The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah. (MM 7/1; OCHA 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

Israel allows imports of humanitarian goods to Gaza, suspended on 6/24, to resume at a rate about 30% higher than before the truce was agreed, noting Hamas’s positive reaction to the 6/26 rocket fire by the AMB; imports include diesel fuel, animal feed, frozen meat, fresh produce. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and Ramallah, nr. Bethlehem. (AYM, MM, NYT 6/30; OCHA 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the c. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets at a funeral procession in Bayt Umar for a teenager killed on 6/26, wounding 2 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Tubas (firing on stonethrowing teenagers who confront them, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy), nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers ambush and attack a Palestinian taxi driver nr. Keddumim settlement nr. Qalqilya; the IDF rescues him. In the 2d such incident (see 6/22), unidentified assailants burn 2,000 d. of Palestinian olive groves and crop land w. of the separation wall nr. Tulkarm. Hamas-affiliated police find and demolish 2 smuggling tunnels in Rafah. In Gaza City, a bomb explodes in a market area located behind a Gaza municipal police station, causing damage but no injuries. (OCHA 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

Israel keeps Gaza crossings shut for a 4th day, citing rocket fire on 6/26. Today, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Hamas-affiliated Gaza imams use their Friday sermons to stress that supporting the truce serves the greater interests of the Palestinian people. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires tear gas, percussion grenades at demonstrators at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). (NYT 6/28; NYT 6/30; OCHA 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

Gaza’s border crossings remained sealed for a 3d day. The IDF fires warning shots at Palestinian farmers who stray nr. the Gaza border fence e. of Khan Yunis, seriously injuring 2 elderly Palestinians. The Israeli navy fires warning shots at fishermen to keep them close to shore. AMB mbrs. fire 2 rockets into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Hamas’s Gaza security chiefSiyam meets with heads of the various Gaza factions to discuss ways of reacting to IDF actions in the West Bank while respecting the Gaza cease-fire. Islamic Jihad pledges to coordinate its responses with Hamas. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an unusual daytime raid into Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, setting up road blocks, checking IDs, raiding and searching homes, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront troops, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy, arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and Ramallah, nr. Bethlehem and Jenin, and outside East Jerusalem. Jewish settlers fr. Halamish nr. Ramallah burn a Palestinian olive tree. Nr. Jabaliya r.c., unidentified assailants detonate a bomb outside a fmr. PA Preventive Security officer’s home, causing damage but no injuries. (NYT, WT 6/27; MM 6/30; OCHA 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border open fire on a Palestinian farmer working his field who strays nr. the border fence, wounding him; fires warning shots at another group of farmers working fields nr. Shuka, forcing them to leave the area. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus. (PCHR 6/26; OCHA 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

The IDF makes a predawn raid on an apartment building in Nablus, assassinating Islamic Jihad cmdr. Tariq Abu Ghalil (targeted by the IDF on 3 prior occasions) and a bystander in an adjacent apartment. In response, Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Gaza fire 3 rockets, 1 mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 2 Israelis, causing light injuries. Israel calls the rocket attacks a “grave violation of the calm,” closes all commercial crossing into the Strip, but does not take military action. Hamas calls the closure of the crossings a violation of the truce agmt. but says it will maintain the cease-fire. Meanwhile, the IDF uproots, replants more than 80 olive trees along the separation wall route around Jerusalem (farmers do not expect the trees to survive); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinians demonstrating against separation wall construction in Ni‘lin nr. Ramallah (injuring 12 Palestinians, including an 11-yr.- old boy); fires rubber-coated steel bullets at residents of Far‘un village nr. Tulkarm who hold a protest march to a group of houses slated for IDF demolition, wounding a 9-yr.- old Palestinian boy; conducts late-night arrest raids and house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpe Ya’ir nr. Hebron stone and injure 2 Palestinians nr. Yatta. (MM 6/24; MM, NYT, OCHA, WP 6/25; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/26; OCHA 7/2)

