The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Israeli forces demolishing a settlement outpost near the Yitzhar settlement; 3 soldiers and 1 settler were injured and several military vehicles were damaged. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Sabastia. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man near Haris at the Ariel settlement, claiming he had charged Israeli settlers and soldiers with a knife; no Israeli injuries were reported. 2 Palestinians were arrested for driving with the Palestinian man to the Ariel settlement: 1 on 12/31 and 1 on 1/2. The PA called the killing an execution. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets, including 1 minor. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and 7 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Bayt Dajan, injuring 44 Palestinians with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shut down the main road between Nablus and Jenin. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition order for a house in Umm al-Rihan. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a house raid in Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian using a rubber-coated bullet during a raid in Isawiya; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the Israeli eviction plans against the Salem family in Sheikh Jarrah; 1 minor was arrested and several Palestinian flags were confiscated. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jabel Mukaber, assaulting 1 and arresting 1. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds east of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 1 Palestinian Israeli man was killed in Umm al-Fahm, marking the 126th murder of a Palestinian Israeli in 2021. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/31; MEMO 1/1; TOI 1/2; PCHR 1/6)

B’Tselem reported that 2021 saw the most killing of Palestinians since 2014. According to B’Tselem, 319 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers. 9 Israelis were killed by Palestinians. The human rights organization also said 2021 saw the most demolitions of Palestinian homes in 5 years. 295 residential structures were demolished, displacing 895 Palestinians, including 463 minors. Israel also demolished 548 non-residential structures. (B’Tselem 1/4/2022)

Israel’s ministry of defense announced that it had signed a deal with the U.S. to buy 12 Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky CH-53K helicopters and 2 Boeing KC-46 refueling planes. (MEMO 12/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort blocked a road leading to Sinjil. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet to his chest during a raid in Kafr Qaddum. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near al-Mughayyir and Sahal al-Baqai’a, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces blocked all traffic in and out of Hizma. 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Qalqilya, Aqabah, Tuqu‘, and Dayr Jarir. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith’s home. Israeli forces also raided the home of deputy director-general of the Islamic Waqf, Sheikh Najeh Bakirat, in Jabel Mukaber, handing him a summon for interrogation. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Silwan and at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 2 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 1 Palestinian woman was killed and 2 others injured in a car bombing in Ramle; Israeli authorities suspected an assassination. The killing marked the 123d Palestinian killed in Israel in 2021. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/26; MEMO 12/27; PCHR 12/30)

The 1st case of the highly infectious Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus was detected in Gaza. The Omicron variant has become dominant in many countries and is capable at infecting vaccinated people, especially those who have not received a booster shot. In Gaza, about 25,000 out of 2 million people have received a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. (HA, MEMO, REU 12/26)

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said that Israel is denying 1 Palestinian prisoner access to the cancer treatment he needs. The Palestinian man has been detained since 10/25. (WAFA 12/26)

Qatar’s envoy to Palestine Mohammad al-Emadi said in a statement that Qatar, the PA, and Gaza’s electrical company have agreed to a project that will see Qatar invest $60 million in a gas pipeline from Israel to Gaza. The project will change the fuel input at Gaza’s power plant from diesel fuel to natural gas. (MEMO, TOI 12/27)

PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh called on the international community to take action against Israeli settler violence. (WAFA 12/26)

The Israeli government approved a plan to double the settler population in the occupied Golan Heights. The $317-million plan will see Israel construct settler housing units and new infrastructure, including 3,300 new settlement units in Katzrin, 4,065 in Golan Regional Council, and 4,000 in 2 new settlements. Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said the government investment in settlements in the Golan Heights was linked to the U.S. Trump administration decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the area in 2019 and the current Biden administration’s indication that it will not roll back the decision. (AJ, AP, DW, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 12/26; AJ, ALM, AP, MEMO, REU, TOI 12/27; CNN, MDW, TOI 12/28)

In the West Bank, 25 Israeli settlers posing as soldiers attacked a Palestinian couple in their home in Qaryut, leading to the hospitalization of both Palestinian victims; the settlers also caused significant damage to the interior of their home, their car, and their tractor; Israeli forces did not arrive to investigate the scene until 7 hours after it was reported. Israeli settlers also threw stones at 6 Palestinian homes and set a barn on fire in Burqa; Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians trying to repel the settlers. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers erected a settlement outpost named after the settler killed on 12/16, Nefei Yehuda, near the Kiryat Arba settlement; the Nahala movement financially supported the settlement outpost, as it had the Evyatar settlement outpost in May. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seized 1 tractor in Masafer Yatta. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Arrabah, Silat ad-Dhahr, Jenin, and Burqa; Israeli forces seized 1 car during the raid in Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Sheikh Jarrah, injuring several journalists covering the event by physical assault, including 1 AP journalist; AP condemned the Israeli forces’ attack on its employee. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a, Dayr al-Balah, and al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/17; MEMO 12/18; JP, WAFA 12/19; PCHR 12/23)

PA foreign ministry called on the UN to establish a protective system to ensure the safety of Palestinians as Israeli settler violence continues to increase. (WAFA, WAFA 12/17; MEMO 12/18)

Haaretz reported that the Israeli company Candiru’s spyware had been purchased by Saudi Arabia, Spain, Israel (for the Shin Bet), Singapore, the UAE, and Germany, and had been used to target people in Catalonia, Lebanon, Yemen, the occupied Palestinian territories, Singapore, Iran, Armenia, and Turkey. It was also reported by the Guardian that NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was found on jailed Indian dissident activist Rona Wilson’s phone. (AP, GDN, HA, HA 12/17)

