The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian residential tent with 2 Palestinians in it in al-Baqa’a; both were unharmed. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man at a checkpoint near Deir Nidham, claiming that the man threw a grenade and opened fire at Israeli soldiers when he was shot. Israeli forces also detained and assaulted 2 Palestinian journalists and vandalized their vehicle at the Deir Sharaf checkpoint. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 5 Palestinians, including 1 with live ammunitions and 4 with baton rounds during a raid in Shuqba. Israeli forces also blocked roads in the Nablus area for Palestinians to facilitate a settler march between the Eli and Beit El settlements. Meanwhile, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for residential structures in Bardala. Israeli forces also prevented Palestinian workers in Area B from carrying out work on an agricultural road near Atara and seized drilling equipment. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, al-Shuyukh, and Bayt Rima. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family was forced to demolish 2 storage rooms in Bayt Hanina. 2 Palestinians were arrested in raids in Shu’fat refugee camp and Silwan. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, QDS, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/10; WAFA 7/12; PCHR 7/13; UNOCHA 7/29)

36 Palestinians, including 20 children, fled their homes in the al-Baqa’a community after several settler attacks, including an arson attack on 1 residential tent earlier in the day. (WAFA 7/12; WAFA 7/13; UNOCHA 7/27)

UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese told the UN Human Right Council that more than 800,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned by Israel since 1967, with 5,000 currently being held in prison. She called “the entire occupied Palestinian territory . . . an open-air prison, where Palestinians are constantly confined, surveilled, and disciplined.” (AJ, MEE, REU, WAFA 7/11; MDW 7/16)

Save the Children released a report saying that Palestinian minors were subject to emotional and physical abuse, including of a sexual nature, in Israeli custody. Save the Children also said that Palestinian children are the only ones in the world experiencing systematic prosecution in military courts. (AJ 7/10)

The Knesset voted 64 to 54 to approve the first of 3 readings of a bill that would prevent the judicial branch of government from overturning decisions made by government, ministers, and elected officials on the grounds of “reasonableness.” Large demonstrations against the bill were held in several places in Israel. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, NYT 7/10; AP, ALM, AX, MEE, NYT 7/11; ALM 7/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian minor with metal clubs in Hebron. Israeli settlers also stole 30 bee hives and olive harvesting equipment in Deir Sharaf. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians during a late-night raid in Jenin refugee camp; 3 were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished 2 Palestinian homes under construction in al-Ramadin and 2 commercial structures in Qalandia. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 2 homes and 1 agricultural structure in Umm Lasfa in the Masafer Yatta area. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kobar, Dura, and Beit Furik. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Isawiya and Silwan. (AJ, AP, F24, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/1; MEMO, WAFA 12/2; PCHR 12/8; UNOCHA 12/16)

Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked ordered the deportation of Palestinian human rights lawyer Salah Hamouri to France. Hamouri, who is from East Jerusalem and held Israeli residency status until it was revoked in October 2021, is a French citizen. He has been held on administrative detention since March 2022. Interior Minister Shaked said Hamouri would be deported due to his alleged senior position in the PFLP. Amnesty International said that the deportation, scheduled for 12/4, would constitute a war crime. It was reported on 12/2 that Israel had postponed the deportation of Hamouri. (AI, ALM, AP, GDN, HA, IN, MDW, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 12/1; AJ, BBC 12/2; WAFA 12/3; MEMO 12/4; AP 12/6)

The UN said it had filed a complaint with Hamas authorities after finding a “man-made cavity” underneath an UNRWA school in Gaza. (F24, TOI 12/1)

Israeli prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu made an agreement with the Religious Zionism Party leader Bezalel Smotrich, putting his party in charge of the settlement construction in the West Bank. (AJ, AP, IN, MEMO, REU, TOI 12/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized some 600 almond and olive trees in Deir Sharaf. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Kafr Qalil. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinian families demolished their own apartment building in Silwan, displacing 20 Palestinians. 2 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian bird hunters north of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 12/11; PCHR 12/16)

Municipal elections were held for representatives in 154 village councils in Area C of the West Bank. Some 400,000 Palestinians were eligible to vote in the elections. There were no elections held in Gaza, as Hamas boycotted the elections. A Hamas spokesperson said that Hamas refuses to “participate in partial elections that are tailored to Fatah, and conducted by the PA.” The Central Election Committee said the voter turnout was 65%. The 2d phase of the municipal elections is scheduled to take place on 3/26/2022, when Palestinians in towns and cities will vote. It was later reported that Fatah was perceived as a marginal winner of the election. (WAFA 12/10; AJ, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11; ALM 12/15)

