The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 2 Palestinians in Ma’in, causing light injuries. Israeli settlers also set fire to a Palestinian-owned vehicle in Rujeib. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling between Jenin and Nablus. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in Burin, demolished parts of a house, and set fields on fire. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian child during a late-night raid in Tubas and injured 1 other by running him over. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in al-Fawar refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint near Huwwara, claiming he had tried to attack 2 Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 2, including 1 with live ammunition. Separately, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Yatta, injuring 1 with live ammunition and 2 with rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Umar, injuring 1 minor with live ammunition and 3 others with rubber-coated bullets. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in Bethlehem, Harmala, al-Khadir, and Dayr Sharif, resulting in tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 3 using rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Tulkarm, injuring 3 with live ammunition. 40 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, al-Fawar refugee camp, Nablus, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 2 Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian with a sharp tool, slicing her face as she was leaving the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Tur, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet; others suffered tear-gas related injuries and 2 were arrested. 6 other Palestinians were arrested during house raids in the Old City, Jabal Mukabir, Silwan, and Shu‘fat. In Gaza, 34 Palestinians were killed, including 6 children, and dozens injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 30 to 64, including 16 children. The casualties included: 4 in a drone strike on a car east of Bayt Lahiya; 8, including 3 children, in 3 air strikes on apartment buildings in Gaza City; 1 child in an air strike on a butcher in Gaza City; 6 in a drone strike on a car in Gaza city, including 3 inside the car and 3 passersby; 1, and 1 wounded, in another air strike on a vehicle in Gaza City; 1 in an air strike in Khan Yunis; 1 in an air strike on agricultural lands near Khuza‘a; 4, and 2 injured, in a drone strike on Nuseirat refugee camp; 2, and 1 child injured, in an air strike on a liquefied petroleum gas distribution vehicle in Khan Yunis; 2, and 3 wounded, including 1 child, in an air strike on a house in Khan Yunis; 2, and 2 wounded, all children, after a helicopter fired missiles at a gas station in al-Fukhari; and the body of 1 Palestinian was found in rubble near Bayt Hanun, it was assessed that he was killed in an air strike on 5/10; the body of 1 Palestinian was found near a mosque in Rafah, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said it was unclear if he had been killed by debris from an intercepted rocket or in an Israeli air strike. Hamas reported that the interior ministry and the passport office along with other government buildings had been hit by Israeli air strikes. Israeli air strikes also demolished 2 high-rise buildings, the 10-story al-Jawhara building, and the 14-story al-Shorouq building, which housed news outlets and other offices, and the headquarters of the interior ministry and UNRWA schools. In Israel, 1 Israeli soldier was killed and 2 injured from an anti-tank missile fired from Gaza and 1 child succumbed to injuries sustained in Sderot, raising the Israeli death toll to 7. Dozens of rockets were also fired at Israel from Gaza, most of them intercepted. A mob of Jewish-Israelis pulled 1 Palestinian-Israeli out of his car and beat him while tv cameras were rolling in Bat Yam; the man was said to be in serious condition. A mob of Jewish-Israelis also raided a number of Palestinian-owned businesses in Tel Aviv, causing severe damage. 1 Jewish-Israeli man was attacked by 5 Palestinian-Israelis in ‘Akka; he was said to be in serious condition. Jewish-Israelis also attacked a tent set up to mourn the death of 1 Palestinian-Israeli who was shot by a Jewish-Israeli on 5/10 in Lydda, throwing stones at the mourners. Elsewhere in Lydda, 1 Jewish-Israeli was shot and injured and 2 more were injured in stabbings, 21 Palestinian-Israelis were injured, including 1 by gunshot. Israeli police announced a nighttime curfew in Lydda from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. 1 Palestinian-Israeli man was injured when rammed by a car­ and beaten near Or Akiva. 1 Palestinian-Israeli was lightly injured by a mob of Jewish-Israelis while driving in Tiberias. 1 Jewish-Israeli was injured in a stabbing incident in Tamra. A mob of Jewish-Israelis also attacked 1 Palestinian-Israeli in Haifa. (AJ, NYT 5/11; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, BBC, CNN, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/12; AP, CNN, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; PCHR 5/14; TOI 5/16; HA 5/18; WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/20; MEE 5/21; HA, NYT 5/26; HA 5/27)

1 Palestinian prisoner suspended a 56-day-long hunger strike as Israel promised not to renew his administrative detention after 7/17. (WAFA 5/12)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas discussed the current situation with EU high representative Josep Borrell, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Iraqi president Barham Salih. A White House statement also said that U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with President Abbas and they discussed “the violence in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and the Secretary expressed his condolences for the lives lost as a result. The Secretary condemned the rocket attacks and emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions and bring the current violence to an end.” (HA, WAFA 5/12)

