The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Qalandia checkpoint, Abud, Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Beita nr. Nablus, Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron and nearby Bayt Umar, and along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c. and al-Bureij r.c.; at least 8 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF patrols nr. Hebron and Nablus. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian shops in c. Hebron, causing minor damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 5/26; PCHR 6/1)

In response to COGAT’s 5/25 announcement of a reduction in Israel’s electricity supply to Gaza, Hamas releases a statement threatening “consequences” if the reductions are implemented. Meanwhile, UN special coordinator Nickolay Mladenov says that the energy crisis in Gaza is affecting water supplies and health services, which could spark another war. (AFP, MNA 5/26)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the settler killing of a Palestinian nr. Nablus on 5/18, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Qalandia checkpoint, Abud, Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), 2 nr. Nablus (Beita and Bayt Dajan), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron and nearby Bayt Umar, Bethlehem, Dayr Istya nr. Salfit, along Gaza’s border nr. Jabaliya r.c., and Gaza City; at least 11 Palestinians are injured and 12 are arrested. The IDF also arrests 5 Palestinians during raids nr. Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Ramallah; and patrols nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/25)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements, and in solidarity with the 1,500-plus hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners observing the Dignity Strike, in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and al-Bireh), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, and Nablus; 1 Palestinian is killed and at least 66 are injured. Meanwhile, the IDF arrests 1 Palestinian during a raid nr. Hebron, and patrols nr. the city throughout the day. Israeli settlers throw stones at a vehicle belonging to the chief of the Palestinian police in Ramallah, causing minor damage. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 5/12; MNA 5/13; PCHR 5/18)

Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists hold protests across the West Bank in solidarity with the 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 4/17. IDF troops violently disperse them in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, 2 villages nr. Nablus (Beita and ‘Azmout), and Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; at least 9 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. The IDF also patrols in al-Mughayyir nr. Ramallah, sparking minor clashes (there are no serious injuries); arrests 2 Palestinians during raids nr. Ramallah and in Nablus; and patrols nr. Hebron and Salfit. Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli settlers gather in Tuqu‘ nr. Bethlehem, blocking the village’s main road, to protest recent alleged incidents of Palestinians throwing stones at their property. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 5/5; PCHR 5/11)

Israeli naval vessels fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the s. Gaza coast for a 2d night (see 5/3), forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in Nabi Salih, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho; obstructs a funeral procession in Bayt Umar, prompting a stone-throwing clash in which Israeli soldiers open fire with rubber-coated steel bullets, injuring 1 Palestinian; conducts evening patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and Qalqilya; conduct late night raids and house searches in Salfit, summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Qalqilya. Palestinians accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Nabi Salih also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries. Meanwhile, 10s of Palestinians rally outside Ofer prison to show solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners; IDF troops fire live ammunition and tear gas at them, wounding 5 (including 1 child). (PCHR 5/10; OCHA 5/11)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning and in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 nr. Qalqilya late at night; conducts afternoon arrest raids nr. Bethlehem. The weekly demonstrations by Palestinians and international activists in Bil‘in and Bayt Umar express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails on a hunger strike for better conditions, in Bil‘in calling specifically for the release of Fatah’s Marwan Barghouti and the PFLP’s Ahmad Sa‘adat. In Ni‘lin and al-Nabi Salih, Palestinians and international activists rally in support of the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN. In all 4 cases, IDF soldiers beat and fire rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 1 British activist and arresting 1 Palestinian, both in Bayt Umar. (PCHR 10/13; OCHA 10/14)