The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained from Israeli forces in Kafr Ain on 1/22. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Bizarya, causing damage. Israeli settlers also assault Palestinian shepherds in Umm al-Khair, causing injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raid Huwwara, vandalizing homes and vehicles. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man and injure another at the Dayr Sharaf checkpoint; Israel claims the dead man opened fire at Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces also punitively demolish the family home in Hebron of a Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces in Beit Jala on 11/16/2023; the demolition is carried out with explosives, damaging other apartments in the building. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish an agricultural structure in Yatma. Israeli forces also arrest 5 Palestinians during a raid in Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 10 Palestinians, including 4 children, at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Rafah, Maghazi, Dayr al-Balah, and Khan Yunis, killing at least 130 people. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian doctor while his is operating on a patient in the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. In Lebanon, Hezbollah attacks 2 Israeli bases, injuring 3 soldiers in Kiryat Shmona. 30 rockets are also fired at Ein Zeitim and Dalton. Israeli forces kill a Hezbollah member in an airstrike on Nabatieh, others are reportedly injured. Israel also attacks Khiam and Kafrhamam. In Yemen, the U.S. military says it has conducted 7 airstrikes. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/8; AJ, AP, HA, REU 2/9)

More than 27,840 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 11,500 children and 7,200 women, and around 67,317 have been injured since 10/7. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 383 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 96 children. More than 4,426 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, 225 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,314 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. UNOCHA says 650,000 Palestinians in Gaza have no homes to return to and that there are an estimated 12 million tons of debris from Israeli bombings that needs to be cleared. (HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 2/8; AJ 2/9)

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society says Muhammad Ahmad al-Sabar, a Palestinian held in administrative detention since May 2022, has died in the Ofer Prison. Al-Sabar is the eighth prisoner to die in Israeli custody since 10/7/2023. (AJ, UNOCHA, WAFA 2/8)

Israeli forces release 71 Palestinians from Gaza at the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. The New York Times reports that U.S. intelligence officers told Congress that they believe Israeli forces have killed a third of Hamas militants. (AJ, HA, NYT, WAFA 2/8; AJ, HA, NYT 2/9)

A Hamas delegation led by political bureau deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya arrives in Cairo for meetings with Qatari and Egyptian officials on a ceasefire deal. The Israeli war cabinet discusses the Hamas response to the ceasefire proposal. (AJ, HA 2/8)

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk says Israel’s destruction of homes to create a buffer zone in Gaza “amounts to a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and [is] a war crime.” (AJ, NYT 2/8)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken meets with Israeli war cabinet members Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot and opposition leader Yair Lapid on the second day of his visit to Israel. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says Israel moving its troops to Rafah “without due consideration for their [Palestinians sheltering there] safety would be a disaster and we would not support it.” President Joe Biden issues a memorandum saying countries receiving U.S. military aid must assure the U.S. that they are adhering to international law and requiring the state and defense departments to send a report to Congress within 90 days on the use of U.S.-supplied weapons. Biden also says in a speech that Israel’s response in Gaza has been “over the top,” and that innocent people in Gaza are “starving, in trouble and dying. It’s got to stop.” In the speech, Biden mistakenly calls Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi the president of Mexico. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT 2/8; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/9)

The U.S. Senate advances a supplemental foreign aid only bill, including $14 billion to Israel in a procedural 67-32 vote. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) is the only Democrat to vote against it. (HA, REU 2/8)

The ICJ says Nicaragua has requested to join South Africa in the genocide case against Israel. (AJ, WAFA 2/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 3 residential tents in al-‘Awja and a tractor in Shaab al-Butum. Israeli settlers also uprooted around 100 olive, almond, and grape trees and destroyed 15 beehives in al-Khader. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Haris, causing damage. Israeli residents at Meirav village near Jalbun prevented Palestinians from harvesting olives, during 1 of the 2 times a year they are allowed to harvest on the Israeli side of the separation wall on their privately-owned land; Israeli forces refused to remove the protesters leaving the Palestinians without access. Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man during a raid in Yatma. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 people during a raid in Dahariya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians awaiting the prisoner exchange at Ofer Prison, injuring 2, including a child, with live ammunition and a journalist with a baton round; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Palestinian homes in Sur Baher, Silwan, Isawiya, and al-Tur, warning families not to celebrate the release of their relatives in the prisoner exchange. In Gaza, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian farmer and wounded another in Maghazi refugee camp. Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinians near the Indonesian Hospital and al-Quds Hospital, injuring 7. In Syria, Israeli forces attacked the Damascus International Airport, putting it out of commission. (AJ 11/25; AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/26)

