The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike on Jenin on 3/20. Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian vehicles in Hebron. Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians, including 2 in a drone strike and 2 who are shoot, and severely damage infrastructure with bulldozers during a raid in Nur Shams refugee camp. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian man near al-Khader. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man and injure 2 others during a raid in al-Am’ari refugee camp. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian man and injure 2 others during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. Israeli forces also arrest 25 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Dayr al-Balah, killing at least 65 people. Israeli forces also continue the siege of al-Shifa Hospital for the fourth day in a row, blowing up one of its buildings and issuing an evacuation order for the hospital. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attack Tayr Harfa, Meiss Ej Jabal, Marjayoun, Khiam, al-Adissa, Yaroun, and Kafr Kila. Hezbollah forces attack Zarit, Shlomi, Metulla, and Avimim. (WAFA 3/20; AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/21; UNOCHA 3/22)

More than 31,988 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 74,188 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 439 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,665 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 250 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,489 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 122 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The U.S. airdrops 50,000 meals over northern Gaza. (UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 3/21; AJ, UNOCHA 3/22)

Israel says its military has killed more than 50 Palestinians in and around al-Shifa Hospital in the past 24 hours. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor says Israel has killed over 200 Palestinians at the hospital since 3/18, including many that have been executed after being arrested. 13 patients have died at the hospital since 3/18. Al Jazeera publishes footage from February showing an Israeli drone targeting 4 Palestinians walking in the middle of a road in Khan Yunis. (AJ, HA, REU 3/21; REU 3/22)

The Israeli High Court of Justice halts an Israeli plan to transfer more than 20 Palestinian patients, including people receiving cancer treatment, from East Jerusalem to Gaza until a petition is heard by the court. (AJ, HA, HA, NYT, UNOCHA 3/21)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken meets Egyptian, Saudi, Qatari, and Jordanian foreign ministers Sameh Shoukry, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Ayman Safadi and PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh in Cairo. Blinken says the group discussed “post-conflict Gaza” and the need for “a state for Palestinians and security guarantees for Israelis.” Before the meeting, the PA says Blinken’s diplomatic efforts are not yielding any results and that they are just buying Israel time. Blinken also meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. CNN reports that on 3/6 Blinken told Qatar to threaten Hamas officials with expulsion to pressure the group into agreeing to the U.S.-Israeli ceasefire proposal. (REU 3/20; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 3/21; AJ 3/22)

UK foreign secretary David Cameron says in a letter to a British MP that aid is not getting into Gaza because of “arbitrary denials” of aid trucks by Israel and “lengthy clearance procedures.” Cameron also denies that the UN requested that the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing be closed during Sabbath, saying it is Israel that made that decision. (AJ 3/21)

European Council president Charles Michel tweets that EU leaders call for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire” after a summit in Brussels. (AJ, WAFA 3/21)

The Norwegian wealth fund’s ethics council says it is examining which firms are selling weapons to Israel that are used in Gaza and that the wealth fund could divest from those companies if it finds that the weapons are used for “serious and systematic violations” of international law. (AJ, REU 3/21)

U.S. House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says he is planning to invite Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, adding that he has been invited to speak at the Knesset. (NYT 3/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assault 2 Palestinians herding sheep near Burin. Israeli settlers also assault a Palestinian man and set fire to his car during a raid in Burqa. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raid Arab al-Malihat, threatening shepherds with guns. An Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle kills the 3 Palestinian occupants. PA forces subsequently violently disperse Palestinians protesting outside of the Jenin governor’s office demanding that a Palestinian prisoner is released to participate in the funeral procession, 30 are injured. A Palestinian allegedly collaborating with Israel is reportedly killed after the airstrike. Israeli forces also raid Tulkarm, razing infrastructure and damaging buildings. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 30 Palestinians during raids in and around Tulkarm, Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Jericho, and Jalazone refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Nuseirat refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, and al-Bureij, killing at least 104 people, including the head of aid distribution in Gaza Amjad Hathat. Israeli forces also continue the siege of al-Shifa Hospital and arrest Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud al-Aliwa, the second Al Jazeera journalist to be arrested by Israeli forces at the hospital. Israeli military chief of staff Herzl Helevi tours the hospital. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Marjayoun, Houla, and Ghandouriya. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Israeli soldiers in Metula and Avivim. (AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/20; AJ, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA 3/21)

More than 31,923 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 74,096 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 431 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,665 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 250 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,489 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 181 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. Jordan, the U.S., Egypt, Singapore, and Germany airdrop aid over Gaza. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 3/20; UNOCHA 3/21)

