The Palestine Chronology

Israel allows another 216 Gazans to leave Gaza through the Erez crossing for the Hajj (see 12/16); makes another “exceptional” opening of Sufa crossing to allow entry of livestock (85 truckloads of livestock have been allowed in since 12/16). The IDF makes air strikes on 2 cars in Gaza City, assassinating 6 Islamic Jihad mbrs. including senior cmdr. and master rocket maker Majid Harazin (who had been on Israel’s wanted list for 9 yrs. and targeted for assassination 3 times previously), his senior lieutenant Jihad Dhahir in the 1st strike and another senior rocket designer, Karim Dadu, in the 2d strike; 5 children are wounded in the 1st strike. In the West Bank, the IDF arrests senior Reform and Change employee Murad Badir Shahin, raids his Hebron home. (NYT 12/17; WP 12/18; NYT, OCHA 12/19; PCHR 12/27)