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  • September 26, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized electricity poles between Qusra and Jalud. Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction and 1 shack in an-Nuway’imah near Jericho. In East...

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  • September 5, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Nur Shams refugee camp. Israeli bulldozers caused extensive damage during the raid, including to the main...

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  • June 7, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort raided al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, vandalizing property. Israeli settlers also erected vending stalls on a highway near al-Farisiya. Elsewhere...

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  • September 21, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinian minors during a raid in Rumana; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians...

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  • July 16, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces opened fire at a van carrying 6 Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area, causing it to overturn; 1 was injured by live ammunition while the 5 others suffered minor...

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  • July 15, 2022

    In the West Bank, unknown assailants opened fire at a car carrying 4 settlers to Joseph’s Tomb, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, lightly injuring the 4 settlers. Israeli forces...

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  • March 27, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up caravans near Qusra. Israeli settlers also threw stones at commercial structures and vehicles in Burqa, causing damage. Israeli forces delivered stop-work...

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  • October 20, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole harvesting equipment in Qaryut and tried to steal olive crops before being chased away by Palestinians. Israeli forces razed 10 dunams of agricultural land...

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  • August 29, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked a road between Hebron and Qalqas. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 7 people. In Gaza, Israeli...

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  • October 26, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized some 100 Palestinian-owned olive trees in al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces uprooted 60 olive trees and razed land in Salfit. Israeli forces also delivered...

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  • September 24, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during clashes in Jericho. Israeli forces also sealed the entrance to Asira. Elsewhere, Israeli forces razed land in Jalud to expand...

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  • September 22, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces confiscated 2 diggers and 2 trucks working on a cancer treatment facility near Yatta. 22 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin,...

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  • September 15, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians near Ramallah; 1 Palestinian minor was hit by shrapnel from a tear gas canister. Israeli forces also forced Palestinian workers to stop...

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  • September 14, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces handed a demolition order for a Palestinian-owned house in al-Twana sheltering 10 people; 1 other resident in al-Twana received a stop-work order. Israeli forces...

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  • September 11, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian, hitting him in the face with a tear gas canister in Qiffin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in...

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  • September 9, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces issued demolition orders for 4 Palestinian-owned houses in Bani Na‘im and took measurements for a punitive demolition of a house owned by the family of an alleged...

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  • August 26, 2020

    In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli forces near the separation wall adjacent to Jenin. Israeli forces handed demolition notices for 3 houses and 2 houses under...

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  • August 19, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian teen and injured 2 others during a raid in Dayr Abu Mash‘al. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters...

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  • June 9, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for residential structures, 1 stable, and 1 stone wall; a stop-work notice for a water well and fencing in al-Walaja; and demolished...

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  • May 19, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 9 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ya‘bad, Kaubar, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested 8 Palestinians including a...

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  • February 21, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces attacked Palestinian protesters throwing stones in Kafr Qaddum by using a bulldozer to push large stones downhill toward the protesters, 1 Palestinian was...

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  • February 20, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israel issued demolition orders for 4 residential structures south of Hebron and 5 homes in the Ramallah area as punitive demolitions against alleged Palestinian attackers....

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  • February 14, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented some 200 Israeli activists from helping Palestinians plant trees in Yasuf village. 2 Israeli organizations, Rabbis for Human Rights and Zazim, had...

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  • February 13, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces carried out military drills in the Jordan Valley. During the drill, 3 Palestinian shepherds were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished a house in Hebron,...

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  • February 11, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces set up a metal gate, shutting the main entrance to Nabi Salih. Israeli forces also handed a demolition notice for the family home of a Palestinian prisoner in...

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  • February 8, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed protests against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in and around Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and ‘Azun; 2 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated...

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  • February 7, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 1 Palestinian during a protest in Tulkarm. 11 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers were injured during clashes in ‘Azun, where Palestinians mourned the death...

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  • February 6, 2020

    In the West Bank, 1 PA police officer was killed and 6 others wounded when Israeli forces conducted night raids in Jenin, according to Israeli officials. The PA police officer did not pose a...

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  • February 5, 2020

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor in Hebron during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians protesting the U.S. peace plan. Israeli forces demolished a...

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  • February 3, 2020

    In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian prisoner stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli warden at Ofer Prison. Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian family in Hebron, causing light injuries. 2...

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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized electricity poles between Qusra and Jalud. Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction and 1 shack in an-Nuway’imah near Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting near the Gaza fence east of Gaza City, injuring 11 with live ammunition, 1 minor with a tear-gas canister, and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also conducted airstrikes by drones and helicopters, striking 3 sites near the Rafah and Karni crossings and causing damage. (AP, HA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/26; PCHR 9/27)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Saudi non-resident ambassador to Palestine and consul general in Jerusalem Nayef al-Sudairi, receiving his credentials. Ambassador al-Sudairi also met with PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki, saying at a press conference that “the Arab Peace Initiative is the main point in any upcoming agreement” to normalize relations with Israel. Al-Sudairi also said Saudi Arabia “is working to establish a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.” (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, QDS, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/26; GDN, HA, NYT 9/27)

UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland met with Hamas officials in Gaza. (HA, HA 9/28)

Palestinian Americans and Arab American civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, stating that the government is endorsing discrimination against Palestinian Americans by admitting Israel into its Visa Waiver Program. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee national executive director Abed Ayoub said the organization will hold the government “accountable for any actions that create separate classes of U.S. citizens.” The other plaintiffs were 3 Palestinian Americans and the organization Democracy for the Arab World Now. The plaintiffs argued that the U.S.-Israeli memorandum, which was kept secret, for the creation of the trial period “differentiate treatment to U.S. citizens who are ‘residents’ of the occupied West Bank, no including East Jerusalem; U.S. citizens who are residents of the occupied Gaza Strip; U.S. citizens who are registered on the [Palestinian Population Registry] but not residents in either the West Bank or Gaza Strip; and U.S. citizens who are not of Palestinian nationality.” Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen announced that Israel had been admitted to the program on 9/25 2 days before the U.S. made an official announcement on 9/27. (AJ, REU 9/25; HA, MDW 9/26; HA, MDW 9/27)

The Israeli Justice Ministry’s police misconduct unit indicted an Israeli soldier for shooting a 16-year-old Palestinian girl in the back with a baton round while she was in her yard in Sheikh Jarrah in 2021. The unnamed soldier was charged with shooting with a firearm, severe injury under aggravated circumstances, and common assault. (HA 9/26)

