The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shoot and kill a Palestinian-owned camel in ‘Arab al-Rashayida. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in Bir al-Basha. Israeli forces also raid Jenin, uprooting streets and demolishing a monument to Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish an agricultural structure in Azzun ‘Atma. Israeli forces also seal off entrances to Jericho. 24 Palestinians are arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Tubas. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 200 people. Israeli forces also fire using live ammunition and tank shells at Palestinians waiting in line for food aid in Gaza City, killing 20 and wounding 150. An Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb an airfield near Tyre. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, UNOCHA 1/25; HA, HA 1/26)

More than 25,900 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 10,600 children and 7,200 women, and around 64,110 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 365 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 92 children. More than 4,354 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, 219 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,250 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. 153 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Israelis block the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing for the second day in a row, forcing aid trucks to reroute to Egypt. (AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 1/25)

Hamas says it will abide by any ICJ ruling if Israel does as well. Hamas also says it will release all captives if Israel releases all Palestinian prisoners. An initial ICJ ruling is expected on 1/26. (AJ, HA 1/25)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas meets with Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani in Ramallah. (WAFA 1/25)

Several media outlets report that Hamas and Israel have agreed on a basic understanding for a ceasefire agreement which would see a 35-day ceasefire, the release of all Israeli captives and of some Palestinian prisoners, and more aid to Gaza. (HA, HA 1/25)

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak tells the parliamentary group Conservative Friends of Israel that those “who chant ‘from the river to the sea’ are either useful idiots who do not understand what they are saying, or worse, people who wish to wipe the Jewish state from the map.” (AJ 1/26)

Finnish foreign minister Elina Valtonen says the time for Israel’s “self-defense is over,” saying “enough is enough, the civilian population in Gaza needs an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.” (HA 1/25)

The Financial Times reports that the Israeli government has written to foreign diplomatic missions in Israel asking if they have backup generators and satellite phones in case of a ‘security escalation.’ (AJ 1/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Izbat Shufa. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Ram, Bayt Sira, Bir al-Basha, Izbat Shufa, Hebron, and Wadi Rahal; 1 minor was injured by a baton round during the raid in al-Ram. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA 3/23; PCHR 3/30; UNOCHA 3/31)

The Palestinian Prisoners Club said that it and the Israel Prison Service had reached an agreement to halt planned mass hunger strikes during Ramadan in exchange for Israel not worsening their living conditions and rolling back limitations on hot water for showers. (HA, WAFA 3/23; HA 3/24)

In Israel, hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested across the country against the government as the Knesset passed an amendment to the Basic Law on Government to prevent the attorney general from declaring the prime minister unfit for office. Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid called the amendment despicable and Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli called the moment “our second War of Independence.” The passing of the amendment was seen as the first step in the Israeli government’s plan to overhaul the judicial system. (HA 3/22; AJ, ALM, ALM, AP, AX, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, REU 3/23)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 6 agricultural structures and 1 residential structure and delivered stop-work orders for 2 houses and a water well in Wadi Rahal. Israeli forces also raided Khirbet Humsa, seizing tools and tents used for agricultural purposes. 10 Palestinians were arrested, including 8 during late-night raids in and around Tuqu’, Hebron, Beit Umar, and Bir al-Basha, and 2 were arrested at a checkpoint near Jenin. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces confiscated 2 boats anchored 7 nautical miles from the coast. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; PCHR 10/28)

An Israeli military court convicted 1 Palestinian man of murdering an Israeli settler in the northern West Bank on 12/20/2020. (HA, JP, TOI 10/27)

Israel’s civil administration advanced, for the 1st time during the U.S. Biden administration, settlement units to be built in the West Bank. 2,860 housing units were approved in Har Brakha, Revava, Elon Moreh, Hermesh, Karnei Shomron, Beit El, Givat Ze’ev, Kefar Etzion, Alon Shvut, Teneh, Sansana, Vered Yericho, Ma’aleh Mikhmash, Efrat, Tal Manashe, Talmon, Shima’a, and Kedumim. The approval also included the retroactive approval of units in Elon Moreh, Alei Zahav, Peduel, and Eli, and the “legalization” of the Mitzpe Danny outpost and an outpost in Haroeh Haivri. The U.S. publicly criticized the move and privately asked Israel to reverse course on 10/26. (AP, HA, JP, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, PCN, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; AJ, ALM, CNN, HA 10/28)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with EU officials, including the high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell in Brussels. Prime Minister Shtayyeh called on the EU to take concrete steps to end Israeli settlement expansion. Shtayyeh also called on the EU to recognize the State of Palestine. Separetly, Shtayyeh called on Belgium to recognize the State of Palestine during a meeting with the speaker of the Belgian parliament. (WAFA 10/27; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28)