At a security cabinet meeting, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers decided not to accept a potential ceasefire and continue its attack on Gaza for the time being. (HA 5/13)

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin condemned what he called a “pogrom” by “an Arab mob” on 5/11, despite the majority of the violence in Israel being perpetrated against Palestinian-Israelis. (HA 5/12)

Turkey said that its president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin had discussed the situation in Jerusalem and Gaza, and that Turkey had called for international action against Israel. (AJ, AP, REU 5/12)

U.S. president Joe Biden said, during a press conference, that he believes that “Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying in your territory,” and that his “hope is that we’ll see this coming to conclusions sooner than later.” President Biden also spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, where he gave his “unwavering support for Israel’s security and for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people, while protecting civilians,” according to the readout. The Biden administration also dispatched deputy assistant secretary of state for Israel and Palestine Hady Amr to Israel for talks with Palestinian and Israeli officials. The White House said that senior officials have had more than 25 calls with officials from Israel, the PA, Qatar, Tunisia, Jordan, and Egypt about the situation. (HA 5/12; NYT 5/13)

25 house democrats signed a letter circulated by Marie Newman (D-IL) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) urging secretary of state Antony Blinken to condemn the planned evictions of Palestinian families from Shaykh Jarrah. (HA 5/13)

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that she was following the situation in Gaza and Jerusalem with concern. (MEE, REU, WAFA 5/12)

The UN security council held a 2d meeting in 3 days to discuss the escalation of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. (TOI 5/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted dozens of almond trees and grapevines in Bayt Umar and threatened the Palestinian landowners with guns. Israeli forces razed Palestinian-owned land in ‘Ayn Bus and seized 1 greenhouse in Bethlehem. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition as he was trying to enter Israel for work through the separation barrier near Far‘un. Elsewhere, Israeli forces dismantled and seized 1 agricultural structure in Tuqu‘. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian at the Qalandia checkpoint, claiming he wanted to stab a soldier with a screwdriver. 15 others were arrested during raids in and around Qabatiya, Jenin refugee camp, Burqin, Ramallah, Kafr Malik, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 7 nautical miles northwest of Rafah. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/12; PCHR 1/14)

The Israeli government told its high court of justice that it had delivered 100 COVID-19 vaccine doses to the PA and that more doses would arrive in some 10 days. The PA health ministry denied having received any doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Israel. (HA, WAFA 1/13)

The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem released a position paper “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: this is apartheid,” calling Israel an apartheid state. B’Tselem argued that the distinction between Israel proper, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza has been obfuscated so that “the entire area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River is organized under a single principle: advancing and cementing the supremacy of one group—Jews—over another—Palestinians.” B’Tselem said it no longer could treat the occupied Palestinian territories as distinct from Israel as it has in the past and therefore needs to treat the area as 1 entity operating as an apartheid state. 2 particular developments led B’Tselem to change its viewpoint: the Nation-State law and the threats of annexation of Area C. Several Palestinian human rights organizations including al-Haq and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have already called Israel an apartheid state. (AQ 11/12/2019; +972, AJ, AP, B’Tselem, CNN, GDN, HA, IN 1/12)

Israel attacked several places in Dayr al-Zur and Abu Kamal in eastern Syria with airstrikes, killing 57 people and wounding at least 37. According to a U.S. intelligence official, the strikes were made with intelligence from the U.S.; U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo had discussed the airstrikes with Mossad director Yossi Cohen at a D.C. restaurant on 1/11. Secretary Pompeo also announced that the terrorist group Al Qaeda has a home base in Iran without providing any evidence, a charge the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called “warmongering lies.” On 1/10, Secretary Pompeo said that the Houthi rebels in Yemen would be added to the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, a designation many humanitarian organizations lambasted as it will make it impossible to deliver aid to the civilian population living in Houthi-controlled areas who are heavily hunger stricken. (REU 1/10; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU 1/11; AJ, AJ, REU, REU 1/12; AA, AJ, FOX, HA, HA, HA, JP 1/13; HA 1/15; HA, HA 1/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 4 Palestinian homes under renovation in al-Khadir village near Bethlehem and a Palestinian home under construction in Bayt Umar near Hebron. IDF troops assault and arrest 1 Palestinian, arrest 8 others, and issue 1 arrest summons during raids near Ramallah, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian vehicle near Qalqilya, injuring a Palestinian infant. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid the PA’s Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs headquarters and another Palestinian administrative office in al-Dahiya, confiscating files related to the sale of a home in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City and lightly injuring 5 Palestinians who confront them. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians during raids in Qalandia refugee camp, al-Tur, Hizma, and Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/4; MNA, WAFA 11/5; PCHR 11/8)