The UN general assembly voted 156 for, 7 against, and 15 abstaining on a draft resolution confirming the rights of Palestinians over their natural resources in the occupied territories and the rights of the native population of their resources in the occupied Golan Heights. The resolution also called on Israel to stop exploiting the resources of the territories it occupies. The 7 countries voting against the resolution were Israel, Canada, the U.S., the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau. (WAFA, WAFA 12/17; WAFA 12/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets, including a minor; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets, including 2 minors; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Hebron and Atuf, and 1 at the Container checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers vandalized the home of the prominent activist El Kurd family in Sheikh Jarrah, spraying graffiti with the star of David on the home and defacing murals. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian bird hunters east of Khuza‘a. In Israel, 1 Palestinian Israeli man was killed by Israeli forces in Umm al-Fahm after he allegedly rammed into 2 border police officers with his car; 1 other Palestinian man was injured; 1 of the Israeli officers was reportedly moderately injured while the other was lightly injured. (HA, JP, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 12/3; AP, MEMO 12/4; PCHR 12/16)

Israel handed over the body of 1 Palestinian shot and killed at a checkpoint in Ni‘lin in August 2020 to his family. (WAFA 12/3)

Reuters reported that 9 U.S. state department officials working in Uganda, or whose work focused on Uganda, had their phones infected with the Pegasus spyware from the Israeli company NSO Group. (ALM, AP, HA, REU 12/3; MEMO 12/4; HA 12/5)

Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets, including 2 minors, while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protesters in Bayt Dajan, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 1 journalist with a rubber-coated bullet and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Aida refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Dheisheh refugee camp, Husan, and Kafr al-Labad, and 3 at checkpoints near Salfit and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in Sheikh Jarrah, physically assaulting protesters and confiscating Palestinian flags; 2 were arrested. 1 other was arrested during a late-night raid in Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and seized 1 boat after detaining 5 on the same boat, claiming it was sailing beyond the Israeli-imposed fishing area; the 2 were released on 11/27. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/26; MEMO 11/27; PCHR 12/2)

In Jordan, thousands of Jordanians protested the Jordan-Israel deal to swap energy for water in Amman. The agreement was signed on 11/22 in the UAE and witnessed by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry. (AJ, HA, MEMO 11/26; TOI 11/27)

Israel’s transportation minister Merav Michaeli of Labor said she opposes the Jerusalem Cable Car project in East Jerusalem. The project has been condemned by Palestinians and Israelis and is set to have its final hearing of petitions against it at the Israeli high court of justice on 11/28. Transportation Minister Michaeli said the project does more scenic and political harm than it does good. (HA 11/26)

A bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives led by Ritchie Torres (D-NY) sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson Gary Gensler asking him to review if Unilever is complying with US regulation after its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s chose not to sell its products in West Bank settlements. (NYP 11/27; FOX 11/28)

The UK parliament approved UK home secretary Priti Patel’s decision to designate Hamas, in its entirety, as a terrorist organization. The UK said the designation was part of the country’s fight against anti-Semitism. The inclusion of Hamas in the Terrorism Act means that people expressing support for Hamas could face 10 years in prison. Both Hamas and the PA condemned Home Secretary Patel’s decision. (HA, MEMO, TOI 11/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet and 14 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 7 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 minor with a rubber-coated bullet and 1 with a tear-gas canister, while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tulkarm and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers punctured tires on Palestinian-owned vehicles in Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians during a late-night raid in Isawiya, injuring 17 with rubber-coated bullets, 11 with concussion grenades, and 95 with tear gas. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a raid in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA 11/19; PCHR 11/25)

Israel handed over the corpse of a Palestinian boy to the PA. It later recognized that it mistakenly handed over a corpse it did not intend to and would deliver the intended body soon. The deceased Palestinian it intended to hand over to the PA was a Palestinian minor who was shot and killed by Israeli forces on 10/14. Israel said it would return intended corpse on 11/20. (WAFA 11/19; AJ, HA, WAFA 11/20)

UK home secretary Pitri Patel announced that she had “taken action to proscribe Hamas in its entirety” as a terrorist organization. The decision will mean that anyone expressing support for Hamas or holding a meeting for the group can receive up to 10 years in prison. Home Secretary Patel’s decision still needs parliament approval. Patel said the decision was linked to combatting anti-Semitism in the UK. Hamas criticized the decision, saying that the UK chose to align itself with Israel’s occupation rather than apologizing for the Balfour Declaration and British imperialism. The PA said the decision will make Palestinians’ reconciliation efforts more complicated and undermines Palestinian democracy. The UK along with the EU had already designated Hamas’s military wing as a terrorist organization. The UK follows Israel, Canada, and the U.S. in designating its political wing as a terrorist organization. (AJ, ALM, AP, GDN, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO 11/19; HA, MEMO, MEMO 11/20; MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO 11/22; MEE 11/24; AJ 11/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from Bat Ayin attacked, with clubs and stones, Israeli activists guarding Palestinians harvesting olives in Surif; according to 1 of the activists, the Israeli forces that arrived at the scene did not intervene until the settlers fled. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, shooting and injuring 2 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets in Kafr Qaddum; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Biddu, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. (HA, WAFA 11/12; PCHR 11/18)

U.S. House representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to denounce Israel’s decision to designate 6 Palestinian rights organizations as terrorist, calling the Israeli decision misguided. (HA 11/13)

