The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians traveling near Nablus and Tulkarm. Israeli forces shot and killed 3 Palestinians after they shot and killed an Israeli soldier and injured 3 Israeli soldiers at the Tunnels checkpoint west of Bethlehem; Hamas took responsibility for the attack. Israeli forces also shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including 2 children during raids in Beita and Deir Nidham. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinians near Carmel, causing bruises. Israeli forces also demolished 2 homes and a marble factory in Wadi Fukin. 69 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Dura, Jenin, Kafr Ra’i, Qalqilya, Husan, Nablus, Jericho, and al-Fara’a refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Isawiya. In Gaza, telecommunications broke down for the third time, this time due to a lack of fuel. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 19 people in Jabaliya refugee camp, al-Qarara, and al-Maghazi refugee camp. The number of fatalities was likely much higher since the Gaza Ministry of Health was unable to communicate with hospitals and civil defense members in northern Gaza and due to the telecommunications breakdown. Israeli forces continued to raid al-Shifa Hospital, stealing bodies of Palestinians who had not yet been buried. Israel also put al-Ahli Hospital under siege, preventing movement in and out of the hospital. Israel said the bodies of 2 of the Israeli captives were found in a building near al-Shifa Hospital. In South Lebanon, Israel attacked several sites and anti-tank missiles were fired at Israel. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/16; AJ, AP 11/17)

The Gaza Ministry of Health was not able to update the casualty figures due to a collapse in services and communications at hospitals in northern Gaza, leaving the death toll at 11,479, including 4,630 children and 3,130 women, and around 32,000 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 3,250 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 190 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 47 children. More than 2,730 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals had been killed and 5,431 have injured since 10/7. 51 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 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 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. No aid entered Gaza due to UNRWA vehicles running out of fuel. Turkey said that 27 cancer patients from Gaza arrived in Turkey for treatment. The director of the Indonesian Hospital said its facilities were “completely out of service,” with 45 patients still awaiting surgery. The Gaza Ministry of Health said 9 out of 35 hospitals in Gaza were partially functioning while the rest were out of service. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/16)

The Palestinian Prisoners Society said Israel had arrested more than 2,760 Palestinians during raids in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7. (AJ, WAFA 11/16)

The members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee at the UN said they will not participate in the establishment of a “safe zone” without an agreement of all parties, saying these ‘safe zones’ otherwise put Palestinians at risk. (UNOCHA 11/16)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said he was confident in the resistance’s ability to outlast the Israeli war on Gaza. (AJ 11/16)

The Israeli military claimed to have found a tunnel and weapons at al-Shifa Hospital but refused to allow independent observers access to its findings. Israel had claimed that Hamas had a command-and-control center at the hospital but no longer appeared to make that claim. (AJ, REU, REU 11/16)

PA finance minister Shoukry Bishara sent a letter to Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich demanding that Israel pay the PA the full amount of tax revenue due from October. (HA 11/16)

Israeli interior minister Moshe Arbel informed 2 Palestinians, who he claims are Hamas operatives, that Israel has begun efforts to revoke their Jerusalem residency status. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should stop talks on a prisoner swap, saying Israel should only “talk with fire and brimstone.” (AJ, HA 11/16)

Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said Jordan will not ratify an agreement with Israel to exchange water for energy due to Israel’s attacks on Gaza. (AJ, HA, REU 11/16)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Israel must ensure that food, water, and medical care is available at al-Shifa Hospital. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, urging him to address the rise in settler violence and discussing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Blinken also told ABC News that he has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel cannot reoccupy Gaza. France called Israeli settler violence a “policy of terror.” (AJ, HA, REU 11/16; AJ, HA, WAFA 11/17)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Israel was violating the visa waiver agreement with the U.S. by preventing Palestinian Americans from entering the West Bank and flying into Ben-Gurion Airport. (AX, NYT 11/16)

Bloomberg News reported that the EU and U.S. were considering raising a UN peacekeeping force to be deployed in Gaza when a ceasefire is reached. (AJ 11/16)

U.S. senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on Israel to “Stop the bombing NOW” in a tweet on X. (AJ, HA 11/16)

