The Palestine Chronology

In the afternoon, the IDF carries out an air strike on a rocket-launching team in s. Gaza, killing 1 DFLP mbr. and seriously wounding another. By nightfall, Egypt announces it has secured pledges fr. the Palestinian factions to a reimpose the cease-fire. Netanyahu publicly states that “there is no cease-fire,” vowing to attack if Israel perceives a threat; Islamic Jihad says it reserves the right to respond if attacked. Late at night, the IDF carries out 3 air strikes targeting mbrs. of the armed wing of the Salafist alAhrar Movement nr. Khan Yunis, killing 2 al-Ahrar mbrs., and fires 2 drone missiles at another group of armed Palestinians in Jabaliya in n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries. There is no immediate Palestinian retaliation. In the West Bank, the IDF daytime patrols in Tulkarm town and r.c., 3 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 each nr. Jenin and Jericho; conducts late-night patrols in Jericho, Salfit (summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning), Tulkarm, and 4 villages nr. Qalqilya (summoning 2 Palestinians for questioning). (AHR, IDFS 10/30; IDF, NYT 10/31; PCHR 11/3; OCHA 11/4)

Egypt announces that it has reached a deal with Israel to release suspected spy for Israel Ilan Grapel in exchange for 25 Egyptians jailed in Israel for nonsecurity-related offenses. (NYT, WP 10/25)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the former Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee. A Palestinian is killed when a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border collapses. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols twice in Tulkarm, as well as in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. (PCHR 10/27; OCHA 10/28)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the former Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts early morning patrols in and around Tulkarm, midmorning patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah, afternoon patrols in Tulkarm town and r.c. (where stone-throwing Palestinians confront the troops, who respond with tear gas and percussion grenades, causing no injuries), and late-night patrols in al-Bireh, Salfit, and 2 villages nr. Jenin and Ramallah; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid the offices of the al-Quds Development Association in Dahiyat al-Barid, arresting the director and then raiding his home; later raid the al-Iman School in Bayt Hanina, arresting a teacher and then raiding his home. (PCHR 10/27; OCHA 10/28)

In Libya, rebel forces secure control of most of the country. The rebel-led Transitional National Council declares liberation and announces plans to form an interim government as Libyans celebrate nationwide. (WP 10/23, 10/24)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night house searches nr. Salfit, summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning. Palestinians and international activists in Bayt Umar protest against Israeli land seizures; the IDF fires tear gas and percussion grenades to disperse them, causing no serious injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Revava settlement nr. Salfit attack Palestinians harvesting olives nearby. (PCHR 10/27; OCHA 10/28)

The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Jewish settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Salfit, stealing their olives and tools and driving them away. (PCHR 10/20, 10/27; OCHA 10/28)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Salfit and Tulkarm in the afternoon; patrols in Tulkarm and nearby Dayr al-Ghusun village, 2 villages nr. Jenin, and 1 nr. Qalqilya late at night; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/21)

The IDF levels 30 d. of Palestinian agriculture land nr. Salfit for the expansion of a settlement outpost, moving 4 mobile homes onto the site; conducts 2 sets of synchronized late-night patrols in 8 villages southwest of Jenin and 3 northeast of Jenin, without searching homes or making arrests. Jewish settlers in Hebron attack and vandalize the Cordoba Elementary School (see 10/11) while classes are in session, violently beating teachers who bar them fr. entering the school; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/21)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Grad rockets toward Israel; 1 lands inside Gaza and the other in Israel, neither causing damage or injuries. The IDF makes a day-long incursion into s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence e. of al-Qarara and Khan Yunis; helicopters escorting the troops occasionally fire on the surrounding area to keep Palestinians indoors, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF levels 15 d. of Palestinian agriculture land along the separation wall n. of Hebron, including uprooting and confiscating 600 trees, destroying irrigation infrastructure, bulldozing several storehouses and a tent, and confiscating 2 mobile storage structures and 2 generators; bulldozes 3 agricultural storehouses, 5 tents, and several wells in Kafr al-Dik village nr. Salfit. (YA 10/4; PCHR 10/6; OCHA 10/7)