The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops enter the Erez industrial zone on the n. Gaza border, firing on Palestinians scavenging construction material fr. destroyed buildings, causing no injuries; troops pull back into Israel in the afternoon. The UN reports that 1 Palestinian has been injured in a tunnel collapse on the Rafah border since 4/21. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Hebron as an observation post; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 3 villages southeast of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. The UN reports that in the previous wk., Israeli Jerusalem municipal authorities demolished 1 Palestinian home in the Bayt Hanina neighborhood for construction of the “eastern ring road” (a settler-only bypass road connecting n. West Bank settlements to West Jerusalem). (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make 2 brief incursions into the s. Gaza no-go area nr. al-Qarara and Abasan, leveling lands to clear lines of sight, firing on residential areas during the operations to keep Palestinians indoors (no injuries reported). IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials in the destroyed Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no injuries. Israeli intelligence officers arrest an ailing Palestinian given permission to enter Israel through the Erez crossing for medical treatment; his family believes the permission to travel was granted as a ploy to capture him. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Jenin as a military barrack; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. With Israeli police approval and under police protection, Jewish settlers stage a march through Silwan in East Jerusalem to protest “illegal” Palestinian construction (i.e., without permits); police fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the settlers; at least 29 Palestinians, 2 Israeli policemen are injured. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire on Palestinian, international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, wounding 2 Palestinians, 1 international (from Malta) with live ammunition. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 5 villages south of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night house searches nr. Bethlehem, ordering 1 Palestinian to surrender for interrogation. Palestinians in Hebron stage a nonviolent march and sit-in outside Beit Romano settlement to protest settlement activity in the city; Jewish settlers move in to break up the demonstration but the IDF blocks them and disperses the Palestinians, arresting 3. (OCHA, PCHR, Times of Malta 4/29)

IDF troops make a brief incursion into the s. Gaza border area e. of Abasan and Khuza to level lands and clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts early morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem; makes a late-night incursion into Bayt Umar, raiding the homes of Palestinians involved in organizing local separation wall protests, firing stun grenades and tear gas in homes, breaking widows, arresting 5 Palestinians (4 are released on 4/25); conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. the Gush Etzion settlement blocks n. of Hebron pump settlement wastewater into nearby Palestinian land in Bayt Umar, flooding 70 d. of grape vines and washing away 300 m of stone fences; the PA Agriculture Min. believes the land will need to be treated for 2 yrs. before it can be used to grow crops for human consumption. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials fr. former settlement sites nr. the border, wounding 1; fire warning shots at Palestinians staging a nonviolent march to the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no reported injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. Late in the evening, IDF tanks on the c. Gaza border e. of Wadi alSilqa fire at least 15 shells at open areas nr. the border; no injuries are reported. The UN reports that 1 Palestinian was killed and 3 were injured in 2 separate tunnel incidents since 4/14 (1 collapse, 1 explosion of fuel canisters being smuggled). (OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

IDF troops make an incursion into the no-go zone e. of Gaza City and are immediately fired upon by armed Palestinians, sparking an exchange in which 1 armed Palestinian is killed. In the West Bank, the IDF raids, searches a Palestinian home in al-Walajah village nr. Bethlehem at midday, arresting 3 Palestinians; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both locations); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, protesting the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim nr. Nablus set fire to 2 Palestinian cars in nearby Jinsafut village. (OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

Israel allows 3 truckloads of aluminum, 3 of wood into Gaza for the 1st time since 6/07 and 10/08, respectively. Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF seizes 7 d. of Palestinian land nr. Ramat Yishai settlement in Hebron claiming security reasons; makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding and searching the home of a local organizer of weekly protests against the separation wall, threatening to arrest him if he continues to organize demonstrations. Hamas authorities in Gaza execute 2 Palestinians convicted in a Hamas military court of collaborating with Israel in the assassination of several resistance fighters, marking the 1st executions since Hamas took control of Gaza in 6/07. (JP 4/15; NYT, WT 4/16; OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

The IDF makes a brief incursion 250 m into Gaza e. of Jabaliya to level land along the border to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas and nr. Bethlehem, Ramallah. Jewish settlers vandalize a Palestinian mosque, burn 3 Palestinian cars in Hawara village. (PCHR, WP 4/15; OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