Israeli tourism minister Haim Katz visited Saudi Arabia in the first public visit to the country by an Israeli minister. Katz was attending a conference of the UN World Tourism Organization. Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi and MK David Bitan are scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on 10/2 for a Universal Postal Union conference in Riyadh. (AJ, ALM, HA, MEE 9/26; NYT 9/27; ALM 10/2)

Japan contributed $20 million to a project improving drinking water in Jenin. (WAFA 9/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Nur Shams refugee camp. Israeli bulldozers caused extensive damage during the raid, including to the main road leading to Tulkarm. Later in the day, PA forces opened fire at Islamic Jihad members in the camp; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor near az-Zubaidat, claiming he had shot and injured 1 Israeli soldier. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Bayt Umar; the soldiers also fired tear gas near a school, causing tear-gas related injuries among students and staff. Israeli forces also confiscated 1 tractor near Yatta and 1 road roller in al-Zawiya. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Halhul, al-Arroub refugee camp, Ya’bad, al-Am’ari refugee camp, Birzeit, Kafr ‘Aqab, and ‘Anata. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian school in Kafr ‘Aqab was set on fire after it was forced to teach the Israeli curriculum instead of the PA curriculum. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, QDS, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/5; MDW, PCHR 9/7; UNOCHA 9/11; UNOCHA 9/26)

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the Israeli decision on 9/4 to close the Karim Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing would lead to an increase in tensions between Palestinians in Gaza and Israel. PA economy minister Khaled Assaili demanded that Israel reopen the crossing immediately. (HA, REU, WAFA 9/5; AJ 9/7; AP 9/8)

The High Follow-Up Committee for the Arab citizens of Israel declared a general strike in Israel over Israeli inaction in preventing and solving violent crime. (WAFA 9/3; ALM, QDS, WAFA 9/5)

Israeli military chief of central command Yehuda Fuchs said he will issue an administrative restriction order for Elisha Yered, a settler who took part in the raid on Burqa on 8/4 where 1 Palestinian man was killed. The order would prevent Yered from leaving the northern part of the Jordan Valley. (HA 9/5)

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Israeli government will start deducting additional funds from the PA taxes Israel collects to pay for the PA’s debt to the Israel Electric Corp (IEC). A spokesperson for Smotrich said the amount would be $5.2 million to $7.8 million per month depending on how much energy the PA purchases from the IEC. PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called the decision systematic piracy and theft. (REU, WAFA 9/5; MEMO 9/7)

PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh, head of PA intelligence Majed Faraj, and PA president Mahmoud Abbas’ foreign policy advisor Majdi Khaldi arrived in Riyadh for meetings with Saudi and U.S. officials, including National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, to discuss the Palestinian aspect of the potential Saudi-Israeli normalization deal. Khaldi told the New York Times that the PA demand is the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative. See 8/30 for Axios’ reporting on the PA demands for support of the normalization deal.  (AX 9/3; MEE, QDS, TOI 9/4; HA, NYT 9/5; BBC, HA 9/7)

U.S. president Joe Biden nominated former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. Lew will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be instated. Lew sits on the U.S. board of directors for the National Library of Israel, a partly Israeli state-owned institution. If confirmed, Lew will replace Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Stephanie Hallett who has led the embassy since Tom Nides resigned in July. (AJ, ALM, AX, HA, MEE, NYT, REU 9/5)

Haaretz reported that Israel continued to sell weapons to Myanmar after a U.S. and EU arms embargo was placed on the country and despite the Israeli government claiming it had ended arms sales to the country in 2018. (HA, MEE 9/5)

Papua New Guinean prime minister James Marape and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurated the Papua New Guinean embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. Marape cited his Christian beliefs in making the decision to open the embassy in Jerusalem, which Israel will fund for the first 2 years. PLO Executive Committee member Wasel Abu Yousef said that Israel was “looking for any country – even if that country can only be seen under a microscope – so it can claim there are countries opening embassies in Jerusalem.” A picture circulating on social media showed the embassy completely empty, except for the embassy plague, the day after the inauguration. The PA, Jordan, and the OIC condemned the opening of the embassy. (AJ, REU, TOI 9/5; WAFA 9/6; WAFA, WAFA 9/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort raided al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, vandalizing property. Israeli settlers also erected vending stalls on a highway near al-Farisiya. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers stole 14 Palestinian-owned sheep in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces issued demolition notices for a residential structure near Tubas and 3 homes in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Kafr Dan; 4 were arrested. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound; some settlers were seen openly praying on the compound. In Umm al-Fahm, Israeli authorities demolished several Palestinian-owned agricultural structures. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/7; PCHR, WAFA 6/8; UNOCHA 6/18)

An Israeli bulldozer nearly plowed into a Lebanese protester before UNIFIL soldiers convinced the Israeli soldier manning to bulldozer to move back. Israeli forces have been working on constructing a barrier in the area south of Kfar Chouba near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (AP, HA 6/9)

Fatah deputy chairperson Mahmud Aloul told reporters that Fatah’s decline in popularity is linked to the party’s inability to deliver on promises made when Fatah adopted a peaceful resistance. Aloul also said he would not seek to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as Fatah chairperson, saying the party needs someone from the younger generation. (ALM, QDS 6/7; ALM 6/10)

U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs Hady Amr met with members of the family of the 2-year-old boy Israeli forces shot on 6/1 and who succumbed to his wounds on 6/5. On 6/6, Amr’s office called on the Israeli government to “evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties.” Amr also met with PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh. (TOI, WAFA 6/7; WAFA 6/8)

Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi met with Moroccan officials, including Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, discussing possible Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. In return for recognition of sovereignty Morocco is reportedly willing to upgrade the 2 countries’ diplomatic missions to embassies and enter a free-trade agreement. (ALM, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 6/7; HA, MEE, REU 6/8; ALM 6/10; HA 6/11)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. According to a U.S. official, the 2 discussed Israel normalization, Yemen, Sudan, and human rights. Blinken also met with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and GCC ministers at a GCC ministerial meeting in Riyadh. The GCC nations and the U.S. issued a joint statement after the meeting calling for a “2-state solution along 1967 borders with mutually agreed swaps consistent with internationally recognized parameters and the Arab Peace Initiative.” Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh and bin Salman met with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro a day prior to Blinken’s meetings. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, TOI 6/7; DoS, NYT, REU 6/8; NYT 6/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinian minors during a raid in Rumana; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces razed farmland and olive trees in al-Zawiya to make room for water pipes connecting 2 Israeli settlements. Israeli forces also seized 1 bulldozer and construction equipment in Artas, seized 1 mobile home in Duma, and demolished 2 residential structures near Kafr Malik, displacing 17. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Dura, Hebron, Dheisheh refugee camp, Kafr Ni‘ma, and Tulkarm. In the Naqab, Israeli authorities demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in al-Buqei‘a Bedouin community, displacing 14. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/21; PCHR 9/22; UNOCHA 9/30)

