The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw stones and tear-gas canisters at cars traveling near Bizarya, causing injuries and damage. Israeli settlers also demolish a Palestinian-owned home, a water well, and agricultural structures and raze farmland in Shaghab Farsa in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man in Battir. Israeli forces also seize a vehicle in Jenin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians in Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian child in the Old City, claiming he tried to stab soldiers. The child succumbs to his injuries on 2/12. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Dayr al-Balah, killing at least 112 people, including at least 25 people in an airstrike on a home in Rafah. Israeli forces block the delivery of oxygen cylinders to al-Amal Hospital, resulting in the deaths of 3 patients. Al Jazeera reports that around 100 bodies are retrieved from Tel al-Hawa and Rimal in Gaza City after Israeli forces withdraw, most are killed with live ammunition. 2 Israeli soldiers are killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Marwahin, Ramyeh, Yaroun, Houla and Kfarkela, killing a member of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces in Houla. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/11; AJ, UNOCHA 2/12; UNOCHA 2/13)

More than 28,176 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 11,500 children and 7,200 women, and around 67,784 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 387 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 99 children. More than 4,426 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 227 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,314 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 45 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (WAFA 2/11; UNOCHA, UNOCHA 2/12)

Hamas says 2 Israeli captives are killed and 8 others wounded in an Israeli airstrike. (AJ, REU 2/11)

Ir Amim reports that Israel has advanced 17 plans for 8,400 new settlement units in East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023. Statistics released by the Israeli government show that the settler population in the West Bank grew by 3% in 2023 and by 15% over the past 5 years. (AJ, AP, HA 2/11; HA 2/12)

The Knesset Constitution and Judicial Committee approves a draft bill that would suspend UNRWA’s work in East Jerusalem. (WAFA 2/11)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas appoints General Abed Suleiman Abu Mahmid as the new commander of the PA security forces and Lieutenant Colonel Iyad al-Aqra as his deputy commander. Abbas also flies to Qatar. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 2/11)

U.S. president Joe Biden speaks to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah. According to the U.S. readout of the conversation, Biden said Israel should not proceed without “a credible and executable plan to ensure the safety of and support for more than one million people sheltering there.” Biden also stress the need to capitalize on the ceasefire negotiations. Netanyahu tells the Israeli cabinet that Israel will remain in control of security in all the lands between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean. Axios reports that Biden pressed Netanyahu to agree to release more Palestinian prisoners than in the previous exchange to meet some of Hamas’s demands. (AJ, AX, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/11; AX 2/12; AX 2/13)

AP reports that Egypt has threatened Israel with the suspension of their peace treaty if Israel invades Rafah. (HA, HA 2/11; AP 2/12)

The U.S. Senate advances a bill providing aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in preparation for a final vote next week. The bill passes 67-27. (AJ, NYT 2/11; NYT 2/12)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbed to injuries sustained from Israeli forces in Jenin on 11/9. Israeli settlers shot and injured a Palestinian with live ammunition in Khirbet Tana. Israeli settlers also assaulted Al Jazeera journalist Joseph Handal and vandalized his vehicle near Abu Dis. Israeli forces raided Jenin refugee camp, killing 5 Palestinians in a drone strike and injuring 14 others. The soldiers raided the Ibn Sina Hospital, detaining medical staff for interrogation, uprooted streets with bulldozers, and cut the power to several neighborhoods in Jenin during the attack. Israeli forces also shot and killed 2 Palestinians, claiming they had opened fire on them in Hebron. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and injured 5 Palestinians during raids in Kafr Dan and Dahariya. 36 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ni’lin, Hebron, Jalqamus, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian worshippers from reaching the Haram al-Sharif compound, including by attacking Palestinians and a Turkish news crew in Wadi al-Juz. Israeli forces also arrested journalist Marwat al-Azza, claiming her social media posts encourage terrorism. In Gaza, the internet was partially restored at the end of the day due to a delivery of fuel. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 40 people in Jabalia refugee camp, Khan Yunis, and Nuseirat refugee camp. Israeli airstrikes also killed several at al-Wafa Hospital, including its director. The number of fatalities was likely much higher since the Gaza Ministry of Health was unable to communicate with hospitals and civil defense members in northern Gaza. Elsewhere, Israeli forces attacked bakeries and wheat mills in the south, leaving only 1 company able to produce flour in Gaza. Al-Shifa Hospital remained under Israeli siege; the number of premature babies that had died at the hospital rose to 4 with a total 40 patients having died at the hospital since 11/16. Rockets were fired at Israel; no injuries were reported. In Lebanon, Israeli attacked several places and shot down a missile that targeted an Israeli drone. 2 anti-tank missiles were fired at Kibbutz Manara, injuring 4. In Syria, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes near Damascus, causing damage. (HA 11/16; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/17; AJ 11/18 HA 11/19)

The Gaza Ministry of Health was not able to update the casualty figures due to a collapse in services and communications at hospitals in northern Gaza, leaving the death toll at 11,479, including 4,630 children and 3,130 women, and around 32,000 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 3,250 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 198 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 53 children. More than 2,730 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 have injured since 10/7. 56 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. 73 injured Palestinians and their family members were evacuated to Egypt for treatment. Around 700 foreign nationals were also evacuated. Aid deliveries to Gaza were suspended due to the blackout of communications. Al-Amal Hospital and the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent said the 2 facilities had not had water or electricity for the past 5 days. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 11/17; UNOCHA 11/18)

Church leaders in Jerusalem issued a statement warning that Israeli settlers are trying to seize land in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. (WAFA 11/17; AJ 11/18; REU 11/19)

Israel charged 2 14-year-old Palestinian citizens of Israel with the attempted murder of an Israeli soldier. (HA 11/17)

The Israeli military suspended a soldier who was filmed throwing a stun grenade into a mosque in Budrus for their own amusement. (HA 11/17; HA 11/18; HA 11/19)

Hamas said that some of the captives it’s holding had been taken to hospitals in Gaza for treatment of “serious health conditions,” but denied that it was holding any captives in hospitals. (AJ 11/17)

The BBC said 1 of its reporters was allowed to tour parts al-Shifa Hospital with the Israeli military, filming some of the same areas that the Israeli military had published footage of previously. The BBC said that it was evident from comparing the 2 sets of footage that by the time their journalist arrived alleged Hamas weaponry had been moved around. For example, an area behind an MRI machine had a bag with 2 rifles in the BBC footage but only 1 in the Israeli military footage. The BBC also pointed out that the Israeli claim that its video was unedited was false and that the purported evidence presented by Israel did not validate the Israeli claim that al-Shifa was a Hamas command center. (X 11/17; AJ 11/19)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh met with EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell in Ramallah. Borell called for an immediate ceasefire and for Israel to abide by international law. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 11/17; AJ 11/18)

The Israeli war cabinet approved a U.S. request to allow 2 tanker trucks to enter Gaza each day with fuel, amounting to about 13,000 gallons. UNRWA said that covers about 37% of its daily needs. National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said the fuel allowed to enter constituted “roughly 2-4% of the normal quantities of fuel that enter Gaza.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the decision illegal because it had not been approved by the security cabinet and demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu change the war cabinet. The war cabinet reportedly rejected the latest proposal for a prisoner exchange. Knesset deputy speaker Nissim Vaturi said in a post on X that Israel should “burn Gaza now,” calling its attacks on Gaza “too humane.” Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant called Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar “the new [Osama] bin Laden.” (AJ, AX, HA 11/17; AJ 11/18)

Amnesty International said Israel should rescind its 11/15 order telling Palestinians in eastern Khan Yunis to flee, calling it a violation of international law. (AJ 11/17)

The U.S. said deliveries of fuel should continue on a regular basis in larger quantities. President Joe Biden spoke with Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, discussing prisoner exchange negotiations. (AJ, HA 11/17)

U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said the U.S. Congress should not allow extra funding for Israel while it attacks Gaza. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson Mike McCaul (R-TX) said Prime Minister Netanyahu had told him that he urgently needs Iron Dome interceptors, precision-guided weapons, and 155mm artillery shells. (AJ, HA 11/17)

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said he had received referrals on crimes committed in Palestine from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti. (AJ, ICC, REU, WAFA 11/17; WAFA 11/18)

