The Palestine Chronology

Hamas takes responsibility for planting a bomb in a chicken coop nr. Gaza’s Qarni crossing, luring an IDF bomb squad to the site, and detonating the device, killing an IDF solider and a bomb-sniffing dog, wounding 4 soldiers. The IDF retaliates with gunfire nearby, killing 2 Hamas mbrs., 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., wounding 10 bystanders, bulldozing 30 d. of land. The IDF raids a charitable society, orphanage, and school reportedly tied to Hamas in Bani Na‘im, confiscating files, sealing 3 offices; raids the Prisoners’ Supporters Society in Hebron, confiscating computers, files; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Beitunia, Hebron and nearby Bayt ‘Awwa, Qalqilya and neighboring ‘Azun and Jayyus, Taqu‘a, Zabbuba nr. Jenin; begins large-scale bulldozing operations nr. Jaba‘ village northwest of Hebron for construction of the separation wall; fires rubber bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Budrus nr. Ramallah, also arrests 40 Israeli protesters demonstrating with them. The AMB kills a Palestinian collaborator believed to have passed information to the IDF that led to the killing of 3 AMB mbrs. on 11/21. A carload of Jewish settlers twice attempts to run down a group of Palestinian teenagers on their way to school; the settlers then emerge fr. the car, attempt to kidnap a Palestinian boy, scuffle with teenagers; the IDF intervenes, orders settlers to leave but does not arrest them. (IMEMC, MM 12/7; VOI 12/7 in WNC 12/9; NYT, WP, WT 12/8; VOI 12/8 in WNC 12/10; PCHR 12/9; MEI 12/17)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians who enter a closed military zone nr. the Israeli border fence east of Gaza City; fires on stone-throwing youths and market areas in Nablus, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Jenin; blows up a Palestinian home nr. Nablus; bulldozes 20 d. in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Beitunia, Jenin (also sealing 4 offices of Islamic charities). Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket into s. Israel, fire 2 mortars into Jewish settlements in s. Gaza, causing light damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Shomron nr. Qalqilya uproot 10s of Palestinian olive trees, bar local Palestinian residents fr. harvesting their groves; IDF soldiers observe but do not intervene. ( JP, VOP, YA 11/9 in WNC 11/11; WP 11/10; VOI 11/10 in WNC 11/12; PRCS 11/11)

Arafat reportedly slips deeper into a coma, possibly suffering a stroke, and is put on life support. In light of Israel’s refusal to allow his burial in Jerusalem, the PA requests that he be buried in Ramallah after lying in state in Cairo. Doctors still do not know the cause of Arafat’s illness, though they have completely ruled out malignancy, poisoning. (AP, BBC, MM, REU 11/9; AFP, JAZ, JT, VOI, VOP 11/9 in WNC 11/11; Financial Times, NYT, PR, WP, WT 11/10)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Jenin town and r.c., closes off all access roads leading to the city, conducts arrest raids and house searches, fires on residential areas; withdraws fr. Bayt Hanun, having leveled 100 d. of citrus groves since 10/26, 1 Palestinian home,5wells. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo attack, chase off a group of Palestinians harvesting olives in nearby al-Mughayyir village. Israeli sources confirm that the West Jerusalem municipality has completed plans for construction of a new 280-unit Jewish settlement quarter in Abu Dis in East Jerusalem following completion of the separation wall through Abu Dis. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/2 during the IDF attack on n. Gaza. In Gaza, scores of Palestinians protest increasing crime, kidnappings, violence in Gaza and demand security, legal reforms. (HJ, al-Quds, VOI, VOP 10/27 in WNC 10/29; PCHR, PRCS 10/28; PRCS 10/30; PR 11/3; PCHR 11/4)

An Israeli court rules that Palestinian residents of Jerusalem have the right to register any child under age 12 without having to apply for family reunification even if 1 parent holds a West Bank ID. Previously, the Israeli Interior Min. asserted that any such children not registered by age 1 would have to apply for family reunification. (PR 11/3)

