The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military a escort stole an olive harvest and vandalized olive trees in Awarta. Israeli settlers also opened fire at Palestinians harvesting olives in Aqraba; no injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers stole around 40 sheep in Khallet Hamad. Israeli settlers also raided Qaryut, opening fire at Palestinians in the area; no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers razed farmland near Qasra. Israeli forces shot and injured a Palestinian child in Husan. Israeli soldiers also assaulted a Palestinian man in Dheisheh refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home in Bani Na’im. Israeli forces also razed land in Artas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces notified Palestinian families in Deir Qala that Israel will seize 18 dunams (4.4 acres) of land. 28 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jericho, Balata refugee camp, Bayt Awa, Hebron, Tarqumiyah, Bethlehem, Abu Dis, al-Eizariya, Ramallah, Jenin, and Qalqilya. In Gaza, Israeli forces bombed Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Maghazi, and Jabalia refugee camp, killing at least 208 Palestinians and injuring 416. Israeli forces also shot and injured a surgeon inside al-Awda Hosptial, which has been under Israeli siege for 6 days, and hit the Kamal Adwan hospital with an airstrike. Rockets were fired at Israel, injuring 1. In Lebanon, Israeli forces killed a Lebanese official in Taybeh, Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli soldiers in Shtula and Metula. In the Red Sea, a Norwegian commercial ship, The Strinda, was hit by a cruise missile launched by Yemen according to the U.S. military. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11; HA, HA, REU 12/12; AP 12/13)

More than 18,205 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women, and around 49,645 have been injured since 10/7. At least 8,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 267 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 69 children. More than 3,387 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured since 10/7. 101 Israeli soldiers have been killed 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. 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. 100 trucks carrying aid, including fuel, entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. 33 injured Palestinians and 461 dual nationals were evacuated to Egypt. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 12/11; AJ 12/13)

Al Jazeera said Israel had killed the father of its journalist Anas al-Sharif in his family’s home in Jabalia refugee camp, saying Israel deliberately targets its journalists in Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, WAFA, WAFA 12/11)

Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem were on strike over Israel’s bombing of Gaza. People outside of Palestinian also participated in the strike; most noteworthy was the Lebanese government’s decision to close government offices and institutions in solidarity with Gaza. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11)

The PA called on the U.S. to “oblige Israel” to stop the policy of deducting funds from the PA’s tax revenue, calling it piracy and collective punishment. (WAFA 12/11)

Israel started allowing Palestinian Americans living in the West Bank access to Israel for the first time since 10/7 after the U.S. threatened to suspend Israel’s membership in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. (AX 12/11)

Comments by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Knesset foreign affairs and defense committees were leaked to the press. Netanyahu said the “difference between Hamas and the PA is only that Hamas wants to destroy us here and now, and the PA wants to do it in stages.” Netanyahu also said Gaza will be under Israeli military control and that Gulf states will rehabilitate the area. (AJ 12/11; HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/12)

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. was “asking questions” in relation to reporting from Amnesty International and the Washington Post that Israel had used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus in Lebanon. The Post said a journalist had found remnants of 3 artillery shells that indicated that they were U.S.-made white phosphorous shells. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, calling on Israel to take steps to avoid civilian harm and increase aid. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called images of Palestinians stripped to their underwear while in Israeli custody in Gaza “deeply disturbing”  (AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, WP 12/11; AJ 12/12)

EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borell called the destruction in Gaza “even greater than destruction suffered by the German cities during the Second World War,” noting that 60-70% of the casualties are civilians and 85% of the population have been internally displaced. Borell also said the EU will propose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers. France, Germany, and Italy also called on the EU to set up a special sanctions scheme to target Hamas. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA 12/11)

Sky News Arabia reported that Israel had asked Egypt and Qatar to mediate another ceasefire, citing Egyptian sources. (HA 12/11; HA 12/12)

