The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up a caravan in Masafer Yatta and erected a wooden structure resembling the Star of David near al-Twana. Israeli settlers accompanied by Israeli forces also raised the Israeli flag above al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers razed a tract of Palestinian-owned land near Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli forces seized farm equipment in al-Juwaya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces detained the deputy director of the Waqf department Najeh Bkairat. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/4; WAFA 5/5; PCHR 5/12; UNOCHA 5/13)

Israel closed all crossings between Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel for the Israeli celebrations of Memorial Day and Independence Day. The crossings are scheduled to reopen at midnight on 5/5. (HA 5/1)

The Israeli high court of justice approved the eviction of more than 1,000 Palestinians living in 8 villages in the Masafer Yatta area. The court held that the Palestinians living there had moved to the area after 1981, when Israel declared the area a firing zone. The Palestinian petitioners said that they have been living in the area since before the establishment of Israel in homes built in natural caves, and argued that the expansion of their residential area was a result of a natural increase in population size. In a 2000 court ruling, the residents at the firing zone were granted permission to stay temporarily, but were prohibited from building on the land. The petitioners were ordered to pay $5,900 each in court fees. (AJ, AJ, AN, AP, GDN, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA 5/5; HA, WAFA 5/6; WAFA, WAFA 5/7; HA, WAFA 5/8; WAFA 5/9; WAFA 5/10; WAFA 5/16; WAFA 5/17; AJ 5/18; HA 5/20; GDN 5/22; TOI 5/23)

Hamas said that a delegation of Hamas officials met with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow. The Hamas delegation was led by the deputy head of the Hamas external bureau Mousa Abu Marzook. (JP 5/4; MEMO 5/5; ALM 5/12; ALM 5/20)

The U.S. Senate passed a non-binding resolution 62-33, prohibiting the Biden administration from removing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp from the list of foreign terrorist organizations. (HA, MEE, POL, TOI 5/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 3 agricultural structures in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli settlers also stole crops in the Masafer Yatta area near Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian man in Kafr Malik. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Yamun, Bayt Qad, and al-Ayn refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, singing the Israeli anthem and waving Israeli flags. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 1 house in Silwan and 1 house in Shu‘fat refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/3; PCHR 5/12; UNOCHA 5/13)

Israel closed all crossings between Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from 3pm for the Israeli celebrations of Memorial Day and Independence Day. The crossings are scheduled to reopen at midnight on 5/5. (HA 5/1)

Haaretz reported that the Jerusalem municipality and the Israeli ministry of tourism plans to erect a 328-foot flagpole donning the Israeli flag in Jerusalem. The flag, if the plans is carried out, will be visible in all of Jerusalem. (HA 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers using bulldozers razed Palestinian-owned land in Madama south of Nablus. Israel arrested 9 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bayt Safafa, Qalqilya, and Jenin. In Gaza, 2 bodies were found under the rubble of an apartment building destroyed by Israeli missiles in Bayt Hanun; this brings the comprehensive death toll to 32 Palestinians from the weekend’s violence. (MNA, WAFA, WAFA 5/6; MNA, WAFA 5/7)

The Israeli army announced that all Gaza and West Bank crossings into Israel will be closed from midnight (Israeli time) 5/6 to midnight 5/9 for the Israeli celebrations of Memorial Day and Independence Day. Palestinians will be prohibited from entering Israel except for medical and other emergencies. (HA 5/6)

After the cease-fire reached between Hamas and Israel in the late hours of 5/5, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, “the battle is not over and requires patience and level-headedness. We are prepared to carry on.” The comment indicates that the Israeli bombing campaign is not over. A Hamas spokesperson said in response to Netanyahu’s statement: “Netanyahu’s declarations are ridiculous. The resistance factions have succeeded in deterring and humiliating his military. Our message is that this round is over, but the conflict will not be until we get our rights.” (HA 5/6)

The Israeli supreme court overturned Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to prevent 181 Palestinians from the West Bank to partake in a joint Memorial Day ceremony in Tel Aviv. However, only 100 Palestinians will be allowed to attend the Memorial Day ceremony. The event is organized by Combatants for Peace, a group of Israelis and Palestinians working for reconciliation. Netanyahu’s decision was 1st made public on 5/1. (HA 5/6)

U.S. acting secretary of defense Patrick Shanahan said that the U.S. was sending an aircraft carrier to the Middle East because of indications of a “credible threat by Iranian regime forces.” (AJ 5/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces dismantled and confiscated a residential tent housing 10 Palestinians in Susiya near Hebron for the 3d time since 4/16. Israeli forces also demolished the home of a Palestinian family near Yatta south of Hebron. Israeli settlers under protection of Israeli forces chopped down at least 150 olive trees in Burqa east of Jerusalem. 17 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces during late-night raids in and around Hizma, Nablus, Jenin, Tubas, Ramallah, and Hebron. In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted limited incursions to perform land leveling east of Gaza City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire of Palestinian fishermen, injuring 1 and detaining 2 others off the shore of al-Sudaniyya. Late at night, Israeli forces fired 5 missiles at targets in Bayt Lahiya, causing damage but no injuries were reported. Israeli authorities claimed that the strikes were in response to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza and landing on Israeli fields, igniting a fire. After the Israeli missiles fired at Bayt Lahiya, Islamic Jihad in Palestine, fired 2 missiles at Israel; no injuries or damage were reported. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 5/1; AJ, HA, MNA, MNA, PNN, WAFA, WAFA 5/2)

The PA rejected a proposal put forward by the EU on 4/30 to accept the Israeli offer of reduced PA tax revenue. Israel is withholding parts of the PA tax revenue, the part that Israel believes the PA spends on Palestinian prisoners and their families. The PA have on several occasions rejected any Israeli transfer that is not the full tax revenue. (HA, 5/1)

Haaretz reported that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally ordered a ban on 181 Palestinian applications from the West Bank wanting to attend a joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day ceremony in Tel Aviv. The event is organized by Combatants for Peace, a group of Israelis and Palestinians working for reconciliation. (HA 5/1)