The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 3 Palestinian-owned vehicles and sprayed “Jews wake up, Arabs leave” and the Star of David on a wall near the vehicles in Marda. Israeli forces violently dispersed a funeral procession in Abu Dis for a Palestinian woman who was killed in June 2021 and whose body was handed to her family on 8/23; 1 was injured by a baton round to his head. Israeli forces demolished 1 agricultural structure and 1 carwash in Huwwara and residential and agricultural structures belonging to 8 families near Fasayil. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Bireh, Jalazun refugee camp, Beit Rima, Silwad, Qatanna, al-Azza refugee camp, Husan, Beit Sahour, Nablus, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Silwan, displacing 10. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/24; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

1 6-year-old Palestinian boy died in Gaza after being denied exit permits for medical treatment at the Hadassah medical center in Jerusalem. The boy was unable to attend 2 appointments for medical treatment on 1/12 and 8/10, as the request for his exit permit remained “under review.” (HA 9/1)

The Israeli army suspended 4 soldiers of the Ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion after a video surfaced of them beating 2 Palestinians near Ramallah. The 4 soldiers had detained the 2 Palestinians after stopping their car. A statement from the Israeli military said that the soldiers used “unnecessary force.” (AP, HA, MEMO 8/24)

Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhala met with Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, discussing Israel’s latest offensive against Islamic Jihad in Gaza. (ALM 8/24)

Axios reported that the U.S. is pressuring Israel to keep its promise to open the Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan 24/7, rather than the current limited hours of operations. (AX 8/24)

In response to U.S. air strikes in Syria on 8/23, groups said to be affiliated with Iran attacked the U.S. Mission Support Site Conoco in Syria, lightly injuring 1 U.S. soldier. The U.S. responded by attacking militants with helicopters, killing at least 2 people. (REU, REU 8/24; AJ, HA, MEE 8/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces punitively demolished the homes of 2 Palestinians in Rumana accused of killing 3 Israelis in Elad on 5/5, displacing 14 Palestinians. Israeli forces also demolished 5 residential structures and 4 agricultural structures in Arab al-Ka‘abneh. Elsewhere, Israeli forces razed 12 dunams (3 acres) of farmland planted with olive trees in Tarqumiyah. Israeli forces also issued notices that it will seize land near Sa‘ir to expand a settler road. 15 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raid in Ramallah, Silwad, Marda, Beit Furik, Jamma‘in, Ya‘bad, Bethlehem, Halhul, and Beit Kahel. In Lebanon, unknown perpetrators killed 1 Palestinian security official in Ein El-Hilweh refugee camp. (ALM, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/8; MEMO 8/9; PCHR 8/11; UNOCHA 8/19)

Israel partially reopened crossings into Gaza for humanitarian aid after closing all crossings on 8/2 in anticipation of its assault on Gaza. New shipments of fuel also allowed the Gaza power plant to resume operations. (HA 8/7; AP, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA 8/8)

Israel’s civil administration told an Israeli court that it demolished the home of a Palestinian family in the West Bank by mistake. The family of 5’s home was demolished in July by Israeli forces despite the family’s pleas that there was a court order protecting their home. The Civil Administration said that the family’s home was thought to be the home of a different Palestinian family, whose home had already been demolished and blamed the mistake on “human error.” (HA 8/10)

U.S. president Joe Biden thanked Egypt for mediating the ceasefire that went into effect on 8/7 between Israel and Islamic Jihad. (HA 8/7)

The Honduran foreign ministry said that the country is considering moving its embassy to Israel back from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. The new Honduran government that took office in January this year said in a statement that president Xiomara Castro wants to maintain a balanced relationship with Israel and Arab countries. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki discussed the Honduran consideration with Honduran foreign minister Enrique Reina in Columbia on 8/7. (HA, MEMO 8/8)

The UN envoy for the Middle East peace process warned the UN security council that the ceasefire between Islamic Jihad and Israel was fragile and that the only way to secure longtime peace is through a 2-state solution based on the 1967 lines. PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour called on members of the Security Council to protect Palestinian lives and pressure Israel to end its blockade of Gaza. The Security Council emergency session was called by France, China, Norway, Ireland, and the UAE in response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza over the weekend, dubbed Operation Breaking Dawn. (AJ, AP, HA, TOI 8/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attempted to set a Palestinian-owned home on fire in Hebron, but fled when the family living in the home woke up. Israeli forces demolished 1 retaining wall and 1 agricultural structure in al-Maniya. Israeli forces also temporarily evicted 6 Palestinian families from their homes in in Khirbat Ibziq to conduct a military exercise; during the drill, 2 cows were killed and 3 were injured. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silat al-Harithiya, ‘Anata, Dheisheh refugee camp, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for several commercial structures in Wadi al-Juz; 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a late-night raid in Isawiya. In Israel, 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles were vandalized and racist anti-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed in Kafr Qasem. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/7; PCHR 2/10; UNOCHA 2/11)