IDF tanks and helicopters on the c. Gaza border fire into the Strip at a group of armed Palestinians laying explosive devices along the border, killing 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and wounding 3; troops then send bulldozers 400 m into the area to level land and clear lines of sight. Late in the evening, Hamas-affiliated police move into the Rafah border area and order Palestinians to shut smuggling tunnel operations until further notice, allowing operators to retrieve food and other perishable goods from the tunnels before cordoning off the area. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. Salfit; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Tulkarm. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur nr. Hebron assault a Palestinian family working the land nearby, firing in the air to scare them off the land. (WP, WT 4/14; OCHA, PCHR, WP 4/15)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinians conducting a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no casualties. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire stun grenades across the border into Umm Nasir village, causing no damage or injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops surround an elementary school in Azun village nr. Qalqilya and request permission of the headmaster to search classrooms for children wanted for throwing stones at their vehicles: the headmaster refuses, and the soldiers do not press the issue. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah; escorts bus-loads of Jewish settlers to Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus to pray, fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries. (JP 4/12; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

In Gaza, Islamic Jihad says that Hamas-affiliated police have recently detained several of its fighters as well as mbrs. of other factions and made them sign pledges that they would not stage cross-border attacks on Israel. In the West Bank, an IDF military order goes into effect under which anyone living in the West Bank without a proper Israeli permit (not clarified) could face expulsion within as little as 3 days or face 7 yrs. in prison. The IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jericho, Ramallah. (AP, HA 4/11; NYT, WP 4/12; WT 4/14; OCHA, PCHR 4/15; OCHA 4/19)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into Gaza along the border e. of al-Qarara, leveling land to clear lines of sight; during the operation, the IDF moves tanks into the area, firing several shells, damaging 2 Palestinian homes but causing no injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 3 mortars and 2 rocket-propelled grenades at an IDF unit patrolling the c. Gaza border inside Israel, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding the home of 2 local organizers of weekly demonstrations against the separation wall, interrogating them, accusing them of incitement, and warning them against holding more protests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Jenin. Some 5,000 Jewish settlers guarded by IDF troops enter Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit, enter Islamic sites, vandalize homes; the IDF seals and restricts Palestinian movement inside the village while the settlers are present. (HA 4/8; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion 500 m inside the Gaza border e. of Jabaliya and Gaza City to level land to clear lines of sight. Unidentified Palestinians fire 6 mortars toward Israel, but all land inside Gaza, 1 hitting a home, injuring 6 Palestinians (1 seriously). In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah. (BBC, HA, YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians staging a nonviolent march to the border to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no casualties. A Palestinian is killed in a smuggling tunnel collapse on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. an unauthorized outpost in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem assault local Palestinians and international activists; the IDF removes the settlers fr. the area. (PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

Islamic Jihad pledges to halt its rocket fire fr. Gaza into Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an afternoon raid into Bayt Fajjar nr. Bethlehem, arresting 3 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c. and al-Azza r.c., both nr. Bethlehem (HA, YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

Israel allows the 1st commercial import of clothing and shoes (10 truckloads) into Gaza since 6/07 (previously Israel has allowed some of these items in as humanitarian aid shipments). Late in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces raid a Palestinian butcher shop without giving cause, damaging equipment, beating and arresting 6 family members and a 14-yr.-old family friend (all released by 4/6), spraying tear gas inside, and sealing the store. The IDF also patrols in al-Bireh in the evening, making no arrests. (YA 4/4; WT 4/5; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine fires a mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian students protesting the fatal hit-andrun of a Palestinian by a settler on 4/1 (no injuries, 1 arrested); also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinians fr. Iraq Burin staging a nonviolent protest against settlement expansion (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Hawara (see 4/2) and nr. Hebron. (Gulf Times, YA 4/4; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