Rutgers University in New Jersey notified Students for Justice in Palestine that it had suspended its chapter at the university, citing complaints about the group. (HA 12/12; HA, HA 12/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers began constructing a settler road to Givat Allam on land belonging to residents of Khirbet Yanun. Israeli settlers also assaulted Palestinians and stole sheep in Arab al-Milehat. Israeli forces also shot and killed 3 Palestinians, including 2 children, during raids in Beitunia, Tayasir, and Kafr Ein. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 7 Palestinians during raids in Dheisheh refugee camp, al-Arroub refugee camp, Beitunia, and Deir Abu Mash’al. Israeli forces also punitively demolished the family home in Deir ‘Ammar of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli forces on 8/3, damaging nearby homes and shooting and injuring 2. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home in Bani Na’im, displacing 20. Israeli forces also notified residents of Husan, Wadi Fukin, and al-Jaba’ that it will seize 1,500 dunams (370 acres) of land to construct a settler-only road. In Gaza, Israeli forces shot and injured 4 Palestinians trying to reach their homes in northern Gaza. Israel claimed that several Israel soldiers had been injured in 2 separate attacks involving explosives and live ammunition. Hamas its fighters had responded to a “blatant breach of the ceasefire” by Israel. 300 Palestinians who were working in Israel before 10/7 were expelled to Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked Aita al-Shaab. (AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28)

The Gaza Media Office did not update the casualty numbers, leaving the death toll from Israeli attacks at 15,000 as of 11/27, including 6,150 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. 234 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 58 children. More than 3,174 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 1.8 million Palestinians, nearly 80% 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. 4 trucks carrying fuel and 4 carrying cooking oil entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israel prevented it from bringing fuel for ambulances into northern Gaza. 31 trucks carrying aid entered northern Gaza. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/28)

30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons, 15 women and 15 children, on the fifth day of the prisoner exchange. 12 captives held in Gaza were released to Israel, including 10 Israeli women and 2 Thai nationals. Hundreds of Palestinians cheered the release of the captives, and members of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad were present during the handover to the Red Cross. Israel added 46 Palestinian prisoners to the list of people it is willing to exchange for Hamas-held captives, including 20 Palestinian citizens of Israel who had been arrested after 10/7 on charges of incitement. The Hadash party condemned the Israeli decision, saying it could serve as a justification for the Israeli government to revoke their citizenship. Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar reportedly visited some of the Hamas-held captives on 10/8, telling them they would not be harmed. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said Israel had arrested 168 Palestinians in the West Bank, while it had released 150 as part of the prisoner exchange. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AX, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28; HA 11/29)

The WHO warned that more people could die from disease than from the Israeli attacks if the health and sanitation systems in Gaza are not repaired. (AJ, REU 11/28)

Egyptian intelligence director Abbas Kamal, Mossad director David Barnea, CIA director William Burns, and Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met in Doha, discussing extending the ceasefire and prisoner exchanges. Egyptian sources reported that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend the ceasefire for an additional 2 days from 11/30. Haaretz reported that Israel is not willing to extend the ceasefire beyond 12/3. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT 11/28; HA 11/29)

PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour addressed the UN General Assembly, saying the Israeli government’s “priority is not security, it is the destruction of the Palestinian nation,” calling on the assembly to make Palestine a full member of the UN. (AJ 11/28)

PA health minister Mai al-Kaila and Egyptian health minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met in Cairo to discuss aid to Gaza and treatment of wounded Palestinians in Egypt. (WAFA 11/28)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant spoke with U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, discussing U.S. military assistance to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the German newspaper Die Welt that Israel must “demilitarize” and “de-radicalize” Gaza, like Germany was after World War II. (HA 11/27; AJ, HA 11/28)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on X that stopping the war on Gaza would equal the dissolution of the government coalition. (AJ 11/28; NYT 11/29)

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told UN secretary-general Antonio Gutterres that Israel should be tried in international courts for its war crimes in Gaza. (REU 11/28)

In what appeared to be a call for a permanent ceasefire, U.S. president Joe Biden tweeted, “Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace. To continue down the path of terror, violence, killing, and war is to give Hamas what they seek. We can’t do that.” (AJ 11/28; AJ, NYT 11/29)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, thanking him for “Qatar’s partnership and critical efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the U.S. had airlifted 54,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Egypt for Gaza. U.S. officials said that the Biden administration had told Israel it had to avoid “significant further displacement” in its planned invasion of southern Gaza. (HA 11/27; AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/28; AX 11/29)

