An IDF soldier at a checkpoint opens machine-gun fire on a Palestinian vehicle for no reason, killing a 5-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding his 6- and 7-yr.-old sisters; the IDF says it was “an operational error.” The IDF imposes additional travel restrictions on residents of Gaza’s al-Mawasi area, where all Palestinians are already required to have special magnetic cards to enter or leave; new restrictions bar men ages 16–25 fr. entering or leaving the areas without prior coordination with the IDF, bars all residents fr. carrying objects across checkpoints (foodstuffs will be allowed in 2 days/wk., metal goods 1 day/wk), requires back-to-back hauling of goods (meaning trucks are offloaded at a crossing and goods loaded onto another truck on the opposite side). (MM 7/25; VOI 7/25 in WNC 7/29; NYT, WP 7/26; PR 7/30; PCHR 8/7; MEI 8/8)
Bush meets with Abbas; praises his efforts to halt violence, but says that the onus is on the PA to halt violence. (MM 7/25; NYT, WP, WT 7/26; al-Quds 7/26, 7/27 in WNC 7/29; MM 7/28; AYM 7/28 in WNC 7/31; PR 7/30; WJW 7/31; TJT 8/1 in WNC 8/5; MEI 8/8)