On the sidelines of a donors conference in Berlin, U.S. secy. of state Rice meets with Israeli and PA negotiators and invites them to take part a series of trilateral discussions in New York and Washington beginning in 7/08 in an effort to reach a deal on Palestinian statehood before Bush leaves office. The sides accept. (WP, WT 6/29; NYT 7/29)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on a group of Palestinian children that stray nr. the border fence, wounding a 68-yr.-old Palestinian farmer working his land nearby. Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin. (OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

As the cease-fire in Gaza generally continues to hold, Israel increases the amount of food and medicine allowed entry to Gaza by 50%. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah, in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus. Unidentified assailants burn 100 d. of Palestinian olive groves located on the western side of the separation wall nr. Tulkarm. In Gaza City, a bomb explodes outside a local IQB leader’s home, causing damage but no injuries. (WT 6/23; OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

For a 2d day, IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi fire on Palestinian farmers who stray nr. the border fence while tending their fields, causing no injuries; a similar incident occurs along the s. Gaza border e. of Rafah, causing no injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF raids and searches a house and several shops in Hebron; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c., in Qabatya, and nr. Hebron, Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Nachliel nr. Ramallah, seeking revenge for the shooting of 3 settlers on 6/20, set fire to an olive tree, destroy 2 greenhouses in a Palestinian village nearby. (OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

IDF soldiers on the c. Gaza boarder e. of al-Maghazi fire on Palestinian farmers who stray nr. the border fence while tending their fields, causing no injuries.Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF issues a military order confiscating 1,500 d. of Palestinian land in Bayt Hanina for construction of the separation wall around Ramot settlement; searches a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance, a house in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); severely beats and fires tear gas, percussion grenades at demonstrators at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (injuring 2); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Ramallah (arresting 9 Palestinian teenagers in Jalazun r.c.). Jewish settlers fr. Susia attack and beat several Palestinian farmers and shepherds in nearby Yatta, injuring 2. Several hrs. later, Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpe Ya’ir nr. Hebron attack Palestinian farmers and shepherds in the same area, injuring 3; the IDF detains the injured Palestinians for questioning. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound 3 Jewish settlers hiking nr. Nachliel settlement nr. Ramallah. (OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

On the 1st day of the cease-fire in Gaza, no Israeli-Palestinian violence is reported inside the Strip. Israeli naval vessels, however, fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Rafah, forcing them to return to shore. Hamas removes armed mbrs. fr. posts along the border with Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Qalqilya; raids several Palestinian homes in Hebron, detains and photographs 30 residents for no apparent reason; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus and in Jenin town and r.c., Qabatya. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus block a road, stone Palestinian cars driving in the area, burn 800 d. of Palestinian olive groves, stone local Palestinians who attempt to reach the area to put out the fires; the IDF observes but only intervenes to detain Palestinians who arrive to extinguish the fire. Jewish settlers fr. Tapuach settlement nr. Salfit burn 48 d. of nearby Palestinian crops. A Jewish settler seriously injures a 70-yr.-old Palestinian man in a deliberate hit-and-run along the Qalqilya-Nablus road outside Qalqilya; the IDF evacuates him to an Israeli hospital. In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen fire on the offices of a Hamas-affiliated newspaper, causing damage but no injuries. In al-Bureij r.c., Hamas-affiliated police raid, fire in the air to disperse a wedding party, claiming attendees were playing pro-Fatah songs; no injuries are reported. (MM 6/19; AHR, NYT, WP 6/20; OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

Just before a Gaza cease-fire goes into effect, the IDF makes a series of air strikes on Gaza (killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding 1), and Palestinians (mostly Islamic Jihad mbrs. seeking revenge for IDF killings of its mbrs. in previous days) fire 33 rockets and 10 mortars into Israel (causing light damage but no injuries); 5 rockets land inside Gaza, wounding 1 armed Palestinian, 2 civilians. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Bethlehem; also makes a major arrest raid in Qalqilya, searching, firing on, and heavily damaging a 3-story apartment building and 2 homes, demolishing 2 uninhabited Palestinian homes.(PCHR, WT 6/19; NYT 6/20; OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

Israel publicly calls for opening “direct, bilateral” peace talks with Lebanon, which says it is not interested (NYT, WP 6/19)

