The Palestine Chronology

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)

PA Culture M `Abid Rabbu holds mtg. with Arab Journalists Association (AJA) pres. Na`im Toubassi, tells him PA will begin issuing press cards to qualified journalists. Gaza Journalists' League treasurer Zakariyya Talmas complains only 3 journalist qualify for cards under PA rules "and they are dead." (Jerusalem Times 1/6 in FBIS 1/9)

Mtg. of all Arab FMs in Tunis ends. Parties recommend countries donate funds on bilateral basis, turn down PA request to recognize validity of Palestinian passports, fail to reach agmt. on aid for Palestinian police. PA delegation angered. (MM 1/6)

Jerusalem district director for Israeli Housing Min., Rina Zamir, says construction of 10,000 housing units in and around East Jerusalem will begin this yr. (MM 1/6; JP 1/6 in FBIS 1/6; MM 1/16)

Arafat loyalists, opponents clash in `Ayn Hilwa r.c. in southern Lebanon after Arafat announces 400 Palestinians will be transferred to Gaza shortly. No casualties reported. PLO says Israel approved the transfer of 2,000 post-1948 refugees fr. Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Sudan, Tunisia; Lebanon's quota is 470. (RL, VOL 1/5 in FBIS 1/6; MM 1/6; VOL 1/6, Voice of the South 1/7 in FBIS 1/9; Al-Hayat 1/7 in FBIS 1/11) (see 12/19)

Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara` visits Tehran to give Pres. Hashemi Rafsanjani message fr. Pres. al-Asad about improving relations. (MM 1/11) (see 12/30)

Israel denies giving any U.S. technological information to China. (WT 1/7) (see 1/4)

U.S. Defense Secy. William Perry arrives in Egypt for 2-day visit, talks with Pres. Mubarak about Egypt's threat to withdraw fr. NPT, promises to defend aid to Egypt in Congress. (MENA 1/6 in FBIS 1/9; WT 1/9; MEI 1/20)

1 settler shot dead, 1 wounded in West Bank nr. Ramallah. PFLP claims responsibility in revenge for killings on 1/4. (MM 1/6; QY 1/6 in FBIS 1/6;  AFP 1/7 in FBIS 1/9; WJW 1/12; JP 1/14)

Military Action:

Phalange maintains roadblocks in East Beirut; IDF bus and escort jeep fired on between Nahariyeh and Zahrani; IDF roadblock at Kfar Silat hit by Rocket-propelled grenades, second attack in a week; all Israeli buses must now be escorted by a jeep with an automatic weapon and at least 6 armed soldiers; IDF increases patrols in South Lebanon refugee camps in response to fears of renewed Phalange violence; IDF decreases presence in Druze villages; IAF flies surveillance over Bekaa.

Casualties:

Israeli health ministry announces Lebanese Government has ordered Sidon hospital to end cooperation with Israeli health authorities, no longer purchase medical supplies or allow treatment of patients in Israel; Israeli Economic Minister Meridor says, in Knesset, that IDF will protect Palestinian refugees, provide them with materials to build more permanent structures.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon, in first public session of Commission of Inquiry, says Israeli Cabinet decided on June 15 to use Phalangists in "anti-terrorist" operation, reveals one Haddad soldier killed and two captured by IDF for being part of group involved in massacre, claims Eitan first told him, at 9 PM Friday, 24 hours after it began, that "the Christians had harmed the civilian population beyond what was expected," says he did not inform Begin until next day; Sharon repeatedly seeks to have testimony closed to public and later testifies for 3 hours in secret, thrust of testimony puts onus for Friday evening casualties on Eitan, says IDF estimate 700-800 died during massacre.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO announces PLO units will move from Syria to join PLA units in Jordan; leftist organizations express shock at Frem statement rejecting disarming of Phalange until all foreign forces have left Lebanon, protest Phalange searches.

Arab Governments: Egypt has refused entry to West Bank Palestinians; Tunisian Foreign Minister Beji Caid Essebsi appeals again for US recognition of the PLO.

US and Other Countries: Report by US Defense Department survey team on Lebanon's military needs presented to Weinberger; US official says Lebanon and Israel have agreed to hold negotiations on troop withdrawals with US participation; Canadian sales of Israel Bonds up 10 percent; Shultz, in Ottawa, says meeting with Hassan very constructive, says Hassan's statements imply Arab recognition of Israel, also says present size of peace-keeping force in Lebanon adequate; Norway's Labor Party to seek direct contact with PLO.

UN: Iran's challenge to Israel's General Assembly credentials undermines Arab-sponsored compromise, catches delegates by surprise.

