The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at 1 Palestinian house in Ras Kaskar and at vehicles near Nabi Salih, Ramallah, ‘Ayn al-Hilweh, and Huwwara, causing damage. Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting olives near Haris. Israeli forces also demolished 4 residential structures and razed a plot of land in Susiya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces closed 2 checkpoints in Huwwara. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 Palestinians, including 1 minor, during a raid in Sarda. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers opened fire at Palestinians in Silwan; no injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/9; MEMO 10/10; PCHR 10/13; UNOCHA 10/16)

All crossings to Gaza and the West Bank were closed from 4 P.M. until 10/10 at 12.59 P.M. due to the Sukkot holiday. (HA 10/7)

20 Palestinian prisoners joined the mass hunger strike that began on 9/25, raising the number of protestors to 50. (WAFA 10/9; MEMO 10/10)

The Israeli supreme court overturned the central election committee’s decision to ban the Balad party from running in the upcoming Israeli elections. (HA, WAFA 10/9; MEMO 10/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 water well supplying Palestinians in al-Zawiya. Israeli settlers also set up a mobile home, 6 tents, and 2 water tanks near ‘Arab al-Rashayida. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian riding a motorcycle and injured 3 others during a late-night raid in Nablus. Israeli forces also shut the main entrance to Beit Umar for the 2d day in a row. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian with a baton round and 15 with tear gas during a raid in Silwan. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home near the Lion’s Gate in the Old City, displacing 8. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian famers east of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (AJ, HA, JP, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/25; MEMO 9/26; MDW 9/28; PCHR 9/29; UNOCHA 9/30)

Israel closed all crossings to the West Bank and Gaza from midday until 9/27 at midnight, citing celebrations for the Jewish new year. Al-Ibrahimi Mosque was also closed by Israeli authorities until 10 A.M. on 9/26. (WAFA, WAFA 9/25; MEMO 9/26; PCHR 9/29)

30 Palestinians held by Israel on administrative detention started an open-ended hunger strike, demanding their freedom. Among the prisoners starting the hunger strike was French Palestinian human rights lawyer Salah Hamouri. (WAFA 9/24; AJ, WAFA 9/25; MEMO 9/26; MEE, MEMO 9/29; WAFA 10/2)

In an interview with Haaretz, Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid blamed the PA for not creating a situation that allows for a 2-state solution, saying, “I accept that there is external difficulty, and the external difficulty we create. But when Israel was established, we already had a public health system, trains and a positive collective effort. You see very little such effort in the PA.” (HA 9/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians using live ammunition during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, Bayt Rima, Beit Ula, Fawwar refugee camp, Idhna, Jenin, Jericho, and Fari‘ah refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Silwan and Shu‘fat refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/23; PCHR 6/30; UNOCHA 7/2)

The Israeli justice ministry began the process of registering land adjacent to the Haram al-Sharif compound, including at the Ophel Archeological Park in the Old City. (HA 6/26; MEE 6/27; MEMO 6/29)

Israeli military authorities extended the administrative detention period of 1 Palestinian prisoner by 4 months despite promising to release him at the end of his current detention period after he had been hunger striking for 111 days. The man is currently hospitalized for complications related to his hunger strike, which he ended on 6/21. The man resumed his hunger strike on 7/2 (WAFA 6/23; WAFA 7/5)

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh met with Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. There were also reports that Haniyeh was scheduled to meet with Lebanese president Michel Aoun and prime minister Najib Mikati. (HA 6/23)

The PLO executive committee met in Ramallah. During the meeting, the committee discussed the U.S. Biden administration’s failure to fulfil its promises to the Palestinian people and plans to initiate national dialogue to end the intra-Palestinian political division. (WAFA 6/24)

Peace Now released a report marking the first year of the Bennett-Lapid government, detailing how the current Israeli government has accelerated the displacement of Palestinians compared to average numbers during the Netanyahu governments. Compared with the yearly average of the Netanyahu governments, the Bennett-Lapid government has promoted 26% more settlement units, issued tenders for 15% more settlement construction, demolished 35% more Palestinian homes in the West Bank, and 59% more Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. Additionally, settler violence has risen with 45% and 45 more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces compared with the yearly average of the Netanyahu governments. (PCN 6/23)