The PA security forces and local militant factions in Nablus reached an agreement to end tensions in the city. The PA security forces reportedly promised not to arrest Palestinians in Nablus on behalf of Israel and that the PA would release many of those arrested on 9/20 during the unrest that followed the arrest of Hamas member Musab Ashtaya. (HA 9/22)

30 Palestinians held on administrative detention announced that they would start an open-ended hunger strike, demanding their freedom. The mass hunger strike is scheduled to begin on 9/25. (AJ 9/25)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas held meetings with leaders of the UK, Libya, Malta, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Norway at the sidelines of the annual UNGA meeting. President Abbas also met with president of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari at the UN building. (WAFA 9/21; WAFA 9/22)

UK prime minister Liz Truss told Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid, during a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, that she is considering moving the UK embassy of Israel to Jerusalem. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Truss told reporters that Truss’s government is reviewing the current location of the embassy. The PA condemned the news, saying that “opening an embassy in Jerusalem amounts to complicity in Israel’s illegal annexation of the city.” Prime Minister Lapid also met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and UN secretary-general António Guterres. (ALM, NAT 9/21; AJ, DM, GDN, HA, IN, JP, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 9/22; MEE 9/23; MEMO 9/24)

Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borell convened a meeting with representatives from 25 countries, including the U.S. and the PA, to find ways to revamp the Arab Peace Initiative. (AX 9/21; WAFA 9/22)

The foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Jordan, and Germany held a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, focused on revamping the Middle East peace process. The 4 countries released a statement calling on resuming direct negotiations. (WAFA 9/22; WAFA 9/23)

In an interview with French media, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was “in shock” over Israel’s refusal to supply air defense systems to Ukraine to help the country in its fight against the occupying Russian forces. (TOI 9/23; JP, MEE, REU 9/24; AJ 9/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces opened fire at a van carrying 6 Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area, causing it to overturn; 1 was injured by live ammunition while the 5 others suffered minor injuries from the crash. In Gaza, Palestinian militants fired 4 rockets at Israel, 1 of which was intercepted and 3 fell in open areas. Israel forces later conducted air strikes in Gaza, firing 10 missiles near Gaza City and 2 near Nuseirat refugee camp, causing damage but no injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of the coast; no injuries were reported. (AP 7/15; AJ, AP, F24, MEE, NBC, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/16; TOI 7/17; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

In Saudi Arabia, U.S. president Joe Biden partook in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit with the heads of state of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. A final communique from the meeting mentioned the importance of ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict though a 2-state solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative. (AA, AJ, ALM, AP, AX, MEE, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/16; HA, JP, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA 7/17; AJ 7/18; MEE 7/19; HA 7/20)

In the West Bank, unknown assailants opened fire at a car carrying 4 settlers to Joseph’s Tomb, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, lightly injuring the 4 settlers. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Palestinians protested U.S. president Joe Biden in Bethlehem ahead of the president’s visit (see below). (JP, MDW, WAFA 7/15; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 7/22)

U.S. president Joe Biden continued his 4-day Middle East trip, leaving Israel for East Jerusalem and the West Bank. In East Jerusalem, President Biden visited the Augusta Victoria Hospital, announcing $100 million in aid for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network that serves Palestinians from East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. The funding of the hospital will need U.S. congressional approval. Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had cut U.S. funding in medical aid for the PA. Biden’s visit was the 1st by a sitting U.S. president to East Jerusalem, outside of the Old City. In Bethlehem, Biden and PA president Mahmoud Abbas met and held a press conference, where President Abbas stressed that a 2-state solution will not be tenable forever and called for accountability for Israel’s killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Additionally, Abbas called on the U.S. to reopen its consulate to Palestinians and delist the PLO from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, saying “we are not terrorists.” Biden for his part called for a “full and transparent” investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh, voiced support for a 2-state solution along the 1967 borders with land swaps, and announced that Israel had said it would allow Palestinian phone companies to connect to 4G networks by the end of 2023. Biden also announced $201 million in funding for UNRWA and $15 million in aid for food security via the UN World Food Program and 2 NGOs. Additionally, it was reported that Israel will open the Allenby Bridge on a 24-hour basis and assess if the PA should have a presence at the crossing. It was reported by Palestinian sources that the 2 leaders gave separate statements after failing to agree on a joint statement. After meeting with President Abbas, Biden headed to Saudi Arabia where he was greeted by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman with a “fist-bump,” despite promising during his presidential campaign to make Saudi Arabia a pariah due to Crown Prince bin Salman’s involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It was announced by U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan that Saudi Arabia had opened its air space to all Israeli flights as part of the 2 countries’ path to normalization and Saudi officials said they would start discussions to approve flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir told CNN in an interview that his country remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative, saying “we need to have a process, and this process needs to include the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative. Once we have committed to a two-state settlement with a Palestinian state in the occupied territories with East Jerusalem as its capital, that’s our requirements for peace.” (ALM, HA, NYT 7/13; JP, POL, REU, TOI 7/14; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, ALM, AP, AP, AP, AX, AX, AX, AX, AX, AX, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEE, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/15; AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, REU, WAFA 7/16; AJ, CNN, HA, HA, HA, INT, TOI, TOI 7/17; AJ, HA 7/18; HA 7/20; ALM 7/30)

As president Biden left the West Bank for Saudi Arabia, the UAE said it is opposed to a confrontational approach to Iran, seeking to send an ambassador to Iran to mend ties. (HA 7/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up caravans near Qusra. Israeli settlers also threw stones at commercial structures and vehicles in Burqa, causing damage. Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 1 house and electricity cables in al-Twana. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 2 Palestinian citizens of Israel opened fire on Israelis in Hadera, killing 2 Israeli soldiers and wounding 5 others, including 1 soldier, before being shot and killed by Israeli undercover police. Israel said that the 2 attackers were affiliated of ISIS. 5 Palestinian citizens of Israel were arrested during subsequent raids in Umm al-Fahm under suspicion of having prior knowledge of the attack. (AJ, AP, DW, HA, HILL, MEE, NYT, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 3/27; ABC, AP, AX, CNN, GDN, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEMO, NPR, REU, SKY, TOI, WSJ 3/28; ALM, ALM 3/29; F24, PCHR 3/31; UNOCHA 4/10)