The state of New York put Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever on a 90-day notice in advance of divesting from the companies due to Ben & Jerry’s decision not to sell its ice cream in West Bank settlements, ending its franchise agreement in Israel. (HA 11/12)

A UK government watchdog charged with assessing that UK companies meet OECD guidelines on human rights charged the company JBC with failing to address human rights violations in Israel’s use of its tractors to demolish Palestinian homes. (GDN, MEE 11/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Surif; 1 Palestinian was injured by a stone to his head. Israeli settlers also tried to attack Palestinians in Kafr Qaddum before they were repelled by Palestinians. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized 45 olive trees in Burin. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor while violently dispersing a protest in Deir al-Hatab. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called the killing an instance of state terrorism. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 6 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron and Burqa, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided al-Bireh, violently dispersing Palestinian protesters; 1 was shot with a rubber-coated bullet, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/5; PCHR, WAFA 11/6; WAFA, WAFA 11/8; HA, PCHR 11/11)

The Finnish Christian missionary group Felm said it had stopped funding Defense for Children International-Palestine because of Israel’s announcement on 10/22 that the organization is 1 of 6 to be declared a terrorist organization. Felm is the 1st to publicly take action based on the Israeli terror designation. Felm’s executive director said it had done so due to concerns of banking sanctions. The director said his group had not seen evidence to back Israel’s claim that the 6 rights organizations are financing or supporting terrorism. (MEMO, REU 11/5)

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini told the Guardian that the UNWRA was close to collapsing, in part due to UK budget cuts to the agency by more than 50%. Commissioner-General Lazzarini said UNRWA is short $100 million for its budget for 2021. Lazzarini was in London to urge the Foreign Office to rethink its cuts to the UNRWA. (GDN, WAFA 11/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with live ammunition. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Biddu, injuring 1 Palestinian when a tear gas canister hit his back. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Sheikh Jarrah, physically assaulting 2. Israeli forces assaulted several Palestinians during a house raid in Jabal Mukaber; 4 were arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli navel forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (PCHR 10/28)

Islamic Jihad said its members had ended a mass hunger strike against Israeli collective punitive measures put in place in the wake of 6 Palestinians fleeing Gilboa prison on 9/6. An Islamic Jihad official said Israel had lifted the measures against the Islamic Jihad prisoners that first prompted the prisoners to start the hunger strike on 10/12. An Israeli security official told the Times of Israel that the Israel Prison service had not made any concessions to the hunger-striking prisoners. (ALM 10/22)

Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz signed an order declaring 6 Palestinian rights groups terrorist organizations: Addameer, al-Haq, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, the Bisan Centre for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and Defense for Children International – Palestine. Defense Minister Gantz alleged that the 6 groups are “part of a network of organizations operating under cover in the international arena” on behalf of the political party the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which Israel considers a terrorist organization. Israel’s evidence for the allegations was classified and Israel did not state any plans to prosecute individual members. The general director of al-Haq Shawan Jabarin called the accusations “nonsense” and said Israel’s “occupation has no limits to its injustice and insanity.” The PA called the designation “a strategic assault on Palestinian civil society.” The U.S. did not officially criticize the move but said it was not informed of it prior to the announcement and said it would like to review the evidence. Israel claimed that the U.S. had been informed. Several U.S. congresspeople condemned the Israeli government for its attack on the Palestinian organizations, including Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Mark Pocan (D-WI). Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released a joint statement calling the designation “appalling and unjust” and said that the international community must respond. Later, on 10/24, Israeli officials said members of the Shin Bet and the Israeli military would travel to Washington to present evidence of the 6 organizations’ links to the PFLP. (AJ, AP, CNN, HA, HA, HRW, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/22; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, NPR, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/23; AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/24; AHQ, ALM, MEE, MEMO, WAFA 10/25; AP 10/26; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; AJ 10/28; AHQ 11/1)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia. The 2 were said to talk about Iran, Syria, and economic relations. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEMO 10/22; HA, HA 10/24)

In the West Bank, some 20 Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds in Dahariya, bruising 1 Palestinian who was taken to a hospital for treatment. Israeli settlers also uprooted dozens of olive trees in Taybeh. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting an Israeli raid in Biddu, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians during a protest in Beita, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and 34 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during late-night raids in Qabatiya and Bayt Jala, and 1 was arrested at a checkpoint north of Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested at the Haram al-Sharif compound, including 4 minors. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/8; PCHR 10/14)

The Israeli Jerusalem district court overturned a ruling by the Jerusalem magistrate’s court from 10/6, which had ruled to allow Jewish worshippers to pray in silence at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli public security minister Omer Bar-Lev supported the district court’s decision, saying that a change to the status quo could ignite a new wave of confrontations. (HA 10/7; AJ, HA 10/8; MEMO 10/9)

In Syria, 2 people were killed and 6 injured in air strikes at the T-4 military base near Homs. Several media outlets reported that Israel had conducted the strikes. (AP, HA 10/8)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for an independent investigation into Facebook’s censorship of Palestinians and their supporters on its platforms, including Instagram. HRW said that Facebook’s acknowledgement of the censorship was insufficient, and that Facebook needs to be more transparent about its decisions to censor people and groups on its platforms. (HRW, WAFA 10/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting near Bayt Dajan, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Duqqu, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 11 with rubber-coated bullets and 17 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 child with a rubber-coated bullet. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seized 1 excavator working on an agricultural road east of Dura. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qabatiya, Hebron, Dura, and Beit Ula. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished parts of their own home in Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/1; PCHR 10/7)