Arafat collapses in his Ramallah headquarters and deteriorates dramatically during the day, reportedly lapsing in and out of consciousness. His personal doctor is summoned fr. Amman, a medical team fr. Egypt, and his wife fr. Paris, raising speculation that he is nearing death. (AP, BBC, CNN, HA, REU 10/27; JAZ, JP, LBC, MENA, PSCT, VOI, VOP, YA 10/27 in WNC 10/29; AP, BBC, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 10/28; PR, WT 11/3; MEI 11/5)

The IDF completes its withdrawal fr. built up areas of n. Gaza in the morning; announces new restrictions barring buses fr. crossing the Qalandia checkpoint unless they obtain special permits; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Balata r.c., wounding 7; sends tanks, armored bulldozers into Rafah allegedly to search for smugglers’ tunnels; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bir al-Basha nr. Jenin; declares areas around Hebron a closed military zone, preventing Palestinian olive pickers fr. reaching their groves. Palestinians fire 7 mortars at Jewish settlements in Gaza, causing some damage, no injuries. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received in Jabaliya on 10/6, 10/15. (VOI 10/16 in WNC 10/19; HA, WP 10/17; HA, HJ, JP, MA 10/17 in WNC 10/19; PCHR 10/21)

The IDF expands Operation Days of Penitence, using some 200 tanks and APCs to seize control of a 3.5 mi2 of costal territory in n. Gaza. In Jabaliya r.c., IDF missile strikes kill 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 2 Hamas mbrs., wound 4 bystanders; gunfire kills at least 3 Palestinians (possibly Islamic Jihad mbrs.); demolitions of Palestinian homes continue; the IDF uses loudspeakers to urge 10s of Palestinians to evacuate their homes. The IDF fatally shoots another 4 Palestinians trying to infiltrate Israel fr. n. Gaza. A Palestinian militant dies of injuries sustained in Jabaliya on 10/1. The IDF also opens fire on Palestinians in central Gaza protesting against Days of Penitence; shells residential areas of Rafah, killing a 62-yr.-old Palestinian; evacuates, demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Rafah, shooting and seriously wounding a Palestinian woman (6-mos. pregnant) in the process; fires on several residential areas of Khan Yunis, bulldozing 14 d., damaging an elementary school and forcing students to evacuate; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara. In the West Bank, the IDF imposes a 1-day curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron, fires on stone-throwing youths; conducts arrest raids at Hebron University and in Abu Nujaym and Artas nr. Bethlehem, Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, Silwad, Tulkarm, Tura nr. Jenin. A 4-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/30/04. (HA, NYT, XIN 10/2; AFP, JAZ, VOI, VOP 10/2, VOI 10/3 in WNC 10/5; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; PCHR 10/7)

In Rafat, the IDF opens fire on several Palestinians removing belongings fr. a home that the IDF earlier warned would be demolished, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian, firing on an ambulance that attempts to reach him, allowing him to bleed to death. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; demolishes a Palestinian home in alQarara; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Araqa and Qabatya villages nr. Jenin, Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, Balata r.c., Surif nr. Hebron, Tulkarm. Israel announces plans for another 533 new housing units in the Adam, Emmanuel, Har Adar, Har Gilo settlements in the West Bank. The PA announces that security forces have recently arrested 6 suspected collaborators in Gaza. ( JP, MM 8/23; DS, NYT, WP, WT 8/24; VOP 8/24 in WNC 8/26; PR 8/25; PCHR 8/26)

The IDF fires on a funeral procession for ARB head Abu Sitta in Khan Yunis, killing a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding 7; fatally shoots 4 Palestinians laying a roadside bomb nr. a Israeli border fence e. of al-Bureij r.c; sends troops into Nablus, sparking stone-throwing, then firing on demonstrators, wounding 1 stone-thrower, 1 bystander; fires missiles at a 3-story building in Gaza City owned by the family of a female suicide bomber, demolishing the structure, injuring 2 Palestinians; raids a wedding party in Bayt Jala, arrests 2 guests; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayta, the central Gaza Strip. Palestinians fire 4 Qassam rockets at Sederot, bringing the total number of rockets fired at the town in the past 3 days to 14; none caused damage or injuries. Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists begin a 3-wk. Freedom March to protest the separation wall; the march begins in Zababda nr. Jenin and plans to end in Jerusalem on 8/19. (VOI, VOP 7/30 in WNC 8/3; NYT, WT 7/31; WT 8/1; PR 8/4; PCHR 8/5)

