The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinians near al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Sa‘ir, Harmala, al-Bireh, Kafr Ein, Ni‘lin, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/16)

The 1st hearing in the case against 14 PA security forces in the killing of PA critic Nizar Banat on 6/24 was postponed until 9/21 because the lawyer of the 14 was absent from the session. (WAFA 9/14)

Fatah condemned Facebook for suspending Al-Awda TV Facebook page. (WAFA 9/14)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said that he opposes a Palestinian state during an interview with Israeli Kan news. Prime Minister Bennett also said he would not meet or speak to PA president Mahmoud Abbas, citing Abbas’s referral of Israel war crimes to the ICC. (TOI 9/14; ALM, JP 9/15)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz told Foreign Policy that Israel will accept a new Iran nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran, but that he hopes the U.S. will make a “plan B.” Foreign Minister Gantz also said about a potential peace agreement, “Abbas is still dreaming of the 1967 lines, this won’t happen. He has to realize we’re staying here . . . We’re not taking down settlements.” (FP 9/14; ALM, HA 9/15; MEMO 9/16)

On the anniversary of the normalization deals between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE, sponsored by the U.S., state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. is looking at advancing similar deals. Spokesperson Price also praised the normalization deal between Israel and Morocco, but did not mention the Sudan-Israel normalization deal. The U.S., during the Donald Trump administration, gave all 4 countries that normalized ties with Israel different political incentives to do so. The ambassadors of the U.S., Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain also met at an event hosted by former White House official Jared Kushner’s new non-profit organization The Abraham Accords Institute for Peace. The U.S. secretary of State Antony Blinken will host a virtual meeting on 9/17 to celebrate the normalization deals. UAE economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri also said on 9/13 that the UAE seeks to raise its trade with Israel to $1 trillion in the next 10 years. The bilateral trade between the 2 countries are currently around $600 million, according to Economy Minister Al Marri. (AX, HA, REU, REU, Twitter 9/14; TOI 9/15; MEMO 9/16)

Jewish Currents reported that representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) were leading efforts to add an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act blocking the delivery of Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs to Israel for 1 year. Both types of munitions were used by Israel during Operation Guardian of the Wall. The amendment is unlikely to be part of the bill. (JC 9/14)

