The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles and stole an olive harvest near Burqa. Israeli settlers also used pepper spray against 2 Palestinians at the Awarta checkpoint. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers opened fire at Palestinian vehicles in Shaab al-Butum in the Masafer Yatta area, causing damage. Israeli settlers also assaulted a Palestinian man in Deir Istiya. Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian minor in Beita. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, injuring 2 with live ammunition, in Tubas. 52 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Deir Istiya, and Ramallah. In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed around 450 Palestinians and caused extensive damage. Israel also assassinated Hamas commander in the Khan Yunis Battalion Bilal al-Kadra. Rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel, causing injuries. In Lebanon, UNIFIL said its headquarters in southern Lebanon was hit by a rocket. Hamas said it had fired 20 rockets from Lebanon at Israel. Hezbollah said it had hit 2 tanks and an armored vehicle “in response to the killing of journalists and civilians.” An Israeli was killed and 3 were wounded by anti-tank missiles fired by Hezbollah at Shtula. (AP 10/7; AJ, HA 10/14; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/15; HA, HA, HA 10/16)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7, including 47 entire families consisting of 500 people. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. Due to a lack of space in cemeteries, about 100 unidentified Palestinian bodies were laid to rest in mass graves in Gaza City. 55 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 12 children. More than 1,173 have been injured, including at least 300 with live ammunition. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals; 3,436 have been injured since 10/7. The UN reported that nearly 600,000 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. The UN acknowledged that the number of displaced Palestinians was likely much higher because of the Israel order for Palestinians in the north to leave for the south. At least 11,887 housing units have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. (AJ 10/14; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/15; AJ, HA, REU 10/16; HA 10/20)

The WHO said 4 hospitals in northern Gaza have been made nonoperational due to Israeli attacks and 21 hospitals have been ordered to evacuate by Israel. WHO also said it delivered medical supplies to 2,000 patients in Gaza “[d]espite the Israeli airstrikes.” There were reports of aid amassing near the Rafah crossing as Israel has not promised safe passage for the aid to enter Gaza. The U.S. said Israel had agree to supply water to some areas of Gaza. Hamas said the water had not started running as of 10/16. UNRWA said that water has run out at UN facilities sheltering Palestinians who have fled their homes. The remaining seawater distillation plant in Gaza closed due to a lack of fuel. (AJ 10/14; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 10/15; AJ, HA, REU 10/16)

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said “Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life. Soon, I believe, with this there will be no food or medicine either.” Lazzarini said UNRWA was no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza. 14 UNRWA employees have been killed and 13,000 displaced from their homes. (AJ, HA, WAFA 10/15)

The Commission of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs and the Prisoners’ Society said Palestinian workers from Gaza were being detained by Israel at Anatot camp. It was unclear how many were being kept in the camp. (WAFA 10/15; HA 10/17)

The New York Times reported that Israel had “loosened” its rules of engagement for its planned ground invasion in Gaza. (AJ 10/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas told Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro that Hamas’ actions and policies do not represent the Palestinian people. After the phone call, Maduro said that Venezuela would send 30 tones of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Abbas also spoke to U.S. president Joe Biden. (AJ 10/14; HA, REU 10/15; WAFA 10/16)

A landlord in Planfield, Illinois stabbed and killed a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and severely injured his mother. The man screamed “you Muslims must die!” as he attacked the 2 in their apartment. President Biden called the killing a “horrific act of hate.” (AJ 10/14; AJ, AJ, HA 10/15; HA, WAFA 10/16)

Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi said he will ask the cabinet to close Al Jazeera’s office in Israel. Karhi also promoted emergency regulations titled, “Limiting Aid to the Enemy through Communications,” that would allow him to direct Israeli police to arrest people, remove them from their homes, and seize their property if he believes they have spread information that could harm national morale or serve as enemy propaganda. (HA, HA 10/15)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said President Abbas and “virtually every other leader that I have talked to in the region” warned against the idea of transferring Palestinians from Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula. Blinken also met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, announcing the Rafah crossing was open. It was unclear if it was only open for aid or for travel; reporting suggested it was not open for either. El-Sisi criticized Blinken for his remarks in Israel earlier in the week, when Blinken said he came to Israel “as a Jew,” and el-Sisi said the Israeli attacks on Gaza go beyond self-defense and amount to collective punishment. Blinken also met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman who, after letting Blinken wait for hours for the meeting, urged him to help stop the attacks, make Israel respect international law, and lift the siege on Gaza. Blinken has also visited the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain since leaving Jordan on 10/13. (AJ 10/14; DOS, HA, HA, REU, REU 10/15; AJ 10/16; HA 10/18)