Israel’s foreign minister Yair Lapid met with his Türkiye counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Ankara, in a bid to further normalized relations between the 2 countries. (AJ, ALM, HA, MEE, REU 6/23)

24 Democratic senators, led by Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), wrote a letter to the Biden administration, calling on it to “ensure that a comprehensive, impartial, and open investigation” into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is conducted. The senators also addressed secretary of state Antony Blinken, attorney general Merrick Garland, and FBI director Christopher Wray. (HA, MEE, REU 6/23; AJ, MDW, WAFA 6/24)

President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi told the National Assembly that Suriname would not build an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, citing budget constraints. Suriname announced plans to open an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem during a visit by its foreign minister Albert Ramdin on 5/30. (AJ, HA 6/24)

UNRWA announced that it had received pledges of $160 million for its general programming, but warned that it still expects a shortfall of $100 million in its core budget for 2022. (WAFA 6/24)

In the West Bank, PA forces arrested 9 Palestinian protesters during a general strike in Hebron over rising food prices. Food prices have been rising throughout the world due to Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian wheat and global supply chain issues. In Palestine, prices on flour, sugar, and cooking oil have risen up to 30% in the last quarter. 1 Israeli settler opened fire at Palestinians, claiming they had thrown stones at him; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces delivered a demolition notice for part of a Palestinian home in al-Rakiz in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also raided Nabi Salih, firing tear gas at Palestinians protesting the incursion; no injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed a Palestinian protest in Tubas, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also delivered notices to Palestinians in Tarqumiyah informing them that 600 dunams (148 acres) of agricultural land will be seized by Israel to expand the settlements of Telem and Adora. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Silwan, firing tear gas at Palestinians and causing injuries. In Jerusalem, Israeli right-wing activists raided the Greek Garden and the Church of Holy Trinity on Mount Zion, damaging property of the Greek Orthodox church. The Greek foreign ministry called on Israel to take “appropriate action” against the perpetrators. (AN, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/6; WAFA 6/7; HA, MDW, PCHR 6/9; UNOCHA 6/17)

The Israeli Knesset failed to pass the 1st vote on extending the Emergency Regulations – Judea and Samaria, Jurisdiction and Legal Aid, extending Israeli law to Israeli settlers living in the West Bank. 58 voted against and 52 voted for, as the Israeli right-wing opposition voted against the measure to trigger the dissolution of the coalition government. The emergency regulation expires at the end of June. 2 party members in the Israeli coalition, Mazen Ghanaim from the United Arab List and Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi from Meretz, voted against the bill, as did the members of the Joint Arab List. (AJ, AJ, AP, GDN, NYT, POL, TOI 6/6; ALM, HA, HA, JP, MDW, TOI 6/7; AP 6/8; AP, TOI 6/10)

The Palestinian Prisoner Society reported that 1 Palestinian prisoner who has been hunger-striking for 96 days in protest over his administrative detention was in critical condition. (WAFA 6/6)

Amnesty International (AI) called on Israel to “immediately release” Salah Hammouri, a Palestinian-French human rights lawyer who works for Addameer and who has been held in administrative detention since 3/7. AI also demanded that Israel ensure that Hammouri’s East Jerusalem residency status will not be revoked. (AI 6/6)

A survey conducted by the Israeli Democracy Institute found that 60% of Israeli Jews favored segregation from the country’s Palestinian community, up from 45% in last year’s survey. In comparison, about 20% of Palestinian citizens of Israel favored segregation. (HA 6/6)

In Syria, Syrian media reported that the Syrian military had intercepted Israeli missiles targeting Damascus. (HA, REU 6/6; JP, TOI 6/7)