U.S. senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in calling for a permanent ceasefire. 40 U.S. senators from both parties viewed a screening of an Israeli film about Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood at the U.S. Capitol. (AJ, HA 11/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Aqraba, forcing them to flee. Israeli forces raided Jenin, killing 5 people, including a child, and injuring 14, with 1 death and 11 injuries resulting from an airstrike. Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian Red Crescent from reaching the injured and put the Jenin Governmental Hospital and the Ibn Sina Hospital under siege. Israeli forces also shot and killed 2 Palestinians, including a child, near al-Bireh and in Qabatiya. Israeli forces also shot and injured 6 Palestinians, including 2 children, during raids in Qarawat Bani Hassan, Burqa, al-Arroub refugee camp, Qabatiya, and Beit Umar. Elsewhere, Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians gathered near the Ofer Prison, dropping tear gas from drones, shooting 3, including a child, with live ammunition, and opened fire at a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance near the Ofer Prison, causing damage. Israeli forces also razed 100 dunams (25 acres) of land east of Qalqilya, uprooting 150 olive trees. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Askar refugee camp, Jenin, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israel forced a Palestinian family to demolish their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 4 people. In Lebanon, Israeli forces opened fire at a UNIFIL vehicle; no injuries were reported. Israel also said it had shot down a surface-to-air missile launched from Lebanon. In the Red Sea, Israel said it had intercepted a drone. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/25; AJ 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. 229 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 56 children. More than 2,885 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. 187 trucks carrying aid, 4 trucks carrying diesel, and 4 trucks carrying cooking oil entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. 61 trucks carrying aid entered northern Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 57 journalists have been killed since 10/7, including 50 Palestinians, 3 Lebanese, and 4 Israelis. Gaza’s Media Office said the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza was 67. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said Israel has arrested 3,160 Palestinians since 10/7. Around 400 people fled northern Gaza to the south. 17 wounded Palestinians and their companions and 25 foreign nationals were evacuated to Egypt (AJ, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/25)

39 Palestinian prisoners were released from the Damon, Megiddo, and Ofer prisons on the second day of the prisoner exchange. 13 Israelis and 4 Thai nationals were released. The exchange was delayed by 7 hours as Hamas said Israel had violated the agreement by only allowing half the agreed number of aid trucks to enter northern Gaza and not releasing Palestinians who had been imprisoned for a longer period than 2 years. Israel said the UN was responsible for the lack of aid deliveries. Before the exchange took place, Israel threatened that it would start bombing Gaza at midnight if the issues were not resolved. Egypt said it had received positive signals from both sides that the ceasefire could be extended beyond the initial 4-day period. A delegation of Qatari intelligence officers arrived in Israel to ensure the exchange process continues “smoothly” and to discuss a possible extension of the ceasefire. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AX, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA 11/25; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU 11/26)

The Tulkarm Brigades said it had executed 2 Palestinian men, saying they were collaborators with Israel giving information that led to the killing of 3 Palestinians by Israeli forces on 11/6. The group released a video on Telegram that purportedly showed the 2 men confessing to working with Israeli intelligence. The group also said that anyone who had been working with Israel had until 12/5 to come forward. The bodies of the executed men were reportedly hung from an electric pole. (AP, HA, REU 11/25)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant visited Israeli soldiers in Gaza. (HA 11/25)

The New York Times said that in the first 2 weeks of the Israeli attacks on Gaza 90% of the bombs Israel stuck Gaza with were 1,000-2,000-pound U.S. made satellite-guided bombs, citing a senior U.S. military official. U.S. military officials said that 500-pound bombs were too large to target urban areas. The Times also said that Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more Palestinians faster than in any other conflict in the 21st century. A former U.S. intelligence analyst said the Israeli attacks were comparable to those in the Vietnam War and World War II. (NYT 11/25)