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said that the agency is facing an “existential” budget crisis and currently needs $120 million to keep running its education and health care service. Commissioner-General Lazzarini said that many donors had decreased their funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on their economies. Lazzarini also pointed out that Arab countries had decreased their contributions from $200 million in 2018 to $37 million in 2020. (AJ, WAFA 10/1; HA 10/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Susiya, causing bruises, during a visit by EU representatives to the village. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Beita, killing 1 Palestinian using live ammunition; 7 others were hit by rubber-coated bullets and live ammunition, and 18 suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Yatta, Bani Na‘im, Bayt Liqya, Bethlehem, Biddu, Aqabah, and Qabatiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces injured 1 pro-Palestinian activist and arrested 4 others for waving a Palestinian flag during a protest in Sheikh Jarrah; at least 1 was released from jail on 9/25 after an Israeli judge ruled that flying Palestinian flags was not illegal. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/24; HA 9/27; PCHR 9/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN general assembly, outlining the territorial dispossession of Palestinians from historic Palestine at the time of the British Mandate to the current situation where Palestinians control 12% of the same land. President Abbas demanded that Israel withdraw from to the 1967 borders within 1 year. Abbas warned that if the world does not act to ensure the PA demand for a 2-state solution, then the “developments on the ground will dictate a reality [in which] the Palestinian people will demand its rights in the territory of all of historic Palestine,” hinting at moving toward demanding a 1-state solution. Abbas also accused Israel of ethnic cleansing and apartheid. Abbas addressed the UN general assembly in a pre-recorded video message. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA 9/24; AJ, HA, MEMO 9/25; ALM 9/26; ALM 9/29; ALM 10/5)

It was reported that Egypt refused to allow Mohammad Dahlan to relocate his office to Egypt from the UAE. (MEMO 9/25)

The U.S. think tank Center for Peace Communications hosted some 300 people in Erbil, Iraq, in a conference for normalizing ties between Iraq and Israel. Iraq’s presidential office, the prime minister’s office, and several influential organizations condemned the conference. An Iraqi court also issued arrest warrants for several of the attendees. (MEMO, MEMO 9/25; HA, MEMO, TOI 9/26; ALM 9/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Beita, injuring 12 with rubber-coated bullets and some 50 others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet to his head. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Rantis, Beit Fajjar, Husan, and Aqabah. In Gaza, 3 Palestinians were found dead in tunnels near Rafah. Hamas said it would investigate the incident and there were reports that the deaths were caused by toxic gas pumped into the tunnel from Egypt. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/3; MEMO 9/4; PCHR 9/9)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with a delegation of U.S. senators, including Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in Ramallah. During the meeting, Prime Minister Shtayyeh called on the U.S. to reopen its consulate to Palestinians and remove the PLO from the U.S. terror list. The group also met with Israeli officials, including prime minister Naftali Bennett, and said they raised the issue of the consulate with him. (WAFA 9/3; HA, TOI 9/4)

Russia said Syria had intercepted 20 missiles fired at Damascus from Israeli F-15s flying over Lebanese air space. (AP 9/3; HA 9/4)

The Norwegian wealth fund divested from 3 Israeli companies—Elco, Electra, and Ashtrom—because of the companies’ links to Israeli settlements. (REU 9/3; WAFA 9/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 1 with live ammunition, 12 with rubber-coated bullets, and others with tear gas. 4 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in Yatta and 1 at a checkpoint outside Huwwara. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian teen was injured by an unexploded ordinance east of Gaza City. Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/20; PCHR 8/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees in Jaba‘. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near the Evyatar settlement outpost near Beita, killing 1 Palestinian and injuring 21 others with live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. The killing of the Palestinian man, who was said to have been drinking water when he was shot in the chest, was the 40th by Israeli forces in the West Bank since May. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. 1 Palestinian was arrested at a flying checkpoint near Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own homes in Bayt Hanina, displacing 46 people. In Gaza, incendiary balloons sent from Gaza caused fires in Israel, and Israel struck targets in Jabalia refugee camp, causing damage. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Jabalia refugee camp on 2 separate occasions; no injuries were reported. In the Golan Heights, 19 rockets were fired at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Lebanon, with 3 falling within Lebanon and the rest in the Golan Heights; no damage was reported. Israel subsequently fired at Lebanon; no damage was reported. Hezbollah took responsibility for the rockets fired from Lebanon and the Lebanese army said it had arrested 4 suspects. Israel said that it does not believe that Hezbollah is seeking an escalation. (AA, AJ, AJ, AX, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/6; AA, AJ, AJ, HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA 8/7; HA 8/8; HA, HA, PCHR 8/12; AJ 8/15)

Hamas accepted an Israel and U.S. demand to allow the 2 countries to examine a list of families in Gaza that would receive a monthly stipend from Qatar, allegedly in order to ensure that the people on the list are not Hamas activists. Sources told Haaretz that Hamas was pressured to accept the demand by Palestinian banks, which would be exposed to sanctions if the stipends reached members of Hamas or other militants. (HA 8/6)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh met with the new Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran. (HA 8/6; AA 8/7)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett announced that Michael Herzog, the brother of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, will be Israel’s new ambassador to the U.S. (AA, ALM, HA, MEMO 8/6; HA 8/7; HA 8/8; ALM 8/9; ALM 8/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers cut down 6 electric poles supplying electricity to a Palestinian home at the outskirts of Burin. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with live ammunition and 35 others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 10 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Khader, Bayt Jala, and Dura. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces dispersed Palestinians protesting against Israeli threats to evict Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, confiscating several Palestinian flags. 4 Palestinian children were arrested in Wadi Hilweh. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/30; MEMO 7/31; PCHR 8/5)

