for the first time on the Israeli-U.S. negotiations over a U.S. incentives package (see 9/20) and urges him not to walk away from direct talks immediately if Netanyahu allows the freeze to expire before a deal can be reached. (NYT 9/26) (see Quarterly Update for details) Clashes in and around Issawiyya between Israeli security forces and stonethrowing Palestinian youths continue for a 3d day. Off Gaza’s n. coast, Israeli naval vessels fire on a Palestinian fishing boat, killing 1 Palestinian fisherman. Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. n. Gaza toward Israel but it lands inside the Strip, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in ‘Anin village nr. Jenin in the afternoon without incident. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam. IDF soldiers fire rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation and 4 Palestinians are moderately injured (including 1 hit in the leg by live ammunition). (YA 9/21; JP 9/24; WP 9/25; PCHR 9/30; OCHA 10/1)

The IDF fires tank shells at Palestinians harvesting strawberry fields outside Bayt Lahiya, killing 7 Palestinian children (ages 10–17) wounding at least 2 adults, 5 children; fires on Palestinians working agricultural land southeast of Gaza City, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 5; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and in Bethlehem, al-Fawwar r.c., Silwad, ‘Anin nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, Rafah. Hamas fires 2 Qassam rockets fr. Khan Yunis at nearby settlements and fr. n. Gaza at Sederot, injuring 2 Israelis. (FT, IMEMC 1/4; VOI, VOP 1/4 in WNC 1/6; MM, NYT, PM, PR 1/5; IDF Radio, al-Quds, VOI, YA 1/5 in WNC 1/7; PCHR 1/6; MEI 1/7)

The IDF continues to shell the PA headquarters in Hebron, threatens to raid the complex if those still inside do not emerge; the IDF claims that 1 of those inside the complex is a senior Hizballah mbr. who slipped in fr. Lebanon to train Palestinians. (Israeli prosecutors also charge a Lebanese-born Israeli, son of a Jewish mother and Shi'i Muslim father, of being a spy for Hizballah.) The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians, wounds 10 during clashes in Balata r.c.; fatally shoots a 9-yr.-old Palestinian child, wounds 3 others in Qalqilya during a temporary lifting of the curfew, later admitting the soldiers fired in error; fatally shoots an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy in Jenin; raids a PSF jail in Nablus, taking 20 Palestinians, including several naval police officers, into custody; demolishes 10 Palestinian homes in Rafah r.c.; imposes 24-hr. curfews on Anin, Azariyya, al-Bireh, Halhul. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/28)

MK Benny Elon (Moledet), on a lobbying trip to the U.S., says he has received "quiet support" fr. several mbrs. of Congress for his 7-part "Elon peace initiative," based on the idea of the "voluntary transfer" of Palestinians to Jordan, which would become a "Jordanian-Palestinian state." Palestinian refugees would be resettled in their host countries. West Bank and Gaza Palestinians would be given Jordanian-Palestinian citizenship and could remain in their homes, but those who "violate the terms of the plan" would be expelled to Jordan. (JPI 6/27)

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF shoots, wounds Rafah youth said to be writing nationalist slogans [FBIS 11/28].

Masked Palestinians stab, wound Nablus man accused of informing on the "Red Eagle" group, whose leader was killed earlier this month in IDF raid [FBIS 11/28].

In village of 'Anin, near Jenin, 2 Palestinians are wounded by gunfire. Relatives say shots came not from IDF but from settlers [FBIS 11/28].

At least 9 Palestinians are wounded throughout O.T. in clashes with IDF [FBIS 11/28].