3 Palestinian university students wearing kaffiyehs were shot and seriously wounded in Burlington, Vermont. A 48-year-old man was later arrested for the attack. (AJ 11/25; AJ, HA, REU 11/26; AJ, AJ, REU 11/27)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler was filmed shooting a Palestinian man point-blank in the stomach, critically injuring him during a settler raid in al-Twana. Israeli settlers also shot and injured 3 Palestinians with live ammunition in Nablus, Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized 2 agricultural structures and uprooted fruit trees in Masafer Yatta, damaged vehicles near Nahalin, and homes in Silat ad-Dhahr. Israeli forces shot and killed 15 Palestinians, including 3 minors, during raids in Tulkarm, Beit Furik, Beit Ula, al-Ram, Atuf, Biddu, Bayt Liqya, and Hebron. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Halhul, Dheisheh refugee camp, Qalandia, Huwwara, Budrus, al-Khader, Bethlehem, al-Twana, Jenin, Hebron, and Qalqilya, injuring 53 with live ammunition and baton rounds. An Israeli soldier was killed in friendly fire in Nablus. 36 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Fawwar refugee camp, Qalqilya, Dheisheh refugee camp, Beit Umar, and Halhul. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians children in Isawiya. Israel also refused Palestinians under the age of 35 entry to the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 70 Palestinians following Israeli evacuation orders were killed and more than 200 wounded in an airstrike on a road. Around 300 others were also killed and more than 1,100 were injured in Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza. Israeli forces also made incursions into Gaza, retrieving the bodies of several Israelis. Rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza; no deaths were reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdullah and injured 6 others in a missile strike. Al Jazeera said Israel targeted the group of journalists intentionally. (AP 10/7; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; AJ, HA, HA, REU 10/14; AP, REU, REU 10/15)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said that as of 2 p.m. at least 1,799 Palestinians had been killed and 7,388 had been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. Hamas said 13 of the captives from Israel, including foreign nationals, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours. Israel said it hit 750 targets overnight and destroyed 12 high-rise buildings within a minute. 51 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 11 children. More than 700 have been injured. Israeli officials said 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 3,436 injured since 10/7. The UN reported that 423,378 Palestinians have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. At least 9,283 housing units have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 10/13)

The Israeli military told around 1.1 million Palestinians in the northern part of Gaza, including Gaza City, that they should flee south within the next 24 hours. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that would have “devastating humanitarian consequences” and strongly appealed to Israel to rescind the order. Many countries also called on Israel to reverse its order. The WHO called relocating severely ill people a “death sentence.” UNRWA offered its staff and their families shelter at an UNRWA compound in southern Gaza but said it did not have plans to evacuate Palestinians sheltering in UNRWA schools throughout Gaza as it does not have any capacity in the south and has no means of transporting the many thousands of people. Hamas’ refugee affairs authority called on Palestinians to remain in their homes, calling the Israeli evacuation order “disgusting phycological war.” Egypt moved thousands of troops to its Gaza border to prevent Palestinians fleeing Israeli attacks from breaching the border fence. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; AJ, AJ, AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; WAFA, WAFA 10/15)

Adalah, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, ACRI, and HaMoked sent letters to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara, and Israel Prison Service head Katy Perry demanding that water and electricity be restored in the security wings of Israeli prisons that hold Palestinians. The Commission for the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs said on 10/12 that Israel had started collectively punishing prisoners in the Naqab prison on 10/11. (Adalah, WAFA 10/14)

The UN appealed for $294 million in aid to help around 1.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. (REU 10/13)

A Turkish cargo plane with humanitarian aid arrived in Egypt for transfer to Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog blamed Palestinian civilians in Gaza for the Hamas operation, saying “[i]t is not true this rhetoric about civilians [being] not aware, responsible for the attack . . . They could have risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup d’état.” (FT 10/13)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said Israel received a second plane carrying U.S. ammunition. (AJ 10/13)

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Baghdad and Tehran against the Israeli attacks in Gaza. Jordanians marched toward the border with the West Bank in protest against the Israeli attacks. Jordanian police violently dispersed protesters at the border. Large protests were also held in Yemen, Pakistan, and elsewhere. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, WAFA 10/13)

After meeting Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati and Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel that if it does not stop its attacks on Gaza the war could spread to other parts of the Middle East. (AP, REU, REU 10/13)

U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin III arrived in Israel to meet with Israeli leaders. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan for meetings with Jordanian king Abdullah II and PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas told Blinken that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and called for the opening of humanitarian corridors and for aid to enter Gaza. Blinken offered condolences for the Palestinian victims of the Israel-Hamas war. Abbas also spoke with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. 55 members of Congress wrote a letter to U.S. president Joe Biden, urging him to pressure Israel to protect civilians in Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13)

