The Palestine Chronology

After a day of violence and intense IDF activity across the Ramallah region on 12/13, tensions remain high in the West Bank. The Israeli authorities maintain the closure of all major roads in the area while they search for the perpetrator of the attack that left 2 Israeli soldiers dead. One Palestinian is killed during clashes sparked by an IDF raid in Jalazun refugee camp. Six Palestinians are injured during clashes sparked by a similar raid in nearby al-Bireh. Two more Palestinians are injured when IDF troops violently disperse a protest outside nearby al-Mughayyir. Separately, a Palestinian stabs and lightly injures an Israeli soldier at an IDF post outside the Beit El settlement; the soldier moderately injures the Palestinian in the ensuing confrontation (the Palestinian will turn himself in to the IDF on 12/15). Unidentified assailants throw rocks at Israeli troops outside al-Bireh, moderately injuring 1 soldier. The IDF then seals off the main Ramallah-Nablus road and conducts raids in the area searching for the assailants. IDF troops shoot and injure 5 Palestinians during clashes sparked by a raid in al-Laban near Nablus; violently disperse Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in central Hebron, Luban al-Sharqiyya near Nablus, and Bil‘in near Ramallah (4 Palestinians are injured); arrest 1 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during additional raids near Hebron; and patrol near Hebron, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Salfit. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Nablus and Qalqilya, and open fire on a Palestinian passersby in Jalazun refugee camp (1 Palestinian is injured and several vehicles are damaged). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops violently disperse thousands of Palestinians gathering to continue the Great March of Return near Gaza City, Jabaliya refugee camp, Khan Yunis, and Rafah; at least 60 Palestinians are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (EI, HA, JP, JP, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 12/14; TOI 12/15; PCHR 12/20)

An Israeli drone bombs a site near Rafah in southern Gaza, reportedly targeting a group of Palestinians responsible for flying incendiary balloons and kites into southern Israel. Two Palestinians are injured in the strike (1 critically), and 1 motorcycle is destroyed. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries (2 fishermen are arrested and 1 boat is confiscated). In the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw rocks at Palestinians harvesting olives near Nablus, causing no injuries but forcing the Palestinians off their land. Later, a larger group of settlers throws stones at Palestinians and their homes in Burin village near Nablus, injuring 5 Palestinians and causing minor damage. IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during raids near Hebron, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm; and patrol near Hebron, Tulkarm, Nablus, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in al-Jadira and Shu‘fat refugee camp. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/20; MNA 10/21; PCHR 10/25)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. They set fire to tires, throw improvised explosive devices, and chant slogans. IDF troops violently disperse them near Rafah, Khan Yunis, al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Jabaliya refugee camp; 3 Palestinians are killed and at least 126 are injured (3 critically). This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 170. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery also shell a Hamas post near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, an IDF patrol in al-Mazra‘a near Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 7 Palestinians are injured. They also patrol near Hebron and Nablus; arrest 1 Palestinian during late-night raids in Jenin; and violently disperse Palestinians at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya and Luban al-Sharqiyya near Nablus (7 Palestinians are injured). Israeli settlers harass Palestinians picking olives near Nablus, sparking minor confrontations between the harvesters and their own IDF escort; there are no reported arrests or injuries. Israeli settlers also assault and attempt to block Palestinian farmers from accessing their lands in 2 separate incidents near Salfit and 1 near Qalqilya. IDF troops intervene in each ensuing confrontation; 1 Palestinian is injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Hizma village, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; 1 Palestinian is injured. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/5; MNA 10/6; PCHR 10/11)

In a statement, UNRWA expresses “concern” about Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat’s 10/4 announcement that he plans to remove the agency from East Jerusalem. “UNRWA has continuously maintained its operations in East Jerusalem since 1967 with the cooperation and on the basis of a formal agreement with the State of Israel, which remains in force,” UNRWA’s statement reads. It’s still unclear when or how Barkat intends to implement his plan. (REU, YA 10/5)

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)

Israeli forces shell a group of Palestinians near Jabaliya refugee camp who were reportedly launching incendiary kites and balloons into Israel; 2 Palestinians are injured. For a third day in a row, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering near al-Bureij refugee camp to continue the Great March of Return; 1 Palestinian is injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, unidentified assailants launch an incendiary kite onto an Israeli settler vineyard outside Ariel, sparking a minor fire. It is reportedly the second time Palestinians in the West Bank have deployed incendiary kites. Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian homes near Hebron. IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Ramallah, Salfit, Jenin, Hebron, and Nablus; and patrol near Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest and assault 3 Palestinians during raids in Wadi al-Juz and Abu Dis. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/6; PCHR 8/9)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Khan Yunis, Rafah, al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Jabaliya refugee camp; 2 Palestinians are killed and at least 90 are injured. Their deaths bring the Great March of Return death toll to 137. In response to shots allegedly fired at IDF border patrols in the evening, Israeli forces strike a Hamas observation post near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing damage.

