The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian man succumbed to injuries sustained from Israeli forces in Tell on 11/1. Israeli settlers shot and injured 1 Palestinian in Shu’fat refugee camp. Israeli settlers also destroyed a water pipeline to Beit Lid, cutting off the town’s access to water. Israeli forces shot and killed 9 Palestinians during raids in Jenin refugee camp, Budrus, Qalandia refugee camp, Hebron, and Fawwar refugee camp, including 1 child and 2 others in a drone strike on Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and injured 19 people during raids in Jenin refugee camp, Fawwar refugee camp, and Qalandia refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces used tear gas and water cannons to prevent Palestinians from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, at least 196 Palestinians were killed and 605 injured in Israeli airstrikes. Israeli forces attacked an ambulance outside of al-Shifa Hospital, killing at least 15 and injuring 60 others. Israel also attacked the Indonesian and al-Quds hospitals and the office of Agence France-Presse in Gaza City, causing significant damage. Israel said it assassinated Hamas member Mustafa Dalul in an airstrike. 4 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza. U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones circled Gaza, reportedly gathering intelligence on the whereabouts of the captives held by Hamas. The New York Times said the U.S. drones have been flying over Gaza since 10/28. Rockets were fired at Israel, causing damage. In Lebanon, Israel killed 1 person it said was a member of Hezbollah and attacked several areas in South Lebanon. 2 Israeli soldiers were injured in a drone attack in the Golan Heights. (NYT 11/2; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/3; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 11/4)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 9,257 Palestinians have been killed, including 3,826 children and 2,405 women, and 23,516 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 1,800 people, including 940 children, have been reported missing. 144 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 40 children. More than 2,300 people have been injured. Around 1,400 Israelis, including foreign nationals, have been killed and 5,431 injured since 10/7. Over 1.5 million Palestinians, more than half 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 Israel blockade. As of 10/23, at least 27,781 housing units have been destroyed and 150,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. The number is likely much higher given the lack of recent data. 17 wounded Palestinians were transferred to Egyptian hospitals via the Rafah crossing. Between 300 and 400 foreign passport holders left via the Rafah crossing. The evacuation efforts were halted after the Israeli attack on the ambulance outside of al-Shifa Hospital. 47 truckloads of aid entered Gaza. Israel reconnected 2 water pipelines to Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 11/3)

3,026 Palestinians from Gaza employed in Israel prior to 10/7 were expelled to Gaza via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. Palestinian laborers from Gaza have been held in internment camps in Israel and some were deported to the West Bank. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, REU 11/3)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to invoke biblical history, referring to Palestinians as Amalek and the “sons of darkness,” in a letter to Israeli soldiers. (HA 11/3)

An Israeli soldier accused of shooting and killing a Palestinian harvesting olives was released to house arrest. (HA 11/3)

Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah gave a televised speech saying a wider escalation could not be ruled out if Israel continues attacking Gaza. Nasrallah said he did not know about Operation al-Aqsa Flood before 10/7.  (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU 11/3; HA, HA 11/4)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Israel, saying he would push the Israeli government to agree to humanitarian pauses to allow aid into Gaza and to facilitate a release of the captives. After the meeting, Netanyahu issued a statement saying Israel will continue to attack Gaza with “all of its power” and not agree to a temporary ceasefire that does not include a return of all of the captives. U.S. officials told Axios that Blinken expressed concern over the Israeli decision to withhold PA tax revenue. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU 11/3; AJ, AX, NYT 11/4)

Honduras recalled its ambassador to Israel. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 11/3; WAFA 11/4)

Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar told the Irish radio station RTE, “[w]hat I am seeing unfolding at the moment is not self-defense. It looks, resembles something more approaching revenge,” in referencing Israeli attacks on Gaza. (AJ, HA, REU 11/3)

Dozens of U.S. activists were arrested at U.S. Senate office buildings after holding sit-ins at 8 senators’ offices, demanding a ceasefire. (AJ 11/3)

The New York Times reported that Israel used 2 2,000-pound bombs to attack Jabalia refugee camp on 10/31. (NYT 6/3)

CNN reported that the U.S. expects Israel will reduce its airstrikes on Gaza in the coming days and focus on the ground operation. (AJ, HA 11/4)