The state of New Jersey sent a letter to the company Unilever that it considers its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling its ice cream in West Bank settlements a boycott of Israel and therefore will divest from the company. New Jersey is said to have $182 million invested in Unilever stock, bonds, and other securities. (MEMO 9/15; JP, NYT 9/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians near Nablus by throwing stones and physically assaulting them, causing their hospitalization. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint in Za’atra and injured 1 other; Israeli forces claimed that 2 were in a car and refused to stop at the checkpoint. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protesters at a checkpoint north of Ramallah, injuring 9 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed protesters at the Qalandia checkpoint, injuring 37 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jenin, injuring 1 with live ammunition while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, injuring 2 using live ammunition. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Tulkarm, injuring 1 with live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Separately, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 7 with live ammunition and 10 with rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also injured 1 with a tear gas canister in Bethlehem. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters at the Huwwara checkpoint, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets. 14 Palestinians were arrested, including 13 at checkpoints in Tulkarm, Huwwara, and Jenin, and 1 was arrested during a late-night raid in Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed a sit-in protest against evictions in Shaykh Jarrah, spraying skunk water at protesters and arresting 3 residents. 6 other Palestinians were arrested, including 4 at a checkpoint in Issawiyya and 2 during late-night raids in Silwan and al-Tur. In Gaza, 10 Palestinians, including 1 child, were killed in Israeli air strikes, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 20 to 30, including 10 children. The casualties included: 2, and 2 injured in an air strike on a 7-story building in al-Shati camp; 6, and at least 8 injured in 3 air strikes on apartment buildings in Gaza City; and 2 in an air strike near a chicken farm southwest of Dayr al-Balah. Additionally, Israeli air strikes damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings, including 1 14-story residential and commercial building, the Hanadi Tower west of Gaza City, 1 ice cream factory south of Gaza City, 1 health clinic and police station in Bayt Lahiya, 1 large school in Dayr al-Balah. Hamas reported that Israeli air strikes had destroyed all police buildings in Gaza. In Israel, 5 were killed by rockets from Gaza, including 2 Palestinian citizens of Israel, who were killed by a rocket fired from Gaza near Lydda, and 2 Jewish-Israelis and 1 Indian national in Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. 1 rocket fired from Gaza also damaged an Israeli pipeline in Ashkelon, igniting a large oil fire. A state of emergency was also declared in Lydda after a synagogue and some 30 cars were set on fire as Jewish-Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel clashed. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian-Israelis in Lydda after a protest erupted following a funeral of 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel who was killed by a Jewish-Israeli on 5/10; 12 Palestinian-Israelis were injured by stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets. Clashes also ensued in Ramla and a synagogue, a marketplace, and a Muslim cemetery were set on fire. In Acre, 1 police station and 1 restaurant were set on fire. 19 Palestinian citizens of Israel were arrested after trash bins were set on fire and stones were thrown at Israeli police in Haifa. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters in Jaffa, arresting 3; 2 police officers were reportedly injured. Clashes between Jewish-Israelis and Palestinian-Israelis were also reported in Beersheba. Israeli forces said that the Iron Dome had intercepted 85-90% of around 850 rockets fired from Gaza since 5/10. (AJ 5/10; AJ, AJ, AX, CBS, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/11; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, BBC, CNN, CNN, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEMO, PCHR, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI 5/12; HA 5/18; WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/20; MEE 5/21; NYT 5/26)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas canceled Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mourn for the Palestinians killed by Israel in the last couple of days. (MEMO 5/12)

A Spokesperson for the U.S. national security advisor said chief of Palestinian affairs at the U.S. embassy in Israel George Noll had delivered a letter from U.S. president Joe Biden to PA president Mahmoud Abbas. The spokesperson would not say what the letter was about, saying it was part of the administrations outreach to “the Palestinian leadership.” (HILL, WAFA 5/11)

The Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Israel was responsible for the escalation between Hamas and Israel, stating that “Israeli violations in Jerusalem . . . is what led to the ignition of the situation in this dangerous way.” Secretary-general Gheit’s comments came after a meeting of Arab League foreign secretaries discussing the situation. (AJ, REU 5/11)

Haaretz reported that Palestinian and Egyptian sources said that talks to end the escalation between Hamas and Israel had ended due to opposition from Islamic Jihad and Israel. Leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh said that the escalation was started by Israel and that Hamas is ready for “an escalation and ready for calm, on the condition that they end the aggression against al-Quds.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Hamas and Islamic Jihad have paid—and will pay—a heavy price for their aggression . . . It will take time. We’ll restore security for the citizens of Israel.” (AJ, HA, MEMO 5/12)

It was reported that the U.S. was delaying a UN security council (UNSC) statement addressing the Israeli aggression in Jerusalem, and escalation of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. A UNSC emergency meeting was called on 5/9 by Tunisia and 9 other countries. The state department spokesperson Ned Price said secretary of state Antony Blinken, national security advisor Jake Sullivan, and deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman had talked to their Israeli counterparts and unnamed Palestinian officials. The White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden’s “support for Israel security, for its legitimate right to defend itself and its people is fundamental and will never waver . . . We condemn ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem.” (HA, HA, REU 5/11; AP, HA 5/12)

The 57 members of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation released a joint communiqué after an emergency meeting, calling Israeli attacks on the Haram al-Sharif compound “barbaric” and said the nations consider Israel’s attacks a “serious violation of international law.” (HA 5/11)

The U.S. treasury department sanctioned 7 Lebanese people for transferring $500 million on behalf of Hezbollah. (AJ, AP, REU 5/11)