X owner Elon Musk said using terms such as “decolonization” and “from the river to the sea” in relation to Israel will result in suspension from his platform. (AJ, HA 11/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Qaryut. Israeli settlers also vandalized Palestinian property, including water tanks, solar panels, and a vehicle in al-Rakiz and al-Mafqara in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and killed 6 Palestinians during raids in Halhul, Beit Fajjar, and Tulkarm. Israeli forces also shot and injured 8 Palestinian during raids in al-Khader, Tulkarm, Ya’bad, Beit Fajjar, and Halhul. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted 1 Palestinian in ‘Azzun. 70 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Dura, Nabi Salih, Qalqilya, Shu’fat refugee camp, ‘Anata, Hebron, and Nablus, including prominent activist Ahed Tamimi and senior Fatah member Marouf Rifai. The Palestinian Prisoners Commission said 2,150 Palestinians have been arrested since 10/7. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor after he allegedly stabbed 2 Israeli soldiers in the Old City. 1 of the soldiers later died of her wounds. In Gaza, telecommunications were gradually restored in the morning after Israel cut the internet and phone connection on 11/5. 252 Palestinians were killed and 1,200 injured in Israeli airstrikes. Israel said it had attacked 450 sites overnight and assassinated Hamas member Jamal Musa. Israeli airstrikes targeted al-Shifa Hospital, killing 1 and injuring 170 others, and the Nasser Medical Complex, killing at least 8. Bombardments also caused mass casualties in az-Zawaidah and Tel as-Sultan. In Lebanon, Hamas claimed responsibility for firing 16 rockets near Haifa. Israel said it attacked the launch sites. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/6; AJ, AJ, REU 11/7)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 10,022 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,100 children and 2,550 women, and 25,408 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,260 people were buried in rubble, including 1,270 children. 151 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 44 children. More than 2,386 people have been injured. Around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 injured since 10/7. 30 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. At least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. 4 ambulances carrying 17 injured Palestinians entered Egypt through the Rafah crossing. 50 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. PA health minister Mai al-Kaila said 175 medical personnel and 34 civil defense workers have been killed by Israel in Gaza since 10/7. The UN said 89 UNRWA staff members have been killed. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 36 journalists have been killed since 10/7. (AJ, AJ. HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/6; AJ 11/7)

A Palestinian man held in Israeli prison, Majad Ahmed Zaqoul, died in Israeli custody at the Ofer prison, being the third Palestinian to die in Israeli prison since 10/7. Zaqoul was working in Israel on 10/7 and was arrested by Israel shortly after. Israel has not investigated the death of the 2 other Palestinians who died while in Israeli custody since 10/7. (AJ, HA, WAFA 11/6; WAFA 11/7)

The PA refused to accept the partial transfer of its tax revenue collected by Israel after Israel decided to withhold sums earmarked for administration expenses in Gaza, in addition to the funds withheld that Israel says the PA pays to the families of Palestinian detainees and Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. The amount Israel earmarked for Gaza was $140 million a month. PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer, calling for an immediate ceasefire. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 11/6)

The Knesset approved a temporary bill banning consumption of “words of praise, sympathy or encouragement for acts of terrorism” by Hamas or ISIS. Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, demanding that the Israeli military creates “security zones around the settlements and roads” and prevents Palestinians from approaching them. (AJ, HA, REU 11/6)

Qatar condemned Israel for claiming that there was a tunnel system under the Qatar-funded Sheikh Hamad Hospital in Gaza. Israel had released a photo to back up its claims, but engineers have pointed out that the purported tunnel is for water storage. An Al Jazeera investigation later disproved the Israeli claim. (AJ, HA 11/6; AJ 11/8)

South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel, calling Israeli actions in Gaza “genocide.” The deputy speaker of the Bahraini parliament said the parliament wants to cancel the country’s normalization deal with Israel. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 11/6; HA 11/7; NYT 11/8)

The UAE said it would establish a field hospital in Gaza and that 5 aircraft carrying the necessary equipment were en route to Egypt. France said it was in talks with Egypt to set up a field hospital in the Sinai to treated wounded Palestinians from Gaza. (AJ, HA 11/6)

The 15 UN Security Council members failed to agree to a resolution on Israel’s attacks on Gaza. The U.S. insisted the council call for “humanitarian pauses” while other states demanded a call for a “humanitarian ceasefire.” UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres launched a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal to help 2.7 million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and said Gaza was becoming “a graveyard for children.” (AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 11/6; AJ, HA 11/7)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu had discussed “tactical pauses.” Axios later reported that Biden asked Netanyahu for a 3-day ceasefire to allow sufficient aid to enter Gaza. In return, Hamas would release 10-15 captives and verify the identities of the remaining captives, a proposal Netanyahu reportedly rejected. Netanyahu told ABC News that a ceasefire depended on the release of the Hamas-held captives, but that Israel could allow “tactical pauses.” Netanyahu also said Israel will maintain the “overall security responsibility” for Gaza for “an indefinite period” when Israel has finished its campaign. U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patal said in response to Netanyahu’s comments that Gaza will remain Palestinian land and that the U.S. does not support reoccupation. (AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, REU 11/6; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU 11/7; HA, NYT 11/8)

The U.S. military said a nuclear submarine had arrived in the eastern Mediterranean. The submarine was said to have not been carrying nuclear weapons but Tomahawk missiles. It was also reported that the U.S. planned to send Israel $320 million worth of Spice Family Gliding Bomb Assemblies, a precision guided munition for fighter jets. The State Department approved the shipment. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU 11/6; AJ, HA 11/7)

EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen presented 5 principles for after Israel’s war on Gaza; 1) Gaza cannot be a haven for terrorists; 2) Hamas cannot rule Gaza; 3) there cannot be a long-term Israeli security presence in Gaza; 4) no forced displacement of Palestinians; 5) no continuous siege on Gaza. Von der Leyen also announced that the EU will allocate another $27 million in aid to Gaza. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA 11/6)

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan about the situation in Gaza, agreeing to convene an extraordinary summit of the OIC in Saudi Arabia on 11/12. (HA 11/6)

The New York Times reported that the U.S. had told Hezbollah and Iran that it will intervene militarily if they attack Israel. (HA, NYT 11/6)

Haaretz reported that U.S. officials told the newspaper that Secretary Blinken got the impression that Israel does not have a strategy for what to do when its war on Gaza ends. Blinken reportedly broached the question in meetings with Israeli officials on 11/3, receiving the impression that the matter has barely been discussed. (HA 11/6; HA 11/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired flare grenades at agricultural lands near Burqa, causing fires. Israeli forces also issued 19 stop-work orders for homes, a landfill, an agricultural site, and 2 roads in Qarawat Bani Hassan. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jenin refugee camp, Surif, Sa’ir, Bayt Rima, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian minor was arrested at the Bab el-Khalil in the Old City after allegedly stabbing and injuring 2 Israeli settlers. Israeli forces also demolished 2 homes, 10 commercial structures, and a barn in ‘Anata. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jabel Mukaber. (AP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/6; MDW, PCHR 9/7; UNOCHA 9/26)

Palestinian Canadian real estate developer Khaled al-Sabawi filed a lawsuit against 6 Israeli settlers, the Israeli police, and Israeli military in the Tel Aviv District court seeking $5.2 million in damages over Israeli settler attacks on a planned residential site near Turmus ‘Ayya he has been developing. The site is located in Area B and has, according to the lawsuit, been raided 74 times between 2019 and 2022, with damage recorded 26 times and workers and clients physically assaulted on 19 occasions. (HA 9/6)

Irish foreign minister Micheál Martin met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Martin met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahyu on 9/5. (HA, WAFA 9/6)

Former Mossad director Tamir Pardo told AP that “[t]here is an apartheid state here [referring to the West Bank]. In a territory where two people are judged under two legal systems, that is an apartheid state.” Pardo further said “Israel needs to decide what it wants. A country that has no border has no boundaries.” (AJ, AP, GDN, MEE 9/6; MDW, MEE 9/7; WAFA 9/8)

23 U.S. based rights organizations called on U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken to override Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)’s block on the State Department delivering $75 million in U.S. food assistance to Palestinians through UNRWA. (HA 9/6)

Israel and Russia signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of cinema. (HA 9/7)

Moroccan Senate chairperson Enaam Mayara said he had to postpone his visit to the Knesset 1 day before being scheduled to deliver a speech to the parliament, citing a medical emergency. (AP 9/6; ALM, HA 9/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Ramallah to punitively demolish the family home of a Palestinian accused of planting 2 bombs in Jerusalem in November 2022; 35 Palestinians were injured, including 20 by live ammunition and others with baton rounds, including 2 clearly marked press photographers who were hospitalized with baton round injuries to their head and stomach. Israeli forces also raided Zweidin in the Masafer Yatta area, firing tear gas at Palestinians and seizing 1 bulldozer. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issued stop-work orders for 5 residential structures in al-Burj. Israeli forces also issued notifications to residents of al-Zawiya that Israel will seize 96 dunams (23.7 acres) of Palestinian-owned land. 27 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beita, Arrabah, Yatta, Beit Umar, and Biddu. (REU 6/7; AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MDW, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/8; NA, WAFA 6/9; AJ 6/10; PCHR 6/15; UNOCHA 6/18)

A delegation of EU diplomats visited the Ghaith-Sub Laban family in the Old City of Jerusalem to show their support as the family is threatened by expulsion from their home this month. (QDS, WAFA 6/9)