French officials said France will host an international conference on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza on 11/9. (REU 11/3)

Bloomberg News reported that Israel no longer gives Russia advanced warning about its airstrikes in Syria. (HA 11/3)

The UK charged 2 women with terrorism offenses for allegedly displaying pro-Hamas imagery at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London on 10/14. The 2 women reportedly wore stickers with paragliders on them. (REU 11/3)

Japan said it would donate $65 million in humanitarian aid to Palestine after a meeting with PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki. (REU, WAFA 11/3)

The IDF assassinates Hamas commander Ahmad Jabari and his bodyguard and separately kills 7 other Palestinians in a number of air strikes on military and civilian targets across the Gaza Strip, leaving around 90 wounded. The dead include 2 children and an elderly man. Code-named Operation Pillar of Cloud in Hebrew (a Torah reference) and renamed Operation Pillar of Defense for foreign audiences, the Israeli military attacks are described as the ‘‘beginning’’ of an effort to increase deterrence and remove Hamas’s rocketlaunching capabilities. The IQB warns that Israel has ‘‘opened the gates of hell’’ with Jabari’s assassination, and fires dozens of rockets and mortars into Israel. They are joined by the DFLP, Islamic Jihad, PFLP, and PRCs, all of whom claim responsibility for rocket and mortar fire. In total, over 90 projectiles hit Israel from the Gaza Strip, causing 4 injuries. The Iron Dome rocket-defense system intercepts 30 rockets. Overnight, the IDF undertakes air strikes on around 100 sites across the Gaza Strip. U.S. pres. Obama calls Israel PM Netanyahu to express his support for Israel’s military operation and the country’s right to selfdefense. Obama also calls Egyptian pres. Mohamed Morsi to stress the importance of de-escalation and to pledge to stay in close touch. Egypt strongly condemns Israel’s military assault, and UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon calls for a cease-fire. The UNSC holds an emergency meeting but takes no action. (Guardian, REU 11/14; JP, MNA 11/15)

Unidentified assailants fire 4 rockets from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula into Israel, landing nr. an agricultural community and causing no injuries. (HA 11/14)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho in the morning, in 1 village nr. Salfit in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Balata r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Palestinians across the West Bank demonstrate to mark the day before the 24th anniversary of the PLO’s declaration of independence, blocking roads nr. Bethlehem, Jericho, and Ramallah, and clashing with soldiers at checkpoints in Atara (nr. Ramallah) and Bethlehem. (AFP, PCHR 11/14)

Israeli DM Barak says that almost all the villages nr. the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are now controlled by the Syrian opposition. (AP 11/14)

On a 2d day of violent protests in Jordan against price hikes and in general opposition to King Abdullah’s regime, unidentified gunmen attack 2 police stations, and ensuing clashes leave 1 protester dead—the 1st fatality in Jordanian demonstrations in 2012. (AP 11/15)

The IDF raids al-Quds Open University campus in Hebron, holds 52 students and staff for interrogation for 3 hrs. until the Temporary International Presence in Hebron intervenes; raids, searches Palestinian homes nr. Nablus, Ramallah; conducts late night arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah, nr. Bethlehem. Also in Gaza, 1 Italian, 1 French journalist are kidnapped, quickly released by unidentified gunmen who say they wanted to pressure the PA to address employment issues in the Strip. In Bayt Lahiya, suspected militant Fatah mbrs. shoot, wound PA military intelligence official Bassam Azzam (who was close to assassinated military intelligence cmdr. Musa Arafat). Later, suspected Hamas mbrs. kidnap, shoot, then dump seriously wounded senior Fatah official Samir al-Juz in Bayt Lahiya. Soon after, a previously unknown group calling itself the Omar Bin al-Khattab Brigades (OBKB; suspected to be made up of disaffected PA General Intelligence officers angry over the 10/2 clashes) kidnaps senior Hamas mbrs. (Bassam Obeido, Hassan Safi, Ra’id Raz) in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm, stating that “this is a response to Hamas’s violations and disregard for law and order and their attacks on security institutions and Palestinian leaders.... This is our first response”; Hamas blames elements of Fatah; the AMB says it is not involved. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ 10/6; Irish Examiner 10/7; AFP, NYT 10/8; MEI 10/12; PCHR 10/13)