Israel said it would expand the Gaza fishing zone from 6 to 12 nautical miles at its largest point from 8/2. (MEMO 7/30)

The U.S. state department said it had approved the sale of 18 CH-53K helicopters to Israel, including engines, navigation systems, weaponry, support equipment, spare parts, and technical support. The package is worth $3.4 billion. (HA 7/30)

The Biden administration appointed Deborah Lipstadt as the special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. Lipstadt needs Senate confirmation before assuming her new position. Lipstadt has used her platform to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, including by smearing BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti as an anti-Semite. (HA 7/30; AA 8/10)

Mercy-USA for Aid and Development donated food supplies for 5,000 Palestinians in Gaza via the UNRWA. (WAFA 7/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers razed a tract of agricultural land in Ein al-Beida. Israeli settlers with military escort also toured Wadi al-Far’a. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting against the Evyatar settlement outpost near Beita, injuring 10 with live ammunition, 15 with rubber-coated bullets, and at least 45 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters In Kafr Qaddum, causing tear-gas related injuries. Palestinians protested the construction of a military road near Hizma. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya‘bad, Marah Rabah, and Shufa. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/16; PCHR 7/29)

1 Israeli drone crashed in Lebanon. According to the Israeli military, it crashed due to a technical malfunction. (MEMO 7/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers marched across the West Bank to protest the presence of Palestinians living in Area C, closing off much of Area C to Palestinians. Most of the marches were directed toward the Evyatar settlement outpost, which Israeli settlers are trying to rapidly expand to prevent the new Israeli government from evacuating it. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Wad, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work orders for 2 houses in Idhna and a demolition order for a 2.2-mile-long electric power line near Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli forces continued blocking the main road to ‘Azun for the 6th day in a row. 15 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bayt Liqya, Tulkarm, Zababdeh, Kafr Qaddum, Aida refugee camp, and Bayt Umar; during the raid in Bayt Umar, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, leading to tear-gas related injuries. PA forces arrested prominent Israel and PA critic Issa Amro; Amro was later released in the morning of 6/22. In East Jerusalem, 1 firebomb caused minor damage in Shaykh Jarrah; Israeli police arrested 2 Palestinian minors suspected of throwing it. Subsequently, 1 Israeli setter used pepper spray on Palestinians in the area, and other Israeli settlers and Palestinians threw lawn furniture at each other. Palestinians were also said to have shot off firecrackers at Israeli settlers. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in the area, injuring 20 with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas. Israel continues to prevent Palestinians not living in Shaykh Jarrah from entering while all Jewish Israelis are allowed to enter. Elsewhere, 1 Palestinian started demolishing his own commercial structure in Jabal Mukabir. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/21; AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA 6/22; PCHR 6/24)

Israel allowed a small amount of agricultural and textile products to be exported from Gaza for the 1st time since 5/8. Israel still maintains an even stricter blockade of Gaza than before “Operation Guardian of the Walls” in May. Gaza’s Pepsi factory, for example, sent home all its employees on 6/20 due to running out of carbon dioxide gas and syrup, which it has been unable to secure due to the Israeli blockade. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, WAFA 6/21)

Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz signed an administrative detention order against a Palestinian citizen of Israel from Lydda. The man is the 3d Palestinian citizen of Israel with orders signed to be put in administrative detention since the middle of May. 12 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem have also had administrative detention orders signed against them. 13 other Israeli citizens are held in administrative detention but with no order signed against them. It was unclear if any of the 13 were Jewish Israelis. (HA 6/23)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas called on all Palestinian factions to resume national dialogue. (WAFA 6/21)

Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar said that a meeting with the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland had gone poorly and that he would consult with the Hamas military wing to find a response to Israel’s continued tightening of its blockade after the latest escalation between Israel and Hamas in May. Sinwar and Wennesland met to discuss how the UN could mediate to strengthen the Hamas-Israel ceasefire. (HA 6/21; AJ 6/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Silat al-Dahir. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets, while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets, while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the new Israeli settlement outpost Evyatar in Beita, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets, while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also blocked the main road to al-Ram with cement blocks. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued blocking the main road to ‘Azun for the 3d day in a row. Israel forces also violently dispersed Palestinians in Silwad and Nabi Salih, causing tear-gas related injuries. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Salem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently suppressed Palestinian protesters at the Haram al-Sharif compound and Damascus Gate plaza, injuring 9, including 3 who were hospitalized and 1 journalist from Middle East Eye; 21 were arrested. Jordan condemned Israel’s aggression at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEE, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/18; MEMO 6/19; WAFA 6/21; PCHR 6/24)

The PA said it had canceled an agreement made with Israel from 6/17 in which the PA would receive 1.2 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Israel in exchange for giving Israel its shipment of Pfizer vaccines set to arrive in early 2022. The PA said that the initial batch of vaccines received from Israel did not “conform to the specifications contained in the agreement.” Photos circulating on social media showed that the vials received from Israel expired in June 2021. Israel said that the PA knew that the vaccines were soon to expire when the made the deal with Israel, which contradicts statements from the PA. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, WAFA 6/18; JP 6/19)