The Gaza Media Office did not update the casualty numbers, leaving the comprehensive death toll as of 11/23 at around 14,800 Palestinians, including 6,000 children and 4,000 women, and around 35,000 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 231 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 56 children. More than 2,980 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. 75 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.7 million Palestinians, more than 70% 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 Israel blockade. As of 11/18, at least 45,000 housing units had been destroyed and 233,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. 200 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Several trucks entered northern Gaza distributing aid at a hospital and UNRWA shelters. (AJ 11/25; HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/26)

39 Palestinian prisoners, all boys, were released during the third prisoner exchange. 17 Hamas-held captives were released to Israel via the Rafah crossing, including 14 Israelis and 3 Thai nationals. 1 of the released captives holds U.S. citizenship, while another holds Russian citizenship. Israel said 1 of the released captives, an 84-year-old woman, was hospitalized in serious condition. She was later said to be improving. A relative of 3 children released from captivity said they were treated “more or less okay.” Hamas said it was seeking to extend the temporary ceasefire and called on U.S. president Joe Biden to end the Israeli war on Gaza. Biden said that the U.S. sought to extend the ceasefire, adding that the war ends when Hamas “no longer [is] in control of any portion of Gaza.” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Red Cross visitations for the remaining captives held in Gaza was part of the ceasefire agreement and that the U.S. expects visitations to start on 11/27. (AJ 11/25; AJ, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/26; HA 11/27)

Hamas said 4 senior military officers had been killed before the ceasefire, including Northern Gaza Brigade commander Ahmed al-Ghandour. (AJ 11/25; HA, NYT 11/26)

UN World Food Programme director Cindy McCain warned that Gaza was “on the brink of famine.” (AJ 11/27; WAFA 11/28)

The Israeli military said it had stolen $1.33 million worth of cash in Israeli shekels, Iraqi dinars, Jordanian dinars, and U.S. dollars from homes in Gaza. (AJ 11/25)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli soldiers in Gaza, saying Israel has 3 goals: “to eliminate Hamas, to bring back all our hostages, and to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to the State of Israel again.” (AJ 11/25; HA, NYT 11/26)

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, saying “[w]e stand in solidarity with Israel. It is not only with Israel as a victim of terror. Our solidarity is also with the Israel that defends itself, that fights against an existential threat.” Steinmeier later said that Germany will donate $7.5 million to rebuild an art gallery destroyed on 10/7 in Kibbutz Be’eri. (HA 11/26; HA 11/27)

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz of the National Unity party said that if the government votes to distribute coalition funds instead of adding to the war effort his party will vote against the budget and consider its next steps. (HA 11/26)

Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said that he hopes an upcoming meeting of officials from Mediterranean countries scheduled for next week will convince European nations that a permanent ceasefire is needed, not only pauses. (AJ, HA 11/26)

U.S. senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said U.S. lawmakers would vote on a $14 billion military aid package to Israel next week. Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) had all suggested that U.S. military aid to Israel could be conditional on Israel following international law. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said the Biden administration was considering conditioning the U.S. aid. Sullivan later said it was not something the White House would do. (AJ 11/25; HA 11/28)

The Biden administration had reportedly asked the U.S. Senate on 10/20 to lift nearly all restrictions on Israeli access to U.S. weapons. (AJ 11/26)

Human Rights Watch said that the explosion that killed and injured upwards of 500 Palestinians at al-Ahli Hospital resulted from “a rocket-propelled munition, such as those commonly used by Palestinian armed groups” but added further investigation was needed to determine the perpetrator. Other investigations have pointed to Israel as the likely perpetrator. Human Rights Watch also said it could not corroborate the death toll, saying it appeared “out of proportion with the damage visible at the site.” (HA 11/26)

