The Palestine Chronology

Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists gather across the West Bank to mark a “Day Of Rage” in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 4/16. IDF troops violently disperse protests outside Ofer Prison nr. Nablus, at the Qalandia checkpoint, and in and around Hebron; tens of Palestinians are injured. Unidentified assailants throw stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles outside Sinjil village nr. Ramallah, causing minor damage. The IDF then detains a number of Palestinians and confiscates 12 vehicles in the village. IDF troops patrol nr. Qalqilya, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; 1 Palestinian is injured. They also arrest 3 Palestinians on late-night raids nr. Tulkarm, and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/28; PCHR 5/4)

Israel’s Construction Minister Yoav Galant says that plans to build 25,000 new homes in Jerusalem, including 15,000 outside the pre1967 armistice lines, are back on the table. The plans were suspended while Obama was U.S. pres., and some Israeli officials say that a formal announcement may coincide with U.S. pres. Trump’s proposed visit to Israel in late 5/2017. (JP, TOI 4/28)

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces that the State Dept. has approved a “possible foreign military sale” of 13 76mm naval guns and a variety of naval maintenance tools to Israel for an estimated price of $440 m. “This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the press release reads. (JP 4/29)

Two Palestinian children are killed when they accidentally trigger a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance in al-Zarnuq village nr. Beersheba. Elsewhere in Israel, Israeli forces demolish the Bedouin village al-‘Araqib for the 112th time since 2010. In the West Bank, the IDF violently disperses Palestinians gathering outside Qalandia r.c. in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike since 4/17 (the Dignity Strike); 4 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops shoot and critically injure a Palestinian outside Huwwara village nr. Nablus after he allegedly attempts to stab 1 of them. They also conduct raids in Rumana nr. Jenin and Nabi Salih nr. Ramallah, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in each; there are no serious injuries. The IDF arrests 2 Palestinians during further raids nr. Nablus and Hebron, and patrols nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli forces demolish several structures in the Jenin-area village of ‘Araba and 6 food stands in Ni‘lin nr. Ramallah. Israeli settlers set 100 Palestinian olive trees on fire outside Bayt Tamir nr. Bethlehem. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/25; PCHR 4/27)

Israel’s Housing Ministry has revived plans for the construction of 10,000 housing units in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank nr. Qalandia, according to a report today in Haaretz. The Israeli press says that the construction was approved years ago, but later frozen because of pressure from former U.S. pres. Barack Obama. The plans are reportedly to be unveiled in 5/2017. (HA, TOI 4/25; WAFA 4/26)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements, and in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and in al-Azza r.c. nr. Bethlehem; at least 9 Palestinians and 1 Israeli activist are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops issue 1 Palestinian an arrest summons during a late-night raid in Beit Sahour, and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. Israeli settlers assault a group of international solidarity activists accompanying Palestinian shepherds nr. Ramallah, causing no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian shepherds working nr. Juhur al-Dik, causing no injuries, and on Palestinian agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 4/21; PCHR 4/27)

The Israeli authorities re-open the Taba border crossing, allowing Israeli citizens to cross into Egypt by land for the first time since 4/10. However, Israel’s counterterrorism bureau warns, “the threat to Israelis in Sinai remains serious, concrete, and imminent.” (HA, JP, TOI 4/21)

Three projectiles fired from inside Syria land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no serious damage or injuries. The IDF “target[s]” the source of the attacks, but a spokesperson does not say how and it is not reported in the media. (JP, MNA 4/21; HA 4/22)

The Israel Prison Service (IPS) suspends the family visitation rights of the Palestinian prisoners who went on hunger strike on 4/17. IPS has also reportedly confiscated the phones, clothes, and sheets of 7 prisoners who joined the strike; and denied lawyer Jawad Boulus’s request to visit his client Marwan Barghouti, the Fatah leader who is credited with organizing the strike and who is being held in solitary confinement. Meanwhile, dozens of Fatah supporters set up a tent in Tuqu‘ nr. Bethlehem to show solidarity with the prisoners. Palestinian citizens of Israel set up a similar tent in Umm al-Fahm, and a Palestinian family in Salfit goes on hunger strike in solidarity with their imprisoned relatives. (JP, MNA, WAFA 4/18)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 2 residential trailers in Jabal Mukabir. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Hebron; and patrol nr. the city throughout the day. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural areas nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no major damage. (MNA, PCHR 4/20)

Marking Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, approx. 1,500 Palestinian prisoners embark on a mass hunger strike organized by Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti under the banner of “freedom and dignity”. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians gather across the West Bank and East Jerusalem to mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day and show solidarity with the hunger strikers. Israeli forces violently disperse protests outside the Ofer Prison nr. Ramallah, in Bethlehem, and in Abu Dis and al-‘Izzariya, arresting 4 Palestinians and injuring at least 11. (EI, HA, MNA, REU, TOI, WAFA 4/17; MNA 4/18)

A Hamas fighter dies in a tunnel collapse along Gaza’s border. No details about his death are made public. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid 2 bookstores in Hebron overnight, confiscating materials and sealing them off in response to alleged incitement. The IDF also shuts down the entrances to Tell village s. of Nablus, following reports of stone throwing in the area; arrests 3 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah, and patrols during the day nr. Hebron and Nablus. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/17; WAFA 4/19; PCHR 4/20)