Russia introduced a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. President Vladimir Putin compared the siege of Gaza to the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II. (HA 10/13)

Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had frozen normalization talks with Israel and the U.S. due to the attacks on Gaza. (HA, HA 10/13; AJ 10/14)

The New York Times and NBC News reported that they had obtained documents that allegedly show how Hamas instructed militants to target schools and seize captives during its 10/7 operation. Israeli schools were closed on 10/7 as it was a Saturday. The documents were allegedly found on the bodies of militants killed by Israel and were labeled “top secret” in Arabic. Other media outlets questioned whether the documents were fabricated. (HA 10/13; HA 10/14)

The Huffington Post reported that the U.S. State Department was telling its diplomats not to use the terms “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed,” and “restoring calm,” when referring to Israel and Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

New South Wales police force said it has sought legal advice on if it can use special stop-and-search powers for the first time since 2005 to demand the identities of pro-Palestinian protesters attending an unauthorized demonstration in Sydney, Australia on 10/15. (REU 10/13)

Israel releases 14 Palestinian prisoners as a good-faith gesture to mark Id al-Adha. (MM 3/30; YA 3/30 in WNC 3/31; PR 4/9)

U.S. intelligence officials say that in 2/99, when the U.S. 1st threatened airstrikes against Serbian forces, a Yugoslavian military delegation went to Iraq to discuss sharing information, equipment to target U.S. warplanes. Currently, NATO attacks on Milosevic's forces continue as 10,000s of Kosovar ethnic Albanians flee to Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro to escape Serbian attacks, which have intensified since strikes began 3/24. NATO has moved into the 2d stage of its attack, targeting Serb troops in Kosovo, but member states are debating whether ground troops will be needed to control the situation. The U.S. says it will not deploy ground troops except to monitor a peace agmt. (GIU, WT 3/31; WP 4/2; JP 4/9) (see 3/24)

To date, Middle Eastern states are divided on whether or not to support NATO actions in Yugoslavia. Some, like Jordan and Saudi Arabia, support the NATO intervention as an effort to protect Kosovo's Muslims. Others, like Iran and Iraq, denounce it as a dangerous exercise in Western hegemony. Egypt, UAE are providing aid refugees but saying little. Jordan has recalled its amb. to Belgrade. (WP 4/2)

Criticized for his government's muted response to the expulsion and killings of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, PM Netanyahu condemns mass murder by anyone in the Yugoslavian conflict; says Israel will send $100,000 worth of tents, medicine, clothing to the refugees, but rejects any comparison btwn. Kosovo, Israel. Netanyahu aides say that Israel--motivated by a historic debt to Yugoslavia, whose partisans helped Jews escape the Nazis during World War II, and by an interest in smoothing relations with Russia--does not want to take sides in the conflict. (NYT 3/31; Tishrin 3/31, al-Hayat al-Jadida 4/1, ATA [Tirana], YA 4/2, al-Akhbar al-Yawm 4/3 in WNC 4/5; MM, WP 4/1; MM 4/2; WT 4/3; Xinhua 4/3, MA 4/4 in WNC 4/5; AFP 4/5, AFP, IDF Radio, Xinhua 4/6 in WNC 4/7; al-Hayat al-Jadida 4/5, al-Ayyam 4/6 in WNC 4/8; CSM 4/8; MEI 4/9)

Israeli helicopters fire on Lebanese troops in s. Lebanon, wounding an officer, 3 soldiers. IDF says the troops were on a route usually used by Hizballah mbrs. (RL 3/30 in WNC 3/31; NYT 3/31)

U.S. stages 2d strike on Iraq, having hit more than 50 targets with over 200 Tomahawk missiles 12/16. Democratic congressmen accuse Republicans, many of whom questioned the timing of the attacks, of being unpatriotic. Russia recalls its ambs. fr. Washington (for the 1st time since World War II), London; the Duma accuses the U.S. of "international terrorism." Lebanon denounces the operation. Jordan expresses regret. Syria opposes U.S. "double standards" in its Iraq, Israel policy. (MM 12/17; AFP, IRNA, MENA, Petra-JNA, RJ 12/17 in WNC 12/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/18; al-Thawra, Tishrin 12/18 in WNC 12/28; NYT, WP, WT 12/19; MENA 12/19, SATN 12/20, al-Ahram 12/21 in WNC 12/22; MEI 12/25)