Members of the settler organization Ateret Cohanim entered the 1st floor of the Little Petra Hotel in East Jerusalem with Israeli police escort in an effort to cement the organization’s hold of the building. The ownership of the building is part of an ongoing legal case at the Israeli supreme court between the Greek Orthodox patriarchate in Jerusalem and Ateret Cohanim. The lawyers of the Palestinian family that runs the hotel were attacked with pepper spray by the Israeli settlers when they entered the building and Israeli police detained 1 of the 2 lawyers present at the site. (HA 3/27; MEE, WAFA 3/28; WAFA 3/29; WAFA, WAFA 3/30; PCHR 3/31)

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced that Israel will approve up to 20,000 work permits for Palestinians in Gaza for workers in construction and agriculture. The International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel also announced that Israel will allow family visits by Palestinians in Gaza to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisoners, for the 1st time since March 2020. (ALM 3/31)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. During the meeting, President Abbas called on the U.S. to help curb settler violence and end settlement expansion. Abbas warned Blinken that the PA may rescind its recognition of Israel and end security cooperation if Israeli unilateral actions are not curbed. Abbas also criticized the U.S. and its allies for its double standards in not applying sanctions against Israel for its violations of international law as they have done against Russia. (HA, MEE, WAFA 3/27; JP 3/28; AX 3/30)

The foreign ministers of the U.S., UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, and Israel met in Sde Boker for the 1st day of a 2-day summit comprised of countries that have normalized ties with Israel with U.S. support. Among the subjects discussed at the summit were the perceived threat from Iran and the U.S.’s efforts to reenter the Iran Nuclear deal. The 1st day of the summit coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Arab Peace Initiative. Secretary Blinken also met with Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett, who shortly after, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. (AJ, AP, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, JP, JP, REU, TOI, WP 3/27; HA, MEMO 3/28; AX, AX 3/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole harvesting equipment in Qaryut and tried to steal olive crops before being chased away by Palestinians. Israeli forces razed 10 dunams of agricultural land in Wadi Rahal. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Iskaka, Silwad, Ein Yabrud, Jalbun, Hebron, and Atuf. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/20; PCHR 10/21)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett ordered 2 companies of Israeli “Border Police” soldiers to be deployed to fight violence in Palestinian populated areas of Israel. The decision follows debates among Israeli politicians on how to address the many killings in Palestinian-majority towns and villages, which has so far reached 102 in 2021. (HA 10/20)

Israeli authorities said that it had increased the number of work permits for Palestinians in Gaza, from 7,000 to 10,000, starting on 10/21. (ALM, AP, HA 10/20; HA 10/21)

Israel said it will require Palestinians working in Israel and in Israeli settlements to show proof of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, starting on 11/1. (HA 10/20)

An Israeli military court allowed the publication of a 2016 conviction of an Israeli civil administrations major who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping 1 Palestinian woman and for receiving a bribe of a sexual nature. The Israeli soldier was also convicted of sexual harassment. (HA 10/20; MEMO 10/22)

Axios reported that U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan discussed the possibility of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel during a meeting with Saudi crown prince Muhammad bin Salman in Neom, Saudi Arabia, on 9/27. According to Axios, 3 U.S. and Arab sources said Crown Prince bin Salman did not immediately reject the idea. It was unclear what the U.S. administration is offering Saudi Arabia for a normalization deal with Israel. The U.S., during the Trump administration, made big concessions to the UAE and Morocco in exchange for their normalization with Israel, including sales of advanced weaponry to the UAE and recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara to Morocco. The Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative from 2002 laid out the parameters under which Saudi Arabia will normalize ties with Israel. (AX, HA 10/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked a road between Hebron and Qalqas. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabel Mukaber, displacing 7 people. In Gaza, Israeli forces attacked 2 targets near Jabalia refugee camp, claiming it was responding to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to Israel. Israeli forces also later violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near the Gaza fence, injuring 1 with live ammunition; 17 others were also injured by rubber-coated bullets and tear gas. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, HILL, JP, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/29; MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/30; PCHR 9/2)

Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing in both directions. (MEMO 8/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz in Ramallah. According to the Israeli defense ministry, the 2 talked about security policy, civilian and economic issues, and measures Israel will take to strengthen the PA economy. According to Gantz’s office, among the agreements made were granting residency rights to Palestinians living in the West Bank without legal status and Israel’s providing the PA with an advance of its tax income of $155 million. Gantz also said after the meeting, “the stronger the Palestinian Authority is, the weaker Hamas will be.” Sources close to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said that there was no diplomatic process between Israel and the PA and that there would not be 1 during his time as prime minister. A Palestinian official said that Abbas asked Israel to stop conducting operations in Area A and allow family reunifications as part of efforts to improve the PA-Israel relations. Later at a PLO executive committee meeting, President Abbas said that he had told Defense Minister Gantz that the PA position on peace is based on the Arab peace initiative, and that PA wants Israel to release long-term Palestinian prisoners, return the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel, end settlement construction, and curb settler attacks. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called the meeting dangerous and disrespectful. Islamic Jihad also condemned the meeting. The meeting was the 1st between President Abbas and an Israeli government official since 2010. (MEE, REU 8/29; AJ, ALM, AP, F24, HA, HA, HA, JP, NBC, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/30; ALM, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO 8/31; MEMO 9/1; ALM, HA 9/2)

Axios reported that former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro had joined the U.S. state department as a liaison between U.S. envoy on Iran Robert Malley and Israel. (AX 8/29; JP 8/30; ALM, MEMO 8/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized some 100 Palestinian-owned olive trees in al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces uprooted 60 olive trees and razed land in Salfit. Israeli forces also delivered stop-work orders for 3 houses in al-Khadir. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Taybeh. 12 Palestinians were arrested in and around Sabastiyya, Dura, Bethlehem, Jenin, Jericho, Ramallah, and Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Bayt Hanina. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya; during the raid, clashes erupted, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 2 miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/26; HA 10/27; PCHR 10/29)