Military Action:

IDF armored units fight fierce artillery, rocket duels with PLO forces inside Beirut as PLO, for first time, fires back on wide range of IDF gun positions in East Beirut; fighting appeared to intensify following Israeli announcement of little headway in negotiations and consideration of an Israeli military option; IDF rockets landing at rate of 30 per minute, as Burj al-Barajneh, Sabra, Shatila Lailake and the coastal road near the airport are all hit; PLO forces fire on E. Beirut areas of Hadeth, Ashrafiya, Furn al-Shubbak, Dbaye and near Baabda; 51 shells reportedly land in presidential compound; direct hit on IDF motor pool below palace reported, setting fire to 4-5 trucks and armored vehicles and causing unspecified casualties; PLO shells also hit government hospital in Baabda, near Hotel Alexandre and near IDF press center as well as Aramoun hills area; 2 IDF tanks destroyed trying to advance on airport; French Ambassador's residence set on fire during shelling, as well as Raouche seafront; shelling tapers off after 12 hours following cease-fire announcement on Beirut radio; IDF camps set up at Zahrani, and near Tyre; Damour, Khalde, and in the Chouf and Arkoub areas.

Casualties:

Beirut radio reports "large numbers" of casualties on both sides; few ambulances venture into areas being shelled; 3 IDF soldiers killed and 28 wounded in fighting around Beirut; fires burn for hours in shelled areas of W. Beirut; Phalangist radio reports 20 killed, 80 wounded in city; shell hits Barbir Hospital killing 5 patients, wounding 11; blood supplies reported to drop below a safe level; street shootings by feuding militias continue in Beirut; 82 persons reported killed, 211 wounded in artillery battle, according to Beirut radio; hundreds of buildings reported wrecked or burned in Beirut; civilian death toll during invasion now put between 15- 20,000 by various sources, 85-90 percent estimated to be civilians by relief agency directors, who believe IDF count only Lebanese as civilians and regard all Palestinians as combatants; an estimated 6,000 Palestinian refugees have returned to Rashidiyeh and 5,000 to Ain el-Hilweh; according to the Red Cross, lack of public sanitation still a major problem, bodies still being recovered under the rubble; Sidon's mayor estimates housing needed for 40-60,000 residents (20,000 of these Palestinians), is unable to estimate re-building costs; Archbishop Haddad of Tyre says 26,000 Palestinians displaced by IDF invasion, estimates structural damage to buildings at $60 m.; local teachers, public officials in Nabatiyeh appeal to Begin to release young Nabatiyans held by IDF; IDF agrees to increase size of assistance unit in Nabatiyeh to cope with huge influx of refugees from north.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet says little progress made, as Begin studies military options; news poll of 1,164 Israelis finds only 29 percent favor "breaking" into Beirut, 68 percent opposed; Shamir tells US AID official McPherson that Israel will allow ICRC visits to Palestinian detainees next week; McPherson completes a tour of southern Lebanon to assess best way to expend $65 m. allocated for Lebanese relief; military ser-vice for conscripts extended 3 months; Deputy Chief of Staff Levy says IDF will "realistically" be deployed along their current lines through the winter; new agreement with Haddad to extend Haddad's military control from south of the Litani River to just north of Sidon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fighting brings negotiations to a halt; PLO insists on US or UN recognition of PLO's centrality in the Mideast as price for withdrawal, calls on US to speak directly to the PLO; Bashir Gemayel says Phalangists will not get involved in latest fighting; Wazzan accuses Israel of trying to sabotage negotiations, hints talks may be called off unless US gets Israel to halt Beirut bombardment; Wazzan reportedly unable to deliver PLO 11-point plan.

Arab Governments: Syria broadcasts appeal for PLO to stand and fight in Beirut; Egyptian Foreign Minister Ali says Sharon's idea of a Palestinian state set up in Jordan violates Camp David.

US and Other Countries: Proposal to send US troops to Lebanon draws skeptical reactions from Congressional leaders; Weinberger says US studying whether IDF improperly used US weapons during its invasion of Lebanon; Sen. Percy says Israel broke faith with the US by invading Lebanon and US support for Israel waning.

Military Action:

Over 90 Israeli jets attack and destroy Syrian SAM (surface-to-air missile) batteries in Bekaa valley; 16-22 Syrian MIGs reportedly shot down; Syria reports 19 Israeli jets shot down (air battle took place as Habib was delivering Israeli message in Damascus); Is-raelis capture Damour (say they will return it to Christian residents and help rebuild), establish bridgehead at Khalde, 4 miles south of Beirut; street fighting continues in Sidon as 2 more Israeli armored columns and infantry unit sent to consolidate control; Israeli naval vessels land troops between airport and Beirut, shell PLO-held areas of city; Israeli air-craft drop leaflets urging Beirut residents to stay off streets, mark houses with white cloth; Israeli troops in Golan boosted.

Palestinian resistance continues in Sidon; Israeli column halted near Beiteddine, with heavy losses.

Syria reports village 3 miles west of Damascus bombed (denied by Israelis); Syrians charge Israelis bombed, strafed fleeing civilians along Beirut-Damascus highway; Syria moves 16,000 more troops into Lebanon, beats back Israeli attempts to take highway.

United Nations command protests Israeli use of white phosphorous incendiary artillery in attacks on Tyre; UN food convoys barred from Tyre until June 8.

Lebanese Army gives scant resistance to Israeli advance; Lebanese army barracks in Sidon, Beiteddine and Hammana heavily bombarded by Israelis.