Hamas and Israel agree “in principle” on phased a cease-fire deal for Gaza to begin at 6:00 A.M. local time on 6/19 (11:00 P.M. 6/18 EST) and last for 6 mos. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a car in Dayr al-Balah carrying 3 mbrs. of the Army of Islam (essentially the militia of the local Daghmash clan) in an apparent assassination attempt, initially missing the car and wounding 3 bystanders, firing a 2d missile that kills targeted Army of Islam mbr. Salah Salluha, wounding 2. Later the IDF makes an air strike on a car nr. Khan Yunis assassinating 5 Army of Islam mbrs. (including Mu‘ataz Daghmash, a senior mbr. and brother of the group’s leader). Later, Palestinians fire up to 10 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and Nablus, nr. Hebron and Ramallah (MA, HA, YA 6/17; MM, NYT, OCHA; WP 6/18; PCHR 6/19; HA, MM 6/20; NYT 6/22; AYM, al-Hayat al-Jadida [Ramallah] 6/23)

In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. laying a roadside bomb nr. the border fence e. of Khuza; makes an air strike destroying a workshop in Khan Yunis, causing no injuries; fires on Palestinian farmers who stray nr. the border fence nr. Kerem Shalom crossing, causing no injuries. Islamic Jihad mbrs. fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting a cemetery in Ashqelon, lightly wounding 1 Israeli; the IDF makes an air strike on the launch site e. of Gaza City, killing 1 Islamic Jihad mbr., wounding 1. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Jenin town and r.c., and nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus attack and drive off 3 Palestinian shepherds (ages 12, 14, 30) tending a flock nearby, then kill their 3 donkeys. Unidentified assailants detonate a roadside bomb nr. a Hamas-affiliated police patrol in Gaza City, causing no injuries. (MM 6/16; NYT 6/17; OCHA 6/18; PCHR 6/19)

In Gaza, Palestinians fire 2 rockets toward Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF directs heavy machine gun fire across the border at the launch site, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c.; issues a military order confiscating 356 d. of Palestinian land e. of Tubas for construction of an IDF training facility. Unidentified gunmen fire on a group of Hamas-affiliated policemen outside a police office in Gaza City, causing no injuries. Hamas-affiliated police make a 2d attempt to arrest a wanted Fatah mbr. in al-Bureij r.c. (see 6/12), but are again attacked by neighbors and Fatah supporters and are forced to retreat. (OCHA 6/18; PCHR 6/19)

Israeli, Syrian negotiating teams open a 2d round of indirect peace talks in Istanbul. (MM 6/16; AFP, MM, NYT 6/17)

An IDF helicopter fires on a group of Hamas mbrs. in Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. Later, Hamas mbrs. fire 4 rocketpropelled grenades at an IDF patrol along the Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi r.c.; the IDF later sends bulldozers into the area to level land, clear lines of sight. Hamas mbrs. fire 3 mortars fr. Gaza toward Israel, causing no damage or injuries; IDF troops inside Israel direct heavy machine gunfire at the launch site, causing no reported injuries. The IDF also conducts a 2d day of land-leveling operations inside the Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Dahaysha r.c. and al-Duha village nr. Bethlehem, then fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 4; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, and in Jenin town and r.c. (raiding a local lawyer’s home, confiscating computers and files). (PCHR 6/19)

Just before U.S. secy. of state Condoleezza Rice arrives in Israel for 6/15–16 mtgs. to encourage Israeli-Palestinian negotiations (see Quarterly Update), the Israeli Housing Min. announces approval for construction of 1,300 new settlement housing units in Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya and nr. Salfit; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2); fires tear gas, percussion grenades at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (injuring 5). Jewish settlers enter Nablus to pray at Joseph’s Tomb without prior coordination with the IDF; the IDF evacuates and arrests them. The IDF also sends tanks into Gaza e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to level land along the border fence. In Gaza’s al-Bureij r.c., Hamas-affiliated police attempt to arrest 2 wanted Fatah mbrs., but are attacked, forced to retreat by neighbors and Fatah supporters; no serious injuries are reported. (WT 6/15; MM 6/16; OCHA 6/18; PCHR 6/19)

