The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers fenced off a Palestinian pasture near Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters at the Qalandia checkpoint, injuring 1 with a baton round, 2 with a tear-gas canister, and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a baton round during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces fired tear gas near a school in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries to students. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure and uprooted 15 olive trees near Dura and seized agricultural machinery in Khirbet Umm al-Jamal near Tubas. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Beitin, Nablus, Bayt Ibia, Jaba‘, and Dahariya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers and police seized and fenced off 5 dunams (1.2 acres) of land in Silwan, owned by the Greek Orthodox church and leased to Palestinians. 3 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/27; MEMO, WAFA 12/28; PCHR 12/29; WAFA 12/30; WAFA 12/31; UNOCHA 1/16)

Israel said it had arrested 1 Palestinian man on 11/29 who the Shin Bet suspect carried out the 2 bombing attacks in Jerusalem on 11/23, which killed 1 man. The Palestinian man is said to be a supporter of Islamic State and to have acted alone. (AJ 12/27)

The Hamas-affiliated media outlet Shehab News Agency leaked a 3-minute audio clip of PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh criticizing PA president Mahmoud Abbas and other leaders in the PA. In the clip Secretary-General al-Sheikh says that President Abbas “is a partner in the chaos and has an interest for it to remain.” Al-Sheikh told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the recording was fabricated. (AP 12/27; MEMO 12/28; MEMO 12/29)

The Knesset approved amendments to the Basic Law on the Government to allow 2 ministers at the defense ministry. The amendment, which was part of the Religious Zionism Party’s coalition deal with the Likud Party, allows 2 ministers to serve in 1 government office and paves the way for Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich to appoint a minister at the defense ministry in charge of the administration of the West Bank. The IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi expressed his concern about the changes to the defense ministry to prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu. Another amendment to the Basic Law allows Shas leader Arye Dery to serve as a minister in the government, despite being convicted of tax offenses. (HA, HA 12/26; AJ, HA, MDW, MEE, REU 12/27; MEMO 12/28; HA, HA 12/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers razed Palestinian-owned land in Khirbet Muafya and brought their sheep to graze on the land. Israeli settlers also razed Palestinian-owned land in as-Samu. Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 1 water line, 2 agricultural structures, an agricultural road in Khirbet ar-Ras al-Ahmar, and an agricultural road in Atuf. 5 Palestinians were arrested in al-Mukassar. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Arroub refugee camp, Burqin, Ya’bad, and Birzeit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned house in Silwan. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel demolished his family home in Tayibe to avoid paying exorbitant demolition fees. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11; PCHR 12/15; UNOCHA 12/22)

A UN Security Council report said that Israeli forces had crossed the Golan Heights ceasefire line with Syria on 7 occasions since August 2022. The report also stated that Israel has deployed Iron Dome batteries in the area, contravening the ceasefire agreement. (HA 12/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive tree saplings in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp, 6 others were wounded. Israeli forces also arrested, Yahya al-Saadi, the son of senior Islamic Jihad commander Bassam al-Saadi during a raid in Jenin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 mosque in Dura, 3 agricultural structures in Tarqumiyah, and issued a stop-work notice for 3 stores in Bayt Rima. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Khader and Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israel said that 2 Israeli soldiers were injured by an explosive device thrown at them near Aida refugee camp, causing light injuries. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni’lin, al-Bireh, Dheisheh refugee camp, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Shu’fat refugee camp. In the Naqab, Israeli forces demolished the Palestinian village al-Araqib for the 210th time since 2010. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/5; MEMO 12/6; PCHR 12/8; UNOCHA 12/16)

An Israeli court upheld a demolition order for an apartment building in Wadi Qaddum in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, giving the resident until 12/7 to demolish the building. Approximately 100 Palestinians reside in the building. (WAFA 12/5)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh welcomed the EU and UN’s criticism of the 12/2 killing of a Palestinian in Huwwara but urged the organizations to take tangible action to hold Israel accountable. (WAFA 12/5)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, providing materials about Israeli war crimes against Palestinians. Chief Prosecutor Khan said that he aims to visit Palestine, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023. (WAFA 12/5; MEMO, WAFA 12/6; TOI 12/7)

The U.S. weapons manufacture Lockheed Martin joined Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in developing a laser-based anti-missile system, dubbed the Iron Beam. (HA 12/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian minor with metal clubs in Hebron. Israeli settlers also stole 30 bee hives and olive harvesting equipment in Deir Sharaf. Israeli forces shot and killed 2 Palestinians during a late-night raid in Jenin refugee camp; 3 were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished 2 Palestinian homes under construction in al-Ramadin and 2 commercial structures in Qalandia. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 2 homes and 1 agricultural structure in Umm Lasfa in the Masafer Yatta area. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kobar, Dura, and Beit Furik. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Isawiya and Silwan. (AJ, AP, F24, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/1; MEMO, WAFA 12/2; PCHR 12/8; UNOCHA 12/16)

Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked ordered the deportation of Palestinian human rights lawyer Salah Hamouri to France. Hamouri, who is from East Jerusalem and held Israeli residency status until it was revoked in October 2021, is a French citizen. He has been held on administrative detention since March 2022. Interior Minister Shaked said Hamouri would be deported due to his alleged senior position in the PFLP. Amnesty International said that the deportation, scheduled for 12/4, would constitute a war crime. It was reported on 12/2 that Israel had postponed the deportation of Hamouri. (AI, ALM, AP, GDN, HA, IN, MDW, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 12/1; AJ, BBC 12/2; WAFA 12/3; MEMO 12/4; AP 12/6)

The UN said it had filed a complaint with Hamas authorities after finding a “man-made cavity” underneath an UNRWA school in Gaza. (F24, TOI 12/1)

Israeli prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu made an agreement with the Religious Zionism Party leader Bezalel Smotrich, putting his party in charge of the settlement construction in the West Bank. (AJ, AP, IN, MEMO, REU, TOI 12/1)