Casualties:

Thousands of Beirut residents flee to Bekaa valley; UN observers say Lebanese and Palestinian refugees urgently need water and food, that 41,000 Tyre residents gathered on beaches were left without food and shelter for 2 days; after Tyre residents allowed to return to homes, about 7,000 from refugee camps remain on beaches; Rashidiyeh refu-gee camp virtually destroyed; International Committee of the Red Cross reports "heavy damage" in Tyre, Sidon and that 1,200 Sidon residents urgently need medical attention. Israel reports 31 dead, 144 wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli government blames Syria for provoking Israeli raid; still bars foreign journalists from coastal areas of southern Lebanon; Israel warns Jor-dan to stay out of fighting.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat urgently appeals to Arab countries to end the "massacre of the Palestinian people in Lebanon"; Palestinian group, reportedly followers of anti-PLO leader Abu Nidal, claim role in Argov shooting in statement delivered to Beirut AP office; Lebanese radio says Israel occupies 25 percent of Lebanese territory; Lebanese government meets, debates proposal to send Lebanese Army into West Beirut; Christian and Muslim groups urge support for Sarkis and Franjieh offers to put militia under Sarkis; Gemayel urges national unity government.

Arab Governments: Iraq announces it will withdraw from all Iranian territory in a week, redirect its efforts against Israel; Syria begins pulling troops out of Beirut back into Bekaa; Jordan's Prime Minister announces Jordan will allow transit facilities for any wishing to travel to Lebanon to fight Israel; Syria reportedly prepares to mobilize reserves; Kuwait, UAE and Qatar issue statements denouncing invasion.

US and Other Countries: US vetoes UN reso-lution condemning Israel as "unbalanced"; Reagan announces he will seek $25 m. in emergency aid for Lebanon from Congress; EEC foreign ministers condemn Israeli invasion; USSR plans to send medical supplies to Lebanon in a few days; Canada, France, Netherlands and the UK urge their citizens to leave West Beirut.

Military Action:

Israeli forces advance to 15 miles from Beirut; one of the biggest air battles since the 1973 war takes place over Beirut (6 Syrian, 2 Israeli jets reported down); heavy fighting in Tyre and Sidon continues, as Tyre residents are told via air-dropped leaflets to go to beaches to avoid bombings, city is shown in flames; 15,000 people try to enter city from countryside, saying they have no food; Israelis move 100 tanks into mountains east of PLO stronghold of Damour; Israeli shells re-portedly destroy a Red Cross center on the edge of Sidon; tank battles near Jezzine, and Israelis reportedly aim to cut highway to Syria; Israeli planes blast road 2 miles south of Beirut airport; fierce fighting between Israeli and Syrian troops on edge of Beirut; Israelis capture Lebanese president's summer residence at Beiteddine; third attack on Beirut sports complex.

Syrians engage Israelis on southern edges of Beirut, along Beirut-Damascus highway; major Syrian-Israeli tank battle shaping up in Chouf region, stronghold of PLO ally and Lebanese National Movement (LNM) leader Walid Jumblatt (temporarily out of country).

Fierce resistance from PLO units continues in Tyre and Sidon; a few PLO-fired rockets fall on northern Galilee, from enclave controlled by Syria; PLO and Lebanon accept UN call for a cease-fire.

Casualties:

Beirut residents stockpile goods and Palestinian suburbs almost deserted as residents fan out into city; Red Cross center in Sidon destroyed by Israeli shelling; thousands of refugees pour into Beirut from southern Lebanon; 10,000 people placed under Red Cross care in Tyre alone.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Prime Minister Begin lays out 4 conditions for withdrawal from Lebanon, including removal of all Syrian and PLO forces from Lebanon, creation of a 40 km demilitarized zone north of the Israeli border; Knesset defeats no-confidence vote, 94-3; Israeli Ambassador Arens meets with Deputy Secretary of State Stoessel, Defense Secretary Weinberger and Senator Percy as a former Israeli general meets the US press; Begin calls on Assad not to engage Israeli troops; UN reports continue to be censored; about 40 demonstrators opposed to the invasion are attacked in Tel Aviv.

Palestinians/Lebanese: Arafat meets with USSR Ambassador; Lebanese president appeals to Arab League to hold a meeting; Lebanon's UN Ambassador says casualties run into thousands, mostly civilians.

Arab Governments: Iranian volunteers reported arriving in Lebanon via Syria, as well as Palestinian volunteers from Jordan and Kuwait; Arab diplomats from Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrein, Jordan and Algeria ask the US to pressure Israel to withdraw immediately, accept cease-fire; Syria rejects any troop withdrawal from Lebanon, reacting to reports of new Israeli conditions for a withdrawal.

US: Reagan, in London, appeals for an end to hostilities; Haig later says US would not deny Israel the "right of legitimate self-defense."

UN: Lebanon and the PLO accept the UN call for a cease-fire; Israel rejects the Security Council demand for withdrawal. Lebanon circulates a petition condemning Israel, threatening sanctions if it does not withdraw. UNIFIL General Callaghan makes first offi-cial protest of the invasion to Israel.