The Los Angeles Times editorial board called for a ceasefire. (AJ 11/16)

Protesters from Jewish Voice for Peace blocked traffic on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, calling for a ceasefire. (AJ, HA, REU 11/16)

In the West Bank, 1 member of the Lion’s Den, Tamer al-Kilani, was killed when an explosive device planted in a motorcycle exploded in Nablus. The Lion’s Den said al-Kilani was the victim of an Israeli assassination. Israeli settlers sprayed pepper spray at 2 Palestinians in Huwwara. Israeli forces fired tear gas near a school in Kharbatha Bani Harith, causing tear-gas related injuries among students and staff. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint near Tarqumiyya. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramin, Deir Nidham, and Dheisheh refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 7. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Waha; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, NA, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/23; HA, MDW, MEMO 10/24; PCHR 10/27; UNOCHA 11/1)

Commenting on Israeli settler attacks against Israeli soldiers in recent weeks, prime minister Yair Lapid said he would not allow “criminal militias in the State of Israel” during a cabinet meeting. Defense minister Benny Gantz also said that Israel will not accept the attacks. The cabinet approved the appointment of Herzl Halevi as new IDF chief of staff during the meeting. Halevi, who lives in the Israeli settlement Kfar HaOranim, will replace Aviv Kochavi in January 2023. (HA, HA 10/23; AJ, AP 10/24)

Saudi Arabia donated $23 million to UNRWA. (WAFA 10/23)

In the West Bank, Palestinian militant factions protested PA cooperation with Israel by burning tires and throwing stones at PA security forces in Nablus and Jenin. In Nablus, 1 Palestinian was killed and 2 were injured during the unrest; the PA claimed it was not present during the killing of the man, who was said to be a bystander. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man during a funeral procession in Beit Umar; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also fired tear gas at Palestinians protesting a raid in Rumana, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrested 1 Palestinian NGO worker, detained others, and seized 1 vehicle while the workers were doing maintenance work on solar panels in Wadi al-Faw. Israeli forces also pumped cement in 2 water wells in al-Ras and Kafr Abbush and seized a stone-cutting machine in Beit Fajjar. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Biddu, Beit Duqqu, Bethlehem, Bayt Rima, and Deir Nidham. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian merchants at the Old City’s al-Khawajat market. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur. In Israel, 1 elderly Israeli woman was beaten to death in Holon; the Palestinian suspect was later found hanged in Tel Aviv. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/20; GDN, HA, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 9/21; AP, HA, PCHR, TOI, TOI 9/22; MDW 9/23; ALM 9/28; UNOCHA 9/30)

1 Palestinian cancer patient died in Gaza while waiting to obtain a permit from Israel to travel to East Jerusalem for treatment. The man is the 6th Palestinian in Gaza to die of cancer this year while waiting for Israeli permission to travel for treatment. (PCHR 9/21)

A group of lawyers and rights organizations said they had referred the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh to the ICC on behalf of her family. A forensic investigation by Al Haq and Forensic Architecture also found that Israeli soldiers deliberately targeted Shireen Abu Akleh when she was shot on 5/11/22. (AHQ, AJ, FA, INT, MDW, MEE, WAFA, WAFA 9/20; GDN, MEE 9/21; HA, JP, MEMO, TOI 9/22; MEMO 9/25)

An Israeli court ruled that Israel can revoke the residency permits of 17 Palestinians related to a Palestinian accused of killing 4 Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem in 2017. Interior minister Ayelet Shaked subsequently said that she would revoke the 17 Palestinian family members’ residency permits and work to deport them to the West Bank. The family lives in Jabel Mukaber in East Jerusalem. (HA 9/21; MEMO 9/22)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with King Abdullah II of Jordan on the sidelines of the UNGA. (MEMO, WAFA 9/21)

Türkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid held a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA. It was the 1st time since 2008 that an Israeli prime minister has met with the leader of Türkiye. (AX, HA 9/20; AJ, ALM, MEE, REU 9/21)