President Biden tweeted “[w]e must not lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas’s appealing attacks, and are suffering as a result of them.” Biden also told 60 Minutes that it would be a big mistake for Israel to reoccupy Gaza. Biden further said Hamas needs to be eliminated, while there needs to be a Palestinian authority in Gaza and a path to a Palestinian state. (AJ, HA, REU 10/15; HA 10/16)

U.S. senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Jackie Rosen (D-NV) traveled to Israel, meeting with President Isaac Herzog. (HA 10/15)

Israel suspended security exports to Colombia in response to a tweet on 10/9 by President Gustavo Petro comparing Israel’s response to Gaza, particularly its language about Palestinians and the total blockade of Gaza, to that of the Nazis. (AJ, HA 10/15)

The African Union and Arab League issued a joint statement saying an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could lead to “genocide of unprecedented proportions.” (AJ 10/14)

King Abdullah II of Jordan met with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak in London in his first visit to Europe as part of his effort to convince European leaders to help end the war on Gaza. (HA 10/15)

Algeria said it would host “all official and non-official matches involving the Palestinian [national soccer] team’s preparation for qualification to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup and to assume all associated costs.” (AJ 10/14; AJ 10/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 4 homes and an agricultural structure in Yasuf. Israeli forces also arrested the son of the PA governor of Jericho, Jihad Abu al-Asal, during a house raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. 7 others were arrested during late-night raids in Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Ramallah, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/19; PCHR 7/27; UNOCHA 7/29)

Israeli finance minister and minister in charge of settlement policy at the Israeli Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich told members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that he is working on a plan to allow Israel to demolish buildings in Area A and Area B that are determined by Israel to be national security threats. Smotrich said he expects to bring the plan to the Israeli cabinet later in July. He also said he plans to create a border police unit that will focus solely on enforcing construction laws in the West Bank. Finally, Smotrich said he is working with the Jewish National Fund to plant 10,000 dunams (2,500 acres) of land with trees in the West Bank. (HA 7/19)

Israel said it would allow all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans living in Gaza and the West Bank, entry to Israel in order to comply with U.S. demands for including Israel in the Visa Waiver Program. On the website of the U.S. embassy in Israel, it was stipulated that the “updated travel policies will allow U.S. citizens, without regard to national original, dual nationality, ethnicity, or religion, including Palestinian Americans on the Palestinian population registry, to travel to and from Israel via all ports of entry, including Ben Gurion Airport.” However, on the Israeli website with information for Palestinians Americans in Gaza and the West Bank it was stipulated that a “US citizen who is a Gaza Strip resident may exit abroad and return to the Gaza Strip through the Allenby Bridge Crossing. Transit to and from the Allenby Bridge Crossing must be by means of the organized shuttles of the Palestinian Authority. Requests for exiting abroad must be submitted to the Palestinian Civil Committee 45 workdays in advance to the requested exit date. The consent to requests is subject to security approval.” And Americans wanting to visit “first-degree relatives” in Gaza would only be allowed to visit Gaza once a year. The trial program started on 7/20. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the U.S. will monitor Israel’s compliance with the U.S. demands and make a decision regarding its admission to the Visa Waiver Program on 9/30. The Israeli announcement came after Israel and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding on the conditions set by the U.S. earlier in the day. (ALM, AP, AX, REU, TOI 7/19; AJ, Israel National Digital Agency, MEE, QDS, TOI, TOI, U.S. Embassy in Israel 7/20; MEE 7/27; AJ 7/28)

Hamas said it had begun paying the June salaries of 50,000 public sector workers after a 3-week delay due to a delay in receiving monthly Qatari funds. A Hamas official said Hamas had received half of the Qatari funds and was able to get a loan from a local bank to pay out the salaries. (REU 7/19)