Russia condemned the Israeli attack on Damascus International Airport. (AJ, HA 11/27)

Pirates from Somalia attempted to hijack the Israeli-owned Central Park oil tanker off the coast of Yemen. It was initially reported that the Yemeni Houthi government was behind the attempt. The pirates were arrested by U.S. forces. (AJ 11/25; HA, HA, NYT 11/26; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP 11/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in Burin. Israeli settlers also vandalized a water pipeline in Khirbat Tana. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raided Yatma, attacking Palestinians. Israeli forces demolished 4 buildings in the Baladim settlement outpost near Ein Samia. The demolitions were approved by the Settlement Administration in the Defense Ministry. Israeli forces also forced a disabled Palestinian out of his car and seized the car, specially made for his needs, leaving him in a wheelchair at a checkpoint south of Ramallah. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished agricultural structures and razed land planted with 120 olive tree saplings in Beit Sira. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Birzeit, Qabatiya, and Hebron. PA forces in Jenin arrested several Palestinians and seized weapons. In East Jerusalem, Israel forces made 1 Palestinian family demolish their own home in Musrara. In Gaza, Hamas said it had seized an Israeli drone that crashed near Gaza City after malfunctioning. (JP, HA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/14; MEMO, MEMO 8/15; PCHR 8/17; UNOCHA 8/28)

The Israeli-run Jerusalem District Court rejected an appeal that would have seen the Israeli settler Yehiel Indore released from custody. Indore is the main suspect in the killing of Palestinian Qosai Jammal Mi’tanin on 8/4 in Burqa. An Israeli police representative told the court that Indore’s claim of acting in self-defense is unlikely to hold merit. (HA 8/14)

Maps released by the Israeli Civil Administration showed that the official boundaries of the Israeli settlement outposts Asael and Avigail, which had been retroactively authorized by Israel in February, had expanded significantly in recent months. The Asael settlement outpost had expanded 18 times while the Avigail outpost had expanded 2.5 times. Both outposts are located in the South Hebron Hills. 10 other settlement outposts retroactively authorized in February will have their new boundaries published in the coming weeks. (HA 8/16)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian king Abdullah II, and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned Israel for fueling violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank after the 3 leaders met in El Alamein, Egypt. The 3 also said Israel was illegally withholding PA tax income. (HA 8/12; AP, HA, WAFA 8/14; NA 8/15)

Islamic Jihad and Fatah issued a joint statement saying Islamic Jihad political bureau member Khaled al-Batsh and Fatah central committee member Ahmad Halas discussed reconciliation between the two groups in Gaza. (ALM, JP 8/15)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler rammed a 4-year-old Palestinian in Kisan, causing life-threatening injuries. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near al-Bireh and Shufa and vandalized a barn in Khirbet Makhul. Israeli forces raided Arrabah, assassinating 3 Palestinians sitting in a car, including a minor. Israeli forces also issued 15 demolition and stop-work orders for homes and 2 demolition notices for walls on agricultural lands in Yatma. 5 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Burqa; Israel said the arrests were related to the settler attack on Burqa on 8/4. 5 others were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Fawwar refugee camp, Bayt Awa, and Rumana. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids. In the Naqab, Israeli police detained and deported a Palestinian woman to Gaza after stopping her and examining her papers. The woman, who had lived in Israel since 1992 after marrying a Palestinian citizen of Israel, was forced to leave her 12 children behind, including 4 minors. (AJ, CNN, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/6; AP, HA, PCHR 8/7; PCHR 8/10; UNOCHA 8/11; HA 8/27; HA 8/28)

6 Palestinian families living in al-Qaboun fled their homes due to Israeli settler violence and attacks by Israeli forces. (WAFA 8/6; MEE, UNOCHA 8/10; AP 8/24)

In Tel Aviv, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel, carrying 141 coffins, protested Israeli police inaction in addressing the homicide rate in Palestinian communities. 141 Palestinian citizens of Israel have been killed in 2023. (HA, HA 8/6; HA, MEE 8/7)