U.S. senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) sent a letter to U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken, urging the Biden administration to ensure a “full and transparent investigation” into the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/11 in Jenin refugee camp. The 2 senators gave the Biden administration 30 days to report on progress related to the investigation. (AJ, HA, MDW, MEE, TOI, WP 6/7)

Haaretz reported on recently released documents at the Israeli State Archive, which details conversations between Israeli and U.S. officials during the 1st Israeli Invasion of Lebanon. In the trove of released documents are conversations between then Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and U.S. president Ronald Reagan, where President Reagan suggests that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon become Lebanese citizens. Prime Minister Begin responds by suggesting that Palestinians in Lebanon be deported to Libya, Iraq, Syria, or Saudi Arabia. (HA 6/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 50 olive saplings in Kafr ad-Dik. A contractor working for the Israeli military intentionally rammed a 75-year-old Palestinian man, who was said to be in critical condition; the man was standing in front of a tow truck to prevent it from seizing cars from his village Umm al-Khair, when the truck driver plowed into him. Israeli soldiers at the scene did not assist the man after he was hit and instead left the area with the cars. Israel said that stones had been thrown at the truck leading up to the incident and that the driver had been hit by 1 of the stones. The man succumbed to his injuries on 1/17. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Burqa, Beita, and Abu Dis. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Silwan, displacing 6. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah and al-Fukhari; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of the shore; no injuries were reported. In Israel, a right-wing Israeli protester assaulted 1 Palestinian journalist interviewing him outside of the hospital where a Palestinian prisoner is being treated in relation to his hunger strike. (MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/5; HA, MEMO, PCHR 1/6; HA 1/14; HA, MEMO, WAFA 1/17)

A local committee in Israel approved more than 3,500 new settlement units in East Jerusalem. The plans will be discussed further at a municipal committee meeting on 1/17. (AP 1/5; MEMO, MEMO 1/6; MEMO, WAFA 1/7)

The Israeli government postponed discussions of a new settlement in the E-1 area north of Abu Dis and between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim indefinitely. (HA 1/5)

The Knesset passed legislation to connect homes constructed without permits to the electric grid in the Naqab desert. The legislation was put forward by Mansour Abbas of the United Arab List. It passed 61-0 as the Israeli opposition boycotted the vote due to the legislation being fast-tracked. During discussions of the legislation, Walid Taha of the United Arab List gave a speech in Arabic, angering members of the Likud party and leading Abbas to ask Taha to continue in Hebrew. (HA 1/4; HA 1/5; ALM 1/7)

1 Palestinian American man was sentenced by an Israeli military court to 2 life sentences and $820,000 in fines, in addition to having his home demolished, for the killing of 1 Israeli settler and injuring 2 other settlers near Za’tara on 5/2/2021. (HA, MEE 1/5)

1 Jewish Israeli man was sentenced to 1 year in prison for partaking in a mob attack in Bat Yam that in May 2021 caused serious injury to 1 Palestinian man. The Palestinian man was pulled out of his car and beaten by at least a dozen Israelis. The Jewish Israeli man was not charged with incitement to terror and theft with racist motives after entering a plea deal. (AP, HA 1/5)

In Syria, Israeli tanks opened fire at Syria from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel said it had fired warning shots at 6 suspicious people in Syria. (MEMO, REU, REU 1/5)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz met with Jordanian king Abdullah II in Amman, discussing security issues. (AP, ALM, HA, REU 1/5; ALM 1/6)

Haaretz reported that, due to a technical error, the Israeli state archive had revealed censored material from the Israeli cabinet meeting during the Nakba in the summer of 1948. Amongst the information accidentally released was agricultural minister Aharon Zisling’s statement to other high-level Israeli leaders that he “can forgive instances of rape” by Jewish militants against Palestinian women, which he considered less severe than stealing from Jews. In another instance, Israel’s prime minister David Ben-Gurion told the cabinet that he is against “wholesale demolition of villages . . . but there are places that constituted a great danger and constitute a great danger, and we must wipe them out. But this must be done responsibly, with consideration before the act.” (HA 1/5; MEE, WAFA 1/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers let Palestinian-owned cattle out of their pen near Bidya, leading to the damage of crops. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting a roadblock between Fawwar refugee camp and Dura, injuring 1 with live ammunition. Israeli forces also demolished 5 residential structures and 9 agricultural structures in Ibziq. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids near Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 healthcare center in Jabel Mukaber and parts of a home in Bayt Hanina. 4 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in Silwan and Jabel Mukaber. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/4; MEMO 1/5; PCHR 1/6)