The Turkish presidency announced that PA president Mahmoud Abbas will visit President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 7/25, while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit on 7/28. The Netanyahu visit was later postponed due to his heart surgery on 7/23. (ALM 7/20; AJ 7/21; WAFA 7/23)

In Syria, Israeli airstrikes killed 2 Syrian soldiers near Damascus. (AJ, ALM, AN, AP, HA, MEE, REU 7/19)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress, thanking the U.S. for its support for Israel’s normalization deals and Israel’s pursuit of normalization with Saudi Arabia. Herzog also said that Israel had taken “bold steps towards peace,” but claimed that these steps were undermined by Palestinian “terror” against Israelis. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), and Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) boycotted Herzog’s address. Sanders said “[i]t is no great secret that I strongly oppose the policies of Israel’s right wing, anti-Palestinian government. We provide them with $3.8 billion in aid. We have a right to demand they respect human rights.” (AJ 7/17; AJ, AJ, ALM, F24, HA, HA, HA, HA, REU 7/19)

U.S. vice president Kamala Harris and President Herzog announced a joint U.S.-Israel climate initiative that will see the 2 countries invest $35 million each in “climate-smart agriculture” in the Middle East and Africa. The initiative was aimed at strengthening cooperation between Israel and Middle Eastern and African countries. (AX 7/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 18 residential tents in Beit Furik. Israeli forces razed land planted with 210 olive and almond trees in Birin. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/18; PCHR 7/19; UNOCHA 7/29)

Medical Aid for Palestinians said it will provide the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) helmets and bulletproof vests worth $24,000 to help protect medical workers in the West Bank. PRCS said medical teams had been put in danger by Israeli forces on 193 separate occasions in the first half of 2023, an increase of 310% compared to the same period in 2022. (MAP, WAFA 7/18; GDN 7/19)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant signed an order to place 3 Israeli settlers in administrative detention for attacks on Palestinians in Umm Safa and al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya in June. (HA 7/18)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring that “the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state” by 412 votes to 9. Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Summer Lee (D-PA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Andre Carson (D-IN), Cori Bush (D-MO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL) voted against. The resolution was presented by August Pfluger (R-TX). (AJ, HA, NYT 7/18; HA, MDW 7/19)

U.S. president Joe Biden met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog at the White House. After the meeting, Biden told New York Times columnist Tom Friedman that he urged Israeli leaders to stop the judicial overhaul and not pass reforms without a broad consensus. (ALM, MEE, NYT, NYT, REU 7/18; HA, HA, HA 7/19)

60 prominent human rights and press freedom organizations signed a letter addressed to the U.S. Congress urging representatives to pass the Justice for Shireen Act, which would require the U.S. government to investigate the Israeli killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. (AJ, MEE 7/18; WAFA 7/19)

The U.S. Department of Commerce added the Israel-owned Intellexa and Cytrox spyware companies to its blacklist of companies acting against U.S. interests. The list already includes NSO Group and Candiru. (HA, MEE, NYT 7/18)

The University of Maryland Critical Issues survey showed that 73% of Americans would favor Israel as a democracy over Israel’s as a Jewish state in the absence of a two-state solution. (Brookings 7/18; HA 7/19)

In the West Bank, 1 unidentified person shot and injured 1 Israeli settler and 4 Israeli soldiers near Ya’bad. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 8 others during a raid in Balata refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished a car scrap yard in Ein ad-Duyuk al-Tahta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued notifications that it will seize 70 dunams (17.3 acres) of land in Azzun ‘Atma and Masha. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya’bad, Dheisheh refugee camp, ad-Doha, Askar refugee camp, and Seida. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 car wash shop in Shu’fat. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jabel Mukaber and Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian fisherman with a baton round west of al-Sudaniyya. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/13; PCHR, WAFA 6/14; PCHR 6/15; UNOCHA 6/18; UNOCHA 7/8)