In the West Bank, 2 Israeli soldiers were injured during a training accident near the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Israeli settlers with military escort marched near al-Bireh. Israeli settlers also uprooted and stole some 30 olive saplings on a fenced plot of land in the Masafer Yatta area. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers with military escort marched toward Beita, leading to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces; 28 were injured by tear gas. The settler march was organized by the Samaria Regional Council and advertised with the slogan “We want a Jewish state.” Israeli forces delivered an eviction notice to 1 Palestinian family in Kafr ad-Dik, telling them to vacate 5 dunams (2.5 acres) of land planted with 60 olive trees. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure in Nabi Ilyas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided a school in Deir Nidham, arresting 2 students. 15 others were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Ein Yabrud, Tuqu‘, and Beit Umar. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Bayt Hanina, displacing 7. 4 Palestinians were arrested in Kafr ‘Aqab and Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled farmland north of Beit Lahiya and east of Khuza‘a. In the Naqab, Israeli police arrested more than 30 Palestinian Bedouins who allegedly took part in the demonstrations against the forestation program meant to displace Bedouins in the Naqab last week. Activists later protested in front for a court in Beersheba, demanding their release. (HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/18; MEMO 1/19; MEMO, PCHR 1/20)

Israel released Palestinian lawmaker Nayef Rajoub of Hamas after 8 months of administrative detention. Rajoub was arrested on 5/20/2021. (MEMO 1/19)

The Fatah Central Committee voted unanimously to elect Rawhi Fattouh as the new chairperson of the PNC after Salim Zanoun retired from the post. (WAFA 1/19)

Israel and the U.S. tested the Arrow 3 Weapons System in Israel. The Arrow 3 system is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles. (HA 1/18; ALM 1/20)

Israeli newspaper Calcalist reported that Israeli police have been using the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware to surveil Israeli citizens, including activists protesting against former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli mayors, and other politicians. The spyware was said to have been used without a warrant or court order. The Israeli police bought the spyware from NSO Group in 2013 for $859,500, according to an invoice. The police have subsequently bought upgrades to the system, adding to the initial price tag. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, MEMO, REU 1/18; AJ, AP, HA 1/19; AJ, ALM, HA, HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, TOI 1/20; REU 1/21; HA 1/23)

In the West Bank, Palestinians prevented Israeli settlers with military escort from entering Nablus at the Joseph’s Tomb site; 2 Israeli soldiers were reported injured by stone-throwers. Israeli settlers chased Palestinian herders off their own land in Masafer Yatta. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest at an Israeli checkpoint near al-Bireh, injuring 1 journalist with a rubber-coated bullet and others with tear gas. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Biddu and Deir Nidham. In East Jerusalem, more than 770 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, waving Israeli flags. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Isawiya, al-Tur, and the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Gaza City; no injuries were reported. (MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/27; MEE 9/28; PCHR 9/30)

The trial against 14 PA security officers charged with beating PA critic Nizar Banat to death on 6/24 began in Ramallah. Banat’s brother Ghassan Banat said that the PA was using the 14 officers as scapegoats and that the trial was incomplete without prosecution of the head of the Preventive Security Services and the interior minister. All 14 officers pledged not guilty to charges of battery, abuse of power, and violation of military instructions. According to a cousin of Banat, 1 of his other cousins was arrested before the hearing. The arrested cousin is said to be 1 of the key witnesses to the killing of Banat. (HA, REU 9/27; MEMO 9/28)

An unidentified aircraft hit an alleged Iran-backed militia base in Mayadeen, Syria, causing damage. (HA 9/28)

At the UN general assembly, Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett did not overtly mention Palestine or Israel’s occupation, but did say that “Israelis don’t wake up in the morning thinking about the conflict.” Prime Minister Bennett dedicated a portion of his speech to Iran, saying that its alleged nuclear weapons program had “hit a watershed moment, and so has our patience.” (HA, HA, MEMO, REU 9/27; AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA 9/28; JP, JP 9/29)

The UN Conference on Trade and Development issued a report, saying that 2020 was the worst year for the PA economy since its establishment in 1994. The report stated that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Israeli occupation were the main factors behind the economic decline. (MEMO, WAFA 9/28)