The IDF officially “suspends” Operation First Rain, which began on 9/24, to “see if the Palestinian Authority is willing and capable of taking advantage of the new situation.” PA security forces clash with Hamas mbrs. in Gaza City, with violence spreading to Shati‘ r.c., leaving 1 PA police officer, 2 Palestinian bystanders dead, at least 50 Palestinians wounded over several hrs. in the first intra-Palestinian fighting in Gaza since the Israeli withdrawal, sparked when PA security forces allegedly tried to arrest Muhammad Rantisi, Hamas activist and son of assassinated Hamas leader ‘Abd al- ‘Aziz Rantisi; during the clashes Hamas mbrs. fire RPGs at 2 PA police stations, PA police run out of ammunition. Separately, shots are fired at the Gaza City home of Hamas political leader Mahmud Zahhar, causing damage but no injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF launches arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm and in and around Bethlehem, Hebron. Israeli border police report that over the previous 2 days they have arrested 1,200 Palestinians in Jerusalem for failing to have travel or work permits. (AFP, IMEMC, YA 10/2; REU, UPI, WP, WT 10/3; HA, REU, WT, XIN 10/4; PCHR 10/6; DS 10/8; MEI 10/12)

The Israeli FMin. adopts a new “national image management” strategy to improve Israel’s image abroad, “rebranding” it as “cool,” “hip,” “relevant and modern,” by downplaying religion and “avoiding any discussion of the conflict with the Palestinians.” (Forward 10/14)

The IDF assassinates Hamas leader Rantisi, firing 2 missiles at his car as he drives through Gaza City, also killing his bodyguards Akram Nassar and Ahmad Ghurra, wounding 4 bystanders. 10,000s of Palestinians throughout the West Bank, Gaza take to the streets to protest. Hamas vows retaliation, says it has appointed Rantisi’s replacement but will not identify him for security reasons. (Senior spokesman Mahmud Zahar, senior political leader Ismail Haniyeh are considered the likely successors.) The IDF strike comes hrs. after a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device inside the Erez Industrial Zone in Gaza, killing an Israeli border policeman, injuring 3; the AMB, Hamas claim joint responsibility. IDF undercover units raid Hebron and capture, beat, arrest an Arab Bank employee. The IDF also seals all West Bank and Gaza crossings except the Rafah checkpoint; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement throughout the territories; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too close to a Jewish settlement nr. Gaza City; denies passage to a Palestinian who suffers a heart attack at a Nablus checkpoint, allowing him to die; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, cutting some electricity, seriously injuring a 9-yr.-old girl inside her home and 6 others elsewhere; fires on, shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Tulkarm (seriously injuring a 5-yr.-old girl); fires on residential areas nr. Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dayr al-Balah, Jenin; bulldozes 6 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun. (HA, MA, REU 4/17; AFP, MENA, MNR, PSCT, VOP 4/17, AFP, ATL, HA, IRNA, JP, LBC, MENA, MNR, al-Quds, VOP, YA 4/18 in WNC 4/20; NYT, WP, WT 4/18; CSM, MM 4/19; ITAR-TASS 4/19 in WNC 4/21; DUS, al-Ra’i 4/19, JT 4/20 in WNC 4/22; AYM 4/19, al-Quds, SA 4/21 in WNC 4/23; MM, PR 4/21; PCHR 4/22; WP 4/25; MEI 4/30)

The IDF discovers, disarms a bomb underneath a truck with Israeli license plates at a checkpoint outside Nablus; fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians attempting to infiltrate Morag settlement; fires tear gas to disperse a group of Palestinians in Hebron demonstrating against the Yasin assassination, causing an elderly Palestinian to suffocate, die; fires on stone-throwing youths outside al-Fawwar r.c. nr. Hebron, on residential areas of Rafah (wounding a Palestinian construction worker at an UNRWA school site, a Palestinian inside her home); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jayyus nr. Qalqilya; bulldozes 62 dunams of Palestinian land in al-Qarara. In the Hebron area, Palestinians throw stones at IDF troops, Jewish settler vehicles on bypass roads, causing no injuries but forcing the IDF to close the bypass routes temporarily. The Israeli navy fires on a “suspicious object” in the water 2 mi. off Gaza’s shore; Palestinian fishermen say they were targeted. Palestinian gunmen fire at a Jewish settler bus nr. Ofra, causing no injuries. Palestinians also fire a mortar at Gush Katif settlement, an antitank rocket at an IDF patrol in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries in either incident. In Israel, 1,000s of Israeli Arabs in Nazareth march in protest of Yasin’s assassination. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in the IDF missile attack on Rafah on 3/17. (AFP, AP, HA 3/23; HA, WT 3/24; PCHR 3/25)

