The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 2 Palestinian farmers in Khirbet al-Tawil, leading to their hospitalization. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Turmus ‘Ayya, causing damage. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian at al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron; Israeli authorities say the man had pulled a knife on the soldiers, but no injuries were reported among the Israeli forces. Israeli forces also razed farmland and uprooted some 80 olive trees in Bayt Umar. For the 2d time in less than 7 days, 1 Palestinian was injured by an unexploded ordnance left behind by Israeli forces near Hebron; the 1st time was on 1/8. 21 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Jenin refugee camp, Qabatiya, Ya‘bad, Tubas, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Bayt Umar, and Qalqilya; clashes erupted during the raids in Ramallah, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided al-Tur, leading to tear-gas related injuries; 4 Palestinians were arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled farmland east of Khan Yunis. Israeli forces also shelled several places in the northern part of Gaza after claiming that an Israeli vehicle had been shot at; no injuries were reported. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/13; PCHR, WAFA 1/14)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a campaign rally in Nazareth to try to reach out to Palestinian citizens of Israel after demonizing that part of the Israeli population for decades. At the rally, Netanyahu shared the stage with Nazareth mayor Ali Salam, who spoke in favor of the prime minister. 19 people were arrested during a demonstration against Netanyahu and several people were injured by police, including Palestinian-Israeli members of Knesset. (HA 1/13; HA, MEE 1/14; HA 1/15)

The Jerusalem planning commission approved plans to build a permanent U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Haaretz reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu had been pressuring the city to accelerate the approving process before U.S. president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. (HA 1/13)

In the West Bank, Israel delivered demolition notices for 1 residential tent and 1 animal barn in Atuf. Israeli forces razed Palestinian-owned agricultural lands southeast of Tulkarm. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian man trying to enter Israel for work near Tulkarm. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities banned PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith from entering the West Bank for 6 months. Governor Ghaith was summoned by Israeli forces earlier in the day. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a raid in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired missiles at Gaza after incendiary balloons from Gaza sparked fires in southern Israel. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz ordered the entire Gaza fishing zone closed as collective punishment for incendiary balloons and rockets sent toward Israel. 1 Palestinian man was also seriously injured after coming in contact with an Israeli unexploded ordnance near al-Zaytun. Palestinian officials said that Gaza’s only power plant would stop producing power from 8/18 due to Israel’s embargo on fuel going to Gaza. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 1.5 nautical miles off Gaza City and Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (AJ, HA, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/16; PCHR 8/19)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with French president Emmanuel Macron. President Macron said that the 2 spoke about resumption of peace negotiations. (HA, WAFA 8/16)

Israel and the UAE began direct talks to arrange the details of establishing full diplomatic relations. The 2 countries and the U.S. announced on 8/13 that the UAE would normalize ties with Israel. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview that the U.S. had asked him to suspend annexation of parts of the West Bank in exchange for normalization with the UAE. He further stated that he had no choice in the matter and that annexation was still part of the U.S administration’s peace plan. In an interview with Haaretz, UAE director of strategic communications of the ministry of foreign affairs Hend Al Otaiba said that the UAE and Israel are working toward exchanging ambassadors. When asked about if the embassy would be located in Jerusalem, Al Otaiba answered, “We’re bound by international resolutions as well as an Arab position that wants an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.” The PA ambassador to the UAE arrived in Ramallah after being withdrawn because of the UAE-Israel deal. (HA, HA 8/16; HA, HA, 8/17)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF launches strikes on several targets, killing 10 Palestinians. The attacks come shortly after the announcement of an extension to the 72-hour cease-fire. Meanwhile, unexploded ordnance kills 6 Palestinians in Bayt Lahiya, including a reporter with the Associated Press. Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen off the s. coast of the Gaza Strip, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning; and in Hebron and 3 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nearby, and in 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/13; PCHR 8/4)

In Cairo overnight, reps. of Israel and the Palestinian delegation agree to extend the cease-fire by 5 days, shortly before the previous 72-hour cease-fire expires. Meanwhile, State Dept. spokesperson Harf tells reporters that the U.S. wants a “more sustainable, longer-term cease-fire,” with one of the goals being the disarmament of Hamas. Harf also says the U.S. is committed to the reconstruction of Gaza. Pres. Obama speaks with Netanyahu on the telephone and urges him to make a deal to end the hostilities. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/13)

Overnight, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets and 1 manufactured Grad rocket fr. Gaza into Israel; the Qassams land harmlessly (1 inside Gaza, 2 in Israel), while the Grad strikes nr. a cattle farm, causing damage and injuring some livestock. In the afternoon, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 mortars into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Later in the afternoon, the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs; an umbrella group comprising all Gaza factions) fire another 4 mortars into Israel containing white phosphorous scavenged fr. unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO), causing no damage or injuries. Israel files an official complaint with the UN over the serious escalation and retaliates in the evening with 4 air strikes in and around Bani Suhayla village s. of Khan Yunis, targeting and destroying an Islamic Jihad training site, 1 Palestinian home, and an agricultural storehouse, causing heavy collateral damage to another 2d home, and injuring 6 Palestinian civilians (including children ages 2 and 14). Late at night, 2 more air strikes destroy a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border. Meanwhile, in the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the abandoned settlement sites nr. the border, wounding 1. Late at night, IDF troops make an incursion 1,500 m into al-Shuka in s. Gaza, firing on residential areas to keep Palestinians in their homes, monitoring the area, and withdrawing after 3 hrs.; IDF troops on the s. Gaza border open heavy fire on the demolished Dahaniyya airport site, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam nr. Ramallah. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 5 Palestinians lightly injured (3 by tear gas canisters, 1 by a rubber-coated steel bullet) and 10s suffering tear gas inhalation. (JP, REU, YA 11/19; WP, YA 11/20; PCHR 11/25; OCHA 11/26)

The IDF conducts a predawn raid on Jenin, placing the town under curfew, prompting an exchange of gunfire in which 1 IDF soldier is wounded; fires on a Swiss envoy’s diplomatic vehicle at Erez crossing for no apparent reason, causing damage but no injuries (Switzerland files a formal protest.); fires on stone-throwing youths in Tulkarm, killing 1 Palestinian; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Bayt Furik, 1 outside Hebron, 1 in al-Til; confiscates 7 dunams of land in Habla, nr. Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Bayt Furik, Khan Yunis, Tulkarm r.c.; conducts arrest raids in Abu Dis, Balata r.c., Bethlehem, Kafr Dan, Qalqilya, Tubas, Yamun; tightens roadblocks around Ramallah. In Hebron, 5 Palestinian children are injured when they trigger unexploded munitions while playing. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries; detonate a roadside bomb underneath an IDF vehicle in Gaza, causing damage but no injuries. Extremist rightwing Jewish settlers affiliated with the “hilltop youth” and the outlawed Kach movement announce plans to launch a “personal incitement campaign” against Sharon in light of his approval of the road map. (HA 5/27; AFP 5/27 in WNC 5/28; NYT, WT 5/28; MA 5/28 in WNC 5/29; LAW, PCHR 5/29)