Israel says its forces have killed 90 people in and around al-Shifa Hospital since 3/18 and brought 160 out of 300 arrested Palestinians to Israeli detention centers in the Naqab. Hamas denies Israeli claims that Hamas members were in the hospital. The Gaza Media Office says Israeli attacks have killed more than 100 aid workers in the past week. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU 3/20; NYT 3/21)

Autopsy reports reveal that a Palestinian prisoner who died at the Ofer Prison on 2/8 died due to medical neglect while a prisoner who died on 1/1 at the Megiddo Prison died after being beaten. (HA 3/20)

The Israeli High Court of Justice approves the demolition of the family home of a Palestinian man who was killed by Israeli forces after he injured an Israeli soldier in East Jerusalem on 10/12/2023. It is the first time the Israeli court has approved a punitive demolition based on an attack that did not lead to Israeli fatalities. (AJ, HA, HA 3/20)

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) urges FIFA to sanction Israel due to the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The PFA says 6 other national soccer associations endorse the proposal that will be discussed at the next FIFA congress in May. (AJ 3/20)

Palestinian MK Ayman Odeh is expelled from the Knesset after saying “[w]hat the Israeli army is doing [in Gaza] is murder, a massacre, the starvation of children.” (HA 3/20)

U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin urges Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant to consider alternatives to a ground invasion of Rafah during a phone call. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says “gaps are narrowing” in the ceasefire negotiations. Hamas official Osama Hamdan says the Israeli response to the Hamas counterproposal was negative. Blinken also meets with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Jeddah and UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the UAE. Blinken says the U.S. has submitted a new draft resolution at the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU, REU 3/20; AJ, AJ, AX, HA, NYT, NYT, REU 3/21; AJ 3/22)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with U.S. Republican senators via video link, telling them that he will continue attacking Gaza. Netanyahu also speaks with House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer reportedly declined a request by Netanyahu to address the Senate Democrats. (HA, HA, NYT, REU 3/20; AJ, AJ 3/21)

19 Democratic senators, led by Tom Carper (D-DE), call on the Biden administration to “promptly establish a bold, public framework outlining the steps necessary” to establish a Palestinian state. (AJ 3/21)

Saudi Arabia donates $40 million to UNRWA. (AJ, REU, WAFA 3/20; AJ 3/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assault 2 Palestinians during a raid in al-Rakiz in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli settlers also attempt setting fire to property in Burqa but are chased away by Palestinians. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in Silat al-Harithiya. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian child at the Qalandia checkpoint. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Beita and Awarta. 7 Israeli soldiers are injured in an attack outside of the Homesh settlement outpost. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces also close much of the Old City to restrict movement during the annual settler marathon. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, Jabalia refugee camp, and Gaza City, killing at least 78 people. 5 Palestinians are killed and others injured when they are hit by an airdropped aid parcel after the parachute did not open in Shati’ refugee camp. 3 children die of starvation at al-Shifa Hospital, bringing the death toll from starvation to at least 23 people. An Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Lebanon, Hezbollah attacks 5 Israeli sites near Kafrchouba and Jal al-Alam. Israeli forces attack Marwahin and Ayta ash Shab. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/8; HA 3/9; UNOCHA 3/11)

More than 30,878 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 72,402 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 417 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 108 children. More than 4,665 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 246 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,469 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 236 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. Egypt, the U.S., Jordan, and the UAE airdrop aid in northern Gaza. (AJ, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 3/8; HA 3/9; UNOCHA 3/13)

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk says 2023 set a record for the most new Israeli settlement units since the UN began monitoring them in 2017. 24,300 new housing units were advanced between 11/1/2022 and 10/31/2023. Turk calls the settlements a “war crime.” (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 3/8)

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says a sea corridor between Cyprus and Gaza will likely open during the upcoming weekend. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU 3/8)

UNRWA says some of its employees that have been arrested by Israeli forces in Gaza have been forced, under torture, to falsely state that they support Hamas and took part in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Among the reported torture methods employed against the Palestinians are beatings, use of nail guns on knees, sexual abuse of men and women, use of electrified metal sticks in prisoners’ rectums, waterboarding, and threats to harm family members. (AJ, REU 3/8; HA 3/9; AJ 3/11; AJ 3/13)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken discusses ceasefire negotiations with Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry and Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in separate calls. The Department of Defense says it will take its forces up to 60 days to build the floating pier the U.S. will use to ship aid into Gaza. (HA, NYT, REU 3/8; NYT 3/9)