In response to recent escalating rocket and mortar fire, IDF warplanes and helicopters carry out 7 early morning air strikes on 2 caravans nr. Khan Yunis (no injuries), a cheese factory in Gaza City (injuring 3 Palestinian children nearby), and a metal foundry in Nussayrat r.c. (no injuries) that Israel claims were weapons factories and arms depots, warning of broader retaliation if rocket attacks continue. The U.S. urges both sides to display restraint. Hrs. later, Hamas issues a statement saying it is working with Gaza factions to reimpose the cease-fire with Israel before it escalates out of control, but also condemns the Israeli air strikes for aggravating the situation and calls on the international community to press Israel to keep retaliation in check. (Salafist groups opposed to Hamas refuse to participate in the ceasefire.) In the West Bank, Palestinians stone a settler vehicle outside Hawara village nr. Nablus, causing it to crash (no word on injuries); the IDF sends troops into Hawara in pursuit of the stone throwers, arresting 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent weekly demonstrations against the separation wall and settlement expansion in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli is arrested), Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (3 Palestinians injured), al-Ma‘sara (where only Palestinians demonstrated; 4 injured), and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. (AFP, JAZ, NYT, YA 4/2; NYT, WP 4/3; YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, causing no reported damage or injuries. IDF snipers fire into Gaza near the beach w. of Bayt Lahiya, causing some residents of the al-Sudaniyya neighborhood to evacuate for safety. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing damage but no injuries. A Jewish settler kills a Palestinian teenager in a deliberate hit-and-run nr. Ramallah. (AFP, CSM, JAZ, NYT, YA 4/2; WP 4/3; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials from the industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no casualties. IDF troops make a brief incursion 300 m into Gaza e. of al-Qarara to level land to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late night arrest raids, house searches in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah, Bethlehem, Dayr Nizam. Palestinians report that in the previous wk. the IDF confiscated 2.5 d. of land in Awarta village nr. Nablus for construction of a new military outpost. (PCHR 4/1; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

The UN reports that the IDF has tightened its open-fire rules in the West Bank, no longer allowing soldiers to fire in the air or at stone-throwing Palestinians; allowing fire only when Molotov cocktails are thrown at civilian cars or when soldiers have requested and received permission from commanders. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi r.c. fire on Palestinians staging a peaceful march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, wounding 1 Palestinian; 3 Palestinians are wounded in a similar incident at the border fence e. of Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists conducting a nonviolent march to the separation wall outside Budrus village nr. Ramallah, injuring 3 Palestinians; conducts an evening arrest raid into Dayr Istya village nr. Salfit; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Azza r.c. and Dahaysha r.c., both nr. Bethlehem. (WP 3/31; OCHA, PCHR 4/1; WJW 4/8; JPI 4/16)

Israel imposes a general closure on the West Bank through 4/6 for Passover. The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of al-Qarara to level land along the border fence to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night house searches in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c., summoning 2 Palestinians for interrogation. Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF does not immediately respond. (YA 3/29; OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

Overnight, the IDF bulldozes 31 d. of agricultural and 1 Palestinian home e. of Khan Yunis in the area where clashes occurred on 3/26; by midday, the IDF withdraws tanks and armored bulldozers sent into s. Gaza on 3/26. In the morning, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets toward Israel; 1 lands inside Gaza and the other in an open area inside Israel, neither causing injuries; Israel does not immediately respond. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nablus. (JP, YA 3/27; OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on armed Palestinians laying a roadside bomb nr. the border fence e. of Khan Yunis. When Palestinians return fire, the troops enter the Strip in pursuit, triggering at least 1 buried device and drawing Palestinian mortar fire, which prompts the IDF to move several tanks and armed bulldozers into Gaza, shelling areas outside Khan Yunis. The exchange leaves 2 armed Palestinians, 1 Palestinian bystander, and 2 IDF soldiers dead and 3 IDF soldiers and 6 Palestinians (including at least 2 civilians, one a 13-yr.-old boy) wounded, marking the 1st deadly exchange of fire in Gaza since OCL ended on 1/18/09. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Islamic Jihad, and a group calling itself Palestinian Taliban (believed to be a radical Salafist splinter group opposed to Hamas) claim their fighters were involved in the initial border incident; the Izzedin al-Qassam Brigades claims responsibility for ambushing and firing mortars at IDF troops once they entered Gaza, causing the IDF casualties. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly demonstrations against the separation wall and settlement expansion in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli is arrested), Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (2 Palestinians injured), and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). (JP 3/27; WP 3/28; OCHA, PCHR 4/1; PCHR 4/8)