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces enter Haram al-Sharif after Friday prayers and fire sound bombs at Palestinian worshippers, clearing them from the sanctuary; 7 Palestinians and 4 Israeli police officers are injured, and 24 Palestinians are arrested. Some witnesses say that the Israelis entered the sanctuary after children threw firecrackers at them. After the clashes, Israeli forces seal the entrances to the sanctuary. The Islamic Waqf then organizes a sit-in protest outside, and the Israeli authorities order the entrances reopened hours later. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan and Wadi al-Juz. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian home under construction and surrounding wheat fields near Nablus, causing extensive damage. The IDF seals off the entrance to Kobar village near Ramallah, the hometown of the Palestinian who allegedly stabbed 3 Israeli settlers on 7/26. IDF troops conduct raids in the village throughout the day, sparking intermittent clashes; 5 Palestinians are injured (1 critically). Israeli soldiers also violently disperse Friday protests at Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; 5 Palestinians are injured. Dozens of Palestinians gather outside Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village near Jerusalem, to protest the impending Israeli evacuation and demolition of the village. Throughout the day, the IDF patrols near Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Jenin. (EI, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/27; EI, MNA 7/28; PCHR 8/2)

Israeli DM Lieberman pledges to advance the construction of 400 new housing units in the Adam settlement near Ramallah, justifying the settlement growth in response to the stabbing attack on 7/26. The “best response to terrorism is increased settlement,” Lieberman tweets. The 400 units are reportedly part of an existing plan to build 1,000 new units in the settlement. (HA, MNA, TOI 7/27)

In Gaza, IDF troops open fire on 4 Palestinian minors approaching the border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp, injuring 1. They then cross the fence, arrest the injured Palestinian, and take him to a hospital in Israel. The IDF claims that the minors were attempting to damage the border fence and enter Israel. Later, IDF troops open fire on 4 Palestinians approaching the border fence near Rafah, injuring 2. They also open fire on Palestinian farmland near Gaza City. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 14 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Tubas, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarm, and Nablus; and patrol near Hebron and Salfit. In southern Israel, Israeli forces demolish the Bedouin village al-‘Araqib for the 130th time since 2010. (HA, MNA, WAFA 6/27; PCHR 6/28; PCHR 7/5)

A coalition of armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, including Hamas and PIJ, jointly release a statement claiming credit for the rocket fire into Israel on 6/26. “All bombings will be responded to with bombing; we will not accept the continued IDF attacks.” (HA, JP 6/27)

A Palestinian driver allegedly rams his car into a small group of IDF troops standing along a road near Nablus, killing 2, critically injuring a 3d, and moderately injuring a 4th. The Palestinian driver is arrested. Later, IDF troops conduct raids in the alleged attacker’s hometown, Barta‘a, near Jenin, arresting his brother and ransacking several homes. The Israeli authorities also revoke the work permits of approximately 100 of the alleged attacker’s relatives. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation, as well as U.S. president Trump’s 12/6/17 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in Bethlehem, al-Bireh, 4 villages near Ramallah (Budrus, Nabi Salih, Ni‘lin, and Bil‘in), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Luban al-Sharqiyya near Nablus, and along Gaza’s border near Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Jabaliya refugee camp. At least 30 Palestinians are injured, including 2 journalists. IDF troops also arrest 2 Palestinians, issue 2 arrest summons, and demolish the walls of an apartment during raids near Bethlehem and Jenin, and patrol near Qalqilya, Salfit, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in Abu Dis, injuring 19. It’s unclear what sparked the clashes. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (JP, TOI, WAFA 3/16; HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 3/17; PCHR 3/22)

Along Gaza’s border, unidentified persons detonate 2 IEDs targeting an IDF patrol near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. Soon thereafter, the IAF bombs Hamas sites near Gaza City and Jabaliya refugee camp, injuring 1 Palestinian and causing moderate damage. An IDF spokesperson later alleges that the 2 devices were planted amid a recent border protest. (HA, JP, WAFA, YA 3/15; PCHR 3/22)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, and Jenin; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in al-‘Izzariya; 9 Palestinians are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 3/15; PCHR 3/22)

At a fundraising conference in Rome, officials from 90 different countries collectively pledge $100 m. for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the budget shortfall caused by U.S. president Trump’s decision to cut U.S. aid to the agency in 1/2018 (see JPS 47 [3]). (JP, TOI, WAFA 3/15)