The U.S. said it would withdraw 8 Patriot anti-missile batteries and 1 THAAD system from the Middle East, as tensions with Iran have been easing. (AJ 6/18)

In the West Bank, an Israeli private security guard shot and killed 1 Palestinian woman at the Qalandia checkpoint, claiming she carried a knife and charged toward the checkpoint; it was reported that the Israeli forces let the woman bleed out. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 minors in Aida refugee camp, 1 at a checkpoint near Qalqilya, and 2 during late-night raids in Heron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers sprayed pepper spray at 2 Palestinian minors by the Jaffa Gate. 3 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli undercover forces in al-Tur. (AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/12; PCHR, WAFA 6/13; PCHR 6/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers sprayed pesticides on Palestinian-owned trees in al-Khadir. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor and injured 11 others during a protest against a new settlement outpost, Evyatar, held in Beita, near the settlement. Israeli forces also shot 1 Palestinian in his head using a rubber-coated bullet during a raid in Silwad; the man was transferred to a hospital. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 8 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2, including a small child, with rubber-coated bullets. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Janata, and 2 at a checkpoint in al-Zawiya. In East Jerusalem, 8 were arrested, including 4 during house raids in the Old City and Batn al-Hawa, and 4 at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/11; ALM, ALM, WAFA 6/12; PCHR 6/17)

Haaretz published photos of Israeli soldiers in uniform helping Israeli settlers build houses in the settlement outpost Evyatar. (HA 6/11)

The Israeli military said it dismissed 1 soldier and reprimanded 1 commander responsible for the killing of 1 Palestinian and the injury of 2 others in Gaza. The Palestinian casualties occurred when Israeli soldiers fired at Palestinian farmers; according to the Israeli military, the soldiers should have fired warning shots at the farmers before using lethal force. (HA 6/11)

Iran regained its vote at the UN general assembly as it paid some of its dues to the UN, after the U.S. unfroze certain Iranian funds held up by U.S. sanctions. (AP 6/11; MEMO 6/13)

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius wrote that the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel were involved in the coup attempt against Jordan’s king Abdullah II by his half-brother Prince Hamza in April. According to Ignatius, former U.S. official Jared Kushner had grown frustrated with King Abdullah II because he refused to give up the custodianship of the Holy Places in Jerusalem, which Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Muhammad bin Salman required to formalize a normalization deal with Israel. Prince Hamza and people in his inner circle worked with Saudi Arabia, according to Ignatius, to undermine King Abdullah II. Ignatius also said that Israeli intelligence assured the Jordanian king that it was not involved in the scheme but implied that Netanyahu personally was. King Abdullah is scheduled to meet U.S. president Joe Biden in Washington this month. (WP 6/11; HA 6/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up 4 caravans on Palestinian-owned land in Khirbet Zanuta. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 child with a rubber-coated bullet while others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also prevented Palestinian farmers from working their lands in Husan. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during house raids in Burin, Sa‘ir, and Tulkarm refugee camp, and 1 was arrested at a checkpoint near Dura. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed a sit-in protest in Shaykh Jarrah, and violently arrested the Al Jazeera journalist Givara Budeiri while she was covering the event, breaking her arm; she was released after several hours of interrogation on the condition that she does not return to Shaykh Jarrah for 15 days. Israeli police also broke equipment belonging to her cameraman during the arrest. (AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/5; AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, PCHR, WAFA 6/6; PCHR 6/10)

Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz said that a right-wing march planned for 6/10 in Jerusalem should not be held in a way that would reignite tensions in the city. The Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar called on Palestinians in Jerusalem to protect al-Aqsa Mosque against settler incursions during the planned march. The Joint List politician Ahmed Tibi also called on public security minister Amir Ohana to cancel the march. (HA 6/5; WAFA 6/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort attacked 1 Palestinian while raiding Hebron. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting against the Evyatar settlement outpost in Beita, injuring 113, including 16 by live ammunition, 20 by rubber-coated bullets, and the rest by tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Ni‘lin, injuring 2, including 1 with live ammunition and 1 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces injured 4 Palestinians, including 1 with live ammunition and 3 with rubber-coated bullets during a raid in Far‘a refugee camp; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 minor in the hand with a sponge grenade. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also handed demolition orders for 6 shops in Umm al-Rihan, west of Jenin, and seized 1 bulldozer in Ya‘bad. 2 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a late-night raid in Yatta and 1 who showed up for interrogation at the Ofer Prison after being summoned. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed a solidarity run for Palestinians under threat of eviction in Shaykh Jarrah and Silwan, injuring 23 with tear gas, stun grenades, and beatings; the Israeli forces also seized loudspeakers and damaged other items. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/4; WAFA 6/5; PCHR 6/10)

The Israeli cabinet approved sending an additional 300 border police officers to Israeli towns and cities with mixed Jewish Israeli and Palestinian Israeli demographics. (HA 6/4)