Israeli mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Leon demanded that the Israeli police in Jerusalem stop using skunk water as a protest dispersal method after it was used to disperse pro-settlement activists, marking the 1-year anniversary of the death of a settler minor who died during a car chase with Israeli forces in the West Bank. (HA 12/12)

9 UN special rapporteurs wrote to EU high commissioner for foreign policy Josep Borrell, urging him to set a short and defined time frame for receiving evidence from Israel that the 6 Palestinian rights organizations deemed terrorist by Israel on 10/22 are linked to terrorism. (JP 12/12; MEMO 12/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones and other objects at Palestinian vehicles near al-Mughayyir, causing 1 Palestinian driver to lose control of his car, injuring him and his son. The driver was flown to a hospital and was said to be in critical condition. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Duma, causing damage. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones and opened fire on Palestinians near Burqa; no injuries were reported. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Bayt Rima, Zeita, and Deir Sharaf; Israeli forces injured 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets during the raid in Jalazun refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested the deputy director of Islamic Waqf, Sheikh Najeh Bakirat, at the Haram al-Sharif compound; Bakirat was later released on 11/28 on the condition that he does not visit the Haram al-Sharif compound for 20 days and the West Bank for 30 days. 2 others were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan and Jabal Mukaber. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/24; MEE, PCHR, WAFA 11/25; MEMO 11/29)

The Jerusalem district planning and building committee advanced plans for a new settlement in East Jerusalem at the abandoned Qalandia Airport, called Atarot airport by Israel. The plan entails 9,000 new settler units intended for ultra-Orthodox Jews. It was later reported that the Israeli government told the U.S. that it would not advance plans for the settlement and had explained that the committee’s work is independent of the government. (TOI, WAFA 11/24; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO 11/25; MEMO, WAFA 11/26; MEMO 11/27; ALM 11/29)

Israel said it would allow 500 Christians living in Gaza—about half of Gaza’s Christian population—to enter Jerusalem and the West Bank for Christmas celebrations. Additionally, 200 Christians in Gaza will be allowed to travel to Jordan for journeys abroad. (HA 11/25)

Israel transferred 1 Palestinian prisoner to a prison hospital in Ramle. The man has been on hunger strike for 47 days to protest his administrative detention. (MEMO 11/25)

The Israeli supreme court rejected an appeal from a Palestinian man whose 3 daughters and 1 niece were killed when Israeli tanks fired shells at his apartment in Gaza in 2009. The court held that the Israeli military is not liable for wartime actions, including killings of civilians. (AP, HA, MEMO 11/24)

According to Syrian media, Israeli air strikes killed 2 civilians and injured 1 civilian and 6 soldiers in the Homs region. According to Syrian officials, Israeli fighter jets fired the missiles from Lebanese air space. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, TOI 11/24)

Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz met with his Moroccan counterpart Abdellatif Loudiyi in Morocco, signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for joint intelligence sharing, research, and military training. Morocco announced on 11/22 that its military had bought anti-drone systems from the Israeli company Skylock Dome. The PLO executive committee condemned the MoU, saying it contravenes agreements made at Arab League summits and the Area Peace initiative. The PFLP and Hamas also publicly condemned Morocco for inviting Defense Minister Gantz. (AJ, AP, MEMO 11/23; AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA, MEMO, MEMO, TOI 11/24; MEMO 11/25; ALM, MEMO, WAFA 11/26; MEMO 11/27)

Israeli newspaper Calcalist reported that the Israeli government had limited the number of countries that can buy Israeli-made cyber technology, from 102 to 37. Among the countries said to be excluded are Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The report follows a decision by the U.S. to place bans on 2 Israeli spyware companies earlier this month. (HA 11/25; MEMO 11/26; MEMO 11/27)

Belgium announced that it will label Israeli settlement products by their settlement origin and not as made in Israel. The Israeli government condemned the decision and canceled planned meetings with Belgian officials. (HA, JP, WAFA 11/24; MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 11/25)

Australia announced that it intends to add all Hezbollah entities as terrorist organization. Australia added Hezbollah’s External Security Organization as a terrorist organization in 2003. The declaration of intent follows the UK’s move to designate all of Hamas as a terrorist organization. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, TOI 11/24)