Israel’s military advocate general said that the soldiers responsible for the death of Palestinian American Omar As’ad on 1/12/22 will not be criminally prosecuted. 78-year-old As’ad died of heart failure after being arbitrarily detained and left on his stomach on the floor in a yard of an abandoned house while handcuffed, blindfolded, and gagged. The U.S. State Department said on 6/14 that it is seeking more information from Israel about the decision not to charge the soldiers. (AP, HA, REU 6/13; AJ, AJ, AP, BBC, HA, MDW, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 6/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas began his 4-day official visit to China. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA 6/13)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill creating an ambassador-level position at the State Department focused on creating normalization deals for Israel. The bill, which passed 413-13, was co-sponsored by Democrat Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Republican Mike Lawler (R-NY). (HA 6/13; MDW 6/14)

The Lebanese parliament failed to elect a president for the 12th time. Lebanon has not had a president since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022. (AJ, AP, HA 6/14)

Amnesty International released a report on the Israeli attacks on Gaza between May 9 and May 13, calling on the ICC “to consider the applicability of the crime against humanity of apartheid within its current formal investigation.” Amnesty found that 31 Palestinians had been killed, including in unlawful killings and possible war crimes. Amnesty also found that 3 Palestinians in Gaza were possibly killed by rockets misfired by Palestinian armed groups. (AI 6/13; MEE 6/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor in Aida refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Israelis marched through the Old City, including the Muslim Quarter for the so-called Flag March, attacking Palestinians and Palestinian property and yelling genocidal and racist slogans such as “Death to Arabs,” “May your village burn down,” and profanities against the Prophet Muhammad. 3 journalists and 3 Palestinians were assaulted by the marchers. Israeli police also assaulted several journalists, including CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman. The U.S. condemned the behavior at the march as “outrageous and unacceptable.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took part in the march. Thousands of Israeli settlers, including Negev and Galilee development minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf and MKs Dan Illouz, Amit Halevi, and Ariel Kallner toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Later Israeli forces also prevented the call to prayer before the sunset prayer from al-Aqsa Mosque. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting against the Flag March along the Gaza fence, injuring 5 with baton rounds and causing tear-gas related injuries. (HA 5/16; AJ, AP, MEE, WAFA 5/17; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/18; HA, MDW, MDW, WAFA, WAFA 5/19; WAFA 5/20; MDW 5/22; PCHR 5/25; UNOCHA 6/2)

The Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant ordered Israeli Central Command chief Yehuda Funch to authorize entry of Israeli settlers to the Homesh settlement outpost and to grant the Shomron Regional Council a plot of land to create a Yeshiva on. The move was made to prevent Palestinian landowners from successfully appealing to the Israeli High Court of Justice to have the settlers cleared from Homesh and for them to regain access to their land. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the U.S. was “deeply troubled” by the Israeli decision, noting that the order contravened promises made by then Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in 2004 to the Bush administration and by the Netanyahu government to the Biden administration. The French foreign ministry also condemned the move, saying it contravened commitments made by Israel at the Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh summits in February and March. According to Axios, Israeli officials had told the Biden administration that Israel does not intend to turn Homesh into a new settlement. (WAFA 5/18; HA 5/21; AJ, ALM, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/22; AX, HA, TOI 5/23; HA, WAFA 5/24)

Haaretz reported that Israeli finance minister and de facto governor of the West Bank, Bezalel Smotrich, has stressed at closer door meetings that it is Israeli policy to improve infrastructure in Israeli settlements and outposts to prepare for an additional 500,000 Israeli settlers moving to the West Bank. Smotrich also instructed government officials to draw up plans for more checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank for settlers. The U.S. responded to the reporting saying that “we view the expansion of settlement as an obstacle to peace.” The Israeli government later said that Smotrich’s statements did not represent the policies of the Netanyahu-led government. (HA 5/18; HA 5/23)

6 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives held a press conference outside of the Capitol building criticizing the Biden administration and their colleagues for not holding Israel accountable for the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh last year and for human rights violations against Palestinians in general. The 6 members, Andre Carson (D-IN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Cori Bush (D-MO), spoke alongside members of Abu Akleh’s family. (AJ, HA 5/18)