Netanyahu returns to Israel without an agreed draft blueprint. Though he is welcomed home by a small group of supporters with signs saying “Obama, No You Can’t” and “Netanyahu Stand Strong,” he reportedly feels “humiliated” by Obama and is “truly stunned by the Obama administration’s unprecedented willingness to criticize Israel over building in the annexed part of Jerusalem.” (NYT, WP 3/26)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on Palestinians scavenging for construction materials nr. the Sufa crossing site 150 m fr. the border, wounding 1; a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy is wounded in a similar incident on the n. Gaza border. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, seriously wounding 1 fisherman. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. (OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

Netanyahu clears his schedule to hold additional talks with U.S. admin. officials aimed at drafting a “blueprint” covering issues (including construction in Jerusalem) that need to be resolved before proximity talks can go forward. Netanyahu would take the plan to his government, while Mitchell would take it to the Palestinians and Arab leaders. A final draft of the blueprint is not agreed to, however. (NYT, WP 3/25)

Obama sits in on a National Security Agency brainstorming session weighing the pros and cons of the U.S. offering its own peace proposal to break the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. (NYT, WP 4/8)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border make a brief incursion 800 m across the border to disperse Palestinians scavenging for construction materials from destroyed buildings, arresting 5. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (PCHR 3/25; OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

In the morning, Netanyahu tours Capitol Hill, where he is greeted warmly. He then meets for 2 hrs. at the White House with Pres. Obama, who reportedly makes tough demands of Israel to put the peace process back on track. After a 90-min. sidebar with his advisors, Netanyahu makes a counterproposal that is rejected by Obama. (NYT, WP, WT 3/24; NYT, WP 3/25; JPI, NYT 3/26)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In retaliation, the IDF carries out an air strike on a suspected weapons depot nr. Jabaliya r.c., damaging a nearby home but causing no injuries. The IDF makes a brief incursion into the Erez industrial zone to level land and clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. several settlements beat Palestinian farmers working their land in Sinjil village n. of Ramallah; the IDF intervenes, declaring the area a closed military zone and forcing settlers and Palestinians to leave. (JP, YA 3/23; JP 3/24; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Clinton, Netanyahu both address the AIPAC conference in Washington and then hold an 80-min. meeting on the sidelines to discuss recent tensions. In the evening, Netanyahu holds a working dinner with Biden on bilateral relations. (JTA 3/22; JTA, NYT, WP, WT 3/23; WJW 3/25; JPI 4/2)

In Gaza, 1 IDF soldier is killed by friendly fire when IDF infantry and tank units on the Gaza border are mobilized to halt 3 unarmed Palestinians nr. the border fence, and the tank crew accidentally fires on the infantry unit on the Israeli side of the border; the Palestinians are not injured. After unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries, the IDF makes an air strike on an alleged weapons depot in Gaza City, destroying it and lightly injuring 8 Palestinian civilians (including 1 woman and 2 children). Later in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire another rocket toward Israel, but it lands harmlessly nr. the Erez crossing. Late in the evening, IDF troops on the central Gaza border e. of Dayr al-Balah shoot, wound an unarmed Palestinian outside his home 500 m fr. the border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas. (HA, JP, NYT, YA 3/23; OCHA, PCHR, WJW 3/25)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with an air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinian farmers in a field nr. Nablus who allegedly tried to attack soldiers with an ax and pitchforks; there are no independent witnesses to the incident. The IDF also announces plans to seize 49 d. of Palestinian land in Beitunia for construction of a new checkpoint on Route 443 as a step to reopening the road to Palestinian traffic in accordance with an Israeli High Court ruling; conducts late-night house searches in al-Bireh but makes no arrests. A Palestinian dies of head injuries sustained in clashes with the IDF in Iraq Burin on 3/20. (NYT, WP, WT 3/20; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 4 Qassam rockets toward Israel during the day; 3 land in open areas inside Israel (causing no injuries) and the 4th lands harmlessly inside Gaza. IDF troops enter the Erez industrial zone to chase away Palestinians scavenging for building materials amid the debris of destroyed buildings, detaining 17 (including 4 children) and confiscating 4 carts of goods (15 of the Palestinians are released on 3/21; the other 2 are arrested). In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Brakha attempt to enter the nearby village of Iraq Burin nr. Nablus, sparking a clash with Palestinian villagers who attempt to fend them off; the IDF intervenes, firing rubbercoated steel bullets and tear gas, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian, and seriously wounding a 2d Palestinian. (YA 3/20; HA, NYT, WP 3/21; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)