The IDF fatally shoots a 17-yr.-old Palestinian boy throwing stones at troops in Balata r.c.; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding 2 Palestinian girls (ages 3 and 12) in their homes; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians nr. Nablus, injuring 5; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Dayr al-Balah, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm; continues bulldozing operations in Bayt Hanun, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes; starts bulldozing Palestinian agricultural land for construction of a new road fr. Erez Crossing to the e. of Bayt Lahia. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. (VOI 7/19 in WNC 7/21; PR 7/21; PCHR, PM 7/22)

To calm protests in Gaza, Arafat named Brig. Gen. ‘Abd al-Raziq al-Majayda as head of public security for the West Bank and Gaza, making him Musa Arafat’s superior. The AMB, National and Islamic Higher Coordinating Comm. for the Intifada (NIHC) say the change is insufficient, only true reforms and halt to corruption will improve conditions in Gaza. Qurai‘says his resignation stands. (BBC, MM 7/19; AN, al-Quds 7/18 in WNC 7/21; NYT, WP, WT 7/20; JAZ, SA, VOP 7/20 in WNC 7/22; SA 7/21 in WNC 7/23; PR 7/23; MEI 7/23)

The IDF assassinates Hamas leader Rantisi, firing 2 missiles at his car as he drives through Gaza City, also killing his bodyguards Akram Nassar and Ahmad Ghurra, wounding 4 bystanders. 10,000s of Palestinians throughout the West Bank, Gaza take to the streets to protest. Hamas vows retaliation, says it has appointed Rantisi’s replacement but will not identify him for security reasons. (Senior spokesman Mahmud Zahar, senior political leader Ismail Haniyeh are considered the likely successors.) The IDF strike comes hrs. after a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device inside the Erez Industrial Zone in Gaza, killing an Israeli border policeman, injuring 3; the AMB, Hamas claim joint responsibility. IDF undercover units raid Hebron and capture, beat, arrest an Arab Bank employee. The IDF also seals all West Bank and Gaza crossings except the Rafah checkpoint; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement throughout the territories; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too close to a Jewish settlement nr. Gaza City; denies passage to a Palestinian who suffers a heart attack at a Nablus checkpoint, allowing him to die; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, cutting some electricity, seriously injuring a 9-yr.-old girl inside her home and 6 others elsewhere; fires on, shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Tulkarm (seriously injuring a 5-yr.-old girl); fires on residential areas nr. Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dayr al-Balah, Jenin; bulldozes 6 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun. (HA, MA, REU 4/17; AFP, MENA, MNR, PSCT, VOP 4/17, AFP, ATL, HA, IRNA, JP, LBC, MENA, MNR, al-Quds, VOP, YA 4/18 in WNC 4/20; NYT, WP, WT 4/18; CSM, MM 4/19; ITAR-TASS 4/19 in WNC 4/21; DUS, al-Ra’i 4/19, JT 4/20 in WNC 4/22; AYM 4/19, al-Quds, SA 4/21 in WNC 4/23; MM, PR 4/21; PCHR 4/22; WP 4/25; MEI 4/30)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing youths in Dahaysha r.c., killing 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah (wounding a Palestinian playing soccer), conducts arrest raids in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, Bayt Sahur, Jenin, Salfit. In Nablus, an AMB mbr. dies when his car mysteriously explodes in what may be an assassination. UN officials note that nearly all food and other humanitarian aid to Gaza has ceased since Israel closed the Erez crossing on 3/15, warn that a humanitarian crisis could ensue if Israel does not ease restrictions. On the 1st Friday after Yasin’s assassination, 10,000s of Palestinians protest across the West Bank and Gaza. (VOP 3/26 in WNC 3/30; NYT, WT 3/27; AFP 3/30; PR 3/31; PCHR 4/1)