The Palestinian who IDF troops shot and injured along Gaza’s border fence on 11/3 succumbs to his injuries. (MNA 11/4)

Al-Hayat reports that Fatah officials accepted an Egyptian proposal to mediate a “calm” between Israel and Hamas, marking a break from PA president Mahmoud Abbas’s previous stance. Meanwhile, Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman reportedly spars with the rest of the Israeli cabinet over the proposed “calm” in Gaza. He is reportedly in favor of a violent strike on Gaza in an effort to assert calm, rather than making any concessions to Hamas. (AH, TOI, TOI 11/4)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians demonstrating against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian is injured. An IDF patrol in Bayt Umar near Hebron sparks further clashes; 3 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah and Bethlehem; and patrol near Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. Israeli settlers assault and injure an elderly Palestinian in Hebron. (WAFA 7/28; MNA 7/29; PCHR 8/2)

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained when Israeli snipers opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border on 7/27. His death brings the Great March of Return death toll to 138. (EI, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/28)

Along Gaza’s border fence, Israeli firefighters put out 5 fires reportedly sparked by incendiary kite and balloon attacks from Gaza. IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmland near al-Bureij refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Bayt Umar near Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no injuries. They arrest 5 Palestinians on further raids in and around Qalqilya, Nablus, and Hebron; and patrol near Hebron. Israeli settlers verbally and physically assault Palestinians in central Hebron; there are no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinian minors during a raid in Shaykh Jarrah. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 6/30; PCHR 7/5)

For a 7th 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 (attendance continues to steadily decline). Israeli forces violently disperse protestors in Hebron and 3 nearby villages (Dura, Bayt Umar, and Halhul), outside the Beit El settlement near Ramallah, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near al-Bureij refugee camp, Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis, and Rafah; at least 26 Palestinians are injured, including 1 journalist, and 5 are arrested. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently detain 2 Palestinian youths inside an ambulance in Halhul; arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Hebron and near Ramallah; and patrol in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian students outside a school in Burin village near Nablus, sparking minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya and Abu Dis. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 12/13; MNA, PCHR 12/14)

Unidentified parties fire 3 rockets from Gaza toward Israel in the evening; 2 are intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system and 1 falls in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. The IAF conducts air strikes on at least 5 Hamas sites across Gaza, causing damage but no injuries. The Israeli authorities announce that both the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings will be closed indefinitely as collective punishment for the week of rocket attacks emanating from Gaza. (HA, TOI 12/13; HA, PCHR, WAFA, YA 12/14; PCHR 12/21)

At an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, reps. of the 57 OIC members jointly declare East Jerusalem to be the capital of the State of Palestine and urge all countries to recognize Palestine. Addressing the attendees, PA pres. Abbas says that Israel’s violations and of international law free the Palestinians from prior commitments made in context of the peace process, threatens to abandon the PA’s security coordination with the IDF, and announces the Palestinians’ intention to go to the UNSC for full UN membership. (AFP, HA, NYT, REU, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/13)

Israeli police and border guards conduct a series of raids in Issawiyya late at night, arresting at least 50 Palestinians, including 23 children. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal olives harvested from 260 trees in Palestinian orchards near Nablus. IDF troops and Israeli settlers assault Palestinian students in central Hebron, claiming they were throwing stones. When Palestinian teachers intervene, the Israeli soldiers arrest 1 of them. Outside Hebron, Palestinian students throw stones at IDF troops stationed near Bayt Umar, causing no injuries; 1 Palestinian is arrested. IDF troops violently disperse the Palestinians, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli settlers throw stones at several Palestinian homes in Umm al-Khayr, sparking a minor altercation with the residents of the village. Meanwhile, the IDF arrests 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Jenin and Tulkarm, and patrols near Tulkarm, Ramallah, and Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands near Bayt Hanun, causing no damage or injuries. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home in Lydda. It was reportedly built without the proper permits. (WAFA 10/22; HA, YA 10/23; MNA 10/24; PCHR 10/26)

Hamas announces that 2 members of its armed wing died this morning in tunnel collapses near Gaza City and Khan Yunis. The group offers no further details. (MNA, TOI 9/15)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Hebron, north of Bethlehem, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp; 6 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct a raid in Bayt Umar near Hebron overnight, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 1 Palestinian and confiscate several surveillance cameras during raids near Ramallah and Salfit, and patrol near Jenin, Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Salfit. Israeli settlers cut down 12 olive trees in a Palestinian orchard near Nablus overnight. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/15; MNA 9/16; PCHR 9/21)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver n. of Hebron after he allegedly rams a group of Israeli soldiers, injuring 2, according to the IDF. The IDF later raids the driver’s home nearby and interrogates his brother. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 2 Palestinian families building homes in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. IDF troops conduct raids in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, sparking minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in and around Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus; and patrol nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. (HA, JP, MNA, PNN, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/18; PCHR 7/20)