In Gaza, 7 Palestinians were killed, including at least 4 by Israeli airstrikes, and 36 were injured on the second day of the Israeli assault on Gaza. 2 Palestinians were killed in an airstrike on a field in Abasan al-Kabira, while 2 Palestinians were killed and 2 injured in an airstrike on a field in al-Shuka east of Rafah. 8 Palestinians, including 3 children and 3 women, were injured in airstrikes on al-Salem near Rafah. 1 Palestinian was killed and 1 woman seriously injured when a missile fell on their house in Beit Lahiya, 2 minors were killed and 12 others were injured when a missile fell on a house in Gaza City, and 13 were injured after a missile fell on a house in Beit Hanun. PCHR said its initial investigation raised suspicion that these 3 incidents could be from rockets misfired from Gaza. Islamic Jihad started firing rockets at Israel 35 hours after Israel assassinated 3 of their members and after 3 separate rounds of airstrikes. In Israel, rockets launched from Gaza caused damage in Ashkelon and Sderot, injuring 1 Israeli. 2 Israeli Channel 13 journalists were assaulted by an Israeli man using pepper spray while reporting in Tel Aviv. The TV channel has been attacked by Israeli politicians for airing a chyron reading “Green light from the prime minister: Women and children killed overnight in Gaza.” In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Qabatiya, killing 3 Palestinians. Israeli forces escorting Israeli settlers also shot and injured 2 Palestinians near Deir Dibwan. Elsewhere, Israeli forces uprooted olive tree saplings in Wadi Fukin and uprooted hundreds of olive trees and destroyed 20 water tanks in Tarqumiyah. Israeli forces also raided Tubas; 1 Israeli soldier was injured. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seized 1 digger in Maeen. Israeli forces also demolished 3 Palestinian-owned homes in Ein ad-Duyuk al-Foqa. 28 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Jericho, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces demolished 2 apartments in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 10. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AX, BBC, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, NYT, QDS, REU, TOI, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10; AJ, AP, HA, PCHR, PCHR, REU, WAFA 5/11; UNOCHA 5/19)

Israel handed over the body of 1 Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp on 4/24 to the PA. (WAFA 5/10)

UN secretary-general António Guterres condemned the civilian deaths caused by Israeli attacks in Gaza and said, “Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law.” Guterres also condemned the launching of rockets at Israel. The Arab League called Israel’s attacks on Gaza “barbaric” in a statement after an emergency session. (AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 5/10)

The UAE, France, and China called a closed-door emergency meeting at the UN Security Council on the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The U.S. prevented a statement critical of Israel from being published. (HA 5/10; HA 5/11)

The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate condemned Israeli restrictions on press crews entering Gaza to cover the Israeli assault. (WAFA 5/10)

Al-Mayadeen TV and Al Jazeera reported that Palestinian factions in Gaza agreed to a ceasefire but insisted that Israel commit to stopping assassinations, which Israel refused to do. (HA, REU 5/10; AJ 5/11)

Haaretz reported that based on UN data Israeli settlers had vandalized around 5,000 trees in the West Bank in the past 5 months. (HA, MEE 5/10)

PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. (QDS 5/10)

U.S. congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced a resolution to recognize the Nakba, cosponsored by Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Coinciding with introduction of the resolution and the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, Tlaib had arranged an event to commemorate the Nakba in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, but the event was canceled on the day by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VA) then facilitated the event to take place in a nearby Senate office building. (MDW, MEE 5/10; AJ, ALM, HA, MDW, MEE 5/11)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler assaulted 1 Palestinian man with pepper-spray in Huwwara. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian herders in ‘Ain as-Sakout, forcing the Palestinians to flee. Israeli forces closed off Jericho for a second day in a row, impeding traffic in and out of the city during the Eid al-Fitr holidays. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during a raid in Arab al-Kaabneh in the Masafer Yatta area and 1 at the Container checkpoint. (QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/23; HA 4/25; PCHR 4/27; UNOCHA 5/5)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Finance Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir met to discuss the government’s response to the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. The meeting followed calls by Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for the government to end its responses to the Supreme Court related to the matter. On 4/24 the Israeli government issued a brief saying that it should be up to the government to decide when Khan al-Ahmar will be demolished, calling on the Supreme Court to reject the petition demanding the demolition and displacement of the Palestinians living there. (HA 4/23; QUDS 4/24; HA 4/25)