Haaretz reported that Lehava chairperson Bentzi Gopstein was advising National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and others in the Israeli police. Gopstein is facing charges for inciting racism and terrorism against Palestinians and has been barred by the High Court of Justice from running for a seat in the Knesset. (HA, JP, TOI 6/8)

Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan told reporters that Saudi-Israeli normalization would have “limited benefits” without agreement on a “pathway to peace for the Palestinian people,” after a meeting with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. Farhan also said that Saudi Arabia is developing its own nuclear program and would prefer U.S. help in its development but had other bidders too. (AP, AX, REU, REU 6/8)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Secretary of State Blinken that Israel does not consider itself bound by any agreement made between Iran and the U.S. during a phone call. It has been reported that Iran and the U.S. are close to getting back on track on Iran deal renegotiations after secret meetings in Oman last month. According to a State Department spokesperson, Blinken also said that Israel needs to uphold commitments made during the summits in Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh in the spring. (AX, HA, MEE 6/8)

The UN Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry said in its annual report that Israel is seeking to silence Palestinian civil society by labeling rights groups as terrorists. The report also said that Israel violates Palestinian human rights to ensure its permanent occupation. The commission also criticized Hamas and the PA for limiting expression of freedom. (AP, REU 6/8)

Adalah issued a position paper titled The Acceleration of the Annexation of the West Bank under the 37th Israeli Government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, outlining the ways the Israeli government is accelerating policies to annex the West Bank. The paper mentions transferring management of settlements to Ministry of the Negev, the Galilee, and National Resilience, the appointment of Bezalel Smotrich as a minister in the Defense Ministry in charge of settlements, legalizing 10 settlement outposts, building over 7,000 new settlement units, re-establishing evacuated settlements, and introducing legislation that applies to the occupied territories. (Adalah, Adalah 6/8) 

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor in Aida refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Israelis marched through the Old City, including the Muslim Quarter for the so-called Flag March, attacking Palestinians and Palestinian property and yelling genocidal and racist slogans such as “Death to Arabs,” “May your village burn down,” and profanities against the Prophet Muhammad. 3 journalists and 3 Palestinians were assaulted by the marchers. Israeli police also assaulted several journalists, including CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman. The U.S. condemned the behavior at the march as “outrageous and unacceptable.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took part in the march. Thousands of Israeli settlers, including Negev and Galilee development minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf and MKs Dan Illouz, Amit Halevi, and Ariel Kallner toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Later Israeli forces also prevented the call to prayer before the sunset prayer from al-Aqsa Mosque. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting against the Flag March along the Gaza fence, injuring 5 with baton rounds and causing tear-gas related injuries. (HA 5/16; AJ, AP, MEE, WAFA 5/17; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/18; HA, MDW, MDW, WAFA, WAFA 5/19; WAFA 5/20; MDW 5/22; PCHR 5/25; UNOCHA 6/2)

The Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant ordered Israeli Central Command chief Yehuda Funch to authorize entry of Israeli settlers to the Homesh settlement outpost and to grant the Shomron Regional Council a plot of land to create a Yeshiva on. The move was made to prevent Palestinian landowners from successfully appealing to the Israeli High Court of Justice to have the settlers cleared from Homesh and for them to regain access to their land. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the U.S. was “deeply troubled” by the Israeli decision, noting that the order contravened promises made by then Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in 2004 to the Bush administration and by the Netanyahu government to the Biden administration. The French foreign ministry also condemned the move, saying it contravened commitments made by Israel at the Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh summits in February and March. According to Axios, Israeli officials had told the Biden administration that Israel does not intend to turn Homesh into a new settlement. (WAFA 5/18; HA 5/21; AJ, ALM, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/22; AX, HA, TOI 5/23; HA, WAFA 5/24)

Haaretz reported that Israeli finance minister and de facto governor of the West Bank, Bezalel Smotrich, has stressed at closer door meetings that it is Israeli policy to improve infrastructure in Israeli settlements and outposts to prepare for an additional 500,000 Israeli settlers moving to the West Bank. Smotrich also instructed government officials to draw up plans for more checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank for settlers. The U.S. responded to the reporting saying that “we view the expansion of settlement as an obstacle to peace.” The Israeli government later said that Smotrich’s statements did not represent the policies of the Netanyahu-led government. (HA 5/18; HA 5/23)

6 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives held a press conference outside of the Capitol building criticizing the Biden administration and their colleagues for not holding Israel accountable for the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh last year and for human rights violations against Palestinians in general. The 6 members, Andre Carson (D-IN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Cori Bush (D-MO), spoke alongside members of Abu Akleh’s family. (AJ, HA 5/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 7 others during a raid in Nablus; 6 were arrested. An Israeli soldier was filmed assaulting the Palestinian human rights activist Issa Amro in Hebron. A video of the incident was circulated by New Yorker journalist Lawrence Wright, who was given a tour of Hebron by Amro at the time of the assault. The Israeli soldier was later sentenced to 10 days in military jail, despite receiving support from Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, al-Mazra‘a al-Gharibiya, Jaba’, Dura, Ein as-Sultan, and Dheisheh refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian 13-year-old allegedly stabbed and killed 1 Israeli soldier at a checkpoint in Shu’fat refugee camp before being shot and injured by a settler. 1 Israeli minor was also stabbed and injured in the Old City; Israeli police later arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian who was said to be a suspect. Israeli authorities demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Jabel Mukaber; 25 Palestinians were injured by baton rounds and 5 by tear gas while protesting the demolition. 4 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan and Jabel Mukaber. In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in Beit Hanun and Khan Yunis, causing damage. (AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/13; AJ, BBC, HA, MEE 2/14; AN, PCHR, TOI 2/16; UNOCHA 2/21)

National Security Minister Ben-Gvir ordered the Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai to increase the frequency of Palestinian home demolitions in East Jerusalem. (HA 2/14)

Israelis protested throughout Israel against the first committee reading in the Knesset of the bill that seeks to weaken the judicial branch of the Israeli government. (ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, IN, MEE, REU 2/13)

EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borell met with Saudi foreign minister prince Faisal bin Farhan and Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Brussels to discuss the Middle East peace process. (WAFA 2/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Huwwara, causing damage. Israeli forces shot and killed 10 Palestinians, including 3 by surface-to-air missiles and wounded more than 28 others during a raid in Jenin refugee camp. The PA and Hamas called the Israeli actions “a massacre” and the PA said it was halting security cooperation with Israel in response. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a protest in al-Ram against the raid in Jenin earlier in the day. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beit Umar, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 Palestinians during a raid in ‘Azzun, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and injured 4 Palestinians during raids in al-Bireh. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Bethlehem. Israeli forces also razed land in Jabara and issued notices that they will uproot 100 olive tree saplings in Khallet ad-Dabi‘ in the Masafer Yatta area. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Am’ari refugee camp, al-Bireh, Tammun, and Dheisheh refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers chanted ‘Death to Arabs’ at the Damascus Gate plaza before vandalizing an Armenian restaurant in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian child succumbed to injuries sustained on 8/5/2022 during Israel’s assault on Gaza dubbed “Operation Breaking Dawn.” Islamic Jihad fired 7 rockets into Israel in retaliation for the Israeli attacks on Jenin refugee camp. Israel later conducted airstrikes in Gaza, causing damage. (AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AP, AX, AX, HA, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/26; AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, HA, MDW, MDW, MDW, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/27; AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA 1/28; HA, MDW, WAFA, WAFA 1/29; AJ, MEE 1/30; PCHR 2/2; UNOCHA 2/3; HA 2/11)

Several countries condemned Israel’s raid in Jenin, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Oman. U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs Barbara Leaf said that the U.S. has reached out to Israel to understand the circumstances of the raid and urged the PA not to end its security coordination with Israel. The UN Security Council scheduled a closed-door session to discuss the raid on 1/27. The UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland called the raid alarming. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/26; WAFA, WAFA 1/27)

Otzma Yehudit party MK Almog Cohen tweeted in response to Israel’s raid in Jenin, “Nice and professional work by the fighters in Jenin, keep killing them.” (HA, MEE, TOI 1/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Burin, throwing Molotov cocktails at several homes. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian man working his land near Ya‘bad, causing bruises. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bazariya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Burin, injuring 2 with baton rounds and 7 with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Dayr Sharaf, injuring 1 with a baton round and 23 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Tulkarm, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Bireh, injuring 2 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters at the Jalama checkpoint, causing tear-gas related injuries. Separately, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Atuf, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also raided Dheisheh refugee camp, injuring 3 Palestinians with live ammunition. In East Jerusalem, some 70,000 Israeli settlers and racist right-wing Israeli activists marched through the Old City, chanting racist and Islamophobic slogans like “Death to Arabs,” insulting the Prophet Muhammad, and mocking the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during the annual flag march; Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the march; 81 were injured by baton rounds and pepper spray, 23 of whom were treated at hospitals. More than 60 were arrested, only 2 of which were Israeli settlers. Israeli settlers also attacked several Palestinians and their property in the Old City, including with assault and pepper spray. More than 2,500 Israeli settlers led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir also toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, raising Israeli flags. Elsewhere, after the flag march, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and their property, including several vehicles in Sheikh Jarrah, assaulting 1 Palestinian journalist covering the events for the Israeli public broadcaster Kan. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians east of al-Qarara and Gaza City; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (REU, WAFA 5/26; ALM, HA, MEE, REU 5/27; ALM, HA, MDW 5/28; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, NPR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WSJ 5/29; AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, AP, CNN, HA, HA, HA, IN, LAT, MEE 5/30; MEMO 5/31; AP, HA, HA 6/2; UNOCHA 6/4)

