The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian near Jericho. Israeli forces uprooted 300 olive trees and razed farmland in al-Jaba‘. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 Palestinians with live ammunition as they were trying to enter Israel through the separation barrier for work near Ya‘bad. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided al-‘Arub refugee camp, clashing with Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. 9 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah and al-‘Arub refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinians in the Old City, including 2 maintenance workers at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/30; PCHR 12/31)

Jonathan Pollard, the former U.S. navy intelligence analyst who spied on the U.S. for Israel, arrived in Tel Aviv on a private jet belonging to the mega donor to Israeli settlements and U.S. Republicans, Sheldon Adelson. He was received by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who handed him and his wife Israeli passports. Pollard, who have been living under strict restrictions in New York City after being granted parole in 2015, was able to move freely when his parole was lifted in November. Pollard received a life sentence after being convicted of spying in 1987; Israel had since that time lobbied consecutive U.S. presidents to have him released to Israel. (AJ, GDN, HA, IN, JP, MEE, NYT, REU, TOI, WP 12/30)

Israel launched an air strike on Syria near Damascus, killing 1 and injuring 3 according to the Syrian state media outlet SANA. (AJ 12/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians, including 1 minor by live ammunition as they were protesting the Psagot settlement east of al-Bireh; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli municipality demolished a staircase leading to the Lion’s Gate at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinians as they were headed to the funeral of 1 Palestinian killed by Israeli forces on 11/25 at a checkpoint in the West Bank, near East Jerusalem. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 11/29; WAFA, WAFA 11/30; PCHR 12/3)

The WHO delivered 15 ventilators to Gaza hospitals as the COVID-19 virus continues to challenge the Gazan health system. The ventilators were paid for by Kuwait. (REU 11/29; HA 11/30)

An Israeli court rejected a petition filed by Palestinians to reclaim their land that had been seized by Israel and used by settlers to build settlement outposts south of Jerusalem in the West Bank. The ruling paves the way for Israel to legalize the settlement outposts. (HA 11/30)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with the King Abdallah II of Jordan in the Jordanian city of Aqaba. In a statement released by Jordan after the meeting, Jordan reaffirmed its commitment to a Palestinian state. President Abbas later traveled to Egypt, meeting with secretary-general of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry. Abbas is scheduled to meet with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on 11/30. This marked the 1st time Abbas left the West Bank in 2020. (WAFA 11/28; HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 11/29; WAFA, WAFA 11/30)

The Israeli security cabinet approved the transfer of $756 million to the PA in tax funds but continues to withhold $181.5 million that the PA pays to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and their families. (HA 11/29)

According to Iraqi officials, 1 Iranian senior commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Muslim Shahdan, had been killed in an air strike along with 3 others as they entered Syria from Iraq in a car. There were no reports of who carried out the air strike, but Israel has frequently been carrying out air strikes in Syria and Iraq and is believed to have assassinated an Iranian nuclear scientist on 11/27. (HA, TOI 12/1)

UN secretary-general António Guterres said in a statement commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People that “the question of Palestine remains distressingly unresolved,” and criticized Israel for continuing to make a 2-state solution less viable. (WAFA 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Palestinian minor and his father in Hebron. Israeli settlers also set up tents in Battir near Bethlehem. Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for 1 residential structure and 1 garden in Sabastiyya, 1 pool used for irrigation in Bayt Dajan, and a number of structures east of Yatta. Israeli forces also demolished 1 residential structure near Tubas and dismantled and seized 1 wooden shed in Umm al-Jamal. Israeli forces also shot and injured 6 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets during raids in Qalandia refugee camp; 1 Israeli soldier was also injured during the clashes, which lasted some 2 hours; 9 Palestinian-owned vehicles were damaged. 12 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Nablus, Birzeit, Bayt Umar, Qalandia, Hebron, and Jenin. 7 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and razed farmland east of Khan Yunis. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/17, PCHR 11/19)

The PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh announced that the PA would resume coordination with Israel, including security coordination, after suspending ties in May. Civil Affairs Minister al-Sheikh said that Israel had promised to respect its agreements with the PA during “international negotiations conducted by the president [Mahmoud Abbas].” Hamas and Islamic Jihad condemned the PA’s move, saying it undermines reconciliation efforts. PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said during a Zoom conference organized by the Council of Foreign Relations that the COVID-19 pandemic played a part in the decision as the PA have struggled to find the resources to fight it. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, TOI, WAFA 11/17; HA, TOI 11/18; HA 11/19)

Israeli said it defused explosive devices in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the de facto border of Syria. Israel later attacked Syria, striking 8 targets. According to the Syrian state media SANA, 3 were killed, 1 wounded, and Syria intercepted Israeli missiles over Damascus. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 10 people were killed in the strikes. Israel acknowledged to have attacked Syria, saying it was responding to the explosive devices and claiming that it had hit Iranian and Syrian forces in Syria. (HA, REU 11/17; AJ, HA 11/18; BBC 11/19)

Both Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Reuven Rivlin congratulated U.S. president-elect Joe Biden via phone. (HA 11/17)

1 Jewish-Israeli was given a 7-year prison sentence for smuggling metals into Gaza and selling them to Hamas. He was also fined $60,000. (TOI, HA 11/17)

41 Democrats in congress cosigned a letter to U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo, expressing concern about Israel’s demolition of the village Khirbet Humsa on 11/3, demanding that Secretary Pompeo condemn Israel’s actions. (Mark Pocan’s Office 11/17; HA, WAFA 11/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers emptied wastewater on Palestinian agricultural lands near Sabastiyya. Israeli settlers also assaulted Palestinians harvesting olives in Dayr al-Hatab, forcing the farmers to leave. Elsewhere, in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, Israeli settlers set up a cow shed and brought cows to Palestinian-owned land. Israeli forces demolished 1 market stall in Qalqilya and delivered stop-work orders for 3 houses and dozens of other structures in Qalandia. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Tulkarm, al-‘Arub refugee camp, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired 2 missiles, hitting empty land east of Dayr al-Balah, claiming that 1 rocket was fired toward Israel earlier in the day; no injuries were reported. Israel also said it had found a tunnel running near Khan Yunis tens of meters into Israel. Israel later claimed that the tunnel was built by Hamas. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 4 nautical miles off the shore of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (HA, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/20; AJ, HA, WAFA 10/21; PCHR 10/22)

1 Palestinian man died while working in a quarry owned by the settler company Shapir Engineering and Manufacturing near the Modi’in Illit settlement in the West Bank. His employer did not call the Israeli ambulance service that the worker was entitled to as he was employed by a settler company, but rather called the Palestinian Red Crescent, which took 30 minutes to arrive at the scene and brought the Palestinian to a hospital in Ramallah, where he was pronounced dead. The employer also did not notify the police of the death. The family of the deceased Palestinian said that if the Israeli ambulance had been called he might have survived as they were stationed closer to the accident. (HA 10/26)

An envoy from the UAE accompanied by U.S. secretary of the treasury Steven Mnuchin and U.S. envoy for the peace process Avi Berkowitz was welcomed in Tel Aviv airport by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi, and finance minister Israel Katz. In the Tel Aviv airport, Israel and the UAE signed a mutual visa waiver agreement allowing citizens of both countries to travel to and from each other without obtaining a visa. The parties also signed a preliminary agreement to have oil from the UAE run through an Israeli pipeline supplying the European market. A member of the PLO executive committee Wasel Abu Youssef called the visit “shameful” and said such a visit emboldens Israel in committing crimes against Palestinians. A Hamas spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, said the visit “only encourage[s] the occupation to pursue the gradual annexation of West Bank lands.” Last week on 14 and 15 October, Israel announced 5,000 new settlement units in various settlements in the West Bank. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU 10/20; TOI 10/21; LT, REU 10/22)