Canada officially resumes funding to UNRWA after the decision to resume was reported on 3/6. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 3/8; NYT, NYT, WAFA 3/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shoot and kill 3 Palestinians and injure 3 others during raids in al-Fara’a refugee camp and Tubas. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian man near al-Muntar. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Beit Furik. Israeli forces also seize a bulldozer during a raid in Bidya. Meanwhile, Israeli forces also arrest 30 Palestinians from Gaza in Barta’a and 5 others in Nablus, Beit Furik, Jalazone, Jericho, and Tubas, including a Palestinian child in Jericho who was released as part of the ceasefire prisoner swap in November 2023. 9 Palestinians prisoners released as part of the deal have been arrested again. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Dayr al-Balah, and Rafah, killing at least 96 people. 2 babies die at the Kamal Adwan Hospital due to dehydration. 2 rockets are fired at Ashkelon, both are intercepted. 2 Israeli soldiers die in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Ayta ash Shab, Sidon, and Tyre. Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at an Israeli airbase in the Mount Meron area, causing damage. In the Red Sea, U.S. forces shoot down 5 drones launched from Yemen. Germany naval forces also intercept a drone launched from Yemen. (HA 2/26; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/27; AJ, HA, UNOCHA 2/28)

More than 29,878 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 12,000 children and 7,200 women, and around 70,215 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 404 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 102 children. More than 4,590 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 240 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,408 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. For the second day in a row, Jordan, Egypt, France, and the UAE airdrop humanitarian aid to Gaza using 6 C-130 planes. Jordanian king Abdullah II personally takes part in the airdrop mission. 135 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (AJ, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 2/27; UNOCHA 2/29)

The Israeli military’s Central Command commander Yehuda Fuchs signs an order to allow the Mitzpeh Yehuda settlement outpost to be turned into a new settlement called Mishmar Yehuda that initially would have 3,600 housing units and later expand to 13,600 housing units. Mitzpeh Yehuda is north of al-Ubeidiya. (HA, PCN, REU, WAFA 2/28)

Hamas official Basem Naim says Hamas has not received the U.S., Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari ceasefire counterproposal. Reuters reports that the proposal’s first stage includes a 40-day ceasefire, a prisoner exchange ratio of 1 Israeli to 10 Palestinians, that both parties end military operations, a halt to Israeli arial reconnaissance operations for 8 hours a day, and a gradual return of Palestinians to northern Gaza except for men of military age. The second stage would see Israeli forces leave densely populated areas, at least 500 trucks carrying aid enter daily, 200,000 tents and 60,000 caravans enter Gaza, and Israel allow the rebuilding of hospitals and bakeries and allow heavy machinery to enter Gaza to remove rubble. (AJ, AJ, REU 2/27)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki meets with WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Switzerland, discussing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Al-Maliki also briefs the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh meet with Japanese foreign minister Tsuji Kiyoto in Ramallah. Japan donates $32 million in emergency aid to Gaza through the World Food Programme, WHO, and UNICEF. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/27)

The Israeli Army Radio reports that the military and the Shin Bet have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to restrict entry for Muslim worshippers to the Haram al-Sharif compound during Ramadan, citing the security situation in the West Bank. (AJ 2/27)

Israeli economy minister Nir Barakat tells reporters at the World Trade Organization conference in Abu Dhabi that “in the wars Israel had we had a dip in the economy but immediately after we had a huge spike in innovation. And the knowledge and the experience Israel is gathering in this round of violence is second to none . . . Especially after this war I think we are probably going to be leading many, many initiatives on what next-generation warfare is going to look like.” (REU 2/27)

At the UN Security Council, UNOCHA head and representative in Geneva Ramesh Rajasingham says 576,000 people in Gaza are “one step away from famine.” (AJ, HA, REU, UNOCHA 2/27; AJ, AP 2/28)

U.S. treasury secretary Janet Yellen says Israel has started transferring the PA’s tax revenue to the PA upon request from the U.S. and that she urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to reverse the ban on Palestinians from the West Bank working in Israel. President Joe Biden meets with House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the White House, urging him to pass the Senate supplemental funding bill providing aid to Israel and Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussing the situation in Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state. USAID administrator Samantha Power says the U.S. will provide an additional $53 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU 2/27; NYT 2/28)

Axios reports that the U.S. has given Israel until mid-March to sign a letter guaranteeing that Israel will use U.S.-provided weapons in accordance with international law and that Israel will allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. (AJ, AX 2/27)

A poll released by Data for Progress shows 67% of U.S. voters support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, including 77% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans. (AJ 2/27)

At the Michigan presidential primaries, an effort to challenge President Biden’s Gaza policy gains support as more than 100,000 voters vote “uncommitted” which organizers had urged people who are angry with Biden’s approach to do in the Democratic primary. Michigan is a swing state which former president Donald Trump won with 11,000 votes in 2016 and Biden won with 150,000 votes in 2020. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT 2/28)