While speaking at Elon Moreh during an event celebrating the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the commander of the Samaria brigade Roi Zweig said that “the [Israeli] army and the settlement enterprise are one and the same.” (HA 5/30; MDW 6/3)

The Israeli government told the high court of justice that it is enforcing a ban on Israeli settlers accessing the Homesh settlement outpost. Haaretz reporting said that the Israeli military is not enforcing the ban and allows Israeli settlers to access the outpost regularly. (HA 6/2)

The Times of Israel reported that the U.S. Biden administration had shelved plans to reopen the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem and instead is promoting the deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli and Palestinian affairs Hady Amr to special envoy to Palestinians. The Palestinian Affairs Unit at the U.S. embassy to Israel will, according to the TOI reporting, begin to report to Hady Amr rather than to the U.S. ambassador to Israel. PA officials have voiced frustration with the U.S. administration for failing to fulfill its promises to Palestine and using the Israeli government coalition’s instability as an excuse. (TOI 5/29; AA 5/30; MEMO 5/31; HA 6/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 1 residential tent and vandalized a fence in Khirbet Martaba. Israeli also settlers assaulted 2 Palestinian minors in Qusra, leading to the hospitalization of 1 of them. Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians in Qusra protesting the settler attack, injuring 22 with baton rounds and tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 7 Palestinians with baton rounds during a raid in Jifna; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Ras Karkar, Beit Fajjar, and al-‘Ain refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces assaulted and detained 4 Palestinians in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/22; WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

A Jerusalem court overturned an Israeli police decision to bar 3 Jewish people from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound after they violated the ban on praying at the Muslim site. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the court decision “a grave assault against the historic status quo,” and Jordan said the ruling violates international law. Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett’s office issued a statement saying that there had been no policy change at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas said that the court decision crossed “all red lines and is a dangerous escalation.” Israeli police appealed the decision on 5/23. (AJ, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI 5/22; CNN, HA, JP, MEE, TOI, WAFA 5/23)

The 6 Palestinians who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6/2021 were sentenced to 5 years in prison for their escape and each fined $1,487. 5 other Palestinian prisoners were sentenced to 4 years for assisting in their escape. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/22)

Hamas imposed a 16.5% tax on 24 products from the West Bank, including bottled water and soft drinks. PA economy minister Khaled al-Osaily called the new taxes “illegal and not permissible within the same nation.” (ALM 6/1)

Hamas and the PA warned Israel, in separate statements, against carrying out the right-wing flag march through East Jerusalem on 5/29. (HA, MEMO 5/22)

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, who on 5/19 announced that she was leaving the Israeli government coalition, said she would resume supporting the coalition after meetings with foreign minister Yair Lapid and several mayors. Rinawie Zoabi’s reversal brought the government coalition back to an equal number of Knesset members to that of the opposition. Rinawie Zoabi told her colleagues on 5/19 that she was leaving the coalition due to Israeli attacks on Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound and at the funeral for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. She further stated that the government coalition is not a government of change but a right-wing government. (AP, AX, HA, MEMO, NYT, REU 5/22; HA 5/23)

In Iran, a colonel in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Forces, Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, was assassinated in front of his house in Tehran by 2 people on a motorbike. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said on 5/23 that the assassination is being investigated and that Iran will revenge the killing. The New York Times reported later, on 5/25, that Israel had told the U.S. that it was behind the assassination of Khodaei. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 5/22; AP, GDN, HA, IN, JP, MEE, REU 5/23; AJ, ALM, AP, HA 5/24; HA, NYT 5/25; HA 5/26; REU 5/29; REU 5/30)

Chairperson of the EU parliament’s relations with Palestine Manu Pineda was forced to cancel a trip to the occupied Palestinian territories with a group of other EU parliamentarians after Israel refused to allow him entry to Israel and his delegation access to Gaza. President of the EU parliament Roberta Metsola said on Twitter that she regretted the decision but that she would continue her visit to Israel. (HA, TOI 5/21; AJ, JP, TOI 5/22; HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/23; MEMO 5/25)

In the West Bank, 1000s of Israeli settlers with military protection marched to the partially evacuated Homesh settlement outpost, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians protesting the march; 79 Palestinians were injured. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz had originally warned that Israeli forces would not protect the settlers, but reversed that decision. The march was attended by Yamina MK Idit Silman and Religious Zionist MK Itamar Ben-Gvir. Israeli settlers also vandalized 40 olive trees in Jaba‘. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized solar panels, electric poles, and a water tank in Wadi Qana. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man using live ammunition in Hebron. 2 Palestinians were arrested in Wadi as-Samen. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Haram al-Sharif compound to make way for Israeli settlers touring the site. Around 622 Israeli settlers visited the compound. 2 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur and the Old City. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 4/19; WAFA 4/20; PCHR 4/21; HA, HA 4/25; UNOCHA 5/13)

The UAE summoned the Israeli envoy to the country, demanding that Israel cease to put Palestinian lives at risk at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, JP, MEMO, REU, WAFA 4/19; ALM 4/21)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi, and Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid in an effort to calm the situation at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spoke with Israel’s president Isaac Herzog about the situation at the compound. According to President Erdoğan’s Twitter account, he told President Herzog that he was “very upset” about the events at the compound over the weekend. (HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU, WAFA 4/19)

The UN security council convened to discuss the Israeli incursions into the Haram al-Sharif compound, which led to nearly 200 Palestinian injuries over the weekend. The meeting was requested by Jordan. (HA 4/19)

Citizen Lab found that spyware from the Israel company Cytrox was found on a CNN Greece journalist’s phone. The journalist was working on covering a Greek corruption scandal when his phone was infected with the spyware known as Predator. (HA 4/19)

In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers chanted racist slogans at Palestinians traveling near the entrance of Nabi Salih. Israeli settlers also threw stones at a Palestinian vehicle in the Masafer Yatta area, causing damage to the car. Israeli forces seized 1 tractor in the Jordan Valley. Israeli forces also blocked an agricultural road near Qusra with dirt mounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces dismantled and seized 2 residential structures in al-Ouja, displacing 12. Israeli forces also raided Bayt Liqya, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; 3 were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 32 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 at a checkpoint near Burqa and 30 during late-night raids in Abu Dis, Tuqu‘, Madama, Tell, Kafr al-Labad, Kafr Abbush, Illar, Ya‘bad, Fahma, and Tayba. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir toured Sheikh Jarrah. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/23; PCHR, WAFA 3/24; UNOCHA 4/10)

Haaretz reported that declassified material from the Shin Bet revealed that Israel funded and ran the Khaim prison together with the South Lebanon Army in the southern part of Lebanon. The documents revealed that from 1985 to 2000, prisoners in the Khaim prison were tortured and held in indefinite detention without a trial. (HA 3/23)

The Middle East Studies Association passed a resolution endorsing the BDS movement. 768 members voted in favor of the resolution while 167 voted against. (HA 3/23; WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli MK Itamar Ben-Gvir drew a gun at Palestinians, claiming they were throwing stones at settler vehicles near al-Arroub refugee camp; no injuries or damage were reported. Later in the day, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting Ben-Gvir’s actions, injuring 1 with live ammunition. Israeli settlers also stole around 200 olive trees and saplings in Kafr ad-Dik and vandalized an agricultural structure. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor in Abu Dis, claiming he had thrown a Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers while they were raiding the village. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Aida refugee camp, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 2 Israeli settlers were arrested for allegedly damaging church property in the Old City. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian, saying he had stabbed 2 Israeli police officers in the Old City; Israeli forces later arrested his brother during a house raid in al-Tur where Israeli forces took measurements for a punitive demolition. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (ABC, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/6; JP, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, WAFA 3/7; PCHR 3/10; UNOCHA 3/11)

The Israeli military spokesperson claimed that Israel had intercepted 2 Iranian drones in March of 2021, which Israel claimed to believe were transporting weapons to Gaza. (HA, MEMO 3/7)

Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked said at the Knesset that too many Ukrainian refugees that are not Jewish have entered Israel since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 2/24. Interior Minister Shaked said she was working on an approach to bring in more Jewish Ukrainian refugees. (HA 3/6; HA, JDF 3/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees in Tarqumiyah as part of an effort to make a road to the Telem settlement. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man near a checkpoint in the Nablus area; Israel claimed that the man had attempted ramming soldiers with his car; no soldier was injured. Israeli forces demolished a 2-story house in Nahalin; Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the demolition, causing tear-gas related injuries. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in Jericho. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 5. Israeli forces detained 3 Palestinian minors and seized their Palestinian flags after they had raised the flags on the Haram al-Sharif compound. 4 others were arrested in the Old City. In Israel, the Israeli member of the Knesset from the Religious Zionist party Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened 2 Palestinian Israeli parking garage employees with a gun when the 2 told Ben-Gvir not to park in a prohibited zone. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/21; MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 12/22; MEMO, PCHR 12/23)

Israeli media reported that Israel had handed over 2 Palestinians to the PA. The 2 were allegedly wanted by the PA when they were arrested in Israel. (MEMO 12/23)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with U.S. acting assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs Yael Lambert in Ramallah. (WAFA 12/21)

The Fatah central committee convened without making any significant announcements. (WAFA 12/21)

Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas supports reconciliation talks with Fatah sponsored by Algeria. The talks were 1st announced by Algeria during a meeting between president Abdelmadjid Tebboune and PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Algiers on 12/6. (MEMO 12/22)

United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas said during a conference hosted by the Hebrew newspaper Globes that “Israel was born as a Jewish state. And that was the decision of the Jewish people, to establish a Jewish state. The question is not ‘what is the identity of the state?’ That’s how the state was born, and so it will remain.” Leader of the Joint List coalition Ayman Odeh criticized Abbas’s remarks, saying that “the state’s identity should interest every citizen.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas also criticized Mansour Abbas for his comments, saying that he has abandoned his own people to side with the “Zionist colonial project.” (JP, TOI 12/21; ALM, WAFA, WAFA 12/22; HA, MEMO 12/23; HA 12/25)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog. President Herzog had said before the meeting he would raise with Security Advisor Sullivan his desire to have the yeshiva in the evacuated settlement outpost Homesh remain. 1 Israeli settler was killed at the Homesh outpost on 12/16. Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 13 reported that U.S. president Joe Biden ignored a request from Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett for a phone meeting. (TOI 12/22; ALM 12/28)

AP reported that former head of the Israeli military intelligence directorate Tamir Heyman acknowledged that Israel took part in the U.S. assassination of Iranian general Qassim Soleimani on 1/2/2020. (ABC, HILL, MEMO 12/21)

The Washington Post reported that the UAE had planted NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware on Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s then-fiancée’s phone prior to the killing of Khashoggi. The Post reported that Hanan Elatr’s devices were hacked while she was in Dubai airport due to her job as a flight attendant. While in Dubai airport, Elatr was detained and questioned as agents planted the Pegasus spyware on her devices. The Citizen Lab research group confirmed that the Pegasus spyware had been planted on her phone prior to the killing of Khashoggi. AP also reported that Citizen Lab had found Pegasus spyware on phones belonging to a Polish lawyer and a Polish prosecutor known to publicly oppose the right-wing Polish government’s attempts to undermine the judicial branch of government. (AJ, AP, HA, WP 12/21)

UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland called on Israel to cease settlement activities and displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem during a UN security council meeting. Special Coordinator Wennesland also warned that an increase in settler violence in the West Bank could ignite tensions between Hamas and Israel. (MEMO, MEMO 12/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort attempted to raid a school in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya before they were repelled by Palestinians protecting the students. Israeli forces razed agricultural lands in Birin, uprooting 120 olive and almond trees and demolishing 1 well in Khillat al-Furn. Israeli forces also raided Birzeit University, injuring 1 student with a rubber-coated bullet who was protesting the raid. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Deir Abu Mash‘al, Deir Nidham, Kafr Ni‘ma, Bethlehem, al-Walaja, Sa‘ir, al-Shuyukh, Tarqumiyah, Tulkarm, Far‘un, and Kafr al-Labad; Israel also said that it had arrested 11 students of An-Najah University in Nablus, saying they were connected to a Hamas student network. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the foundations to a house in al-Tur and demolished 1 house near the Old City. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Wadi al-Juz and Isawiya; Israeli forces confiscated 11,500 NIS ($7,300) during a raid in Sur Baher. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles north of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/14; PCHR 12/16)

Israeli Channel 13 reported that a group called Returning to the Mount are praying at the Haram al-Sharif compound by disguising themselves as Muslims while following Islamic practices of prayer, but reciting Jewish prayers. Channel 13 reported that members of the group meet to learn how to appear like Muslim worshippers. (MEMO, TOI 12/14)

The Palestinian prisoners’ club said Israeli prison guards assaulted at least 3 female prisoners in Damon prison when they refused to leave their cell. The 3 prisoners were also transferred to solitary confinement. (MEMO, WAFA 12/19; MEE, MEMO 12/20)

PA and U.S. officials held a virtual meeting discussing economic ties. The meeting was headed by PA economic affairs minister Khaled Osaily and acting assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs Yael Lambert. (MEMO, WAFA 12/15; ALM 12/18)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said settler violence is an “insignificant phenomena” in the West Bank, criticizing Israel’s public security minister Omer Bar-Lev, who on 12/13 brought up the issue in a meeting with U.S. state department undersecretary for political affairs Victoria Nuland. Prime Minister Bennett said that the settlers were the victims in the West Bank and needed the support of the Israeli government. Public Security Minister Bar-Lev subsequently reiterated his focus on settler violence during a trip to Hebron, saying that “it is truly difficult for some to look in the mirror” instead of tackling the issue of extremist settlers. (HA 12/14; HA 12/15; ALM 12/17)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate what HRW have found to be organized discriminatory behavior of Israeli law enforcement agencies when dealing with “Jewish ultra nationalist” and Palestinian citizens of Israel during the May 2021 civil unrest. HRW found that Israeli law enforcement used excessive force when dispersing Palestinians in Lydda while “failing to act even-handedly as Jewish ultra-nationalists attacked Palestinians.” (HRW, MEMO, WAFA 12/14)

Israel’s interior minister Ayelet Shaked announced that plans to construct the Trump Heights settlement in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights had advanced. The Trump Heights settlement, named after former U.S. president Donald Trump, will cover 70 acres. The announcement stated that construction of homes, public buildings, industrial zones, and roads can begin. (HA 12/14)

The Knesset passed the 1st reading of a bill that would allow Israeli police to conduct house raids in Israel without a court-issued warrant. An explanatory note to the bill clarified that the bill was intended for the Israeli police to use “in its battle against serious crime, and particularly serious crime in Arab society.” (Knesset 12/14; MEMO 12/15)

The officer of the Knesset granted the leader of United Arab List Mansour Abbas a security detail, as he was receiving a growing number of death threats. (MEMO 12/15)

The UAE said it had suspended talks with the U.S. on buying 50 F-35 fighter jets, citing “[t]echnical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis.” The announcement follows U.S. concerns about the UAE’s relationship to China, including the UAE using Huawei 5G technology. The Trump administration had agreed to allow the UAE to purchase the F-35 fighter jets as part of the UAE’s and Israel’s normalization agreement. The UAE announced on 12/3, during a visit to the country by French president Emmanuel Macron, that it would buy 80 French-made Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters. (AJ 12/3; AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, REU 12/14; REU, REU 12/15)

18 Democratic members of U.S. Congress wrote a letter to the Treasury and State Departments asking them to put sanctions on 4 foreign surveillance companies, including the Israeli NSO Group, citing the companies’ assistance in human rights abuses. Among the signatories were Senate finance committee chairperson Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House intelligence committee chairperson Adam Schiff (D-CA). (AJ, HA, MEMO, REU 12/15; +972 12/17)

Italy contributed $2.25 million to UNRWA programming in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and $1.13 million to UNRWA programming in Syria. (WAFA 12/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 mosque and 1 agricultural structure, and uprooted 60 olive trees in Duma. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during house raids in Idhna, Abu Dis, Beit ‘Anan, al-Jib, Bayt Jala, and ‘Urif; 1 was arrested at the Container checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces stormed the Dome of the Rock to prevent electric work from carrying out. Israeli forces also delivered evacuation and demolition notices to 10 Palestinian families living in 1 building in al-Tur. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in the Old City. (MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA 11/4; PCHR 11/11)

The Intercept, +972 Magazine, and Local Call jointly published an article based on a leaked 74-page Israeli-made dossier presented to European countries in May that purport to show evidence that the 6 Palestinian rights organizations deemed terrorist by Israel defense minister Benny Gantz on 10/22 are linked to the PFLP. The reporting was also based on hundreds of pages of leaked summaries from interrogations by the Shin Bet and Israeli police of 2 Palestinian accountants who are the basis of the dossier against the 6 NGOs. The 2 accountants never worked for any of the organizations and allegations against the 6’s connection to the PFLP was based on hearsay and testimony that 1 of the accountants had seen receipts used for PFLP activities like cultural events. The fact that the allegation of financing was for cultural events was omitted by Israel in the dossier. The EU alluded to the dossier in a statement from last week where it said past allegations against the organizations were never substantiated. The dossier had also been sent to member of the U.S. congress. (HA 11/2; +972, HA, HA, INT, JP, MEE, MEMO 11/4; FP, NYT 11/5; AP 11/6)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Pope Francis in the Vatican. (MEMO, WAFA 11/4; TOI 11/5)