The court of appeal in Gaza issued death sentences to 7 Palestinians for allegedly collaborating with Israel. (MEMO, PCHR 8/7)

PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour sent letters to the UN secretary-general, the president of the UN Security Council, and the president of the UN General Assembly, demanding that the international community intervene to protect Palestinians. (WAFA 8/6)

The Israeli organization Retired Police Commissioners and Major Generals’ Forum sent a letter to Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar warning that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is trying to interfere in the investigation into the settler terror attack on Burqa on 8/4 after he praised 2 of the arrested settlers, saying the suspects should get a “medal of honor.” (JP, TOI, TOI, WAFA 8/6; MEMO 8/7)

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich blocked the funding of a preparatory course that would help Palestinians living in East Jerusalem get admitted to Israeli universities. $54 million had been allocated to the program. (JP, TOI 8/6; JP 8/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Yatma before being repelled by Palestinians. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also demolished 1 residential structure, 1 village council building, 1 agricultural structure, and 1 water reservoir in Khirbet Izbek, and 1 irrigation pond in Birzeit. 22 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Silwad, Dheisheh refugee camp, Hebron, Jenin, and Kafr Qaddum. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/27; PCHR 6/30;  UNOCHA 7/2)

Representatives from the U.S., Israel, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and Bahrain met in Manama to discuss the establishment of the Negev Forum based on a meeting between the parties in Israel in March. According to Axios, sources present at the meeting said Morocco and Egypt pushed for the inclusion of the PA in the plan regional cooperation; however, it is unclear if the PA wants to take part in the normalization-based cooperation. (AX 6/29; MEMO 6/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized dozens of olive trees and stole harvesting equipment and olives in Salem. Israeli settlers also stole olive harvesting equipment in Yatma. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set fire to agricultural lands near Burqa, causing damage to olive trees. Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from harvesting olive crops in the seam zone near Qalqilya. Israeli forces also demolished 1 house under construction in Sika, displacing 7 people; Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinians protesting the demolition. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrested 1 Palestinian woman, accusing her of attempting to stab a soldier near Beit Surik. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during late-night raids in al-Bireh, Turmus Ayya, Beit Fajjar, al-Tira, and Qabatiya; 1 was arrested at a checkpoint near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Damascus Gate plaza, assaulting 2 minors and 1 journalist; 9 were arrested. 3 others were arrested during house raids in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/18; PCHR 10/21)

In Israel, 1 Palestinian Israeli man was shot dead in Ba’ana, marking the 100th member of the Palestinian Israeli community to be killed in what is described as intra-communal violence in 2021. Some Palestinians in Israel have complained that Israeli police are uninterested in solving murders in the community. The issue is said to be addressed in the upcoming Israeli budget negotiations as more money will be allocated to policing in Palestinian towns and cities. The Israeli police solve 71% of murders in the Jewish community, but only 23% within the Palestinian communities in Israel. 83 of the 100 Palestinians killed had died in cases that involved firearms. (AJ 10/16; HA 10/17; HA, TOI 10/18)

Israel revoked the East Jerusalem residency rights from a 36-year-old Palestinian man who had lived in the city his entire life. Israel claimed that the man, an attorney for Addameer, failed to show allegiance to Israel. The man had spent 7 years in Israeli prison. (WAFA 10/18; MDW, MEE 10/19)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called on the UN to send monitors to the West Bank to help prevent Israeli settler attacks, as the frequency of the attacks on Palestinians has been rising in recent months. A sharp escalation during the olive harvesting season has been recorded. (WAFA 10/18; MEMO 10/19)

Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde visited Israel in an effort to mend ties between the 2 countries, which have been cold since Sweden recognized the State of Palestine in 2014. Foreign Minister Linde met with Israel’s foreign minister Yair Lapid and president Isaac Herzog. Israel conveyed to Linde’s predecessor Margot Wallström that she was not welcome in Israel after she pointed out that Israel was committing extrajudicial killings in 2016. (AP 10/18; HA 10/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked a group of Palestinian children near Silat ad-Dhahr, catching, abducting, and torturing 1 for 1 hour and 30 minutes at the Hermesh settlement outpost before Israeli soldiers picked him up after being notified by Palestinians. Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction in Yatma. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in al-Bireh, Hebron, and Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, 1 at a checkpoint near Ya‘bad, and 1 at a checkpoint while seeking an entry permit to East Jerusalem for treatment of cancer. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided and shut down a ceremony for Palestinians who passed their high school exams in Isawiya, claiming it was sponsored by the PA. Israeli forces also demolished 1 nursery school and 1 house in Bayt Safafa. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled farmland east of Maghazi and al-Bureij refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Jabalia; no injuries were reported. (AA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/17; AA 8/18; PCHR 8/19; HA 8/26; JP 8/31; AP 9/10)

PA firefighters joined Israeli firefighters to combat wildfires raging west and southwest of Jerusalem. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz thanked Mahmoud Abbas for “his initiative” in a tweet. The PA sent 20 Palestinian firefighters and 4 fire engines to help combat the fires. President Abbas later received a phone call from Israeli public security minister Omer Bar Lev thanking Abbas for sending the firefighters. (HA, MEMO, WAFA 8/18)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas, PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, and foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with the Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Ramallah. In a statement, the PA said Foreign Minister al-Maliki called on Japan to recognize the State of Palestine. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/17)

Issam Daalis, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, said that militant factions in Gaza will start violently resisting Israeli restrictions put on Gaza during May if those restrictions are not lifted by 8/21. The ultimatum was made after a meeting of senior Hamas members. Daalis also said that Egypt had asked Hamas to give Israel time and the Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett had said some restrictions would be gradually lifted. (MEMO 8/18)

Israeli Palestinian lawmaker Ahmad Tibi from the Joint List filed a complaint against an Israeli soldier who prevented him and 3 other lawmakers from reaching al-Ibrahimi Mosque on 8/14 during a protest against Israeli renovations to the structure. Tibi further asserted that the soldier assaulted him during the incident. (HA 8/18)

In Syria, Israeli forces fired missiles at areas within Quneitra province from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The extent of the damage or if there were any casualties was unclear. (AP, HA 8/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Yatta, assaulting 2 Palestinians and damaging water pipes. Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 2 agricultural structures in al-Walaja. 14 Palestinians were arrested in and around al-Arroub refugee camp, Dar Salah, Qusin, Rujeib, Beita, Abu Dis, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 warehouse, 1 barrack, and 1 fence in Sur Baher. 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Beit Safafa and 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Sheikh Jarrah. (WAFA, WAFA 7/1; PCHR 7/8)

The Israeli government and settlers in the settlement outpost Evyatar agreed to a compromise where the settlers would leave the outpost in exchange for Israel establishing a military post there, re-examine if Israel can legalize the outpost allowing the Israeli settlers to return, while leaving all structures intact. Palestinians from nearby Beita and Yatma have protested near the settlement outpost on a near-daily basis since it was established on 5/3. The Palestinian owners of the land had petitioned the Israeli attorney general not to allow the compromise deal between the Israeli government and the settlers. Israeli forces have killed 4 Palestinians protesting the settlement outpost and injured many others since it was created. (HA 6/25; MEMO 6/29; AJ, HA, REU 6/30; HA 7/1; ALM, HA 7/2)

The PA justice minister Mohammed al-Shalaldeh said the medical report about the death of Nizar Banat on 6/24 confirmed that he was subject to physical violence before his death. Banat died shortly after being arrested by PA security forces at his home; he was said to have been beaten by the forces with metal rods. Banat’s family called his death an assassination by the PA forces in order to quell his critique of the PA government. (AJ 7/1)

The UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet criticized the violent PA response to Palestinian protests since the killing of Nizar Banat on 6/24. Commissioner Bachelet urged the PA to ensure the safety of protesters after they had been beaten with batons and PA forces in civilian clothing had attacked them. (HA 7/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked a bus carrying Palestinians south of Nablus, causing damage to the bus. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 15 Palestinian homes in Yatma. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own barns in Silwan to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. 6 Palestinian minors were arrested during raids in Shu‘fat and al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian famers east of Gaza City; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/14; PCHR 2/18)

