The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, about 50 Israeli settlers from the Oz Tzion settlement outpost shot and killed 1 Palestinian, injured 4 others, and set fire to 2 vehicles in Burqa. 2 of the settlers involved were arrested, including Elisha Yered, a former spokesperson for Otzma Yehudit party MK Limor Son Har-Melech. Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the arrested settlers heroes, while National Unity leader Benny Gantz called the incident “Jewish terrorism.” The U.S. condemned the incident as a “terror attack by Israeli extremist settlers.” 4 Palestinians were later arrested on 8/7. An Israeli settler also rammed a Palestinian child in Hebron, causing fractures. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set up a tent on Palestinian-owned land near Tulkarm. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a raid in Nur Shams refugee camp. Israeli forces also raided Biddu, injuring Palestinians with tear gas and arresting 2. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Dajan; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Deir Istiya, assaulting 1 Palestinian official and causing tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Palestinians demonstrated against poor living conditions in several cities and towns. 1 Palestinian minor was injured by an unexploded ordnance that detonated when he touched it. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/4; JP, MEE, NYT, PCHR, REU, WAFA 8/5; ALM, CNN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, REU, TOI 8/6; ALM, ALM, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, WAFA 8/7; AJ, ALM 8/8; HA 8/9; PCHR 8/10; HA, UNOCHA 8/11)

12 Palestinian families comprised of 89 people fled their homes in Ras al-Tin following Israeli settler violence in the area. (WAFA 8/12; AP 8/24)

The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Lynn Hastings said the UN has launched an assessment of how to aid 60 Palestinian herding communities that are affected by Israeli settler violence. (WAFA 8/4)

An open letter, titled “The Elephant in the Room,” began circulating among academics and public figures and received more than 1,100 signatures by 8/11. The letter stated that “[t]here cannot be democracy for Jews in Israel as long as Palestinians live under a regime of apartheid,” and called for an end to Israeli impunity at the UN and restrictions on U.S. military aid. The letter was primarily signed by Israeli and Jewish academics and public figures, including Benny Morris, Avraham Berg, Avi Shlaim, and Ilan Pappe. (Letter 8/4; HA 8/7; MEE 8/8; TOI 8/9; WAFA, WP 8/11; WAFA 8/12; MDW 8/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian herders in Kisan and let their dogs attack Palestinian-owned sheep. Israeli forces delivered a demolition order against 1 EU-funded school in Ras al-Tin, affecting some 50 students from 1st to 6th grade, 2 water tanks, an agricultural structure, and a residential caravan in Atuf, and a stop-work order for a cemetery in Idhna. 15 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Twana, Beit Umar, Bethlehem, Beit Fajjar, al-Lubban al-Sharqiya, Beita, Jaba‘, and Qabatiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently removed a local activist in Sheikh Jarrah who had set up an outdoor “office” in protest over MK Itamar Ben-Gvir’s provocative field office in the neighborhood. 1 Palestinian family received a notice to demolish their own home in Jabel Mukaber. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a raid in Isawiya. (MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/16; PCHR 2/17; UNOCHA 2/28)

17 Israeli settlers were arrested for suspicion of assault and racially motivated vandalism for a raid against Palestinians and property in Huwwara on 1/24. 3 Palestinians were injured and several shops were damaged. (HA 2/16)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with İbrahim Kalın, senior advisor to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Turkish deputy foreign minister Sedat Önal in Ramallah before the 2 Turkish representatives were scheduled to meet Israeli president Isaac Herzog. (ALM, HA 2/17)

Axios reported that the U.S. Biden administration, through ambassador Tom Nides, has urged Israel to deescalate the situation in Sheikh Jarrah to avoid a larger scale conflict. (AX 2/16)

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) spoke at the Knesset, calling the establishment of Israel “the greatest political achievement of the 20th century.” Accompanying Speaker Pelosi to Israel were house representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Bill Keating (D-MA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ). Pelosi also met with President Herzog, addressing the Iran Nuclear Deal. The American representatives also met with members of Palestinian civil society and were given a tour of East Jerusalem by settlement expert Daniel Seidemann. (MDW 2/14; AP, HA, MEE 2/16; HA, TOI 2/17; HA 2/22)