Amid heightened tensions at Haram al-Sharif, Israeli forces violently disperse Muslim worshippers gathered outside the sanctuary to protest the new Israeli security measures; at least 2 Israeli police officers and 14 Palestinians are injured (1 seriously). The Israeli police remove 1 Jewish settler from the sanctuary after he starts to pray. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians, including 1 Islamic Waqf employee, during raids in Silwan and other areas of the city. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/19; PCHR 7/20)

The Saudi press reports that King Salman has sent a message to the Israeli govt. via the U.S. calling for Israel to reopen Haram al-Sharif to Muslim worshippers without the new security measures. Israeli PM Netanyahu reportedly sent a message back to Salman saying that the status quo would remain at the sanctuary, and inviting Saudis to inspect it for themselves. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/28)

In the West Bank, IDF troops escort a small group of settler rabbis to visit a mosque in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron early in the morning, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of the village; 3 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest a Palestinian in c. Hebron when he is found to be carrying a knife, and assault a Palestinian girl during a raid in Hebron. The IDF arrests 3 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Jenin and Nablus, and patrols nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. Approximately 500 Israeli settlers gather on a road between Nablus to Ramallah, blocking traffic. In East Jerusalem, approximately 123 Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 6/29; MNA 6/30; PCHR 7/6)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Qalandia checkpoint, Abud, Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Beita nr. Nablus, Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron and nearby Bayt Umar, and along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c. and al-Bureij r.c.; at least 8 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF patrols nr. Hebron and Nablus. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian shops in c. Hebron, causing minor damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 5/26; PCHR 6/1)

In response to COGAT’s 5/25 announcement of a reduction in Israel’s electricity supply to Gaza, Hamas releases a statement threatening “consequences” if the reductions are implemented. Meanwhile, UN special coordinator Nickolay Mladenov says that the energy crisis in Gaza is affecting water supplies and health services, which could spark another war. (AFP, MNA 5/26)

Palestinians in the West Bank, Israel, and across the world join in a general strike in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners’ Dignity Strike. IDF troops violently disperse protesters at the Qalandia checkpoint, Nabi Salih nr. Ramallah, ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, outside Dayr Sharaf nr. Nablus, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c.; at least 10 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Bethlehem. No Israelis are injured. They also arrest 5 Palestinian youths throwing stones at an Israeli settlement nr. Jericho; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. Approximately 4,000 Jewish settlers, as well as former Arkansas gov. Mike Huckabee, visit Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and stone-throwing Palestinians; 2 Palestinians are arrested. IDF troops also conduct raids in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Jabal Mukabir, Silwan, and Ras al-Amud. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis and agricultural areas nr. al-Maghazi r.c. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Rafah twice, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 5/22; PCHR 5/25)

Upon his arrival in Israel, U.S. pres. Trump gives a short speech on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport to a crowd of Israeli leaders, including PM Netanyahu. (The Israeli PM reportedly orders his ministers to greet Trump on the tarmac after many, including several party heads, said they were not planning to attend). “We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to this region and to its people, defeating terrorism and creating a future of harmony, prosperity, and peace,” Trump says, referencing the peace initiative he hopes to advance during his visit to Israel. “But we can only get there working together. There is no other way.” Trump then meets with Israeli pres. Reuven Rivlin and visits the Western Wall, the first time a sitting U.S. pres. has done so. In his major policy speech of the day, Trump links the fight against Iran with Israeli-Palestinian peace, saying that the Arab states are willing to work with Israel to normalize relations, if Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian lands. (HA, NYT, TOI 5/22; HA 5/23)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the settler killing of a Palestinian nr. Nablus on 5/18, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Qalandia checkpoint, Abud, Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), 2 nr. Nablus (Beita and Bayt Dajan), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron and nearby Bayt Umar, Bethlehem, Dayr Istya nr. Salfit, along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c., and Gaza City; at least 11 Palestinians are injured and 12 are arrested. The IDF also arrests 5 Palestinians during raids nr. Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Ramallah; and patrols nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/25)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements, and in solidarity with the 1,500-plus hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners observing the Dignity Strike, in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and al-Bireh), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, and Nablus; 1 Palestinian is killed and at least 66 are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF arrests 1 Palestinian during a raid nr. Hebron, and patrols nr. the city throughout the day. Israeli settlers throw stones at a vehicle belonging to the chief of the Palestinian police in Ramallah, causing minor damage. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 5/12; MNA 5/13; PCHR 5/18)

Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists hold protests across the West Bank in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 4/17. IDF troops violently disperse them in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, 2 villages nr. Nablus (Beita and ‘Azmout), and Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; at least 9 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. The IDF also patrols in al-Mughayyir nr. Ramallah, sparking minor clashes (there are no serious injuries); arrests 2 Palestinians during raids nr. Ramallah and in Nablus; and patrols nr. Hebron and Salfit. Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli settlers gather in Tuqu‘ nr. Bethlehem, blocking the village’s main road, to protest recent alleged incidents of Palestinians throwing stones at their property. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 5/5; PCHR 5/11)

Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinians and their homes on the outskirts of ‘Urif village nr. Nablus, injuring 1 homeowner and sparking minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. IDF troops patrol in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. They also violently disperse Palestinians protesting the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya (2 protesters are injured); arrest 13 Palestinians during latenight raids nr. Tulkarm, Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Qalqilya, Nablus, and Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 15 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 4/29)

The Israeli authorities shut down border crossings to and from the West Bank and Gaza Strip this evening, with an exception for humanitarian cases. They plan to keep the crossings closed until 5/2, Israel’s Independence Day. (MNA, TOI 4/29; HA, JP 4/30; PCHR 5/4)

Approximately 100 Palestinian prisoners join the Dignity Strike that 1,500 of their fellow hunger-striking prisoners declared on 4/17 (the IPS says that there are only around 1,200 participating). Meanwhile, Israeli forces forcibly disperse Palestinians holding a sit-in in c. Bethlehem in solidarity with the prisoners. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate later says that 13 journalists were injured covering the sit-in. (MNA, 4/29; MNA 4/30)

A West Bank Palestinian stabs and injures 4 people in Tel Aviv before the Israeli police arrest him. Hours after the attack, COGAT suspends single-day work permits granted to various organizations and groups to allow Palestinians to enter Israel and begins an investigation into the matter. The alleged attacker hailed from Nablus and obtained one such permit from a group called Natural Peace Tours, which facilitates relationships between individual Israelis and Palestinians. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/23)

In the West Bank, the IDF shuts down the main entrance to a group of villages nr. Ramallah. It’s unclear what prompted the closure. IDF troops shoot and injure 3 Palestinians during clashes sparked by reports of stone throwing in Kafr Malik village nr. Ramallah; establish mobile checkpoints outside Bayt Umar, sparking further clashes (there are no serious injuries). Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Ramallah and Hebron, and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 1 arrest summons during raids in Silwan. An Israeli settler driver allegedly rams and injures 2 Palestinian youths s. of the city, sparking minor clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the area; there are no serious injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/23; PCHR 4/27)

The International Comm. of the Red Cross (ICRC) announces that it may consider the Palestinian prisoners’ demand for increased family visits, which they made in the context of the Dignity Strike. The ICRC used to coordinate 2 family visits per prisoner per mo. In 5/2016, however, the organization reduced the monthly visits to 1 due to an increased number of “no-shows” on the part of the families, according to an ICRC spokesperson. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians marching from c. Ramallah to the Beit El checkpoint in solidarity with the prisoners; 3 Palestinians are injured. (TOI 4/23)

Israeli forces launch an air strike on a proSyrian govt. militia group nr. Qunaytra in the Golan Heights, killing 3 soldiers, according to a statement from the group. The IDF does not comment on the strike. (HA, JP, TOI 4/23)

A Palestinian youth succumbs to complications related to a congenital heart defect after the Israeli authorities refuse to permit him passage from Gaza to Israel or the West Bank for medical treatment. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth collecting firewood nr. the border fence outside Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, IDF troops confiscate a Palestinian vehicle during a raid in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids nr. Hebron and Ramallah, as well as in Jenin, and patrol nr. Salfit and Hebron during the day. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian police officer nr. Nablus, causing minor injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City and again nr. Khan Yunis and Bayt Lahiya, injuring 1 fisherman. (MNA, WAFA 1/14; MNA 1/15; PCHR 1/19; MNA 1/22)

PA pres. Abbas inaugurates the new Palestinian embassy at the Vatican after meeting with Pope Francis. The Vatican formally recognized Palestine as a state on 6/26/ 2015. (AFP, HA, LF, REU, WAFA 1/14)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse tens of Palestinians protesting settlement expansion nr. Tubas; 1 Palestinian photojournalist is assaulted and injured. They also conduct raids in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. The IDF issues 1 Palestinian an arrest summons during a late-night raid nr. Hebron, and patrols nr. Hebron during the day. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian building a home nr. Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In Israel, an Israeli stabs and injures a bedouin shopkeeper on a street in Ashdod. (MNA, WAFA, YA 1/5; PCHR 1/12)

Hamas and Fatah officials meet in Doha to discuss Palestinian national reconciliation. They also discuss preparations for a follow-up meeting in Beirut on 1/10. (MNA 1/5)