Across the West Bank and in Gaza City, Palestinians protest the U.S.-led attack on Iraq. The largest demonstration, attended by 3,000 Palestinians, is held in Nablus. In el-Bireh, the IDF shoots, kills 1 Palestinian, injures 16 others. (WP, WT 12/18; MEI 12/25)

In Egypt, the government expresses its "regret" over the U.S.-led strike on Iraq; the Arab League, al-Azhar's chief cleric denounce use of military force; Cairo University students go on hunger strike to protest; Egyptian police lock American University in Cairo students on campus to keep them fr. demonstrating. (MENA, RE 12/17 in WNC 12/21)

Two-day tripartite meeting of foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia begins in Cairo; this is 3d meeting since Gulf crisis began [MENA, RMC 12/3 in FBIS 12/4; MET 12/11].

Greater Beirut officially comes under control of Lebanese Army after Lebanese Forces militia vacate positions [MEM 12/3; NYT, WT, WP, CSM 12/4; BDS, BVL, RFL 12/3 in FBIS 12/4; MET 12/11].

Def. Sec. Cheney tells Senate Armed Services Committee that military action rather than economic sanctions is only sure way of forcing Iraq out of Kuwait [NYT, WT, WP, MEM 12/4; CSM 12/5].

Soviet television reports that 1,000 of the 3,000 Soviet citizens still held in Iraq will be allowed to return to USSR within next 3 weeks [NYT, WT, WP 12/4].

In separate statements before English-speaking or American audiences, Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens, Housing Min. Ariel Sharon, Deputy F.M. Benjamin Netanyahu, and several MKs offer sharp warnings that Iraq should not be left with its army and weapons intact after Gulf crisis [NYT 12/4; WP 12/6]; Sharon compares Sec. Baker's proposed Baghdad trip to Neville Chamberlain in World War II [JDS 12/3 in FBIS 12/4].

Israeli military court sentences to 30 years each of 12 Arabs apprehended in PLF's May 1990 attempted attack on Tel Aviv beach [IDF 12/3 in FBIS 12/5; LAT 12/4; MEM 12/4; MET 12/11].

Quoting B'Tselem data, HaAretz reports that Palestinians are prohibited from building on 68% of West Bank's 5.5 million dunums [HAA 12/3 in FBIS 12/5].

Israeli air force and navy confront "fishing vessel that appeared suspicious" off coast of Gaza; force it ashore and shoot dead 1 crew member who tries to flee; five others are detained [JDS 12/4 in FBIS 12/4; MEM 12/4].

At least 10 "anti-Israeli combatants" are killed in 2 incidents of fighting with IDF, SLA troops in S. Lebanon [IDF, AFP 12/3 in FBIS 12/4]. 

U.S. State Dep't. abruptly postpones meeting of joint U.S.-Israeli Security Assistance Planning Committee, which coordinates U.S. military aid to Israel; speculation arises that delay is intended to put pressure on Israel, despite U.S. statements to the contrary [JDS 7/20 in FBIS 7/20; WP 7/20].

Jordan accuses Israel of obstructing transit over Jordan River bridges, and reducing number of people allowed to enter O.T.; Jordanians say reduction violates agreed-upon quota [JDS 7/19 in FBIS 7/ 20].

Jewish Agency offices open in Warsaw for first time since World War II. Agency chrmn. Simha Dinitz meets with Polish P.M. Tadeusz Mazowiecki to discuss possible transport of Soviet Jews to Israel via Warsaw [HAA 7/20 in FBIS 7/20].

Egyptian newspaper editorials attack Arafat, Palestinians; attacks are occasioned by anti-Egypt remarks attributed to Arafat at Arab League meeting 7/15- 16 [MEM 7/24].

USSR reports that during first 6 months of 1990, 48,276 Soviet Jews have emigrated to Israel [MTS 7/19 in FBIS 7/20].