The Palestine Chronology

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel nr. Bayt Lahiya. They do not inform his family, who will spend the next 2 days searching for him. (The Israeli govt. will release a statement on 12/28 announcing that the man is a Hamas military operative. His family will deny the report, asserting that he has no affiliation with Hamas and that he is mentally unstable.) In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah; and patrol nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian returning from work s. of Jerusalem. He suffers serious injuries, and the settlers flee the scene. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan, Qalandia r.c., and Qatanna. (MNA 11/27; JP 11/30; PCHR 12/1; HA 12/28; MNA 12/29)

Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) fighters in Syria launch mortars at IDF troops patrolling along the border in the Israeli controlled Golan Heights, causing no injuries. The IDF returns fire, bombing a car armed with a heavy machine gun. 4 ISIS fighters are reportedly killed. Late at night, Israeli fighter jets launch air strikes on an abandoned facility in the Syrian Golan Heights causing damage. (HA, JP, YA 11/27; JP, TOI, YA 11/28)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. Gaza City; at least 5 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF patrols nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. Palestinian youths throw Molotov cocktails into the Beit El settlement nr. Ramallah overnight, causing 1 home to burn down completely. Dozens of Orthodox Jews attempt to visit Rachel’s Tomb nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with IDF troops; there are no serious injuries. Along Gaza’s border, the IDF fires several mortar shells at “suspicious” targets nr. Khan Yunis, according to an army spokesperson. There are no reports of injuries or serious damage. (MNA 11/11; MNA 11/12; PCHR 11/17)

In a wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal, U.S. pres.-elect Trump says he will attempt to achieve the “ultimate deal” between Israel and the Palestinians, “for humanity’s sake.” (WSJ 11/11; HA 11/12)

IDF troops shoot and critically injure a Palestinian in Hawara village nr. Nablus after he allegedly attempts to stab a soldier with a screwdriver. Late at night in the West Bank, Israeli forces use concrete to seal the entrance to the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian accused of assisting in the killing of 4 Israelis in Tel Aviv on 6/8. They also confiscate a tractor from Ras al-Amud village in the n. Jordan Valley and reopen the entrance to Aqraba village nr. Nablus, which was closed on 9/20 as collective punishment for reported stonethrowing in the area. The IDF arrests 14 Palestinian during late-night raids nr. Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron; and patrols nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a car wash in Bayt Hanina overnight. They also conduct raids in Abu Dis, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; there are no serious injuries. Around 100 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khan Yunis. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/9; PCHR 11/10; PCHR 11/17)

A Palestinian from Jalazun r.c. succumbs to a head injury he sustained in clashes with the IDF in the camp in 1992. (IMEMC 11/9)

An errant mortar shell fired from Syria lands in an uninhabited area of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds later in the day, firing artillery at Syrian army targets. There are no reported injuries. (JP, TOI 10/9)

The Israeli authorities return the body of a Palestinian killed in a confrontation with Israeli troops on 9/5. His family buries him in the Anata village cemetery nr. Bethlehem. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops assault a Palestinian at a mobile checkpoint nr. Jenin, and arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Hebron. (MNA 9/13; WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/22)

For the 4th time in 2 weeks, errant mortar fire from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launches retaliatory air strikes on Syrian govt. sites nr. the border, causing an unknown amount of damage. During the Israeli sortie, the Syrian army fires 2 surface-to-air missiles at the IAF aircraft. The Syrian army claims that it downs a jet and a drone; the IDF denies that any of its aircraft were shot down. Later in the day, another round of 3 mortar shells from Syria falls in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and again, the IDF responds, launching air strikes on Syrian govt. sites nr. the border. No damage or injuries are reported. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 9/13)

The PA and Israel reach an agreement on repayment of the Palestinians’ outstanding debts to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), which reportedly total almost NIS 2 b. (approx. $350 m.). The IEC reduced the flow of power to several West Bank cities, starting in 5/2016, as punishment for the unpaid debts. (TOI 9/13; JP, WAFA, YA 9/14)

A 6-year-old Palestinian is killed when an Israeli settler rams her with his vehicle outside Bethlehem. Early reports on the incident say it was an accident, but the driver’s intentions are unclear. IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons on late-night raids nr. Jenin and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian farm lands nr. Qalqilya, destroying 13 olive trees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats. There are no injures in either incident. (MNA 9/10; PCHR 9/22)

In the 3d such incident this week, an errant mortar from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no serious damage. The IDF responds by firing artillery shots at Syrian govt. sites nr. the border. It is not clear how much damage is caused. (HA, JP, TOI 9/10)