Israeli authorities released a 39-year-old terminally ill Palestinian prisoner serving the last year of a 20-year sentence. (WAFA 2/15)

The Sharia Judicial Council in Gaza ruled that unmarried women in Gaza must obtain permission from a male guardian to be able to travel. (AP, GDN, TOI 2/15; PCHR 2/16)

The Qatari envoy to Gaza Mohammad al-Emadi said Qatar had brokered a deal between the PA and the Israeli gas company Delek to deliver natural gas to Gaza and to install a gas pipe to the Gaza power station from an offshore rig. According to the deal, European countries will fund the maritime parts of the gas pipe within Gaza’s maritime borders and Qatar will fund the extension to the gas rig. Envoy al-Emadi said it will take 2 years to construct the gas pipe. (HA 2/14; REU 2/23; HA, WAFA 2/24; AP, REU 2/25)

The Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) leadership approved a change in policy that will allow the JNF to purchase land in the West Bank for Israeli settlement expansion. The JNF’s board of directors still needs to approve the new policy and is said to decide after the 3/23 Israeli elections. The JNF leadership also approved allocating $11.7 million for buying land in the West Bank, a decision that also needs the board of director’s final approval. Several Zionist organizations expressed criticism of the JNF’s decision. (HA, HA 2/14; HA 2/15)

Syrian state media said Israel fired missiles at Damascus from the Golan Heights but did not report any casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 6 people were killed in the attack. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA 2/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers injured 2 Palestinians while throwing stones at a Palestinian-owned house in Yatma. Separately, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian-owned agricultural lands east of Tulkarm, damaging olive and almond trees. Israeli forces also confiscated 1 residential caravan in Bayt Dajan. 26 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bayt Umar, Dura, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Ya‘bad, Jenin, Nablus, and Qalqilya. During a raid near Ramallah, 1 Palestinian was injured by a rubber-coated bullet; 1 other Palestinian was injured by gunfire in Qalqilya, and clashes erupted during a raid in Ya‘bad; no injuries were reported there. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were injured in 2 separate attacks by unidentified perpetrators; 1 4-year-old girl was hit in the head by a bullet in Issawiyya and 1 man and his child were shot while working in a store in Shu‘fat. 1 Palestinian was arrested in Issawiyya. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 5/21; PCHR 5/28)

The PA formally informed Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories and the CIA that it was no longer participating in security coordination and intelligence sharing. PA forces also left Area B which, like Area C, is under Israeli military control. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh also said that the PA would not accept COVID-19-related aid sent from UAE on a direct plane to Israel landing on 5/20, noting that the PA had not been informed about the shipment before it took off. All the COVID-19 material will instead go to Gaza, which witnessed 29 new confirmed COVID-19 cases today. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 5/21)

18 Democratic senators signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, warning that annexation of parts of the West Bank “would betray our shared democratic values by denying Palestinians’ right to self-determination in a viable, sovereign, independent and contiguous state.” It further stated that annexation would likely erode the American people’s support for the U.S.-Israeli special relationship. (HA 5/21; WAFA 5/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 40 olive trees in Yatma. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Yatta, and Bethlehem; 1 was arrested at a checkpoint between Nablus and Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israel’s outgoing public security minister Gilad Erdan ordered 1 nonprofit organization helping Palestinian children from single-family homes with schoolwork to close because of alleged ties to the PA. The institution in charge of the organization, Volunteer for Hope, denies that the organization received any funds from the PA. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Bureij and al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 person crossing from Lebanon. (HA, WAFA 5/17; PCHR 5/21; HA 5/22)