1 Palestinian prisoner agreed to end his 141-day-long hunger strike after Israel said it would end his administrative detention on 26 February. (AJ, AP, MEE, MEMO, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/4; ALM, MEMO 1/5)

There were reports that Egypt was in the process of freeing and deporting Palestinian activist Ramy Shaath, who has been imprisoned by Egypt since June 2019 on charges related to his alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Shaath is the son for former PA foreign minister Nabil Shaath. (AJ, HA, MEMO 1/4)

Members of the Fatah Revolutionary Council concluded 2 days of meetings. There were no significant statements after the meetings. (WAFA 1/3; WAFA, WAFA 1/5)

Israel said it had shot down a surveillance drone allegedly operated by Hezbollah crossing from Lebanon. (HA 1/4)

Unknown perpetrators vandalized and stole items from UNIFIL vehicles in southern Lebanon. (AP 1/5; MEMO 1/7)

More than 20 artists responded to a Palestinian-led call for boycott of the Sydney Festival over its sponsorship deal with the Israeli embassy, providing $14,250. The call to boycott was made on 12/22 by the Palestinian Justice Movement Sydney. (GDN, MEMO 1/4; HA 1/6; WAFA 1/8; WAFA 1/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized an agricultural structure in Khallet al-Dabe. Israeli settlers with military escort raided Burqa, leading to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces; 3 were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces razed 40 dunams (9.9 acres) of Palestinian agricultural lands near al-Khader and a tract of land in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting against the administrative detention of a Palestinian who has been hunger striking for 140 days in Fawwar refugee camp, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Beit Umar; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also raided Huwwara and Tuqu’, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Abu Dis, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for homes in Nahalin. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, Husan, Anabta, and Silat al-Harithiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces delivered a stop-work order for a mosque in Isawiya. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Silwan and the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of the coast; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/3; MEMO 1/4; PCHR 1/6)

2 Israeli soldiers died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Haifa. (MEMO, MEMO, REU 1/4)

Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid, who is promised to be prime minister in August 2023, said that he will not start negotiations with Palestinians about a final peace agreement. (HA 1/3)

Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan criticized actress Emma Watson for a post on her Instagram account expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Ambassador Erdan’s criticism came shortly after his predecessor Danny Danon called Watson an anti-Semite for the post on her social media account. The criticism of Watson’s post sparked debates about the limitations to speech in support of Palestinians. Dozens of other Hollywood stars, including Susan Sarandon, Mark Ruffalo, and Viggo Mortensen, later signed a letter supporting Watson’s post and confirmed their stance in support of Palestinian rights. (GDN 1/4; MEMO 1/8; AJ, GDN, MEE, WAFA 1/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during a raid in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. 3 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Idhna. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Silwan and 1 Palestinian demolished his own shop in Sheikh Jarrah. 1 Palestinian was arrested in Silwan. In Gaza, 2 rockets launched from Gaza City landed in the sea; differing accounts of what happened were conveyed by Hamas sources, including that a weather storm had caused a malfunction and that it was unclear which group had launched the rockets. Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Juhor ad-Dik and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/1; REU 1/2; PCHR 1/6)

The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed grave concern for a Palestinian prisoner who had been hunger striking for 138 days in protest over his administrative detention. (WAFA 1/2)

Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in administrative detention started a boycott of Israeli military courts in protest against the practice. Administrative detainees are held without charges for an indefinite period. The Palestinian prisoners seek to end the practice of administrative detentions with their boycott. (WAFA 1/8; WAFA 1/10; WAFA 1/16)