At a UK Labour conference in Bristol, members of the party voted for a motion that called for sanctions against Israel for its violations of international law, stopping arms trades with Israel, and ending trade with Israeli settlements. The motion noted that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid. The motion is non-binding. PA president Mahmoud Abbas thanked the Labour party for passing the motion. (MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 9/27; JP, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 9/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian family of 5 working their land near Ras Karkar; Israeli forces intervened on behalf of the Palestinians, ordering the settlers to leave. Israeli forces opened fire and chased 1 Palestinian vehicle near Beit Fajjar, causing the driver to lose control of the car, injuring him and 2 passengers. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a late-night raid in Deir Nidham and 7 Palestinian journalists were arrested and physically assaulted while covering a peaceful protest in the South Hebron Hills. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA 8/27; AA 8/28; HA 8/31; PCHR 9/2)

It was reported in Israeli media that Israel will grant the PA a loan of $800 million to help with its financial crisis. At the same time, Israel continues to deduct millions of dollars from the tax revenue it collects on behalf of the PA, claiming it is deducting the amount that the PA pays in stipends to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families. (MEMO 8/28)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett met with U.S. president Joe Biden 1 day late, after their meeting was postponed due to an attack on U.S. soldiers and Afghans in Kabul on 8/26. During the meeting, President Biden said that the U.S. will ensure that “Iran never develops a nuclear weapon” and that “if diplomacy fails, we are ready to turn to other options.” Biden also said that “ways to advance peace and security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians” was on the agenda. Axios later reported that President Biden pressed Bennett on Biden’s campaign promise to reopen the U.S. consulates to Palestinians in Jerusalem, an issue that Bennett and much of his governing coalition is firmly against. (AJ, AP, AX, MEE 8/27; AX, HA, JP, MEMO, TOI 8/28; HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA 8/29; AX 9/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from renovating a water reservoir in Bayt Dajan. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-Yamun, Deir Balut, Hebron, Beita, and Deir Nidham. In East Jerusalem, the head of Shu‘fat’s local council Mahmoud Ali al-Shaykh was arrested during a late-night raid. In Gaza, the UN mine action service removed an unexploded Israeli bomb fired in May during Israel’s Operation Guardians of the Wall. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 8/26; MEMO 8/27; PCHR 9/2)

Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing for traffic from Egypt toward Gaza but not from Gaza toward Egypt. Egypt closed the crossing on 8/23. (MEMO, REU 8/25; AJ, MEMO, WAFA 8/26)

Israel’s defense ministry said Israel would increase the number of allowed imports of vehicles and goods to Gaza and issue more permits for Palestinian businesspeople entering Israel from Gaza. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA 8/26)

Hamas thanked Jordanian king Abdullah II for allowing its leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal to attend the funeral in Amman of former Hamas leader Ibrahim Ghosheh, who passed away today. The funeral will take place on 8/27. (MEMO 8/27)

U.S. president Joe Biden postponed a meeting with Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett in Washington D.C. after suicide bombs killed nearly 90 people at the Kabul airport as evacuations continue after the Taliban took over almost all of Afghanistan. Among the killed were 11 U.S. Marines and 1 other navy soldier. President Biden and Prime Minister Bennett are expected to meet on 8/27 instead. German chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly also canceled a visit to Israel next week due to the situation in Afghanistan. The attack at Kabul airport was reportedly made by Islamic State – Khorasan Province, an Afghan offshoot of the Islamic State. (HA 8/25; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, FOX, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO 8/26; AP, AP, AP, HA, REU 8/27)

The New York Times reported that when Israel attacked the Iranian Natanz nuclear facility on 4/11/2021, the Netanyahu administration gave the U.S. 2 hours’ notice before the attack. U.S. officials told the NYT that Israel deliberately gave the Biden administration too little time to ask Israel to call off its attack. (HA, NYT 8/26)

Germany provided the PA a grant of $29.5 million to develop the education sector in the West Bank. (WAFA 9/26; MEMO 8/27)