Egyptian state TV reported that 50 trucks carrying construction material had entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing to start rebuilding after Israeli air strikes damaged thousands of homes during the most recent Israeli assault in May. (REU 6/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort attacked Palestinians in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian celebrations of the ceasefire (see below) in Hebron and Bethlehem, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Huwwara, injuring 2 with live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bani Na‘im, Abu Njeim, and Jaba‘. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound after the Friday noon prayer, confiscating Palestinian flags, arresting 17, and injuring 23 worshipers with rubber-coated bullets. During the raid, 1 Agence France-Presse journalist was also beaten by Israeli forces. Israeli forces also closed down Shaykh Jarrah to all Palestinians, including those living in the area. In Gaza, 17 Palestinians, including 2 children, were found dead in rubble from Israeli air strikes, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 236 to 253, including 67 children and 3 pregnant women. 1 toddler was found dead in rubble from an air strike on Gaza City 5/11; 1 child was found in rubble from an Israeli air strike on a house in al-Shati refugee camp on 5/15; and 15 Palestinians were also found dead in rubble from Israeli air strikes in a tunnel hit by Israeli missiles. In Israel, before the ceasefire took effect (see below), 1 Israeli was injured by rocket shrapnel and 1 house in Kibbutz Be’eri was damaged by a rocket from Gaza. (HA 5/20; AJ, AJ, AX, HA, MEE, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/21; HA 5/25; PCHR 5/27)

A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Egypt, took effect at 2 a.m. 263 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, including 68 children, and 12 people were killed in Israel, including 1 soldier, 2 Thai citizens, 1 Indian citizen, and 2 Palestinian citizens of Israel. Around 2,000 Palestinians and 345 Israelis were wounded over the 11 days. Israel partially reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing after the ceasefire, allowing some humanitarian aid and goods into Gaza. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said he would meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials during a trip in the coming days. The Gaza housing ministry said that 16,800 housing units had been damaged by Israeli missiles, including 1,800 that had become unfit for living. Some 90,000 Palestinians in Gaza were reported to be internally displaced due to the Israeli attacks, including more than 66,000 seeking shelter at UNRWA facilities. It also reported that Palestinians in Gaza were getting between 3-4 hours of electricity a day, while they previously received 12 hours a day before the escalation started on 5/10. Israel said that some 4,350 rockets had been fired from Gaza toward Israel and that the Iron Dome had intercepted approximately 90% of them. Both Israel and Hamas declared victory. Egyptian officials also arrived in Gaza to discuss with Hamas officials about maintaining the ceasefire. Islamic Jihad in Palestine said that 19 of its fighters were among the 263 Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza during the latest escalation. Hamas later said that 80 members of its militia had been killed. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 5/20; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, ALM, ALM, ALM, AP, AP, AP, AX, AX, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/21; AX, HA, WAFA 5/22; HA, WAFA 5/23; NYT 5/25; AP 5/26; HA 5/27)

13 trucks carrying food, COVID-19 vaccines, and other aid crossed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. (AJ, WAFA 5/21)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas discussed the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the need for humanitarian aid with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. In a phone call between President Abbas and Saudi king Salman, the latter condemned Israeli aggression in Jerusalem and Gaza. (AJ, WAFA 5/21)

The owner of 1 of the high-rise buildings in Gaza bombed by Israel said he is filing a formal complaint to the ICC about the attack on his building, calling it a war crime. His building, al-Jala Tower, housed AP and Al Jazeera offices in Gaza as well as many residential units. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh also pledged to refer the Israeli attacks on Gaza to the ICC. (AJ, WAFA 5/21)

Digital rights group 7amleh said Israel and the companies TikTok and Facebook, including its subsidiary Instagram, are cooperating in order to silence Palestinian voices and content on the social media platforms. Posts and hashtags have been deleted from the platforms and users, banned. 7amleh said it was especially concerned related to Gaza and Shaykh Jarrah, which had been censored. Sada Social also sent a formal complaint to Facebook, condemning the censorship. (AJ, WAFA 5/21)

Lebanese president Michel Aoun wrote a letter to the parliament, saying that prime minister-designate Saad Hariri is incapable of forming a cabinet. (HA, REU 5/21; MEMO 5/22)

The U.S. state department circumvented a potential obstacle from Congress by granting Boeing an export license for $735 million’s worth of weapons to Israel. U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said on 5/20 that he wanted the Senate to review the sale. (JC 5/25; ALM 5/27)

A bomb killed 7 people at a Palestinian solidarity rally in Chaman City, Pakistan. The bomb was said to have targeted a political leader who had organized the event. Pakistan’s foreign minister had declared the day a “day of solidarity” with Palestinians. (AJ 5/20; HA, MEMO 5/21)

China said it would send aid to Gaza to help treat the injured and house the homeless. (AJ 5/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in ‘Ayn al-Bayda, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also seized an excavator in Qusra. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed protesters demonstrating against the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood; 4 were arrested and others were beaten. Israeli forces also set up checkpoints and attacked Christian worshipers making their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City for Holy Saturday. 4 Palestinians were arrested at the Damascus Gate plaza. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces attacked Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya on 2 separate occasions; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting near the Gaza fence using tear gas and live ammunition; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/1; AJ 5/4; PCHR 5/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive, sage, and thyme seedlings and wrote racist graffiti on 1 well and 1 agricultural structure in Qusra. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with live ammunition, 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man south of Bethlehem, alleging that he tried to stab an Israeli soldier with a broken bottle. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Israeli harassment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, at the Separation wall near Bethlehem, leading to tear-gas related injuries and 2 arrests. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Israeli harassment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, at a checkpoint in Jenin, 1 minor was injured by live ammunition and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in Bethlehem, and 2 at checkpoints near Jenin and Yatta. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Damascus Gate plaza dispersing Palestinians in the area; 1 Palestinian minor was reportedly beaten by Israeli police before he was arrested. 1 other Palestinian minor was arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire and fired tear gas at Palestinian protesters east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 4 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; PCHR 5/6)