At the UN security council, PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki called for an international peace conference to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (WAFA 10/26)

The head of the sovereign council in Sudan, General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, said that Sudan had normalized ties with Israel because the country would have to wait until August or September of 2021 to be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. General al-Burhan also stated that Sudan still supports a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and urged Israel to engage the Arab Peace Initiative. (HA 10/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during clashes in Jericho. Israeli forces also sealed the entrance to Asira. Elsewhere, Israeli forces razed land in Jalud to expand a nearby settlement, and demolished residential tents and agricultural structures in Kisan. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 who were shot by live ammunition and injured by Israeli forces near the entrance to Kafr Malik; 2 during raids in and around Jalazun refugee camp and Bayt Umar; and 1 at the Allenby border crossing. In East Jerusalem, 7 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and Issawiyya. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/24; PCHR 10/1)

Fatah and Hamas leaders said they have agreed to the 1st Palestinian elections since 2006. Fatah official Jibril Rajoub said that “[w]e have agreed to first hold legislative elections, then presidential elections of the Palestinian Authority, and finally the central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization.” A member of the Fatah Central Committee also said that “[w]ithout Jerusalem, there will be no elections.” It is unclear how national elections will include East Jerusalem as Israel refuses to let Palestinian East Jerusalemites participate in Palestinian elections. The 2 factions also agreed to a common vision of action to end the dispute between the 2; the vision would be presented on 10/1. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/24)

Foreign ministers of Jordan, Germany, Egypt, and France held a joint press conference in Amman, calling for resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. The 4 foreign ministers also praised the UAE and Bahrain’s normalization deals with Israel. (AJ 9/24)

At the UN General Assembly, the king of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa said, via video link, that Bahrain’s normalization of ties with Israel will help facilitate a 2-state solution and that Bahrain still adheres to the parameters stipulated in the Arab Peace Initiative. (AJ 9/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces confiscated 2 diggers and 2 trucks working on a cancer treatment facility near Yatta. 22 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, Bethlehem, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians erupted during a late-night raid in Issawiyya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 9/22; PCHR 9/24)

The health minister of the PA Mai al-Kaila said Israel had obstructed a shipment of 100,000 COVID-19 testing swabs via Jordan, causing them to be destroyed. (WAFA 9/22)

Senior officials from Fatah and Hamas met in Turkey to continue talks about reconciliation between the 2 parties. (AJ, HA, WAFA 9/22)

The PA announced it would no longer chair Arab League meetings, citing the UAE and Bahrain’s normalization with Israel. The PA had 6 months left of its chairmanship preceding over Arab League meetings. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/22)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz met with senior advisor to president Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, in Washington D.C. to discuss Israel’s qualitative military edge and normalization with Arab and Muslim nations. Gantz also met with U.S. secretary of defense Mark Esper. (HA 9/22)

In a video speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) the emir of Qatar Shaykh Tamim Hamad al-Thani castigated the international community’s inaction over the Israeli occupation of “Palestinian and Arab land.” Emir al-Thani also said that the Arab Peace Initiative is the only way for peace. French president Emmanuel Macron, also via video link to the UNGA, called for decisive negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. (AJ 9/22; WAFA 9/23)

Germany contributed $65.5 million to different public sector programs in the occupied Palestinian territories, including $31.6 million for the water sector in Gaza. (WAFA 9/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians near Ramallah; 1 Palestinian minor was hit by shrapnel from a tear gas canister. Israeli forces also forced Palestinian workers to stop rehabilitating a road near Kisan, confiscating 1 bulldozer. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, Ramallah, and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Jabal Mukabir. 15 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya and al-Tur. In Gaza, rockets were fired at Israel as the UAE and Bahrain signed deals to normalize relations with Israel in Washington D.C (see below); 2 Israelis were lightly injured by debris in Ashdod. (REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 9/15; HA, HA 9/16; PCHR 9/17)

At a signing ceremony in Washington D.C., Bahrain and the UAE formalized their deals to normalize relations with Israel, breaking with the stipulations of the Arab Peace Initiative. The text of the UAE-Israel agreement mentioned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 1 paragraph: “Recalling the reception held on January 28, 2020, at which President Trump presented his Vision for Peace, and committing to continuing their efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, realistic and enduring solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” The text did not mention halting Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank nor halting settlement expansion, which has also been linked to the agreement between the UAE and Israel. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called for a Day of Rage and the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. President Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh also discussed the situation in a phone call. Palestinians protested the signing ceremony in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Gaza City. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/15; HA, HA, WAFA 9/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces handed a demolition order for a Palestinian-owned house in al-Twana sheltering 10 people; 1 other resident in al-Twana received a stop-work order. Israeli forces also confiscated 1 Palestinian-owned bulldozer in Tulkarm. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah and Dura. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli supreme court ruled that 1 78-year-old man in Silwan could be evicted from his home after his landlord sold the house he was living in to the settler organization Elad. Israeli forces stormed the Bab al-Rahma area of the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces also delivered demolition notices for 1 mosque and the house of a Fatah official in Silwan. 2 Palestinian families started demolishing their own homes in Jabal Mukabir. In Gaza, Israeli forces arrested 1 Palestinian cancer patient at the Erez crossing as he was traveling to East Jerusalem for treatment. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 9/14; HA 9/15; PCHR 9/17)

The Israeli settler that in July 2015 burned the house of a Palestinian family, killing 1 18-month-old and his parents and severely burning 1 other child, was sentenced in an Israeli court to 3 life sentences. (GDN, REU 9/14; AJ 9/15; JP 9/16)

The Unified Palestinian Leadership for Popular Resistance, an umbrella organization formed on 9/3 after a meeting between the major Palestinian factions in Gaza and the West Bank, including Fatah and Hamas, declared 9/18 a day of mourning over the normalization agreements between the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel. (WAFA 9/14)

Ahead of the signing ceremony on 9/15 formalizing the UAE and Bahrain’s normalization with Israel, PA prime minister Mohmmad Shtayyeh condemned the deal, calling it “a dark day in the history of the Arab nation and of the Arab League,” and further stated that, “[t]omorrow the Arab peace initiative dies, as will the Arab consensus.” He also said that his government has recommended to PA president Mahmoud Abbas that the PA reevaluate its relations with the Arab League. (AJ, HA 9/14)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Washington D.C. ahead of the signing ceremony for the normalization deals with Bahrain and the UAE on 9/15. His delegation notably did not include his coalition partners defense minister Benny Gantz and foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi. A spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry ruled out that Qatar would normalize relations with Israel before peace is made between Israel and Palestine. (HA 9/14; AJ 9/15)

