The Palestine Chronology

The IDF makes 2 air strikes on Palestinians allegedly planting a roadside bomb nr. troops operating in n. Gaza, killing 1 Hamas mbr., wounding another. Hamas fires 3 mortars at the IDF post at Erez crossing in response, causing no injuries. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis.IDFUXO injures an 11-yr.-old Palestinian boy in Bayt Lahiya, 4 Palestinian children in Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a predawn raid on an apartment building in Hebron searching for 2 Palestinian men who had thrown objects at their patrol, fatally shooting an innocent 75-yr.-old Palestinian man, wounding his 66-yr.-old wife and 6 other relatives; the 2 wanted men were later arrested elsewhere. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in and around Nablus, and in ‘Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Halhul nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qabatya, Tulkarm. (al-Jazeera 6/6; NYT, PCHR, WT 6/7; OCHA 6/13; PCHR 6/14)

As the quarter opened, Israel and the Palestinians both stated they were observing a cease-fire in Gaza that went into effect on 11/26/06, though near-daily cross-border incidents occurred. Israel’s siege of Gaza, in place since Hamas took control of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on 3/28/06, remained, as did heavy restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank. Today, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops on the n. Gaza border fire on several Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya, wounding a 12-yrold boy. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Aida refugee camp (r.c.) nr. Bethlehem, Azun nr. Qalqilya, Qalandia r.c. (exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, leaving 2 IDF soldiers wounded), Tulkarm and nr. Hebron, Jenin; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in and nr. Hebron demonstrating against Israel’s new construction at the Haram alSharif/Temple Mount (see 2/6/06 in the Chronology in JPS 143); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at 10s of Palestinians, as well as Israeli and international activists, taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 8. Jewish settlers fr. Tel Rumeida in Hebron occupy a Palestinian home next to the settlement; the IDF evicts the settlers but declares the area a closed military zone, barring the Palestinian family fr. returning. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron vandalize Palestinian homes, shops; the IDF observes but does not intervene. A Fatah mbr. dies of injuries received in recent clashes in Jabaliya with members of the PA Interior Min.’s predominantly Hamas Executive Support Force (ESF). PA health sector employees in the West Bank begin an open-ended strike to protest the PA’s failure to pay their salaries. (OCHA 2/21; PCHR 2/22)

The IDF makes an air strike on a rocket launching site nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Hebron, sets up flying checkpoints, searches Palestinian cars and checks IDs; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths outside Nablus, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., Halhul nr. Hebron, Yabad nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops vandalize Palestinian property, cars, a cemetery in Awarta nr. Nablus. ESF, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Hanun, leaving 2 Fatah mbrs., 2 bystanders wounded. Suspected Hamas gunmen fire on a PA security post e. of Gaza City, wounding 3 PA security officers. PFLP mbrs. hold a sit-in outside al-Maghazi r.c. to protest ongoing Palestinian violence. A Palestinian accused of drug dealing dies in ESF custody in Rafah. (PCHR 1/25; OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1; AIC 2/13)

In Gaza, IDF soldiers in the Erez industrial zone fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the site, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids nr. Jenin, Qalqilya and in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Nablus (detaining a PA General Intelligence officer). AFP photographer Razuri is released unharmed in Gaza City. Fatah gunmen release a video of Nablus dep. mayor Hambali, kidnapped on 1/6, threatening to expand attacks on Hamas if the ESF is not disbanded. (NYT, WP, WT 1/8; OCHA, WT 1/10; PCHR 1/11)

The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and in Aida r.c., Bayt Fajjar. In Jabaliya r.c., a Hamas mbr. shoots, wounds the brother of a senior Fatah mbr., violating a deal for a general truce btwn. the factions and prompting Fatah mbrs. to seize 10 Hamas mbrs., sparking an exchange of gunfire (leaving 3 wounded, including at least 1 bystander) and the retaliatory kidnapping of 7 Fatah mbrs.; Fatah releases 7 of the Hamas mbrs. later in the day. In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen kidnap Peruvian AFP photographer Jaime Razuri; the Daghmash clan, reportedly behind the 8/27 kidnapping of 2 Fox News journalists in a bid to gain control of the local PRC faction, is reportedly behind the kidnapping, demanding that Hamas handover several mbrs. responsible for killing clan mbrs. in exchange for Razuri’s release. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/2; OCHA 1/3; NYT 1/7; PCHR 1/11)