Israel struck a target in Syria; according to Syrian state media SANA, Israel hit a school in a village in Quneitra Province. However, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was a Hezbollah facility that was hit by the Israeli strike. (HA 10/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian, hitting him in the face with a tear gas canister in Qiffin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4, including 1 who was hit with live ammunition to his neck. 2 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a late-night raid in Yatta and 1 at the entrance to Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during a house raid in Issawiyya, including 2 minors; they were all later released to house arrest for 5 days. (WAFA 9/11; PCHR 9/17)

According to Syrian state media, Israel fired missiles at several locations southeast of Aleppo, causing damage. (HA 9/10; TOI 9/11)

U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Bahrain had joined the normalization deal between Israel and the UAE and would be part of the signing ceremony in Washington D.C. on 9/15. Oman welcomed Bahrain’s decision and said, “this new strategic path taken by some Arab countries will contribute to bringing about a peace based on an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and on establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital.” After the announcement, the PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki recalled the PA ambassador to Bahrain, calling Bahrain’s decision a “dangerous violation of the Arab Peace Initiative” and a “threat to Palestinian rights.” (AJ, BBC, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/11; HA, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/12; AJ, AJ, HA, REU 9/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers injured 4 Palestinians, including 1 pregnant woman while they were traveling by car northeast of Ramallah; 2, including the pregnant woman, were described as in critical condition. 1 Palestinian was shot and wounded at a checkpoint south of Nablus after allegedly ramming 2 Israeli soldiers who sustained “minor wounds”; according to the Israeli army, the suspect tried to stab the soldiers after crashing his vehicle. Israeli forces also injured 2 Palestinians using live ammunition near Bethlehem and Jenin. 1 45-year-old Palestinian prisoner died of a heart attack at Ofer prison near Ramallah. Israeli forces demolished 2 houses and 1 shack and handed demolition notices for 5 Palestinian-owned houses near Yatta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 3 tents in a Bedouin community near Ramallah. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Yatta, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian photojournalist was arrested during a house raid in Issawiyya; Israeli forces seized his equipment during the raid. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level agricultural lands. Israeli forces also opened fire at agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis and Khuza‘a. (HA 9/1; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; PCHR, WAFA 9/3; WAFA 9/4)

Chairman of the Hamas politburo Ismail Haniyeh embarked for Beirut for a week-long visit, where he is expected to meet with leaders of other Palestinian factions, Lebanese officials, and Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah. According to the spokesperson for PA president Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian factions will discuss “Palestinian unity to defeat conspiracies against Palestine.” President Abbas and other West Bank officials will be connected to the factions in Beirut via video conference. (AJ, WAFA 9/2)

Senior advisor to U.S. president Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, met with the Qatari emir Shaykh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Qatar to discuss potential Qatari normalization with Israel. According to Emir al-Thani’s cabinet, al-Thani informed Kushner that Qatari normalization of ties with Israel is dependent on a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as the capital. (AJ, HA 9/2)

Syrian state news said Israeli fighter jets fired missiles near the T-4 airbase in Homs province, causing damage. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 16 people were killed in the attacks. (HA, TOI 9/3)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. administration had sanctioned ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and head of the ICC’s Jurisdiction, Complementarity, and Cooperation Division Phakiso Mochochoko. Secretary Pompeo said that the U.S. had made the move “because the ICC continues to target Americans.” The UN secretary-general António Guterres expressed concern about the U.S.’s renewed attack on the ICC. Besides ICC’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by the U.S. in Afghanistan, the court is also investigating potential war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. (BBC, Guardian, ICC, 9/2; WAFA 9/3; REU 9/15)

The EU contributed $10.65 million to the PA to help pay salaries and pensions for the month of July for civil servants in the West Bank. (WAFA 9/2)