Hamas names hard-line spokesman ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Rantisi as acting political head in Gaza and Hamas politburo chmn. Khalid Mishal, currently in exile in Damascus, acting head of the whole movement. (HA, MM 3/23; VOP 3/23 in WNC 3/25; al-Arabiyya TV [Dubai] 3/23 in WNC 4/27; HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 3/24; IDF Radio, LBC, MA, al-Quds, SA, VOI 3/24 in WNC 3/26; WP, WT 3/25; AYM 3/25, al-Quds 3/26 in WNC 3/30)

The IDF attempts to assassinate, wounds Hamas political leader and chief spokesman ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Rantisi, firing missiles at his car as he drives through Shati‘ r.c., killing a bodyguard and a Palestinian woman walking nearby, wounding 27. In a rare acknowledgment, Israel confirms it targeted Rantisi, saying it took the decision after Rantisi called off Hamas cease-fire talks with the PA. Later in the day, IDF helicopters fire missiles at a 2d car in Jabaliya, allegedly targeting 2 Palestinians who fired 5 Qassam rockets at Sederot earlier, causing no damage or injuries; 3 Palestinian bystanders are killed, 30 (including the 2 targets) are wounded. Abbas condemns the Rantisi attack as a “terrorist attack in the full meaning of the word,” saying it was aimed at sabotaging the road map; Hamas says it is a “declaration of war,” vows to “commit operations that will shake Israel.” The IDF also fatally shoots wanted Palestinian Issam Ibrahim in Jenin in what may be an assassination; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians in s. Gaza; fires on, wounds a Palestinian nr. Morag settlement; fires on residential areas of Hebron, Khan Yunis; bulldozes 5 dunams of land in Jabaliya; conducts arrest raids in Battir, Bayt Iba, Dura, Haris, Hebron, Jericho, Nablus (targeting Hamas), Qatanna, Tulkarm, al-Walaja, Yatta; dismantles another 5 unauthorized settlement outposts, all of them uninhabited. The Israeli High Court blocks the removal of 1 occupied outpost, Havat Gilad, which Israel attempted to dismantle in fall 2002. Jewish settlers rebuild 1 outpost taken down on 6/9. (BBC, HA, LAW, MM 6/10; ITAR-TASS, VOI, MENA 6/10 in WNC 6/12; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 6/11; AFP, AKH, DUS, HA, IDF Radio, JP, JT, MA, MENA, NHR, QA, al-Quds, VOI, YA, XIN 6/11 in WNC 6/13; JPI, LAW, PCHR, WP 6/12; AYM, JP 6/12 in WNC 6/14; PR 6/18, 6/25; MEI 6/27; MEI 7/11)

An AMB gunman attacks an IDF outpost n. of Jerusalem, killing 6 IDF soldiers, critically wounding 1, and escaping. IDF F-16s shell 2 PSF buildings in Rafah, Ramallah; naval vessels fire a missile at PA head Yasir Arafat's compound in Gaza, killing 4 Force 17 mbrs. The IDF also rockets a Hamas office in Jabaliya, killing 2 Hamas mbrs. in an apparent assassination; among the 11 injured are 9 children. 2 Palestinians are killed in IDF strikes on Nablus. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in the West Bank, killing only himself, causing no injuries. The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah, 2 Palestinian homes in Umm Tuba nr. Jabal Abu Ghunaym settlement, 1 dunam of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Yatta; bans all Palestinian vehicular traffic except ambulances in the n. West Bank. Late this evening, the IDF fires 18 shells at Arafat's compound in Gaza, killing 5 PSF officers; 1 missile into his compound in Ramallah, where he has been held under virtual house arrest since 12/01. In Hebron, Jewish settlers fire on Palestinian areas, causing no injuries. (AP, Mezan, MM, NYT, WT 2/19; AP, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/20; AFP, MA 2/20 in WNC 2/21; MM, PCHR, WP 2/21)