Hundreds of Palestinians attend a funeral in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron for a Palestinian whose corpse was returned by the Israeli authorities on 12/16. After the funeral, Palestinian youths throw stones at IDF troops at the village’s entrance, sparking minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians during raids nr. Hebron and Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In East Jerusalem, an argument between Israeli settlers and Palestinian youths escalates into a fistfight in Silwan. Israeli forces in the area violently disperse the fight, lightly injuring 1 Palestinian. Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians and issue 3 arrest summons during raids in the neighborhood after the incident. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmlands nr. Khan Yunis, causing no serious damage or injuries. (MNA 12/17; PCHR 12/22)

French amb. to the UN François Delattre confirms that Paris is postponing the peace conference originally planned for 12/21 to sometime in 1/2017. “After nearly a year of efforts, France will hold during [1/2017] an international conference bringing together all the states [seeking] peace,” he says (YA 12/17)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions for the 1st of 3 planned days. (MNA, WAFA 12/17)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops raid several areas nr. Tubas, confiscating a garbage truck and tractors, and delivering several stop-work orders to Palestinians constructing a power line. They also arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Hebron, and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a children’s center in Silwan following reports of stone throwing in the area; they make no arrests. Late at night, they arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian man as he attempts to cross into Israel. (IMEMC, MNA, TOI 12/9; PCHR 12/15)

The Israeli govt. informs the High Court of Justice that it has decided to return 7 corpses of Palestinians killed in violent attacks against Israelis in recent mos., but only if the families agree to certain conditions. The decision comes in response to the families’ petitions. The Israeli authorities say that the cases of 3 other corpses must be studied further because of their relation with Hamas and the security cabinet’s 12/8 ruling on the matter. (HA, MNA, YA 12/9)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. They also raid the Ramallah-area home of the Palestinian killed during an alleged stabbing attack on 11/3, and interrogate and detain his family. The IDF arrests 7 Palestinians and confiscates personal property during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, and Ramallah; and patrol nr. Hebron and Salfit during the day. Around 20 Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinians picking olives nr. Ramallah, injuring 3 (1 critically). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Hizma and nr. the Old City. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 11/5; HA 11/6; PCHR 11/10)

Amid the ongoing conflict in Syria, Hamas closes its office in Damascus in a symbolic effort to distance the group from Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad. (PIC 11/6)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver at a junction nr. Bayt Umar after he allegedly rams them, lightly injuring 3. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct a raid nr. Salfit, setting up flying checkpoints to secure an area for Israeli settlers to enter the area. Hundreds of settlers then tour Kafr Haris village. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Ramallah, Nablus, and Qalqilya; and patrol nr. Ramallah, Hebron, and Qalqilya during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault and arrest a Palestinian accused of stone-throwing nr. the Old City, and arrest 7 more Palestinians during raids in Silwan and al-Tur. Meanwhile, an Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian in Silwan, causing minor injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands nr. Gaza City, causing no serious damage. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/30; PCHR 11/3)

Israel’s Coordination and Liaison Admin. to the Gaza Strip announces that Israel will increase the supply of water to Gaza now that a new reservoir has been constructed. The reservoir can retain around 5,000 m3 of water, allowing for an increase in annual transfers of water from 1.5 m. to 3 m. m3 (MNA 10/31)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian child along Gaza’s border nr. Khan Yunis, according to Palestinian witnesses. The IDF will deny any involvement in the shooting. Also along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians hunting birds nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries or major damage. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue their general closure across the oPt for Yom Kippur and bar non-Jewish visitors from al-Ibrahimi Mosque in c. Hebron. Also in the Hebron area, the IDF shuts down the main entrance to Bayt Umar village, temporarily shuts down some shops, conducts a series of raids in the area, and detains a number of Palestinian youths. IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians on further raids nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct heavy raids in al-Ram for the 2d day in a row, sparking renewed clashes with Palestinian youths; several Palestinians are injured. They also close down the main entrance to Issawiyya as collective punishment after arresting 5 Palestinians accused of throwing Molotov cocktails. Israeli settlers assault Palestinians and their homes in Silwan, sparking minor clashes between Israeli forces in the area and stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. (MNA, WAFA 10/12; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 10/13; PCHR 10/20)

Amid an upswing in tension across the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and seriously injure a Palestinian after he allegedly stabs and moderately injures an Israeli officer outside the Efrat settlement nr. Bethlehem. IDF troops on a patrol nr. Jenin clash with and violently disperse stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 4 Palestinians are arrested. They arrest 3 more Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Nablus; and patrol throughout the day nr. Nablus, Hebron, and Salfit. Israeli forces shut down the entrance to Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron to allow for maintenance work on an IDF watchtower in the area (the work will continue through 9/22). Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities return the body of the Jordanian killed on 9/16 to his family via the Allenby border crossing. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Ras al-Amud, Issawiyya, and Silwan. (MNA, YA 9/18; PCHR 9/22)