In the West Bank, Palestinians fended off Israeli settlers trying to seize their land in Birin. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian using live ammunition near the separation wall north of Jenin. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in Nablus, Anata, Kisan, and Hebron; 1 was arrested by undercover Israeli forces while working at a gas station near Kafr Qaddum. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians started demolishing their own homes to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces summoned 3 members of Fatah for interrogation in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA 8/31; PCHR 9/3)

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar announced that Hamas and Israel had reached an understanding to de-escalate the conflict after nearly a month of daily attacks on Gaza and incendiary balloons launched toward Israel. The understanding was facilitated by Qatari mediators. As part of the de-escalation, the Kerem Shalom border crossing would be reopened on 9/1 and the fishing zone would be reopened up to 15 nautical miles. Sources in Hamas told Haaretz that Israel would allow Qatari aid to enter Gaza again, and that Qatar was granted approval by Israel to build a gas pipeline and operate a power station in Gaza. (AJ 8/31; HA 9/1)

A delegation of senior Israeli and U.S. officials arrived in the UAE to discuss the details of the UAE’s normalization deal with Israel. The delegation arrived in the UAE on an El Al plane flying directly from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi using Saudi Arabian airspace. In Israel, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference that he would discuss sales of U.S. F-35s and other advanced weaponry to the UAE with U.S. president Donald Trump while stressing that U.S. sales of weapons to the UAE was not part of the normalization deal. In a joint statement released by the 3 parties, the language between the English and Arabic releases differed on Israel’s commitment not to annex parts of the West Bank as part of the normalization deal. In the Arabic version it said the agreement had “stopped” Israel’s plans while the English said it had led to “the suspension of Israel’s plans to extend sovereignty.” (HA, REU 8/31; AJ 9/1; REU 9/2)

Syrian officials said that Israel fired missiles at military installments south of Damascus, killing 2 Syrian soldiers and wounding 7. The London-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights later said that the number of deaths was 10, most of them foreign. (HA 8/31; HA 9/1)

A former Lebanese ambassador to Germany Mustapha Adib was announced as the new prime minister of Lebanon after the government resigned earlier this month. The announcement came as French president Emmanuel Macron was en route for Beirut. Reuters reported that Adib was President Macron’s preferred choice. (AJ, HA 8/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces notified Palestinian residents near Kisan that it will confiscate 200 dunams (49.5 acres) of Palestinian-owned land, and 1 Palestinian was handed a demolition notice for 1 barn in Kisan. 1 Palestinian BDS activist, who was arrested on 7/30, was remanded for 15 days by an Israeli military court near Jenin. 6 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in and around Nablus and Hebron; during the raids in Nablus, 1 Palestinian was injured by live ammunition and 2 others suffered injuries from broken glass as a result of the gunfire. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinian families started demolishing their own homes in Silwan and Jabal Mukabir to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in the Old City, Shu‘fat, Issawiyya, and Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within the allowed fishing area northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/3; WAFA 8/4; PCHR 8/13)

In Syria, Israel said it had attacked an observation post, intelligence collection system, anti-aircraft batteries, and command-and-control bases. Syria claimed to have intercepted Israeli missiles as well. (GDN, REU, REU, 8/3; AJ, HA, JP 8/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Jenin, leading to clashes with Palestinian residents; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli forces also handed stop-work orders for 9 structures, 7 of them residential, in Kafr al-Dik. 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ya‘bad and Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Ras al-Amud and the Old City. In Gaza, 1 rocket was fired at Israel; shrapnel from the rocket, which was intercepted, damaged 1 car in Sderot. Israeli forces subsequently fired rockets at a cement production facility and underground infrastructure near Khan Yunis and Rafah; no injuries were reported. Hamas called the Israeli rockets a “clear message of escalation.” Israeli forces also fired live ammunition at agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (HA 8/2; AJ, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/3; PCHR 8/13)

3 Israeli border police officers were arrested on suspicion of assaulting Palestinians and armed robbery on 8 different occasions over a number of months at the Meitar checkpoint south of Hebron. (HA 8/3)