The EU donated $600,000 to UNRWA to help contain COVID-19 in UNRWA-run refugee camps. (WAFA 9/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian, hitting him in the face with a tear gas canister in Qiffin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 4, including 1 who was hit with live ammunition to his neck. 2 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a late-night raid in Yatta and 1 at the entrance to Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during a house raid in Issawiyya, including 2 minors; they were all later released to house arrest for 5 days. (WAFA 9/11; PCHR 9/17)

According to Syrian state media, Israel fired missiles at several locations southeast of Aleppo, causing damage. (HA 9/10; TOI 9/11)

U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Bahrain had joined the normalization deal between Israel and the UAE and would be part of the signing ceremony in Washington D.C. on 9/15. Oman welcomed Bahrain’s decision and said, “this new strategic path taken by some Arab countries will contribute to bringing about a peace based on an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and on establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital.” After the announcement, the PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki recalled the PA ambassador to Bahrain, calling Bahrain’s decision a “dangerous violation of the Arab Peace Initiative” and a “threat to Palestinian rights.” (AJ, BBC, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/11; HA, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/12; AJ, AJ, HA, REU 9/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces issued demolition orders for 4 Palestinian-owned houses in Bani Na‘im and took measurements for a punitive demolition of a house owned by the family of an alleged attacker in the village. Israeli forces also uprooted 22 Palestinian-owned olive trees in Ras Karkar. In East Jerusalem, Israel informed PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith that he was no longer allowed to leave Silwan and that he could not contact some 50 individuals, including PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of Gaza City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles offshore; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/9; PCHR 9/10)

At a virtual Arab League meeting, a majority of countries rejected a Palestinian proposal to condemn the UAE for its normalization deal with Israel. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki accused the U.S. of blackmailing Palestinians and some Arab countries. The secretary-general of the Arab League Ahmad Aboul Gheit reiterated that the Arab Peace Initiative remains the Arab League’s stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (HA 9/8; AJ, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/9; WAFA 9/10)

According to senior advisor to U.S. president Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, Saudi Arabia has allowed Israeli commercial air traffic to use Saudi Arabian airspace. Kushner also said that the U.S. peace plan presented in January was aimed at “trying to save the two-state solution, because . . . if we kept going with the status quo . . . ultimately, Israel would have eaten up all the land in the West Bank.” The U.S. peace plan allows Israel to annex 30 percent of the West Bank. (HA 9/9; TOI 9/10)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli forces near the separation wall adjacent to Jenin. Israeli forces handed demolition notices for 3 houses and 2 houses under construction, and 5 others received stop-work orders for the houses in Nahalin. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah, Burin, Madama, Tulkarm, and Jenin; tear-gas related injuries were reported during a raid in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees in Sur Bahir, displacing 11 people. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids. In Gaza, Israeli forces attacked buildings and infrastructure east of Khan Yunis, causing damage. Hamas authorities extended the COVID-19-related lockdown until 8/29. According to Gaza health officials, 26 people have tested positive and 2 people have died of the virus. In Israel, 1 Israeli was stabbed to death in Petah Tikva; Israeli police arrested 1 Palestinian from Nablus who they investigated as the perpetrator. (HA 8/25; BBC, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/26; HA, PCHR 8/27)

The Prisoner’s Affairs Commission reported that several Palestinians in Ofer prison have tested positive for COVID-19. (WAFA 8/26)

Israeli forces attacked Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, claiming that shots were fired from Lebanon toward Israeli troops the day before. Lebanon’s supreme defense council said it would file a complaint to the UN. Earlier in the day, Israel had proposed changes to the UNIFIL mandate, which Lebanon rejected. (HA, REU 8/25; HA, HA 8/26; LT 8/27)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo met with senior members of the royal family in Bahrain to discuss “the importance of building regional peace and stability,” including normalizing ties between Bahrain and Israel. According to Bahrain state news, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa told Pompeo that Bahrain is committed to the Arab Peace Initiative and the creation of a Palestinian state before normalizing relations with Israel. Later, Secretary Pompeo met with senior officials in the UAE to discuss, among other subjects, the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 8/26)

China donated personal protective equipment to UNRWA to help fight against the spread of COVID-19. (WAFA 8/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian teen and injured 2 others during a raid in Dayr Abu Mash‘al. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against settlement expansion southeast of Tulkarm, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also demolished 1 wall and issued demolition orders for 1 pond and 1 barn in Hizma. Palestinians protested against the UAE-Israel normalization deal in Turmus ‘Ayya. Officials from the PA, PLO, Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad participated; Israeli forces injured 7 using rubber-coated bullets, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 9 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Qalandia refugee camp, al-Ram, Jenin, Tubas, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, 9 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces shelled multiple areas of Gaza, causing damage. According to Israeli officials, incendiary balloons sent from Gaza toward Israel started 28 fires. Palestinians in Gaza protested the Israel-UAE normalization deal in Gaza City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing damage to 1 boat and minor injuries to 1 fisherman. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/19; AJ, REU, WAFA 8/20; PCHR 8/27)

The Sudanese foreign ministry fired its spokesperson after he said on 8/18 that Sudan was looking forward to normalizing ties with Israel, a claim that the foreign ministry denied that same day. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that “Saudi Arabia considers Israel’s unilateral policies of an annexation and building settlements as an illegitimate and detrimental to the two states solution . . . Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to peace as a strategic option based on the Arab Peace Initiatives.” The Arab Peace Initiative stipulates normalization with Israel is predicated on the establishment of a Palestinian state. U.S. president Donald Trump said later that same day that he expects Saudi Arabia to follow the UAE and normalize ties with Israel. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU 8/19; AJ 8/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for residential structures, 1 stable, and 1 stone wall; a stop-work notice for a water well and fencing in al-Walaja; and demolished and seized 5 tin structures in Sawahara al-Sharqiyya. 19 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hebron, al-‘Arub refugee camp, al-Fawar refugee camp, Nahalin, Nablus, and Bardala. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Silwan, displacing a family of 9. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against the killing of an unarmed Palestinian man on 5/30; 6 people were arrested. Another 3 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya. In Israel, Israeli forces violently dispersed hundreds of Palestinian citizens of Israel protesting against the planned demolition of an 18th-century Muslim burial ground in Jaffa. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/9; TOI 6/10; PCHR 6/11)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told journalists that if Israel moves forward with annexing West Bank territory, the PA would declare an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital. Prime Minister Shtayyeh further stated that the PA had sent a counterproposal to the U.S. peace plan to the Quartet. (AJ, HA, REU 6/9)