The IDF catches a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy wearing a suicide bomb at a checkpoint s. of Nablus, defuses the bomb, detains the boy; the Balata r.c. AMB takes responsibility, angering many Palestinians. The IDF also sends 25 tanks, bulldozers into Khan Yunis to raze 5 farms, 7 Palestinian homes that allegedly “provided cover” for Palestinian gunmen, also demolishing a main road and effectively dividing the town in half; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Hebron (wounding 8), residential areas nr. Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’a r.c., Balata r.c., Dahaysha r.c., Jayyus, Nablus, Tubas nr. Jenin; temporarily occupies a Palestinian home nr. Nablus as an observation post. Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF patrol outside Gaza’s Gadid settlement, lightly injuring 1 soldier; also fire on IDF soldiers nr. Ramallah, nr. Netzarim settlement, causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/11. (BBC, HA, REU, WT 3/24; VOP 3/24 in WNC 3/26; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 3/25; AYM 3/26 in WNC 3/30; PR 3/31; PCHR 4/1; MEI 4/2; PR 4/7)

In Washington, Weisglass, Eiland present U.S. officials (including Rice) Sharon’s “preferred plan” for unilateral disengagement fr. Gaza plus 6 settlements in the West Bank (Ganim, Hermesh, Homesh, Mevo Dotan, Qadim, Sa-Nur). (MM 3/24; MM 3/26; HA 3/28)

Overnight, the IDF destroys the educational studies campus of Gaza City’s al-Aqsa University, blowing up 2 buildings and bulldozing the 5.5 dunam campus, 30 dunams of surrounding agricultural land. During the day, IDF helicopters fire missiles at the home ofIslamic Jihad leader Muhammad al-Hindi in Gaza City, missing him but assassinating Islamic Jihad mbrs. Nassir Yasin and Husni Sarafiti, wounding at least 7 bystanders. IDF helicopters also fire missiles at the Rafah home of PRC leader Faraj Abu Jarrar, assassinating him, killing fellow PRC mbr. Mahmud Abu Nahal, wounding at least 6. The IDF also demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Nablus, 1 nr. Ramallah, 1 in Tulkarm r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, Hebron, Jenin, al-Maghazi, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel nr. Hebron, accompanied by IDF soldiers, bulldoze more than 10 dunams of nearby Yatta agricultural land. Jewish settlers fr. Mafdal Oz nr. Hebron seize, raze 13 dunams of nearby Palestinian agricultural land; Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus beat, threaten to kill a Palestinian fr. nearby Awarta village. Late in the evening, large formations of IDF armored vehicles gather outside the main entry points to the Gaza Strip in apparent preparation for a major incursion; Israeli security officials say that Sharon has authorized the IDF and Shin Bet to “act without limitations against top figures from all terror organizations.” (HA, MM, PCHR 3/16; PSCT, VOP 3/16 in WNC 3/18; HA, NYT, PR, REU, WP 3/17; NYT, PCHR, WP 3/18; PR 3/24)

Israel’s security cabinet approves an aggressive new campaign (dubbed Operation Continuous Story) against Palestinian militants in Gaza following the 3/14 Ashdod bombings. The IDF closes Gaza’s Erez crossing “indefinitely”; raids a mtg. of PA officials and local administrators in Jenin, arresting several participants, including the mayors of 2 local communities, 1 local council mbr.; fires on a PSF post at Netzarim junction in Gaza, seriously injuring 1 PSF officer, severely damaging the building; places a curfew on, fires on residential areas of Husan; shells residential areas of Rafah, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, heavily damaging 1, occupying a 3d as an observation post; seizes 4 Palestinian homes in Tulkarm, 2 in Balata r.c. as observation posts; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, nr. Hebron; fires on stone-throwing youths in Balata r.c., wounding 1 teenager, 3 bystanders; fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at a group of Palestinian, Israeli, international protesters demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Ramallah, wounding 15. The IDF also allows 1 West Bank administrative detainee deported to Gaza in 9/02 to return to her West Bank home. Jewish settlers fr. Beitar Ilit nr. Bethlehem, accompanied by IDF soldiers, bulldoze 5 dunams of adjacent Palestinian olive groves. (VOP 3/15 in WNC 3/17; AFP, HA 3/16; MM, PR, REU, WP 3/17; MM, PCHR 3/18; MEI 3/19; PCHR 3/25)