Israeli army officials said Israel had struck targets and probably killed 4 people in Syria after suspecting a group planted explosives near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (REU 8/2; AJ, HA, HA 8/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 by live ammunition, 1 minor by a rubber-coated bullet, and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinians near Qalqilya; no injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 3 houses south of Bethlehem. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Tubas and al-‘Izzariya. In East Jerusalem, Israel extended the detention for PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Gheith for another 7 days. Gheith was arrested during a late-night raid on 7/19. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/24; PCHR 7/29)

In Israel, thousands of protesters demonstrated against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside of his official residence for the 4th time in a week. Protesters are demanding his resignation over his corruption charges and the government’s handling of the economy. (HA 7/24)

In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 1 rocket or mortar fired from Syria damaged 1 house and 1 vehicle in Majdal Shams. According to the Lebanese network Al Mayadeen, the incident was a response to an Israeli drone flying in Syrian territory. Israel subsequently fired missiles from helicopters at 3 different locations in southwestern Syria, injuring 2 and causing damage. (HA, HA, REU, REU 7/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in al-Khadir. Israeli forces raided Jenin, dismantling a PA COVID-19 checkpoint and injuring 1 Palestinian using live ammunition during clashes at Jenin refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian using live ammunition during clashes at Jalazun refugee camp. Israeli forces seized a Byzantine-era baptismal font from a church in Tuqu‘. Israeli forces also seized 700 dunams (173 acres) of Palestinian-owned land for an Israeli national park near Bethlehem. 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Yatta, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Shu‘fat ad Wadi al-Juz. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of al-Bureij, no injuries were reported. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/20; PCHR 7/23)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with the Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukri in Ramallah. (WAFA, WAFA 7/20)

An Israeli court remanded the PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Gheith for 7 days. Governor Gheith was arrested on 7/19; it was the 17th time he has been arrested by Israeli forces since being named governor in 2018. Gheith had previously been released after 2 days but this time his lawyer told Agency French Presse that he is being probed over “planning an act of terrorism.” (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YAHOO 7/20)

Syrian state media reported that Israel fired missiles from Israel-occupied Golan Heights toward Damascus, but that the missiles were intercepted. Israeli media later reported that some missiles had not been intercepted and 5 people had been killed and 11 injured in the attacks. Hezbollah later said that 1 of their members had been killed in attacks. (HA, REU 7/20; HA, HA, JP 7/21; AJ, HA 7/23)

Austria contributed with $8.8 million for UNRWA programs. Separately, the EU donated $4.6 million to UNRWA to help deal with the agency’s COVID-19 response. (WAFA, WAFA 7/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up 1 tent on Palestinian-owned land near Bethlehem. Israeli forces razed land to make way for a settler-only road near Huwwara. Israeli forces also delivered a punitive demolition order for the family house on an alleged assailant in Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 30 structures and houses in Issawiyya. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, ‘Ayn Yabrud, Kaubar, Baytin, Hebron, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Kafr Aqab. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/6; PCHR 7/9)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on Israel to close all crossings to the West Bank to curb the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Shtayyeh further stated that Israel was preventing the PA from setting up COVID-19 checkpoints in the West Bank and that the PA would bring the issue to the UN. 1 Palestinian died in the West Bank of COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the West Bank since the outbreak to 20. (HA 7/6)

Israel launched a reconnaissance satellite which will provide Israeli military intelligence advanced imagery. (AJ, REU 7/6)

In the West Bank, PA governors imposed lockdowns of several governates and cities, including Hebron city, Abu Falah village, and Nablus governate for 5 days, and several towns and villages in the Bethlehem governate for 7 days, to curb the spread of COVID-19. Later, the PA said it would impose a 5-day lockdown in the West Bank starting 7/3. Palestinians protested in Ramallah against Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Israeli settlers razed land in ‘Ayn Bus and southeast of Qalqilya. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jalazun refugee camp, Birzeit, Kafr al-Dik, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Jabal Mukabir and 1 residential shack in Issawiyya. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-Tur, Silwan and Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Palestinians in Gaza City protested the planned Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/1)