At least 1 PFLP gunman assassinates Israeli tourism M Ze'evi in an East Jerusalem hotel, shooting him at point blank range, using a pistol equipped with a silencer, escaping undetected. The PFLP says it is retaliating for the assassination of PFLP secy. gen. Mustafa on 8/27; also takes responsibility for a suicide car bombing in Gaza that wounds 2 IDF soldiers. Arafat immediately condemns the assassination, orders the PSF to arrest the killers. The PSF quickly arrests 3 PFLP mbrs. but releases them after questioning. (AP, HA, HP, JP [Internet], MM, REU 10/17; AFP, ATL, XIN 10/17 in WNC 10/18; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; al-Quds 10/18 in WNC 10/19; Tehran Times 10/20 in WNC 10/22; WJW 10/25)

Meanwhile, Hamas mbr. Iyad al-Akhras is killed in an explosion in his Gaza home in what may be an assassination. The IDF also fires a missile at a Palestinian car in Nablus, but the rocket misses, 3 Palestinians escape unharmed. The IDF makes a predawn incursion into al-Qarara, firing heavy machine guns at homes, bulldozing 10s of dunams of cultivated land for construction of a settler bypass road; directs machine gun fire at residential areas of Gaza City, Jinin, Rafah; bulldozes secondary Palestinian roads around Ramallah. Palestinian gunmen reportedly fire at Neve Dekalim, wounding 2 Jewish settlers. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers angry over Ze'evi's murder attack, beat Palestinians. (HP 10/17; WT 10/18)

After a lengthy Israeli inner cabinet mtg., Sharon issues an ultimatum to the PA: arrest and extradite Ze'evi's killers and the PFLP's current leaders and "dismantle terror organizations" or face a response more severe than any recent reprisal. Sharon then convenes a special session of the Knesset (boycotted by Arab MKs), where he declares, "We will wage all-out war on the terrorists" and "those who collaborate with them." National Union+nYisrael Beitunia MKs suspend their resignations to see how Sharon responds. The IDF sends tanks, troops 2.5 mi. into area A around Jinin; reimposes tight closures on, places 24 hr. curfews on, and directs shells and heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Azariyya, al-Bireh, Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah; deploys helicopters to hover over major Palestinian population centers; bars Arafat fr. using Gaza airport. (HP, MM 10/17; AFP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; JP [Internet], WP 10/29)

Powell phones Sharon to urge Israel to use restraint. The White House calls on the PA to "immediately find and bring to justice those who committed this murder," saying Arafat must "take vigorous action against terrorists." (MM, WP 10/18; Interfax, MENA, QA 10/18 in WNC 10/19)

Israel allows more Palestinian workers to resume their jobs in the Erez industrial zone; permits 30 doctors to leave West Bank, Gaza for their jobs in East Jerusalem hospitals. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21)

In Abu-Dis, the IDF bulldozes the home of Palestinian involved in attacks on Israelis in 10/94 and 12/94. Nr. Nablus, IDF demolishes home of 3d Palestinian connected with 8/21/95 bus bombing. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; CSM 3/22) (see 3/20)

IDF bans entry to Gaza of vaccines, other medicines through Hanun checkpoint. (PBC 3/21 in FBIS 3/21)

PA police arrest several Hamas mbrs. during a raid aimed at arresting Muhammad Daif, the new head of the Qassam Brigades following the assassination of Yahya Ayyash. (CSM 3/22)

Influential Lebanese Shi`ite figure Riyad `Abdallah announces formation of the Movement of Democratic Reformers, the Foundation Movement. Party will be based in s. Lebanon, have the objective of making "peace with Syria and Israel on the grounds of geographical continuity." Hizballah accuses `Abdallah of being an SLA agent. (AFP, MBC 3/21 in FBIS 3/22)

World Bank bars U.S. fr. bidding on $2.1 b. in International Development Association contracts after the U.S. falls $934 m. behind in meeting its pledges. (WT 3/22)

Hizballah Sec. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah says that since the beginning of the yr., Israeli shelling in Lebanon has left 2 civilians dead, 24 wounded, 92 homes and buildings (incl. a church and hospital) damaged. (MM 3/21)