Israeli police arrested 1 Israeli settler in the Givat Ronen settlement outpost in relation to an attack on Israeli activists helping Palestinians planting trees in Burin on 1/21. (HA 2/7)

According to figures obtained by Haaretz from Israeli police, charges were only filed in 3.8% of criminal cases where Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians or their property. (HA 2/7)

On the 2d day of the 31st session of the PLO Central Council, Rawhi Fattouh was elected speaker of the National Council, replacing Salim Zanoun, who retired. Hussein al-Sheikh was appointed as a PLO negotiator with Israel and the U.S. Al-Sheikh was also 1 of 3 new members elected to the PLO executive committee. Hamas called the appointments “illegal” and said they lacked support from the national consensus. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP later issued a joint statement calling the appointments “a violation of decisions based on national consensus.” (REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/7; HA 2/8; AJ 2/10)

The Knesset approved the 1st of 3 votes of the citizenship law that would prevent family reunifications of Palestinians married to Israeli citizens. Meretz and United Arab List boycotted the vote. Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told Yedioth Ahronoth in an interview that the bill is meant to prevent a “creeping right of return.” (HA 2/7; HA, MEE 2/9)

Palestinian member of the Knesset from the Meretz party and minister for Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej was hospitalized after suffering a stroke. Frej’s chief of staff said he would make a full recovery. (HA 2/8)

Calcalist reported that Israeli police used the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware against Israeli journalists, politicians, rights activists, former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son Avner, and people involved in the court case against Benjamin Netanyahu. On 2/1, Israeli police admitted to misusing the Pegasus spyware. (AP 2/6; AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, TOI 2/7)

The German news outlet Deutsche Welle fired 5 Palestinian and Lebanese employees, saying the had posted anti-Semitic content on social media. The social media posts in question were largely criticism of Israel and not targeting Jewish people. Deutsche Welle was criticized for trying to silence criticism of Israel. (AJ 2/11; MEMO 2/15; HA 2/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home near al-Ramadin. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Araqah, Beit Umar, Jaba‘, and Burqin. In East Jerusalem, some 100 Israeli police officers raided the Salhiya family home in Sheikh Jarrah, throwing stun grenades and beating family members, including minors, before escorting them out and demolishing their home, displacing the family of 18; 18 Palestinians were arrested, including family members. The family members were released on 1/20 under the condition that they do not return to Sheikh Jarrah for 1 month. Israel had attempted to displace the family since 1/17, but was unable due to resistance from the family and a large presence of international diplomats and local activists. The PA called the eviction a war crime, calling on the U.S. to protect Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and the EU condemned the displacement of the family. The U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at a UN security council meeting that Israel must refrain from “demolitions, and evictions—like what we saw in Sheikh Jarrah.” At the meeting, PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki also called on the international community to end Israeli impunity. A representative for the Salhiya family said the family is referring the case to the ICC. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Wadi al-Juz, displacing 8. In Jerusalem, Israeli police violently dispersed activists in front of Mayor Moshe Leon’s home protesting forced displacement of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah; 5 were arrested. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, CNN, EI, F24, GDN, HA, HA, HA, I24, JDF, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, NAT, NYT, PCHR, REU, REU, TOI, VICE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 1/19; HA, HA, IN, JP, JP, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/20; MEMO, MEMO 1/21; MEE, TOI 1/22; ALM, WAFA 1/23)

Israeli police arrested 3 Jewish Israeli men for attacking 2 Palestinian Israeli men in Bat Yam on 11/14/2021. The 3 Jewish Israeli men were charged with racially motivated violence prompted by the 2 Palestinians socializing with Jewish Israeli women. (HA 1/20; HA 1/21)

Hamas officials concluded a visit to Algeria, presenting the group’s vision for national unity and reconciliation with Fatah. The delegation arrived in Algeria on 1/17. Members of the DFLP, PFLP-GC, and Islamic Jihad are expected to visit Algeria soon. PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Algerian officials on 1/15. (MEMO 1/18; MEMO 1/20; ALM 1/24)

The Citizenship Law bill, created to prevent family unifications between Palestinians and Israeli citizens, was sent back to the Israeli cabinet after the Meretz party filed an objection to the legislation in the Knesset. The Citizenship Law is being pushed by Israeli interior minister Ayelet Shaked. (HA 1/20)

A delegation of Israeli officials arrived in Sudan for meetings with Sudanese officials, according to Israeli and Saudi Arabian media. (HA 1/19; MEMO 1/20)

The UNRWA called on the international community to donate $87.5 million to help the agency with programming in Lebanon, where the financial crisis is further impeding its work to assist Palestinian refugees. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, WAFA 1/19; WAFA 1/20)