The Palestine Chronology

Israeli forces stage a multi-stage “controlled detonation” of an underground tunnel leading from the Khan Yunis area of Gaza into Israel, killing 12 Hamas and PIJ fighters, and injuring at least 18 more. An IDF spokesperson says that the detonation was a preemptive move because the tunnel did not yet pose a threat to Israel, claims that the Palestinians were only killed because they rushed into the tunnel after the detonation and suffered smoke inhalation, and calls the tunnel a “gross violation of Israeli sovereignty.” A PIJ spokesperson says the group is “weighing its options” in response to the attack (PIJ reportedly built the tunnel). (EI, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/30; MNA 10/31; MNA 11/3; HA 11/5)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during early morning raids in Jenin refugee camp, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents. Amid the clashes, Israeli soldiers shoot and injure a Palestinian garbage truck driver. IDF troops also arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Jenin, and patrol in and around Hebron, Salfit, and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinian farmers harvesting olives south of Hebron, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, undercover Israeli forces open fire on 2 Palestinians at the entrance to Qalandia refugee camp, injuring 1 before arresting both. Three Palestinians are injured in the ensuing clashes. Israeli forces also arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan, Shu‘fat, and Hizma, and violently disperse a sit-in and dismantle a protest tent Palestinians set up in al-Bustan in 2009. (EI, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/30; MNA 10/31; PCHR 11/2)

In the West Bank, IDF troops open fire on 2 Palestinians as they attempt to walk through the vehicle lane at the Qalandia checkpoint; there are no reported injuries. They also arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Hebron, Salfit, Nablus, and Qalqilya, and patrol near Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, approximately 612 Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif, commemorating the Jewish holiday Sukkot. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya. (MNA 10/9; PCHR 10/12)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth at a bus stop outside the Kiryat Arba settlement near Hebron, allegedly after he attempts to stab a settler. They leave the injured youth lying on the ground without receiving treatment before arresting him and taking him to a hospital in Israel. In a video released later, the youth can be heard pleading for water and explaining that he was attempting to commit suicide. Israeli forces demolish 8 homes and 6 retaining walls in Steih Dyouk village near Jericho. They also arrest a Palestinian living outside Yatta near Hebron before demolishing his home. The IDF arrests 7 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Salfit, and patrols near Jenin and Hebron. Israeli settlers uproot 27 olive trees on Palestinian land outside Burin village near Nablus. Meanwhile, PASF troops conduct a raid in Yatta overnight, sparking a brief firefight with the wanted Palestinians and their affiliates; 1 Palestinian is killed and another is seriously injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a building in Silwan and a 2-story apartment building in Ras al-Amud, and arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Qalandia refugee camp. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/13; PCHR 9/14; PCHR 9/21; EI 9/22)

The Egyptian authorities partially open the Rafah border crossing for a 3d day in a row, allowing Muslim worshippers to return from their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. (OCHA 9/29)

The UN’s World Tourism Organization announces that the Palestinian bid for membership has been postponed until the body’s next meeting in 2019. The PA reportedly decided to suspend its bid following heavy U.S. pressure, according to a senior Israeli official. (HA, TOI 9/13)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth after he allegedly attempts to cross into Israel nr. Qalqilya. Israeli forces shut down the main entrance to Kobar, the Ramallah-area hometown of the Palestinian who stabbed 4 Israeli settlers at the Halamish settlement on 7/21. They also raid several homes in the village; arrest 4 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Jenin and Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Salfit and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, approximately 140 Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Israeli forces arrest 29 Palestinians in late-night raids in the Old City, Wadi al-Juz, Qalandia r.c., Issawiyya, and Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA 7/30; MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/31; PCHR 8/3)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the settler killing of a Palestinian nr. Nablus on 5/18, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Qalandia checkpoint, Abud, Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), 2 nr. Nablus (Beita and Bayt Dajan), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron and nearby Bayt Umar, Bethlehem, Dayr Istya nr. Salfit, along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c., and Gaza City; at least 11 Palestinians are injured and 12 are arrested. The IDF also arrests 5 Palestinians during raids nr. Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Ramallah; and patrols nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/25)

An Israeli settler shoots and kills 1 Palestinian and injures another outside Huwwara village nr. Nablus. A video of the incident shows that he drove his car into a group of Palestinians who then surrounded him, brandishing stones, and he opened fire. The shooting occurs amid clashes between IDF troops and Palestinians marching in solidarity with the 1,500-plus hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners observing the Dignity Strike. The IDF decides not to investigate the ramming and shooting as a criminal incident. Later in the day, the IDF shuts down the nearby Huwwara checkpoint while dozens of settlers gather to “show their presence” to Palestinians in the area. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting the Huwwara killing in Qalandia refugee camp (r.c.), al-Bireh, and Qalqilya; 5 Palestinians are injured by live ammunition and 1 is arrested. They also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids nr. Ramallah and Nablus, and patrol during the day nr. Hebron and Salfit. Late at night, Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian tractor and spray price-tag graffiti on walls outside Burin village. (EI, HA, MNA 5/18; MNA 5/19; PCHR 5/25)

Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Silwad village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured and 2 are arrested. Israeli forces demolish 8 coal production buildings and 2 sheds nr. Jenin. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/18)

Palestinians gather across the West Bank to commemorate Land Day. IDF troops violently disperse them in Bethlehem, Madama village nr. Nablus, and several other areas; at least 16 Palestinians are injured and at least 4 are arrested. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raze around 20 dunams (5 acres) of land nr. Salfit to make way for the expansion of a settlement industrial zone. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Salfit; and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Muslim worshippers verbally confront dozens of Jewish settlers touring Haram al-Sharif; there are no arrests or violence. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia r.c. (MNA, WAFA 3/30; PCHR 4/6)

In a meeting with his security cabinet, Israeli PM Netanyahu announces a new policy to manage settlement growth: the Israeli govt. will continue construction in previously developed areas, when permissible, and adjacent areas, when not permissible; allow construction on the closest land possible to developed areas when neither adjacent nor permissible land is available; and bar the creation of any new settlement outposts. The PM insists that the new policy is not based on an understanding with the Trump admin., although it comes a week after an Israeli delegation’s visit to Washington for talks on settlement growth. Netanyahu also says that 900 dunams (approx. 222 acres) nr. the Eli settlement have been declared state land and that final approval has been given to market 2,000 new homes in existing settlements (these 2,000 are among the 5,700 advanced in the 3 weeks following U.S. pres. Trump’s inauguration on 1/20; see JPS 46 [3]). (HA, JP, TOI 3/30; HA, TOI 4/2)

Israel’s security cabinet announces its unanimous approval of a new Israeli settlement n. of Ramallah to house the former residents of the illegal Amona settlement outpost, which was evacuated and demolished in early 2/2017. The approval reflects PM Netanyahu’s promise to build the former residents a new settlement. (NYT 3/30; HA, JP, TOI 3/31)

Armed fighters in Gaza fire a rocket into Israel, which lands in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF then launches retaliatory air strikes and artillery salvos on at least 5 Hamas sites in c. and s. Gaza, injuring 5 Palestinians and causing damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian at Qalandia checkpoint, claiming that she was moving in a “suspicious manner.” They also conduct raids in and around Jenin, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. IDF troops confiscate security footage, arrest 1 Palestinian, and issue 8 arrest summons during raids nr. Jenin, Salfit, Hebron, and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron. Israeli forces confiscate 4 Palestinian vehicles nr. Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stonethrowing youths; 2 Palestinians are injured. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, 2/27; PCHR 3/2)

The Egyptian authorities refuse senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official Jibril Rajoub entry into Egypt for an Arab League meeting on terrorism and extremism. Rajoub does not respond publicly; the Palestinian delegation withdraws from the meeting in protest. Egyptian officials will later say that Rajoub’s name was on a no-entry list, but will not give any further explanation. (HA, REU 2/28; ALM 3/10)

Palestinian citizens across Israel observe a day of mourning and protest in response to the killings and demolitions in Umm al-Hiran on 1/18. Three days of mourning are planned. The Higher Follow-Up Comm. for Arab Citizens of Israel leads a general strike. (MNA, WAFA 1/19)

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, Israeli forces demolish 22 Palestinian facilities used as car repair workshops, fruit stands, and car showrooms in Qalandia r.c. IDF troops conduct latenight raids in Salfit, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; there are no serious injuries. They arrest 4 Palestinians during further raids nr. Ramallah and Hebron, and patrol nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin during the day. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian bus driver while he is driving n. of Jerusalem. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 1/19; MNA 1/20; PCHR 1/26)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Tulkarm after he allegedly attempts to stab 1 of them. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Qalandia r.c. late at night, demolishing several small structures and sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 6 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Hebron and Ramallah, as well as in Nablus; and patrol nr. Salfit and Hebron. Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home and an agricultural structure outside Aqraba in the n. Jordan Valley, and raze 2 animal barns and another agricultural structure nr. Nablus. An Israeli settler driver rams a Palestinian child in Hebron, causing moderate injuries. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian demolishes his own home in Issawiyya to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces demolish a structure in Jabal Mukabir and arrest 7 Palestinians during raids in Shu‘fat r.c. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c. and later nr. Gaza City, injuring 1 fisherman. They also confiscate a number of boats. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands nr. Rafah, causing no serious damage. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 1/17; WAFA 1/18; PCHR 1/19)

Concluding 3 days of talks in Moscow, Hamas and Fatah officials agree to form a new Palestinian unity govt. Under their agreement, the various Palestinian factions, including PIJ, will join the PLO and form a new Palestine National Council over the next 2 mos., which will choose a new PLO Exec. Comm. (HA, JP, TOI 1/17; AJ 1/18)

The Israeli authorities release Shaykh Raed Salah from Ramon Prison, where he had served 9 mos. on charges of incitement. Salah was head of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel before it was outlawed in 11/2014. (HA, YA 1/17)