Israeli PM Netanyahu authorizes the extension of his ban on mbrs. of the Knesset (MKs) visiting Haram al-Sharif ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, which he implemented during the habba, the surge of Palestinian resistance, random attacks, and protests that began in Jerusalem in 9/2015. (TOI 9/18)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing overnight and allow 474 Palestinian pilgrims to return home from their trip to Saudi Arabia. (MNA 9/18)

In the Jerusalem and Hebron areas, 2 Palestinians are killed in alleged ramming attacks. First, an Israeli settler shoots and kills a Palestinian driver nr. the Kefar Adumim settlement after he injures 2 Israeli soldiers with his car. While the Israeli media claims it was an intentional car-ramming, Palestinian sources report that the man was in a car accident with the settler driver. The victim’s brother was killed in a similar incident on 11/22.IDF troopsshoot and kill a Palestinian driver in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron after he rams a group of Israeli soldiers, injuring 5 of them. Afterward, the IDF seals the main entrance to the village. Israeli civilians assault a Palestinian worker in Beit Shemesh w. of Jerusalem, causing moderate injuries. A Palestinian allegedly stabs and injures an Israeli border police officer nr. Haifa. Meanwhile, the IDF clashes with and violently disperses Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and recent killings of Palestinians in 7 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Budrus, outside Ofer Prison, and outside the Beit El settlement), 2 areas nr. Qalqilya, 2 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Nablus, and 3 areas along Gaza’s border; at least 53 Palestinians are injured. Israeli forces patrol in 3 villages nr. Hebron; prevent Palestinian farmers from working their fields nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with stonethrowers (14 Palestinians are injured); confiscate a Palestinian construction vehicle nr. Nablus. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 11/27; PCHR 12/3)

As the wave of violence and the corresponding Israeli crackdown continue, a Palestinian stabs and injures 4 Israelis in Kiryat Gat, then flees the scene. A crowd of Israelis assaults and binds a bedouin Palestinian they mistake for the assailant, causing minor injuries. Israeli forces arrest the suspect hours later. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian driver who was attempting to pass quickly through a checkpoint nr. Qalqilya on his way to visit his father at a hospital in Nablus; shoot and injure 2 Palestinian youths accused of stone-throwing outside a village nr. Nablus. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/21; PCHR 11/26)

Hebron continues to be a hotspot as the IDF patrols in 1 village in the area and conducts raids in 6 others, blocking off roads to Dura, clashing with stone-throwers and arresting 5 nr. Bayt Umar, and arresting 17 others throughout the area. Additionally, in an overnight raid on al-Khalil radio station in al-Dahdah, nr. Hebron, IDF troops confiscate equipment, damage the offices, and issue a 6-mo. closure, accusing the station of inciting violence. (MNA 11/21; PCHR 11/26)

Elsewhere in the oPt, IDF troops clash with Palestinians protesting the 11/20 closure of the Aqraba junction nr. Nablus, injuring 2 Palestinians with live ammunition. The IDF also clashes with stone-throwers in Silwad, firing live ammunition and injuring 1 Palestinian. Israeli forces raid the Ramallah home of Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qiq, arresting and sentencing him to administrative detention for his alleged incitement through his reporting. (Al-Qiq will stage a hunger strike throughout the quarter) The IDF conducts raids in Jalazun r.c. and villages nr. Jenin and Ramallah, arresting 18 Palestinians; patrols in the Tulkarm, Jericho, and Ramallah areas. Israeli settlers block the main road leading from Nablus to Jenin and throw stones at Palestinian vehicles, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians youths on raids and patrols in Ras al-Amud and the Old City; assault an elderly Palestinian in Ras al-Amud. IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border e. of Jabaliya open fire on land nr. the border fence, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/21; PCHR 11/26; SAM 1/28)

In the Gaza Strip, unknown assailants destroy the car of a senior Hamas official with explosives in Nussayrat r.c. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, after Palestinian and international activists rebuild the “Gate of Jerusalem” tent camp in Abu Dis, Israeli forces return to the area and deliver a 24-hour eviction notice. Hours later, they demolish and evacuate the camp for a 3d time. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in Jalazun r.c. and 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, Silwad, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), injuring 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and 1 with a tear gas canister. IDF troops also arrest 2 Palestinian boys tending sheep nr. Hebron and 3 others tending their land nr. Qalqilya. The IDF patrols nr. Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, as well as in al-‘Arub r.c. and Salfit. Israeli settlers open fire with live ammunition on Palestinians peacefully protesting nr. Bayt Umar, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct a house search in Ras al-Amud, arresting 1 Palestinian. (IMEMC, MNA 2/6; TOI 2/7; PCHR 2/12)