According to Haaretz sources in Gaza, Hamas’s military wing tested long-range missiles. (HA 7/1)

Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi told Israel’s Army Radio that, “[i]t seems unlikely to me that this [announcement of plans for annexation of parts of the West Bank] will happen today . . . I reckon there will be nothing today.” Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced that annexation of parts of the West Bank would begin on 7/1. (AJ, HA, REU 7/1)

The Syrian, Russian, and Turkish president issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s attacks on Syria and U.S. president Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel. (AJ, HA 7/1)

In an op-ed in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, UK prime minister Boris Johnson warned Israel against annexation of parts of the West Bank, saying that it would be a violation of international law and that the “UK will not recognize any changes to the 1967 lines, except those agreed between both parties.” (HA, YNET, REU, WAFA 7/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 agricultural structure east of Tubas. Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinians in and around Dura, Qiffin, Nablus, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians during a raid in Kafr ‘Aqab, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also arrested 2 Palestinians in Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 5/4; PCHR 5/7)

Syrian state media said the Syrian government had intercepted Israeli missiles targeting a research center and a military base in the Aleppo province. Separately, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israel had attacked positions in Dayr al-Zor near the Iraqi border, killing 14 Iranian and Iraqi nationals. (REU 5/4; AJ, HA, HA 5/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers chopped down 40 olive trees in al-Sawiya. 1 Palestinian was arrested at a checkpoint near Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided Issawiyya; during the raid, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 4/27; WAFA 4/28; PCHR 4/30)

Israel conducted air strikes on Syria in a Damascus suburb from Lebanese air space. Sources differed on the number of people killed, ranging from 3-7 and at least another 4 injured. (AJ, HA, TOI 4/27; JP 4/28)

A U.S. state department spokesperson said that “we are prepared to recognize Israeli actions to extend Israeli sovereignty and the application of Israeli law to areas of the West Bank that the vision foresees as part of the State of Israel.” (AJ, WAFA 4/28)

In the West Bank, PA president Mahmoud Abbas declared a 30-day state of emergency after 7 Palestinians tested positive for the COVID-19 virus in Bethlehem. All churches and mosques in Bethlehem were told to close for at least 2 weeks and all schools, tourist sites, and national parks throughout the West Bank were to be closed for 30 days. Israeli forces carried out 2 punitive demolitions of the homes of 2 alleged Palestinian attackers in Birzeit. Israeli forces also handed a stop-work order for agricultural structures near Qalqilya and demolished a retaining wall for a farm in Ni‘lin. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, Burin, and Tubas. In Gaza, 10 people were killed and at least 60 were injured by a fire that started in a bakery and spread to a crowded market in Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of Gaza. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/5; AJ 3/6; PCHR 3/18)

Israel attacked 2 different positions in central and southern Syria. According to Syrian media, 1 person was killed and the attacks were carried out over Lebanese air space. (HA 3/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces carried out military drills in the Jordan Valley. During the drill, 3 Palestinian shepherds were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished a house in Hebron, displacing a family of 5. Elsewhere, Israeli forces began construction on a 5-mile-long, settler-only road connecting settlements near Nablus. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in Qalqilya, causing several tear-gas related injuries. 15 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Kafr Qaddum. During 1 raid in Ramallah, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians; 3 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian-owned home in the Old City partially collapsed due to Israeli excavations there. Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned house in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural land east of Dayr al-Balah and Juhur al-Dik; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/13; PCHR 2/20)

According to Israeli officials, Hamas has informed Israel that it will halt all launchings of rockets and incendiary balloons. The official said that if Hamas keeps its promise, Israel would expand the fishing zone and allow 500 permits for Palestinian businesspeople in Gaza. (HA 2/13)

Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Syria, killing 7 people near Damascus airport. (HA, WAFA 2/14)