The new Israeli government was sworn in. The new government is headed by Benjamin Netanyahu and has 36 ministers and 16 deputy ministers from 9 different parties. Benny Gantz will be deputy prime minister and defense minister for 18 months, when the coalition deal stipulates that Gantz will become the prime minister for the 2d half of the government term. During his speech to the Knesset, Netanyahu said of annexing Israeli settlements in the West Bank, “[i]t’s time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism.” (AJ, HA, REU 5/17; NPR 5/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian-owned vehicles and defaced buildings with racist graffiti in Yatma. Israeli forces also fired sound bombs and tear gas during a raid on a wedding ceremony east of Hebron. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a late-night raid in Tulkarm, and 2 were arrested during clashes in Hebron. Israeli forces also assaulted 1 Palestinian photojournalist covering a raid in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian minor at a mosque in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on a Palestinian sanitation truck, causing damage. In Gaza, 95 Palestinians were injured during the 80th weekly Great March of Return protest, including 36 by live ammunition; others were injured by rubber-coated bullets and tear gas. (PCHR, WAFA 10/25; PCHR 10/31)

Malaysia announced that the country would open an embassy to Palestine in Jordan. Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said, “[w]e know that Israel will not allow Malaysia to open an embassy in the Occupied Territory. As such, we will open the embassy in Jordan.” (WAFA 10/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli authorities delivered stop-work notices for 4 Palestinian-owned houses under construction in al-Walaja, al-Khader, and Nahalin in the Bethlehem area. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets near the West Bank wall; 1 was transferred to a hospital and another arrested. Separately, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Hebron. Israeli settlers entered Yatma south of Nablus overnight where they sprayed Price Tag graffiti on a building and punctured the tires of 6 vehicles. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis. Separately, Israeli forces opened fire toward Palestinians protesting east of Khan Yunis. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 8/13; PCHR 8/22)

Israel’s public security minister Gilad Erdan said that the status quo of Jerusalem needed to be altered so that Jews can be formally allowed to worship on the Haram al-Sharif compound. A spokesperson for the Jordanian foreign ministry said that such a move could have “dangerous repercussions.” (HA 8/14)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for recyclable goods in the former settlement sites, wounding 1 Palestinian. Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. OCHA reports that over the past 3 days, Israel has allowed Gaza authorities to import 20,000 tons of construction aggregates that have been stored at the Sufa crossing since it was closed in 10/2007. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and Ramallah in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Jericho in the afternoon; and in Jericho, 1 nearby village, and 2 villages nr. Ramallah late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Taffuh settlement nr. Nablus cut down at least 120 olive trees in the nearby Palestinian village of Yatma. Jewish settlers also seize 5 d. of Palestinian agricultural land nr. al-Khadir village nr. Bethlehem and install a mobile home. (TOI 6/5; PCHR 7/12; OCHA 7/13)

Ha’Aretz journalist Uri Blau, who used leaked classified government documents for several reports he published, confesses to reduced charges of possessing classified information without authorization but ‘‘with no intention to harm national security’’ in exchange for 4 mos. community service. (WP 7/6) (see 5/31/12)

Ross and Hale return to the U.S., having failed to secure a last-minute postponement of the Palestinian statehood bid. U.S. officials say they are “at a loss” for how a U.S. veto can now be avoided. Quartet efforts to broker a resumption of talks continue, however. (NYT, WP 9/9)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire toward al-Qarara village, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts daytime patrols in 4 villages nr. Qalqilya, 3 villages northwest of Salfit, and 2 villages southwest of Ramallah; conducts synchronized late-night patrols in 4 villages nr. Tulkarm and additional late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah. In Ramallah, 10s of Palestinians hold the 1st small demonstration in support of the statehood bid, marching to the UN’s local headquarters. Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel settlement nr. Nablus set fire to 2 Palestinian cars and vandalize a mosque in nearby Yatma village to protest the IDF’s 9/5 removal of structures at Migron outpost. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus uproot 17 olive trees in nearby Hawara village. (NYT, WT 9/9; PCHR 9/15; OCHA 9/16)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfew isin effect in Nur Shams [FJ 2/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Clashes erupt throughout the O.T. In 'Azzun, Yatma Palestinians clash with groups of Jewish settlers. In Gaza troopshoot, injure 1 Palestinian. In W. Bank at least 2 Palestinians are injured in demonstrations [FJ 2/6].