The Israeli Knesset voted down a bill that would recognize the 1956 Kafr Qasim massacre. Only 12 members voted for the bill while 93 voted against. The bill was sponsored by Aida Touma-Sliman, Ofer Cassif, and Ayman Odeh of the Joint Arab List. (HA 10/26; HA 10/27; HA 10/28)

U.S. deputy of state for management and resources Brian McKeon told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it is his understanding that the U.S. needs Israel’s permission to reopen the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. (HA, JP, MEMO 10/28)

Florida’s boycott of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company’s parent company Unilever went into effect after a 90-day period given to the company to reverse Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements and to end its franchise agreement in Israel. Florida will now stop new investments in Unilever, but its $39 million already invested in the company will not be affected. (TOI 11/26; JP 11/27; MEMO 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers opened fire at 1 Palestinian-owned house in Hebron, causing damage, and vandalized 3 Palestinian-owned vehicles. Israeli settlers also uprooted 50 olive seedlings in Kisan. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in Beita, injuring 1 journalist with a rubber-coated bullet. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Beit Umar; no serious injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also arrested in Arrabah 3 siblings of 1 of the 6 Palestinians who escaped the Gilboa prison on 9/6 and 2 cousins of another escapee in Bir al-Basha. 3 others were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-Arroub refugee camp, Hebron, and al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler opened fire at Palestinians in al-Ram; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man by the Lion’s Gate in the Old City, claiming that he had tried to stab an Israeli soldier; 1 Israeli soldier was lightly injured by a stray bullet fired by another Israeli soldier. Israeli forces let the man bleed to death without providing aid. Israeli forces also forcefully removed Palestinians during a sit-in protest at the Haram al-Sharif compound, arresting 3. In Gaza, 1 rocket was launched at Israel and was intercepted, after 2 of the Palestinian escapees were arrested. Israel subsequently conducted air strikes at 3 different locations in Khan Yunis and Dayr al-Balah; causing damage. In Israel, 2 of the 6 Palestinian prisoners who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6, Mahmoud Aradeh and Yakub Kadari, were arrested near Nazareth. (AJ, ALM, AP, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/10; AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 9/11; AJ 9/13; PCHR 9/16)

Qatar’s ambassador to Gaza Mohammed al-Emadi said that the PA no longer will partake in facilitating getting Qatari aid to Palestinians in Gaza because of fears that banks in the West Bank could be exposed to lawsuits as Hamas is considered a terrorist organization in several countries. (HA, REU 9/10; MEMO 9/11 HA 9/12)

Lebanese president Michel Aoun and prime minister-designate Najib Mikati said that a Lebanese government had been formed and that the new government would hold its 1st meeting on 9/13. It is Lebanon’s 1st government in more than 1 year. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, WAFA 9/10; REU 9/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in solidarity with the 6 prisoners who escaped from Gilboa prison on 9/6 in Huwwara, Hebron, Burqa, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and al-Bireh, leading to dozens of tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also raided Ya‘bad, Arabbuna, ‘Anin, Faqqua, and Bir al-Basha searching for the escapees and harassing their families and friends; 7 were injured by rubber-coated bullets and 17 suffered tear-gas related injuries; 5 relatives of escapees were arrested during the raids. In East Jerusalem, 156 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, closing parts of it off to Palestinians. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in solidarity with the 6 escapees at the Damascus Gate; 2 were injured by rubber-coated bullets and 1 by a sound grenade. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Isawiya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen on 2 occasions within 3 and 5 nautical miles west of Gaza. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA 9/8; AJ, JP, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 9/9)

The Israeli army said closures of movement in and out of Gaza and the West Bank from Israel and Jordan were extended until 9/11, citing the manhunt for the 6 Palestinian prisoners. (MEMO 9/9)

Islamic Jihad prisoners torched 8 cells in the Qetziot prison and 2 cells in the Ramon prison and clashed with guards after being told that the Israeli prison service would move them to other prisons as collective punishment for the prison escape by 6 Palestinians on 9/6. Clashes were also reported at Megiddo and Ofer prisons. After the prison protests, the prison service decided not to move the Islamic Jihad prisoners out of fear of them, according to Haaretz, but imposed collective punishment on prisoners by ending all family visits until the end of September. (AP, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/8; HA, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/9; ALM 9/10; WAFA 9/12)

The IDF completes its withdrawal fr. built up areas of n. Gaza in the morning; announces new restrictions barring buses fr. crossing the Qalandia checkpoint unless they obtain special permits; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Balata r.c., wounding 7; sends tanks, armored bulldozers into Rafah allegedly to search for smugglers’ tunnels; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bir al-Basha nr. Jenin; declares areas around Hebron a closed military zone, preventing Palestinian olive pickers fr. reaching their groves. Palestinians fire 7 mortars at Jewish settlements in Gaza, causing some damage, no injuries. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received in Jabaliya on 10/6, 10/15. (VOI 10/16 in WNC 10/19; HA, WP 10/17; HA, HJ, JP, MA 10/17 in WNC 10/19; PCHR 10/21)