The Palestine Chronology

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on a small fleet of Palestinian boats sailing in a symbolic attempt to break the Israeli blockade. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp to cheer on the boats and continue the Great March of Return; 49 Palestinians are injured at sea and along the border fence. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uproot 15 olive trees in a Palestinian grove outside Yatta village near Hebron. IDF troops conduct a raid at an elementary school in Hebron, disrupting classes and assaulting and injuring 1 Palestinian teacher. They also arrest 3 Palestinians and confiscate 1 vehicle during raids in Hebron and near Ramallah; and patrol near Hebron. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/10; PCHR 9/13)

The U.S. State Department announces that the PLO is no longer allowed to operate an office in Washington because the Palestinians “have not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel.” In the same statement, the State Department also denounces the PLO for criticizing a “peace plan they have not yet seen” and refusing to engage with the Trump administration’s peace initiative. The decision to shutter the office was “also consistent with [Trump administration] and Congressional concerns with Palestinian attempts to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court,” according to the statement. Separately, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton says that the U.S. plans to shield Israel from any ICC effort to investigate alleged Israeli war crimes and settlement growth (the ICC has been working on a preliminary examination of such allegations since 1/2015). (HA, HA, JP, JP, MNA, TOI, TOI, WSJ, YA 9/10)

PA prime minister Rami Hamdallah announces that the PA plans to cover the budget deficit facing Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem, following the U.S. decision on 9/8 to redirect $25 million in U.S. aid to “other priorities.” “We will continue to meet the basic and urgent needs of our people on every inch of our land,” he says. (MNA, WAFA 9/10)

The PA’s Committee Against the Wall and Settlements announces plans to appeal the Israeli High Court of Justice’s 9/5 decision to authorize the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village in the West Bank, at international courts. “[We] will not appeal this decision at Israeli courts anymore because they are a tool of the occupation to legalize theft of Palestinian land,” explains one senior committee member. (MNA, WAFA 9/10)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 5 arrest summons during late-night raids in Hebron and near Jenin; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian ambulance in central Hebron, causing minor damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers smash the windows of 4 Palestinian vehicles and throw stones at Palestinian homes in Silwan late at night. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians attempting to cross the border fence into Israel near Jabaliya refugee camp (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/8; PCHR 9/13)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border fence on 9/8. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 149. (MNA, WAFA 9/8)

A U.S. State Department official announces that President Donald Trump has ordered a $25 million cut to planned aid to Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem in the context of his ongoing review of all U.S. aid to the Palestinians. “Those funds will go to high-priority projects elsewhere,” the official says. (HA, HA, MNA, REU, WAFA, YA 9/8; EI 9/10)

Thousands of Palestinian gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Rafah, Khan Yunis, al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Jabaliya refugee camp; approximately 180 Palestinians are injured. In the West Bank, Israeli forces detain 2 senior members of the Israeli anti-occupation group Breaking the Silence as they are leading a tour near the Kiryat Arba settlement. They also violently disperse Palestinians protesting the Israeli occupation in Ni‘lin village near Ramallah; 1 Palestinian is injured. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 8/31; MNA 9/1)

The U.S. State Department announces that all U.S. contributions to UNRWA are being cut following a “careful” review of the issue. A spokesperson explains that UNRWA’s “endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years.” She says that the U.S. is still “very mindful of and deeply concerned regarding the impact upon innocent Palestinians, especially school children.” According to reports in the Israeli press, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the decision. (JP, TOI, TOI, WAFA, YA, YA 8/31; HA, MNA 9/1)

Following weeks of calls from Palestinian solidarity activists, U.S. pop singer Lana Del Rey cancels her planned appearance at the upcoming Meteor Festival in Israel, explaining that she was unable to plan a concert for her Palestinian fans during the same trip to the region. She previously wrote, on 8/21, that performing in Israel was “not a commitment to the politics there, just as singing in California doesn’t mean my views are in alignment w my current governments opinions or some inhuman actions [sic].” The Meteor Festival’s organizers criticize Del Rey for “choosing us to be part of her publicity stunt.” Del Rey is now the eighth act to cancel on the Meteor Festival in response to calls for a cultural boycott. (EI, HA, JP 8/31)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Jabaliya refugee camp, and al-Bureij refugee camp; at least 50 Palestinians are injured. Separately, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working along the border fence near Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; 8 Palestinians and 1 Norwegian activist are injured (the activist, Christine Folls, was also injured in similar clashes on 8/23). The IDF arrests 3 Palestinians and issues 4 arrest summons during raids near Jenin and Hebron; and patrols near Hebron. Israeli settlers uproot 30 olive trees in a Palestinian grove near Nablus; and throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving near Jenin, causing minor damage. (HA, TOI, WAFA 8/24; MNA, WAFA, WAFA 8/25; PCHR 8/30)

The Trump administration announces that more than $200 million is being cut from this year’s planned aid to the Palestinians. The decision comes 7 months after President Trump cut a similar amount from U.S. aid to UNRWA and ordered a review of all aid to the Palestinians. “As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will direct more than $200 million in Economic Support Funds originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza,” a senior State Department official explains. “This decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza’s citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation.” (EI, MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/25)