Israel’s Knesset passed its 1st state budget in over 3 years. (ALM 11/2; ALM, AP, HA 11/3; AJ, ALM, AP, AP, HA, MEMO, NYT, TOI 11/4; HA, REU 11/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort toured Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus; 5 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others by tear gas as Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the incursion. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 41-year-old Palestinian plumber who was returning home from work near Beita; the Israeli military said it would investigate why the man was killed as Israeli forces initially reported that he was advancing toward Israeli soldiers with an iron bar. Israeli forces subsequently injured 1 with live ammunition, 19 with rubber-coated bullets, and 72 with tear gas as they violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the killing of the man. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in ‘Ain al-Hilweh against the creation of a settlement outpost, injuring 4 with pepper spray, and 1 was arrested. 3 others were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Fajjar and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian started demolishing part of his house in al-Tur. 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Sheikh Jarrah. (REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/27; AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEE, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 7/28; PCHR 7/29; HA 8/6)

The AP reported that PA president Mahmoud Abbas had fired the director of Ramallah’s national library Ehab Bseiso on 6/27 because of Bseiso’s criticism of the killing of Nizar Banat by PA forces on 6/24. PA forces also shut the office of J-Media in Ramallah. The director of J-Media Alaa al-Rimawi was previously arrested by PA forces after he gave a sermon at Banat’s funeral. (HA 7/27; MEMO, MEMO 7/28)

The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli government will not evict Palestinians living in Sheikh Jarrah for the time being if the high court of justice rules the evictions permissible on 8/2. According to a government official, the government is concerned about the optics given the international campaign and general opposition to the forced expulsions of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and the potential for causing a situation akin to the escalation of tensions between Gaza and Israel in May. (JP 7/27; MEMO 7/28)

The Knesset approved an amendment to the Basic Law of Government allowing the 2 government leaders Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid to rotate the prime minister position amongst them during the government’s 4-year term. (HA 7/28)

Iranian officials claimed that Iran had arrested members of a Mossad cell and seized weapons it had stored to allegedly use against Iranian forces during protests over water shortages in Iran. (ALM, HA 7/27; MEMO 7/28)

The U.S. arms company Lockheed Martin and the Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced an agreement in principle to develop a laser air defense system to combat rockets. (JP 7/27; ALM 7/28)

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) released an investigation into Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls from May, in which the organization found that Israel committed war crimes. The investigation focused on 3 specific Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in which 62 were killed, the majority children. The HRW concluded that there were no military targets at or near the attacked areas, despite Israeli claims. HRW also concluded that Israel used U.S.-made munitions in at least 2 of the 3 attacks it investigated. HRW said it would release a report on potential war crimes committed by Palestinian militant groups in August. (AJ, AP, BBC, HA, HRW, MEE, WAFA 7/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces started construction of a settler-only road near Hizma. Israeli forces also razed land in Jalud. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 residential structure and 1 agricultural structure in al-Twana. Israeli forces also demolished an irrigation pool in Bardala. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Dahaysha refugee camp, Awarta, Bayt Ibia, and Bayt Rima. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during a house raid in al-Tur; during the raid, Israeli forces sprayed skunk water on protesters. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya and within 6 nautical miles west of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israeli forces raided a Palestinian section of the Megiddo Prison, injuring 3 Palestinian prisoners with rubber-coated bullets. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/8; PCHR 6/10)

Fatah and Hamas senior officials were in Cairo for talks with Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. The Hamas delegation included the leader of the politburo Ismail Haniyeh and the Fatah delegation was led by secretary general of the Fatah central committee Jibril Rajoub. The 2 groups were said to be discussing stabilizing the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, and the reconstruction of Gaza. It was unclear if the Fatah and Hamas delegations were in direct or indirect talks. (ALM, HA, REU 6/8)

Israel’s security cabinet postponed the controversial Flag March, where Israeli right-wingers and settlers provocatively march throughout the Old City of East Jerusalem from 6/10 to 6/15. 6/15 would be 2 days after the new Israeli government is sworn in. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, TOI 6/8; ALM, JP 6/9)

Speaker of the Knesset Yariv Levin announced that the parliament would vote to confirm the new government on 6/13. (AJ, ALM, AP 6/8; HA 6/9)

Haaretz reported that an Israeli spyware company with ties to the Israeli military, Quadream, had sold spyware to Saudi Arabia that can infiltrate iPhones without clicking on a link, which is usually necessary to activate. The spyware enables the operator to view all information in the phone’s storage and use the phone’s microphone to eavesdrop. (HA 6/8)

Israel released 2 Jordanian citizens who had crossed into Israel from Jordan on 5/17. Jordan had earlier complained that its diplomats could not offer legal aid to the 2. (HA 6/8)

Israeli forces conducted air strikes in Syria while using Lebanese air space, reportedly killing 11 people near Homs. Israel also attacked Damascus, but the missiles were said to have been intercepted. (AP, HA, REU 6/8; AJ, FOX 6/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 10 structures in a Bedouin community north of Jericho. 10 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah, Birzeit, Jalazun refugee camp, al-Khadir, Bayt Fajjar, and al-‘Arub refugee camp; during the raid in al-Khadir, 2 minors who were arrested were injured by rubber-coated bullets. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own house in Jabal Mukabir, displacing 5. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City and Shu‘fat. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/7; PCHR 6/10)

A settler leader moved his office to the Evyatar settlement outpost near Beita after Israel told the settlers they would have to leave the outpost within 8 days. 42 Israeli settler families have moved to the outpost since 5/3. 1 member of the Knesset from Shas, Moshe Arbel, also brought construction materials to the settlement outpost. (HA, HA 6/7)

Israel’s attorney general Avichai Mendelblit said he would not intervene in the eviction case against Palestinian families in Shaykh Jarrah. PeaceNow called Attorney General Mendelblit’s decision “a cynical attempt to evade responsibility,” and said the evictions are based on “laws that [discriminate] between Israelis and Palestinians.” (AJ, HA 6/7)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with the emir of Qatar Shaykh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha. (WAFA 6/7)

The Knesset passed a bill that would allow the Shin Bet to place citizens of Israel in West Bank prisons, in the 1st of 3 votes. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel criticized the bill for being unconstitutional and for the Knesset to pass legislation about the West Bank. Joint List lawmakers warned that the bill only would apply to Palestinian citizens of Israel. (HA 6/10)

Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and UN, Gilad Erdan, visited the Associated Press headquarters in New York, meeting with AP’s president and CEO Gary Pruitt “to restore the relations between Israel and the Associated Press” in the wake of Israel’s air strike demolishing AP’s offices in Gaza on 5/15. Ambassador Erdan justified the air strike that demolished the high-rise by alleging that Hamas was using an office in the 14-story building to jam the Iron Dome missile defense system. AP said it had not been shown any evidence to back Israel’s claim. Hamas denied the Israeli claim, saying, “Israel is trying to whitewash its black image.” (ALM, AP, HA, REU 6/8; MEMO 6/10)

Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) asked secretary of state Antony Blinken, during a house foreign affairs committee hearing, where victims of Israeli crimes should seek justice, if the U.S. opposes investigations by the ICC. Secretary Blinken said in his response that Israel does provide the mechanism of accountability without further elaborating. (AJ, AP, HA 6/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer working his land near Qalqilya. Israeli forces uprooted some 100 olive trees while razing some 30 dunams (7.4 acres) of land in Jayyus. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 10 houses in Ni‘lin and Dayr Qaddis in Area B. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 2 residential tents and 2 agricultural tents, displacing 15 Palestinians in al-Buwayb in the Masafer Yatta area. Palestinians protested Israeli attacks on Palestinian and international journalists at the office of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in Ramallah. 11 Palestinians were arrested, including 10 during raids in and around Bethlehem, Nablus, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bayt Umar, Hebron, Dayr Abu Mash‘al, Idhna, al-‘Amari refugee camp, Dayr Balut, and Surayf, and 1 was arrested at a checkpoint in Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur, Silwan, and the Old City. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian was found dead in rubble resulting from Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 260 to 261, including 67 children and 3 pregnant women. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/31; PCHR 6/3)

In Gaza, electricity remained limited to 6 hours followed by blackouts for 12 hours despite repairs made to power lines that were damaged during the most recent escalation between Israel and Hamas. It was reported that the power shortages were due to Israel continuing to withhold fuel transfers to Gaza’s power plant. It was also reported that Israel continues to prevent Palestinians in need of cancer treatment from traveling to East Jerusalem for chemotherapy. (HA, HA 5/31; MEMO 6/1)