In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians laying a roadside bomb nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya; makes an air strike on a group of IQB mbrs. in Khuza, wounding 2; makes a late-night air strike on and fires a surface-to-surface missile across the border at a 2d group of IQB mbrs. nr. Khuza, killing 3 Hamas mbrs. An explosion destroys Hamas field cmdr. Hasan Abu Shaqfa’s Bayt Lahiya home, killing Abu Shaqfa, 4 other Hamas mbrs., a 4-mo.-old girl, and another bystander and damaging several surrounding homes; Hamas initially says the explosion was caused by an IDF air strike and fires 21 rockets (reported by the IDF to include 3 Gradstyle rockets) and 22 mortars into Israel in response (lightly injuring 1 Israeli), but later (6/14) reports that explosives the Hamas mbrs. were handling detonated prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Balata r.c. and al-Far‘a r.c. (firing on residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian), and nr. Hebron. Nr. Nablus, 2 Jewish settlers attempt to break into a Palestinian car and shop in Hawara village, are confronted by local Palestinians, whom they then attack with knives and iron bars; the IDF arrests the settlers. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/13; WP 6/15; OCHA 6/18; PCHR 6/19)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops, bulldozers into al-Qarara, raiding and occupying several homes, bulldozing 150 d. of agricultural land and 1 Palestinian home, damaging 2 mosques, detaining and interrogating 11 Palestinians; during the operation, the IDF fires tank shells at armed Palestinians approaching the area, killing an 8-yr.-old Palestinian girl and 2 Hamas mbrs., wounding the girl’s mother and a 3-yr.-old boy. An IDF helicopter fires on an IQB post in Jabaliya r.c., killing a 65-yr.-old Palestinian man in a shop nearby, wounding his 5-yr.-old granddaughter. Palestinians fire 3 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 1 Israeli. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Nablus. The IDF also demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, displacing 25 Palestinians (including 18 children). Palestinian youths throw stones at IDF settler vehicles nr. Ramallah and East Jerusalem, causing no injuries. In Gaza’s Nussayrat r.c., a bomb explodes outside a Hamas activist’s home, causing damage but no injuries. (PCHR, WP 6/12; OCHA 6/18; PCHR 6/19)

Olmert authorizes his Kadima party to begin preparations for party primaries as early as late summer 2008 in effort to deter the Labor party fr. calling a no-confidence vote over the latest corruption charges against him, a move that could collapse the government and force new elections. (HA 6/11; MM, WP 6/12)

Overnight in Gaza, the IDF sends troops, bulldozers into Shuka to raid and search homes, arresting 1 Palestinian and remanding him to Israel, bulldozing 31 d. of almond and olive trees before withdrawing in the morning. During the day, the IDF fires an artillery shell at a rocket-launching site outside Gaza City, killing 3 Hamas mbrs., wounding 2; sends tanks, bulldozers into Gaza to bulldoze 10 d. of olive trees nr. Rafah. Islamic Jihad mbrs. fire several mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF responds with artillery fire, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an overnight raid into Dayr Abu Mash‘al nr. Ramallah, occupying a Palestinian home as a military outpost, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1 Palestinian teenager; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin, Nablus, and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah. A Palestinian seriously injured in a smuggling tunnel collapse in Rafah on 6/2 dies. (OCHA, WP 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

In Gaza, 2 Palestinians are killed when 2 smuggling tunnels under the Rafah border collapse. In the West Bank, the IDF fires on Palestinian youths in Hebron, wounding 1; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c. (NYT, WP, WT 6/10; OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