The Israeli high court of justice ruled the “Law for the Regularization of Settlement in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]” unconstitutional. The law was approved in 2017 and allowed use of Palestinian-owned land to build settlements and legalize settlement outposts. (HA, NYT, REU 6/9; WAFA 6/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 9 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ya‘bad, Kaubar, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested 8 Palestinians including a Waqf guard at the Haram al-Sharif compound, 1 other in the Old City, 5 during late-night raids in the Old City, and delivered 2 summonses for interrogations. In Gaza, Israeli forces detained a Palestinian journalist returning via the Erez Crossing from Jordan, where he had undergone treatment for liver cancer. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/21)

The Islamic Waqf announced that the Haram al-Sharif compound and al-Aqsa Mosque would reopen after the end of Ramadan. (WAFA 5/19)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas announced that the PA will end all agreements with Israel and the U.S., including security agreements, because of Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Haaretz reported that Palestinian sources said that coordination with Israel would continue at a lower level of engagement, at least for a time. In a speech, President Abbas said that, by Israel making the unilateral decision to annex parts of the West Bank, it has “annulled the Oslo agreement and all agreements signed with it, after snubbing all these years all these agreements and all the resolutions of the international legitimacy and international law.” Abbas further stated that the PA is ready to negotiate within the parameters of the Arab Peace Initiative, and that it had signed agreements “to accede to international agreements and conventions that we [the PA] have not yet joined.” (Guardian, WAFA, WAFA 5/19; HA, NYT, WAFA 5/20)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and German foreign minister Heiko Maas released a joint statement after a virtual meeting, stipulating that “[a]nnexation of any part of occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem constitutes a clear violation of international law and seriously undermines the chances for the two-state solution within a final status agreement.” It further read that Germany “took note of the Palestinian view that such a step would put an end to all signed agreements.” Separately, the French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that Israeli annexation will have consequences for the EU’s relationship with Israel. (HA, WAFA 5/19)

A plane from the UAE with COVID-19-related aid materials for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza landed in Israel. The aid package included 14 tons of medical supplies, including 10 ventilators. The direct flight from the UAE to Israel is the 1st of its kind. (AJ, HA, REU 5/19)

The EU Police Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support donated $65,500 worth of protective equipment and hand sanitizer to the Palestinian Civil Police. (WAFA 5/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces attacked Palestinian protesters throwing stones in Kafr Qaddum by using a bulldozer to push large stones downhill toward the protesters, 1 Palestinian was hospitalized after being hit by 1 of the stones. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the U.S. administration’s peace plan in and around Beita, Nablus, Jenin, Qalqilya, al-Fawar refugee camp, and Bil‘in, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli armed settlers attacked Palestinians in al-‘Awja, injuring 2 Palestinians who were taken to a hospital in Jericho. Israeli settlers also toured 2 Palestinian villages near Tubas; before the settlers arrived, Israeli forces had sealed off a main checkpoint in the area to prevent the movement of Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian woman was arrested after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli settler. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/21; PCHR 2/27)

Qatar announced that it would increase its aid to Gaza by $15 million after a meeting between Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Qatari envoy Mohammed al-Emadi. Part of the aid package provides some 120,000 Palestinian families in Gaza $100 by the end of February and $24 million would be spent on building a new hospital in Rafah. (HA 2/22)

In the West Bank, Israel issued demolition orders for 4 residential structures south of Hebron and 5 homes in the Ramallah area as punitive demolitions against alleged Palestinian attackers. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in Qalqilya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Halhul, Ramallah, Salfit, and Anata. Israeli settlers severely beat 1 Palestinian doctor visiting patients near Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Silwan and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian lands near Bayt Hanun and east of Dayr al-Balah. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/20; PCHR 2/27)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will expand 2 settlements, Har Homa and Givat Hamatos, in East Jerusalem with 2,200 and 3,000 housing units respectively. Prime Minister Netanyahu also said that Israel would apply sovereignty to al-Ibrahimi Mosque. The PA called Netanyahu’s announcement part of “a systematic destruction of the two-state solution.” (HA, NYT, WAFA 2/20; JP 2/23)

Israel and the PA ended its trade dispute, allowing Palestinian goods to exit the West Bank and Israeli agricultural products to enter the West Bank market. Israel started banning Palestinian goods to the Israeli market on 2/2 and later expanded the ban of export from the West Bank altogether. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 2/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented some 200 Israeli activists from helping Palestinians plant trees in Yasuf village. 2 Israeli organizations, Rabbis for Human Rights and Zazim, had planned to help the Palestinians who had many trees vandalized during the harvesting season. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the U.S. administration’s peace plan in and around Qalqilya, Kafr Qaddum, Qiffin, ‘Azun, and Ramallah; 2 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition, 1 was hit by a tear gas canister to the head and other suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians during raids in Dura and Bayt Umar, causing tear-gas related injuries. 4 Palestinians were arrested at checkpoints near Nablus and al-‘Arub refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces injured 1 Palestinian in Issawiyya during a raid. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural land east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (HA 2/14; PCHR 2/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces carried out military drills in the Jordan Valley. During the drill, 3 Palestinian shepherds were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished a house in Hebron, displacing a family of 5. Elsewhere, Israeli forces began construction on a 5-mile-long, settler-only road connecting settlements near Nablus. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in Qalqilya, causing several tear-gas related injuries. 15 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Kafr Qaddum. During 1 raid in Ramallah, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians; 3 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian-owned home in the Old City partially collapsed due to Israeli excavations there. Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned house in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural land east of Dayr al-Balah and Juhur al-Dik; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/13; PCHR 2/20)

According to Israeli officials, Hamas has informed Israel that it will halt all launchings of rockets and incendiary balloons. The official said that if Hamas keeps its promise, Israel would expand the fishing zone and allow 500 permits for Palestinian businesspeople in Gaza. (HA 2/13)

Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Syria, killing 7 people near Damascus airport. (HA, WAFA 2/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces set up a metal gate, shutting the main entrance to Nabi Salih. Israeli forces also handed a demolition notice for the family home of a Palestinian prisoner in Kubar and handed a stop-work order for 4 structures in the Jordan Valley. Elsewhere, Israeli forces entered al-Ibrahimi Mosque and forced worshippers and staff to leave the mosque. Israeli forces also violently suppressed a protest in al-Bireh; 2 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition, 3 by rubber-coated bullets, and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire and used water hoses on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza City, causing damage to boats. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmland east of Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, more than 150 vehicles were vandalized and racist graffiti in Hebrew, such as “Jews wake up” and “Enough with the assimilation,” was sprayed on several buildings in the Christian Palestinian village of Jish. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/11; PCHR 2/13)

At a UN Security Council meeting, PA president Mahmoud Abbas sharply rejected the U.S. administration’s peace plan, saying “[t]his is an Israeli-American pre-emptive plan in order to put an end to the question of Palestine.” While President Abbas was speaking in New York, Palestinian protesters in Ramallah demonstrated against the U.S. peace plan. After the protest, Palestinians and Israeli forces clashed at a checkpoint north of Ramallah; 2 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others needing treatment for tear-gas related injuries. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, WAFA, WAFA 2/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed protests against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in and around Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and ‘Azun; 2 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 3 Palestinians were arrested at checkpoints near Qalqilya and Bethlehem. In Gaza, Israeli tanks shelled 2 Hamas military outposts and 1 rocket was launched at Israel; no injuries were reported. (HA 2/8; PCHR 2/13)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government had started drawing up maps of land that Israel will annex in the West Bank in relation to the U.S. administration’s peace plan. (REU 2/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 1 Palestinian during a protest in Tulkarm. 11 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers were injured during clashes in ‘Azun, where Palestinians mourned the death of the PA police officer who was killed on 2/6; 8 of the Palestinians were shot by live ammunition. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in and around Nablus, Jenin, Kafr Qaddum, and Jericho, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 at checkpoints in Hebron and near Nablus, 1 during a house raid in Hebron, and 3 during clashes with Israeli forces near Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Haram al-Sharif compound, injuring 3 Palestinians. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian during a house raid in Ras al-Amud. In Gaza, Palestinians gathered to protest near Khuza‘a; several Palestinians suffered tear-gas related injuries when Israeli forces violently dispersed the protest. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinian farmland east of Dayr al-Balah and Rafah; no injuries were reported. In Israel, Israeli police turned back buses transporting Palestinians going to worship at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israel also demolished the bedouin village al-Araqib for the 174th time since 2010. (AJ, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/7; PCHR 2/13)

After the PA announced that it had banned some Israeli products from entering the Palestinian market, Israel banned Palestinian agricultural exports going abroad, including via Jordan. (WAFA 2/7; REU 2/8; AJ, HA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 2/9)

In the West Bank, 1 PA police officer was killed and 6 others wounded when Israeli forces conducted night raids in Jenin, according to Israeli officials. The PA police officer did not pose a threat to Israeli soldiers. Another Palestinian from Jenin was killed and 7 others injured by Israeli forces during protests against a punitive demolition of the family home of an alleged attacker. Separately, Israeli forces delivered a stop-work order for a school in Susiya and demolished part of an agricultural structure south of Hebron. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the U.S. administration’s peace plan in ‘Azun and Qalqilya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 4 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces using rubber-coated bullets during clashes erupting after Israeli forces raided Bayt Jala; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 1 Israeli soldier was injured by an unidentified sniper near Dolev settlement. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, al-Ram, Ramallah, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel from Haifa opened fire on Israeli police officers in the Old City, lightly wounding 1 before being shot to death. Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 3 structures in Jabal Mukabir. 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, 2 mortar shells were fired at Israel and Israel struck targets in Gaza; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinian farmland east of Khan Yunis on 2 separate occasions; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 12 Israeli soldiers were injured in a suspected car-ramming in West Jerusalem. The car was later found in Bayt Jala near Bethlehem and a Palestinian man was arrested. Israel also demolished the bedouin village al-Araqib for the 174th time since 2010. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, BBC, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/6; PCHR 2/13)

The PA announced that its decision to ban some Israeli goods from the Palestinian market went into effect. (WAFA 2/6)

Israel reportedly killed 23 people during air strikes in several places in Syria. Israel struck targets near Damascus, Quneitra, Daraa, and Reef. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 15 of those killed were Iranian-backed fighters, 3 of them Iranian, and 8 were Syrian government forces. (AJ, BBC 2/6; HA 2/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor in Hebron during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians protesting the U.S. peace plan. Israeli forces demolished a shack and seized another 1 north of Ramallah, delivered a demolition notice for a structure in Sabastiyya and a stop-work order for a playground in Susiya. Israeli forces cleared a settlement outpost near the Ofra settlement, leading to clashes with Israeli settlers. 19 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Birzeit. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles in Nahalin, causing damage to 2. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinian families were ordered evicted from their homes in Silwan to allow Israeli settlers to move in. In Gaza, 3 rockets were launched at Israel and Israeli forces struck targets in Khan Yunis, firing at least 4 missiles; no injuries were reported, but damage was reported in Gaza. Israel reduced the Gaza fishing zone from a maximum 15 nautical miles to 10 nautical miles. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire and used water hoses against Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/5; HA , PCHR, PCHR 2/6)

The EU and Denmark donated $6.5 million for social and public infrastructure projects in Area C of the West Bank. (WAFA 2/5)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian prisoner stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli warden at Ofer Prison. Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian family in Hebron, causing light injuries. 2 Palestinians were hospitalized after being hit by rubber-coated bullets during a confrontation with Israeli forces in Hebron. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting against the U.S. administration’s peace plan in and around Qalqilya and Tulkarm, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Qalandia, Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 3 Palestinian fishermen off the shore of Dayr al-Balah within the allowed fishing area; their fishing boat was also confiscated. Separately, Israeli naval forces opened fire and sprayed skunk water on fishermen west of Rafah. In Israel, 6 incendiary balloons were reportedly found in different places near Gaza; no damage was reported. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/3; PCHR 2/4; PCHR 2/6)

The PA minister of agriculture announced that the PA had decided to ban entry of Israeli products to the Palestinian market. The decision comes a day after Israel started banning imports of agricultural products from the West Bank. (WAFA 2/3)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation issued a statement after an extraordinary summit in Jeddah calling “on all member states not to engage with this plan [the U.S. administration’s peace plan] or to cooperate with the U.S. administration in implementing it in any form.” (HA, WAFA 2/3)