Palestinian prisoners started an open-ended hunger strike for the Israel Prison Service allow family visits, which has been prohibited since March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (WAFA 5/31)

2 Palestinians were charged with terrorism for allegedly throwing stones at 1 Jewish family traveling by car in East Jerusalem on 5/9, a day where more than 330 Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers and police. (HA 5/31)

Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar said Hamas was ready to negotiate the terms of releasing Israeli captives and the bodies of 2 Israeli soldiers held by the organization. The deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, had earlier that day warned Israel not to tie the issue of Israeli captives to aid to Gaza or to Israeli policy on Jerusalem. Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi made the opposite demand during a meeting with Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry on 5/30. Head of Egyptian general intelligence Abbas Kamel also met with Sinwar in Gaza to discuss a long-term ceasefire with Israel. (HA 5/29; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 5/31; MEMO, MEMO 6/1)

Israeli public security minister Amir Ohana backed a call by Lydda councilman Amichai Langfeld to have armed Jewish-Israeli civilians patrol the streets of the city to “protect the Jewish community” there. Jewish-Israeli member of Knesset from the Joint Arab List Ofer Cassif said such calls were incitement. (HA 6/1)

Israel and the UAE signed a tax treaty. (HA, MEMO, REU 5/31)

Israel summoned the ambassador of Mexico to Israel because of the country’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 5/27 to investigate potential Israeli war crimes. On 5/30, Israel also summoned the ambassador the Philippines over his country’s vote at the UNHRC. (JP 6/1)

More than 50 former prime ministers, foreign ministers, and senior international officials wrote an open letter calling for protecting the independence of the ICC and condemning attacks on the court. The letter mentioned Israel-Palestine as a place where, without the ICC, there “is no accountability for grave human rights violations, it is the victims seeking justice and people longing for lasting peace who are paying the price.” The letter also called allegation of anti-Semitism waged against the ICC “unfounded.” (GDN, GDN 5/31; MEMO, WAFA 6/1)

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report that Iran has failed to explain why traces of uranium were found at undeclared sites. (REU 5/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 solar panel and 15 olive seedlings near ‘Urif. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Dura and Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 13, including 5 with live ammunition and 8 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized a caravan in Sabastiyya. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tarqumiyya and Jenin refugee camp; Israeli forces also seized a vehicle during a house raid in Aqraba. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler rammed Palestinians with his vehicle near the Old City, causing injuries; Palestinians were throwing stones at the vehicle but it was unclear what transpired before the ramming, which appeared in a video. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in Shaykh Jarrah during a tour of the neighborhood by 2 Israeli lawmakers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Israeli forces attacked Palestinian worshipers with tear gas, sound bombs, and rubber-coated bullets at the Haram al-Sharif compound, injuring more than 305 people, including inside of al-Aqsa Mosque where a sound bomb caught a carpet on fire. Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian Red Crescent from entering the compound. Israel also reversed its decision from 5/9 to allow Jewish worshipers to enter the Haram al-Sharif compound for the Israeli celebration of Jerusalem Day. The Jerusalem Day march was later canceled by its organizers as Israeli police decided to prevent the settler march to go through the Damascus Gate plaza. Israeli forces also confiscated the keys to the al-Aqsa Mosque from the Islamic Waqf. Also at the Haram al-Sharif compound, Israeli police were filmed beating up an Israeli-accredited Palestinian journalist covering the events for Anadolu Agency. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 612 Palestinians were injured throughout Jerusalem, including 333 who were hospitalized. In Gaza, Israeli started a military operation later dubbed “Guardian of the Wall” after Hamas fired rockets at Israel, giving Israel hours to leave the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas had earlier in the day warned Israel that it would fire rockets at 6 p.m. if Israel did not remove its forces from the holy places. 20 Palestinians were killed, including 9 children, and dozens were injured. The casualties included: 2, including 1 child, in 1 drone strike at Jabaliya; 10, including 6 children in 2 drone strikes at Bayt Hanun, with 32 others wounded, including 12 children; and 1, with 2 injured, in an Israeli air strike in Khan Yunis. 7 were also killed, including 1 child, and 34 were injured in Jabaliya in an explosion that was not conclusively attributed to an Israeli air strike. Additionally, damage was sustained in al-Bureij refugee camp, al-Qarara, and Rafah. In Israel, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was shot dead and 1 other injured by 1 Jewish-Israeli in Lydda; 3 Jewish-Israelis were arrested. Israeli forces later violently dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters at the Lydda city hall. In Ramla, Jewish-Israelis threw stones at Palestinian-Israelis and their property and set fire to trash cans. Israeli police dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters in Nazareth, Kafr Kana, Kafr Manda, Shefa-Amr, Majdal Krum, Dayr Khana, Umm al-Fahm, Baka al-Garbiyeh, Taiba, Jaffa, Haifa, and Jaljulya; 46 were arrested. The Knesset was evacuated after a rocket from Gaza landed in the vicinity of Jerusalem. (HA 5/9; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10; ALM, HA, HA, MEE, PCHR, PCHR 5/11; ALM, HA, WAFA 5/12; WAFA 5/19; MEE 5/21; NYT 5/26)

Israel closed all crossings to Gaza and the sea for fishing as collective punishment for rockets fired at Israel. (PCHR 5/10)

The PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and the PA presidency condemned Israel’s attack on the Haram al-Sharif compound and called on the international community to take action. The PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said the Palestinian leadership is “examining all options to respond to this heinous aggression against the holy sites and the citizens.” PA president Mahmoud Abbas also discussed the situation with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/10)

Leader of the Ra’am (United Arab List) Mansour Abbas said that he had broken off contacts with Israeli opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett just before he was to have a joint meeting with them, citing the violence in Jerusalem and Gaza. Mansour Abbas met with Naftali Bennett on 5/9. (ALM, HA 5/10; ALM, HA, MEMO, NBC 5/11)

Israel attacked Syria in the Quneitra region with a helicopter, injuring 1. (HA 5/10)

Iran confirmed that it is in direct talks with Saudi Arabia to resolve the issues between the 2 countries. A Saudi official confirmed the talks on 5/7. (AJ, HA, REU 5/10)

The U.S. said 1 of its Coast Guard ships had fired 30 warning shots at 13 Iranian vessels that came too close to the ship and 6 other U.S. navy vessels. Iran said that it was the U.S. that had acted recklessly in the encounter. (AJ, HA, REU 5/10; AP, MEMO 5/11)

UN security council members met at an emergency session to discuss the situation in Palestine-Israel. No statement was issued after the meeting. U.S. state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. administration wanted to make sure that a statement would “not escalate tensions.” Spokesperson Price also refused to say if the U.S. condemned the Israeli air strike that killed 9 Palestinian children, and suggested that Palestinians, contrary to Israelis, do not have the right to defend themselves, saying that only states recognized by the U.S. have that right. (HA, MEE 5/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 electrical panel in Asira. 1 Israeli settler rammed his car into a Palestinian-owned flock of sheep in the northern Jordan Valley, killing 4 of the sheep and injuring several others; according to the Palestinian owner of the sheep, he was forced to pay for the repairs to the settler’s car by Israeli forces. Israeli forces seized 1 Palestinian-owned tractor in Birin and demolished 2 agricultural barracks in Fasayil. 19 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hizma, Bayt Kahil, Hebron, Jenin, and Abu Dis. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers set fire to the Romanian Church Monastery in the Old City, causing damage. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Issawiyya and 1 Palestinian family demolished their own house in Silwan to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested in Issawiyya. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/1; PCHR 3/4)

Israel sentenced the Palestinian lawmaker Khalida Jarrar to 2 years in prison for holding a position in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which Israel considers a terror organization. Jarrar will serve 7 months of the sentence, as she has been held in administrative detention since October 2019. Jarrar has served several years in Israeli prison for her membership to the PFLP. (ADM, HA, WAFA 3/1; AP 3/2)

Several Palestinian NGOs called on the PA to investigate rumors that some PA officials have been getting COVID-19 vaccines ahead of their turn in the formal vaccination scheme. There were also rumors about a black market for COVID-19 vaccines smuggled from Israel and available for purchase in the West Bank. (HA 3/3)

The Israeli government approved a plan to combat gun violence in Palestinian towns in Israel, allocating $45.5 million to 5 police stations and a special police unit to combat crime in the Palestinian community. Palestinian-Israeli members of Knesset criticized the plan for deferring the larger portion of it to after the Israeli elections and said that the government approvals were “crumbs” of the Israeli police budget. (HA 3/2)

Prime minister elect of Kosovo Albin Kurti said he might change the location of Kosovo’s future embassy to Israel from Jerusalem to another city after meeting with the Turkish ambassador in Pristina. Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned Kosovo about the repercussions of opening an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. (AP 3/1; HA 3/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian child outside of her home in Madama and threw stones at her family’s house; she was hospitalized for her injuries. Israeli forces demolished 1 school and 1 mosque under construction in the Masafer Yatta area and 11 vending stalls in ‘Anin. Israeli forces also prevented maintenance work to be carried out in al-Ibrahimi Mosque. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Jabal Mukabir. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/17; WAFA 1/18; PCHR 1/21)