In the afternoon, the IDF sends troops, bulldozers into Abasan and al-Fukhari, firing on residential areas (wounding 1 Palestinian), leveling 15 d. of agricultural land.IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on a group of Palestinian civilians and journalists examining an agricultural plot recently bulldozed by the IDF nr. al-Bureij r.c., wounding 1 press photographer. Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 1 Israeli. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Ramallah and neighboring al-Bireh; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Ramallah. Jewish settlers begin work on a new unauthorized settlement outpost, Sinsana B, on 200 d. of privately owned Palestinian land nr. Hebron, a short distance fr. the existing unauthorized outpost Sinsana A; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Jewish settlers fr. Havat Ya’ir in Hebron, wielding iron pipes and heavy tools, beat an elderly Palestinian couple and their 32-yr.-old relative grazing sheep nearby, seriously injuring them. In Gaza’s Nussayrat r.c.,Hamas-affiliated police cordon off 2 apartments owned by PA PM Salam Fayyad’s cabinet secy. Sadi al-Krunz (Fatah), currently residing in Ramallah. (OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on a Palestinian farmer fixing a water pipeline nr. the border, wounding him. IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of Gaza City fire a tank shell at a group of armed Palestinians, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding 1. An IDF drone fires a missile at a group of armed Palestinians in Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, missing the target, causing no injuries. IDF troops level land along the border fence inside Gaza e. of Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols, fires percussion grenades in al-Far‘a r.c. nr. Tubas, then opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 2; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, including in al-Far‘a r.c. Jewish settlers fr. Susia settlement nr. Hebron harass Palestinian farmers, shepherds in nearby Yatta. In Khan Yunis, a bomb explodes outside the home of a fmr. Fatah mbr. who is now working for the Hamas-affiliated police, causing damage but no injuries. (OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

Overnight, the IDF sends bulldozers into Khuza to level 45 d. of agricultural land and a poultry farm; sends undercover units into Gaza City, where they fire on a group of Palestinian resistance mbrs. in what may be an assassination attempt, wounding several, then fatally shooting a Palestinian bystander who comes to their aid. During the day, the IDF levels land along the border fence inside Gaza nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches nr. Hebron. Some 300 Palestinian, Israeli, and international peace activists take part in the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil‘in against the separation wall; many demonstrators were participants at a wk.-long conference held in Bil‘in on Palestinian nonviolent resistance that ended today; several, including European Parliament VP Luisa Morgantini, Irish Nobel laureate Mairead Corrigan, and Italian judge Julio Toscano are among those injured when the IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse the crowd, lightly injuring 13. The IDF also fires tear gas, percussion grenades at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (no injuries reported). Jewish settlers fr. Hashmonim fire live ammunition at Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, causing no reported injuries. In Gaza City, Hamas-affiliated police attempt to arrest suspected drug dealers, sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves 4 Palestinains dead (3 suspects, 1 policeman), 10 policemen wounded. (BBC 6/6; OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

The Israeli High Court rejects a petition by human rights groups challenging the legality of fuel cuts to Gaza on the grounds that Israel, as occupier, is not meeting is obligations to Gazans. Overnight in Gaza, the IDF sends troops, bulldozers into Khan Yunis to search homes and offices, demolish 3 Palestinian homes, bulldoze 7 d. of land; troops also fire on residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian. During the day, the IDF fires a missile from a drone, hitting a Palestinian house in Khan Yunis, killing a 4-yr.-old Palestinian girl, injuring her mother. Hamas mbrs. fire 3 mortars into Israel, hitting a factory in Nir Oz, killing 1 Israeli, wounding 2. Late in the evening, the IDF makes an air strike on a Palestinian police station nr. Bayt Lahiya, destroying the building, wounding 2 police officers, 3 children nearby (ages 1, 6, 13); makes an air strike on a workshop in Gaza City, causing damage but no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 4 Palestinians (including 2 women, 1 child who were bystanders); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. In Hebron, mbrs. of disputing Palestinian clans exchange fire in an area nr. a Jewish settlement; IDF soldiers protecting the settlement fire on the group, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2. Also in Hebron, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack and vandalize nearby Palestinian homes, beating a Palestinian teenager. In Gaza, a bomb explodes outside the home of Hamas’s Gaza security chief Said Siyam, causing damage but no injuries. (NYT, WP, WT 6/6; OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

In Gaza, Hamas mbrs. fire 5 mortars at an IDF unit that enters Gaza nr. al-Bureij r.c., forcing the soldiers to retreat. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at the Nahal Oz crossing, seriously injuring a Palestinian worker. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols, sets up checkpoints in Tulkarm during the day; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm, nr. Hebron (also raiding, sealing for 3 yrs. an Islamic Charity Society office and kindergarten). The PA opens 3 police stations manned by a total of 105 policemen in 3 villages surrounding Jenin (see 6/3). (IFM, WT 6/4; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/5; al-Akhbar [Cairo] 6/6; OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