The Israeli Supreme Court overturned an order by Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant to ban participation of Palestinians from the West Bank at an Israeli Memorial Day ceremony for bereaved families. (HA 4/21; HA 4/23)

Israel arrested Imad al-Adwan, a member of the Jordanian parliament, at the Allenby Bridge crossing, claiming he had smuggled weapons and gold into the West Bank. The Jordanian foreign ministry said it was in contact with Israel about the arrest through diplomatic channels. (AP, HA, MEE 4/23; AJ, ALM, AP, BBC, MEE, REU, REU 4/24)

U.S. House of Representatives minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) led a group of 11 Democrats in a visit to Israel. Jeffries and the group met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides. (HA 4/23; JC 4/25)

In the West Bank, 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-‘Awja, Hebron, Beit Umar and Beitin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Bayt Hanina. (WAFA 4/13; UNOCHA 4/20; PCHR 4/27)

The Israeli state prosecutor closed a probe into the Israeli police’s killing of 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel near the Haram al-Sharif compound on 3/31. Israeli police claimed that no cameras caught the incident as the police officers’ body cameras were turned off and that the incident happened in a blind spot for surveillance cameras. Palestinians have contested the police’s narrative and several organizations have questioned the notion that no camera would have caught the incident given that the area is heavily surveilled. (AP, HA, WAFA 4/13)

An Israeli court ruled that Israel’s interior minister does not have the authority to revoke residency status and citizenship from relatives of Palestinians who are accused of attacking Israelis as a means of deterrence. (HA 4/13)

Human Rights Watch reported that the PA refused to renew the registration of the rights organization Lawyers for Justice that represent Palestinians detained by the PA. (HRW, TOI 4/13; AP 4/14)

Syria and Saudi Arabia reestablished diplomatic ties, reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time since 2012. Syria also reestablished ties with Tunisia on 4/12. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 4/12; AJ, AP, HA 4/13)

13 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, headed by Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Bernie Sanders (D-VT) in the Senate wrote a letter to U.S. president Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging them to shift U.S. policy on Israel-Palestine. The letter mentioned the worsening violence, Israel’s “further annexation of land, and denial of Palestinian rights.” The group also said that U.S. taxpayer money should not be used for Israeli settlement projects and the U.S. should investigate if U.S. military aid violates the Leahy Law. (AJ, HA, MDW, WAFA 4/14; HA 4/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinians in Kisan, injuring 2 who were treated at a hospital. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, entering al-Aqsa Mosque. (WAFA, WAFA 3/29; PCHR 3/30; UNOCHA 4/20)

Khalil Awawdeh, who in 2022 suspended a 172-day hunger strike after Israel promised to end his administrative detention on 10/2/2022, was sentenced to 16-months in prison for using a smuggled mobile phone while on hunger strike. Israel never released Awawdeh from administrative detention despite its promise to do so. (WAFA 3/29) 

Israel launched a spy satellite. The launch was overseen by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, despite Gallant being fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 3/26. (GDN 3/28; REU 3/29; NYT 3/30)

Jewish Currents reported that progressive Democratic representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) circulated a letter, addressed to the Biden administration, urging it to “undertake a shift in U.S. policy in recognition of the worsening violence, further annexation of land, and denial of Palestinian rights. Only by protecting democracy, human rights, and self-determination for all Palestinians and Israelis can we achieve a lasting peace.” Democrats further called for U.S. aid not to support Israeli settlements or violate the Arms Export Control Act. The letter was co-signed by representatives Cori Bush (D-MO), Andre Carson (D-IN), Summer Lee (D-PA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). (HA 3/29)

U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) told CNN that he has been in talks with the White House about introducing measures to hold Israel accountable, including reversing the Trump administration’s blurring of the lines between Israel and the West Bank. (HA 3/29)

The U.S. rejected Prime Minister Netanyahu’s claim that Israel had met all requirements for entering the U.S. visa waiver program. (HA, HA, MEE, REU 3/29)