The Israeli higher planning committee gave the final approval for 365 new settler units and preliminary approval for 415 other settler units in the West Bank as promised by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 1/11. The decision drew condemnation from the PA, EU, UN, and several Arab countries. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said he hoped that U.S. president-elect Joe Biden would work toward curbing Israeli settlement activities. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said that Prime Minister Netanyahu tried to stop Gantz’s approval of a small number of Palestinian construction projects in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s office denied the claim. (AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/17; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/18; AJ, WAFA, WAFA 1/19)

The Israel Prison Service announced that it would begin vaccinating all prisoners for the COVID-19 virus, including Palestinian prisoners. (AJ 1/17)

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas met with the heads of Jordanian, Egyptian, and PA intelligence services to brief them on the progress in Hamas-Fatah reconciliation and the upcoming Palestinian elections. (AP, JP, TOI 1/17; HA 1/18)

The Israeli minster of education Yoav Gallant instructed his ministry to ban schools from hosting representatives from organizations that “treat the IDF soldiers with contempt and call Israel an apartheid state.” Members of the Knesset have complained about B’Tselem director Hagai El-Ad’s access to speak to high school students. B’Tselem released a position paper on 1/12 explaining why the human rights organization now considers Israel an apartheid state. (HA, TOI 1/17; AJ, AP, CBS, HA, JP, MEE, TOI, WP 1/18)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 22 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, and Bethlehem; and patrol near Hebron, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 11 Palestinians during raids in Jabal Mukabir, Issawiyya, al-Tur, Shu‘fat refugee camp, and the Old City. (WAFA 12/30; PCHR 1/3)

After PA Agriculture Minister Sufian Sultan sends a message to Israel’s Agriculture Ministry informing them of his intention to reverse the PA’s 12/2 ban on imports of lamb from Israel, Israel’s Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel lifts his 12/17 ban on imports of Palestinian produce. “In light of the Palestinian agriculture minister’s notification that he is allowing the free entry of Israeli-bred lamb [into Palestinian markets], I cancel my order to block the transfer of produce from the PA to Israel,” Ariel says in a statement. Shortly after Ariel’s statement, the PA Agriculture Ministry cancels the ban on imports of Israeli produce that the PA cabinet approved on 12/27. (TOI, WAFA 12/31)

One day after Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announce the formation of their new political party, Israeli polls project that their Hayamin Hehadash will win between 6 and 14 seats in the Knesset in the upcoming election on 4/9. Hosen L’Yisrael, the new party led by former IDF Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz, is projected to win between 13 and 15 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud is projected to win between 27 and 31. (HA 12/30)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-‘Arub refugee camp near Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of the area; there are no serious injuries. They arrest 18 Palestinians during further raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli MK Yehuda Glick leads more than 100 right-wing Jewish activists on a tour of Haram al-Sharif. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 12/23; PCHR 12/27)

PLO secretary general Saeb Erakat says that the decision, announced on 12/22, to dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council “goes hand in hand with efforts of transition from the period of the Palestinian Authority to into the State of Palestine period.” (MNA 12/23)

Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians across Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank observe a general strike in protest of the so-called Nation-State Law, which codified Israel’s status as the nation-state of the Jewish people when it passed in the Knesset on 7/19/18. Israeli forces violently disperse demonstrations against the law on the outskirts of Ramallah, and in Nablus, Qalandia refugee camp, and Qalqilya, as well as 2 neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, (al-‘Izzariya and Abu Dis); 14 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian minors; there are no reported injuries. They also arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids near Hebron and Bethlehem. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering near al-Bureij refugee camp, Khan Yunis, and Jabaliya refugee camp throughout the day to protest the Israeli blockade, protest the Nation-State Law, and continue the Great March of Return; at least 44 Palestinians are injured. In the evening, several Palestinian fishing boats sail in a symbolic challenge to Israel’s blockade. They turn back to shore after Israeli naval forces fire warning shots in their direction, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli firefighters put out 4 fires in southern Israeli border communities reportedly sparked by incendiary kites or balloons flown from Gaza. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assault a number of Palestinians and damage a number of their vehicles in the Old City. Later, Israeli forces violently disperse of Palestinian minors congregating near the Damascus Gate to the Old City; 1 Palestinian is injured and 2 are arrested. They also arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Abu Dis and Hizma, sparking minor clashes in the latter. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 10/1; MNA, MNA, MNA, YA 10/2; PCHR 10/4)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct limited incursions to level land near Dayr al-Balah and Khan Yunis. They also open fire on Palestinian shepherds near Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot, injure, and then arrest a Palestinian driver near Ramallah, allegedly when he ignores their commands to stop. The IDF arrests 19 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Nablus; and patrols near Hebron throughout the day. (PCHR 3/1)

The Israeli authorities shut down border crossings in and out of the West Bank and Gaza ahead of the Purim holiday. As announced on 2/25, they plan to keep crossings closed until midnight on 3/3. (JP, MNA 2/27)

With the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem closed in protest for a 3d day, Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office releases a statement announcing the freeze of a recent Jerusalem Municipality program to collect taxes on church-owned property not directly used for worship as well as a new bill percolating in the Knesset that church leaders say would allow the government to take over church properties leased to private companies. Netanyahu says that he plans to appoint a “professional team” to find a resolution to the taxation issue. After the announcement, church officials say they will reopen on 2/28. (EI, REU, WAFA 2/27; HA, MNA, WAFA 2/28)

For an 8th day in a row, Palestinians across the oPt gather to protest U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Israeli forces violently disperse them in and around Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, the Old City of Jerusalem, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp and Bayt Hanun. At least 36 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops patrol near Hebron during the day. Approximately 233 Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning, marking the start of Hanukkah. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 12/14; PCHR 12/21)

Approximately 100,000 Palestinians gather in Gaza City at a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of Hamas. Top party officials address the crowd and pledge to continue protests against U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (AP, TOI, YA 12/14)

A spokesperson for the Israeli Knesset announces that U.S. VP Pence’s trip to Israel, which was set for 12/17–19, has been postponed amid the growing unrest across the Middle East over U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “[The Americans] told us it was because of the votes on tax reform in Congress,” he says. (HA, TOI, YA 12/14)

Leader of the messianic Temple Mount movement and ultranationalist MK Yehuda Glick (Likud) and MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Jewish Home) visit Haram al-Sharif under heavy police protection. Their visit follows Israeli PM Netanyahu’s decision to temporarily lift his ban on MKs and ministers visiting the sanctuary for 1 day only (Netanyahu initially imposed the ban in 10/2015 amid escalating violence across the oPt; see JPS 45 [2, 3]). Israeli forces plan to assess today’s visit and to make a recommendation about the ban’s future. A spokesperson for the Islamic Waqf says the decision to lift the ban is “unacceptable” and shows that “extremist right-wing entities are in control of the Israeli occupation’s government.” Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian in the Old City and another during a raid in Abu Dis. In the West Bank, IDF troops escort hundreds of Israeli settlers to visit Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus overnight, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths from nearby Balata refugee camp; 2 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids near Hebron and Bethlehem, and patrol in and around Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian Bedouin homes near Hebron, causing minor damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 8/29; TOI 8/30; PCHR 9/1; PCHR 9/14)

Israeli ambassador to Egypt Govrin flies to Cairo to resume his post. Along with 8 staffers, he will work out of his home rather than in the Israeli embassy, which was evacuated due to security concerns in 12/2016. (AP, TOI 8/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raze Palestinian land near Hebron to make space for the expansion of a nearby settlement. The IDF arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid near Bethlehem, and patrol near Hebron and Qalqilya during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in the Old City. Approximately 300 Israeli settlers, accompanied by several members of Knesset (MKs), establish a synagogue in Silwan, while Israeli forces cordon off the area, restricting Palestinian movement. (MNA, WAFA 8/24; PCHR 9/1)

U.S. pres. Donald Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner meets with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in the morning in Tel Aviv. He says that Trump is “committed to finding a solution that will bring prosperity and peace” to the region. Netanyahu’s office later says that the meeting was “effective and significant.” No further details are made public. Kushner later discusses the Trump administration’s peace efforts with Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. He reportedly says that the Trump administration is planning to present a peace plan to the Palestinians and Israelis within 3–4 months, and asks Abbas to refrain from unilateral moves in international fora in the meantime. After the meeting, the PA releases a statement: “The PA and the U.S. delegation had a productive meeting focused on how to begin substantive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Both sides agreed to continue with the U.S.-led conversations as the best way to reach a comprehensive peace deal.” (HA, REU, TOI, WAFA 8/24; MNA, NYT 8/25)