The Palestine Chronology

Thousands of Palestinians gather at protests, sit-ins, and other demonstrations across the oPt in commemoration of the Naksa (the anniversary of the June War of 1967). Palestinian officials declare 6/8 a “day of rage,” encouraging the public to protest the Israeli occupation at Haram al-Sharif. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians and issue 3 arrest summons during late-night raids near Qalqilya, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, approximately 50 right-wing Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Meanwhile, Israeli police confront a group of Muslim worshippers praying at the sanctuary; 12 Palestinians are arrested. Along Gaza’s border fence, unidentified Palestinians fly incendiary kites and balloons into Israel, sparking fires in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council and near Moshav Netiv Ha‘asara and Kibbutz Nir Am. Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross the border near Khan Yunis and violently disperse Great March of Return protesters gathering near Khan Yunis and Bayt Hanun (7 Palestinians are injured). Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, TOI, YA 6/5; PCHR 6/7)

Violence escalates in the West Bank as settlers and Israeli forces continue retaliating against Palestinians in the wake of the 10/1 killing of 2 settlers. Israeli settlers protest on a main road outside Nablus, and the IDF disperses the ensuing clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths. Meanwhile, settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees and Palestinian agricultural land nr. Nablus, and throw stones at drivers nr. Salfit, injuring 3 Palestinian medics. Late at night, IDF troops conduct raids in and around Nablus searching for the perpetrators of the killing; they arrest 10 Palestinians and deliver a demolition notice to the home of a suspect. Clashes erupt with stone-throwers, and the IDF injures 11 youths with live ammunition. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and recent access restrictions at Haram al-Sharif in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and Budrus), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 2 areas nr. Hebron; 6 Palestinians are injured, including 1 journalist. Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians in connection with clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli settlers the day before in a village outside Bethlehem. IDF troops clash with Palestinian stonethrowers during patrols in and around Hebron, and outside Nablus Palestinian youths throw stones at 2 Israeli settlers, causing light injuries. Violence also continues in East Jerusalem, with the Israeli authorities continuing to enforce the restrictions on access at Haram al-Sharif that were announced on 9/27 for the Jewish holiday Sukkoth. Israeli forces temporarily seal the entrances to Issawiyya and shoot stun grenades at residents who approach their mobile checkpoints, sparking intermittent clashes; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured. Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli border police in the Old City, causing minor injuries. On Gaza’s s. border, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel for work. Israeli forces level land nr. Khan Yunis during a limited incursion along the border fence. (MNA, TOI 10/2; MNA 10/3; PCHR 10/8)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working close to the border fence nr. Khan Yunis r.c., causing no injuries. Separately, IDF troops open fire on stone-throwing Palestinians nr. Jabaliya r.c., wounding 1. In the West Bank, a Palestinian man dies from wounds inflicted when Israeli soldiers shot him in the head on 3/1 with a rubber-coated metal bullet during clashes at the entrance to Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah. Following his funeral, there are clashes at Qalandia checkpoint between stone-throwing Palestinian youth and Israeli soldiers who fire live ammunition and tear gas, with 1 Palestinian injured from a bullet to the leg. Separately, in al-‘Izzariya and Abu Dis neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, IDF troops shoot and injure 2 Palestinians with live ammunition during protests against the death of a Palestinian delayed at a checkpoint en route to hospital the previous day. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in Dura and surrounding area nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Hebron and al-‘Arub and 5 nearby villages, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum) and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries except in Bil‘in, with 2 injured by rubber-coated metal bullets, and in Kafr Qaddum with 2 injured by gas canisters. (MNA 11/29; PCHR 12/5)

A senior but unnamed official within Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells the media that Israel has been invited to join the UNHRC’s Western European and Others Group. The development was made possible by Israel ending its boycott of the UNHRC in 10/2013, as well as agreeing to participation in its Universal Periodic Human Rights Review process. On 11/6, ambassadors of the U.K., Australia, Canada, Germany, France, and the U.S. sent a letter to the UN institutions in Geneva to urge the inclusion of Israel in the regional group. (HA, ToI 11/29)

In a White House statement, the Obama administration confirms it is keeping oilrelated sanctions targeting Iran in place despite the recently-signed deal. Meanwhile, Tehran’s envoy to the IAEA tells the agency’s board in Geneva that the implementation of the deal will start by early 1/2014. Separately, Iranian pres. Ruhani says that his country will not decommission its nuclear plants. (AP, FT, REU 11/29)

The executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague rejects a request from Syria to convert facilities used to produce chemical weapons to other activities. (NYT 11/29)

Egyptian security forces violently disperse demonstrations in various parts of Cairo with tear gas and water cannons, as supporters of ousted pres. Morsi express their opposition to a new law restricting protests. There are also similar clashes in Giza, Alexandria, and Suez. According to Interior Ministry figures, 10 are wounded and 183 arrested. (AP 11/29)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Koteret Rashit, Israeli weekly, reports police investigators have written report on circumstances surrounding death while under custody of Salam Hamdan to enable attorney general to close case withoutrial [NYT 1/10]. Total commercial strike closes shops in E. Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem [FJ 1/10]. General Federation of Labor Unions in the W. Bank issues statement condemning Israeli threats to prevent striking Palestinian workers from entering Israel and to hire foreigners to replace strikers [FJ 1/31].

Arab World: PLO leaders call for UN force to protect Palestinians in Israelioccupied W. Bank and Gaza Strip [NYT 1/10].

Other Countries: Spanish officials returning from visit to occupied territories condemn military trials of Palestinians accused of demonstrating [CSM 1/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops use tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to break up march from Bani Suhayla to Khan Yunis; at least 1 protester iskilled, 4 others wounded [NYT 1/10]. Numerous clashes between demonstrators and Israeli troops are reported throughout W. Bank and Gaza zones [WP 1/10].