As Israeli PM Olmert begins a 3-day visit to Washington, Israel announces that, in keeping with its Annapolis pledges to ease Palestinian movement, the IDF has removed 4 manned checkpoints (improving access to the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, areas n. of Nablus, s. of Hebron) and 70 unmanned checkpoints (of around 600) across the West Bank, and plans further steps to ease the movement of agricultural goods btwn. the Jordan Valley and the northern West Bank. Israel also pledges to issue new permits to allow 5,000 Palestinian workers to remain overnight in Israel, 500 West Bank Palestinian businessmen to enter Israel, and 130 NGO employees and Palestinian VIPs to travel in and out of Israel more easily; authorizes the PA to set up 20 new police stations for new units undergoing training in Jordan. (IFM 6/3)

In Gaza, the IDF sends bulldozers into al-Qarara to level 100 d. of agricultural land; support troops fire on surrounding residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian outside his home. Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF unit patrolling the Israeli side of Gaza’s Kissufim crossing (nr. Khan Yunis; closed since Israel’s 9/05 disengagement fr. Gaza), wounding 1 soldier. Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF uproots 47 olive trees nr. Ni‘lin for construction of the separation wall; conducts daytime house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. and nr. Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers protesting the lifting of an IDF roadblock in Hebron block Palestinian traffic in parts of the city. Palestinians throw stones at Jewish settler vehicles nr. Ramallah, causing no injuries. (OCHA 6/4; PCHR 6/5)

As a goodwill gesture to the PA, which recently deployed a new security unit in Jenin, Israel begins allowing up to 100 Israeli Palestinians/day to travel to Jenin; visitors must return by nightfall and expect to undergo searches and questioning. Also in the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm, nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba hold an outdoor celebration the “unification” of Jerusalem; the IDF bars Palestinians fr. using roads in the area. Palestinians throw stones at 2 Jewish settler buses in East Jerusalem and nr. Ramallah, causing no injuries. In Gaza, IDF tanks, bulldozers level land on the Palestinian side of the Qarni crossing. On the Rafah border, 1 Palestinian is killed, 4 are injured when 2 smuggling tunnels collapse. In Gaza City, the acting Hamas government organizes a military court that convicts 5 Palestinians on charges of forming an illegal organization in 7/07 and of plotting against the dismissed government of Ismail Haniyeh, sentencing them to unspecified prison terms. (HA 6/2; OCHA 6/4; PCHR 6/5)

Overnight in Gaza, the IDF sends troops, bulldozers into Bani Suhayla nr. Khan Yunis, bulldozing 125 d. of agricultural land, several greenhouses, 1 Palestinian home before withdrawing in the morning; during the operation, troops fire a tank shell at armed Palestinians approaching the area (wounding 3) and detain 11 Palestinians (including 1 child) for questioning. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Qabatya, and nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police and intelligence officers break up a memorial service for the late Palestinian political figure Faisal Husseini, declaring it an illegal political gathering, arresting 4 Palestinians. A Jewish settler deliberately drives into a flock of Palestinian sheep nr. Hebron, killing 3 sheep, injuring 2. The Israeli Housing Min. says it is moving ahead with previously announced plans to build 884 new Jewish settler housing units in East Jerusalem’s Pisgat Ze’ev (763 units) and Har Homa (121 units) settlements. Meanwhile, in Bayt Furik, angry Palestinians demonstrate, throw stones at a Palestinian Authority (PA) police station in Nablus, denouncing the PA’s recent confiscation of 86 unlicensed and stolen vehicles, injuring 3 policemen; the PA police fire live ammunition and percussion grenades at the protesters and beat several, injuring 8 Palestinians and causing an elderly Palestinian woman to have a fatal heart attack. In Gaza’s al-Maghazi r.c., unidentified gunmen fire on a group of Hamas mbrs., who return heavy fire; no injuries are reported. In Gaza’s Shati’ r.c., a bomb explodes outside a store, causing damage but no injuries; no group takes responsibility. (NYT 6/2; OCHA 6/4; PCHR 6/5; REU 7/14)