Israeli PM Netanyahu orders the implementation of a plan that will include the destruction of around 400 Palestinian-owned and EU-funded structures in the West Bank. The order follows the 2/5 publication of a report in the Daily Mail on EU funding of Palestinian projects that do not have the correct licenses under Israeli law. (DM 2/5; TOI 2/6; WAFA 2/8)

U.S. VP Joseph R. Biden announces that he will not attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on 3/3. (AP, JDF 2/6)

On the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, reps. of the P5+1 and Iran discuss Iran’s disputed nuclear program ahead of their end of 3/2015 political accord deadline. U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and Iranian FM Zarif also meet to discuss how sanctions would be lifted under a possible deal and how many centrifuges Iran would be permitted to keep operational. (REU 2/6; JP, TOI 2/7; AFP 2/8)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Khan Yunis shoot live ammunition and smoke bombs at Palestinians protesting the Israeli occupation and blockade nr. the border fence, causing no injuries. Late at night, IDF troops e. of al-Bureij arrest 3 Palestinians approaching the border fence to attempt to cross into Israel. In 3 separate incidents off the coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in c. Hebron and nr. Bethlehem; patrols nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. IDF troops arrest a Palestinian in c. Hebron on the suspicion that he was going to enter al-Ibrahimi Mosque with a knife. In 2 separate incidents nearby, Israeli settlers hit a Palestinian and an Israeli photographer for the human rights organization B’Tselem with their cars, injuring both. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to Palestinians constructing 2 homes in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron and confiscate a tractor being used for the project; demolish 2 farmhouses, a well, 800 dunams of crops, and 500 m of stone walls in a village s. of Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian man at Haram al-Sharif and another on a raid in the Old City. An Israeli settler shoots and injures a Palestinian youth as he tends to a herd of sheep in Silwan. (MNA, WAFA 2/1; PCHR 2/5)

PM Hamdallah says that the PA will be paying its employees a portion of their salaries “soon,” but that the Israeli govt. may be freezing transfers of tax revenues for the 2d mo. in a row. (MNA, WAFA 2/1; JP 2/2)

MK Masud Ghnaim (United Arab List) says that the newly united list of non-Zionist parties will not join a coalition formed by PM Netanyahu or his chief rivals, MKs Herzog and Livni, but that it would support a center-left bloc, confirming the stance presented by MK Ahmad Tibi on 1/17. (TOI 2/1)

In the Gaza Strip, unknown assailants throw a grenade into the home of Fatah Asst. Dep. of the Palestinian Civil Affairs Ministry Nasser al-Sarraj. The grenade does not explode and no one is injured. In 2 separate incidents off the coast nr. Gaza City and Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing damage to 1 boat. IDF troops e. of Rafah detain 2 armed Palestinians as they attempt to cross the border fence into Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a water distribution network that services the n. Jordan Valley, as well as a house and a barn nr. Hebron. Sparked by an IDF raid in c. Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, Palestinian residents clash with the Israeli troops, lightly injuring 1 soldier. Nearby, IDF troops shoot tear gas canisters at Palestinian youth as they leave an UNRWA school. The IDF also conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Ramallah; patrols nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler attempts to kidnap a Palestinian child in Jabal Mukabir. The IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches in al-Tur, Ras al-Amud, and Ras Khamis. (MNA, WAFA 1/29; JTA 1/30; PCHR 2/5)

UN Special Coordinator Serry’s office (UNSCO) releases a statement announcing that the UN is going to review its operations in Gaza after the violent, Hamas-organized protest outside its headquarters on 1/28. The statement also blames Hamas for not adequately providing security for the protest. The UNSCO has been principally in charge of facilitating the UNadministered reconstruction procedure and mediating between the Israeli authorities, Hamas, and Palestinians in need of support after OPE. (HA 1/30)

The Israel Electric Corporation announces that it will begin intermittently cutting power to the West Bank at the end of the mo. due to the PA’s outstanding debts, which total around NIS 1.8 m. (around $458 m.). (MEMO, YA 1/29) 

Yisrael Beytenu delivers a petition to the Central Elections Comm. (CEC) calling for the disqualification of MK Haneen Zoabi from the 3/17 elections on the basis of her support for boycott and armed resistance against Israel. (HA, JP 1/29)

The U.S. Senate Banking Comm. votes, 18–4, to pass the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015, which Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Kirk (R-IL) introduced on 1/27. A White House spokesperson consequently reaffirms Pres. Obama’s pledge to veto the bill. (AFP, REU 1/28; AP, YA 1/29)

Seventy-five U.S. sens. sign on to a letter, initiated by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), to U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calling for a suspension of aid to the PA while the Obama admin. reviews the Palestinians’ accession to the ICC. (JTA 1/30)