Chief of Mossad Yossi Cohen met with U.S. president Joe Biden as he and other Israeli senior officials tried lobby the U.S. not to reenter the Iran nuclear deal. Cohen and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan also met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken on 4/29. (AJ, HA 4/29; ALM 4/30; HA 5/1; AJ, JP 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 13 olive trees in Hares. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling between Nablus and Jenin. Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet and others were injured by tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Tulkarm, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed protesters in Qalqilya, arresting 1. 4 Palestinians were arrested at checkpoints near Bethlehem, Qalandia, and Hizma. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, injuring 50 using rubber-coated bullets, beatings, and tear gas near the Haram al-Sharif compound, Silwan, Issawiyya, Wadi al-Juz, and Shaykh Jarrah; 4 were arrested. In Gaza, several dozen rockets were fired at Israel and Israel fired missiles and shells at Gaza east of al-Bureij refugee camp; causing damage; 2 groups, the Nidal al-Amoudi Division and the Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rockets fired at Israel, saying they were in response to the violence by Israeli right-wing activists in Jerusalem on 4/22. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/23; AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA 4/24; HA 4/25; PCHR 4/29)

Israeli public security affairs minister Amir Ohana condemned attacks against Jewish-Israelis in Jerusalem on 4/22, despite the fact that large crowds of right-wing Israeli activists and Israeli settlers had attacked Palestinians throughout Jerusalem, leading to more than 100 injuries. The attacks were planned by the Lehava group, which has links to right-wing Israeli lawmakers in the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party. The U.S. embassy in Israel said that the U.S. is “deeply concerned about the incidents of violence” and called on “all responsible voices” to promote calm. Jordan condemned the violence, saying that Israel as “the occupying power” in East Jerusalem must protect the Palestinian residents against the violence. The UAE also later called on Israel to protect Palestinians from “acts of violence committed by right-wing extremist groups in the occupied East Jerusalem.” (HA 4/23; WAFA 4/24; WAFA, WAFA 4/25; AP, WAFA 4/26)

Saudi Arabia announced an indefinite ban on Lebanese agricultural products after finding 5.3 million pills of the amphetamine Captagon hidden in a shipment of pomegranates. (AJ 4/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 1 Palestinian was arrested at a checkpoint near Tubas. In East Jerusalem, for the 4th night in a row, Palestinians protested the Israeli-imposed restrictions on the Old City during the month of Ramadan; Israel limited the number of Palestinians from the West Bank who were allowed to partake in the 1st Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Haram al-Sharif to 10,000, requiring all to have been vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. Israel also closed the Damascus Gate plaza; 6 Palestinians were reported injured, including 4 who were hospitalized. 1 Palestinian was arrested in the Old City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles, on 2 different occasions, west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds east of al-Bureij refugee camp; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 4/16; HA, HA 4/17; PCHR 4/22)

The speaker of the Iranian parliament said Iran had enriched uranium at 60 percent after Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said it would do so in response to the Israeli attack on the Natanz nuclear site on 4/11. (AP, HA, REU 4/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 journalists with sponge grenades; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests in al-Mughayyir, injuring 6 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces injured 5 Palestinians with live ammunition during a late-night raid in ‘Askar refugee camp; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers sprayed pepper spray at a 13-year-old Palestinian boy in Hebron who had asked them to help him find his stolen bike; the Israeli soldiers subsequently refused to help him receive aid at a hospital. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during house raids in and around Hebron, Bayt Umar, and Zabbuba, and 1 at the Qalandia checkpoint. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/2; PCHR 4/8; B’Tselem 4/22)

The U.S. lifted sanctions on ICC officials Fatou Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko, who were sanctioned by the Trump administration in June 2020 in retaliation for their work on the probe into war crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory and Afghanistan. Secretary of state Antony Blinken said, “[w]e continue to disagree strongly with the ICC’s actions relating to the Afghanistan and Palestinian situations . . . We maintain our longstanding objection to the court’s efforts to assert jurisdiction over personnel of non-States Parties such as the United States and Israel. We believe, however, that our concerns about these cases would be better addressed through engagement with all stakeholders in the ICC process rather than through the imposition of sanctions.” Secretary Blinken spoke with Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi before the announcement. During the call, Blinken told Foreign Minister Ashkenazi that the U.S. believes Israelis and Palestinians should have equal measurers of freedom security, prosperity, and democracy. (HA 4/2; HA, TOI 4/3)

The EU said that Iran and the U.S. will hold indirect talks in Vienna on 4/6. The meeting comes as the EU and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories are trying to get the U.S. back into the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and Iran to start complying with the agreement again. (AJ, HA, REU 4/2; REU 4/3; HA 4/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 1 minor who was hit by a stun grenade; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Wadi al-Juz. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Fukhari; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/26; PCHR 4/1)

Israel handed over the body of 1 Palestinian man who was shot and killed by Israeli settlers on 2/5 to his family. (WAFA 3/26)

Haaretz reported that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ignoring a request made by Jordan to have Israel supply water, as Jordan is experiencing a water shortage. Israel provides Jordan with water as agreed in the 2 countries’ peace agreement and Israel sometimes provides Jordan with extra water when Jordan is experiencing droughts. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to ignore Jordan’s request is reportedly in retaliation for Jordan’s decision to close its airspace to him for a planned trip to the UAE after Israel complicated a planned visit by Jordan’s crown prince to the Haram al-Sharif compound on 3/10, which the crown prince ultimately canceled. (HA 3/26; HA, HA 3/29)