The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in al-Mughayyir, injuring 1 Palestinian and damaging his car. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also raided Huwwara, assaulting 1 Palestinian before arresting him. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided a school in Beita, causing damage. In Jisr az-Zarqa and Fureidis, Palestinian citizens of Israel protested against the Israeli government’s failure to address the rising murder rate in Palestinian communities. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/28; PCHR 8/3; UNOCHA 8/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces opened a new settler-only road near Wadi Fukin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians confronting settlers near ‘Azun, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 2 houses under construction in Bayt Dajan and 2 houses under construction in Khirbet al-‘Ayn. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Rumana, Nablus, Salfit, Hebron, Bayt Jala, Bayt Rima, al-Mughayyir, and Qatanna. In Israel, the tires of 17 vehicles were slashed and racist anti-Palestinian graffiti was spray-painted on houses in Jisr al-Zarqa. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/9; PCHR 5/12; UNOCHA 5/13)

The Israeli supreme court postponed the trial for Just Vision aid worker Mohammad al-Halabi, who has been held in Israeli detention since 2016 without a trial. Al-Halabi is accused, by Israel, of funneling aid money to Hamas. (WAFA 5/9)

Israeli forces began a monthlong military exercise dubbed “Chariots of Fire.” (HA 5/9; ALM 5/18)

In the West Bank, 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Nablus, Jenin, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, a Fatah official was arrested in Issawiyya during a late-night raid. Israeli forces also summoned a 6-year-old boy and his father for interrogation after the boy allegedly threw a juice box toward an Israeli police vehicle. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire and used water cannons on Palestinian fishermen. In Israel, the Palestinian town Jisr al-Zarqa was raided by Jewish extremists who wrote hate graffiti on a house and punctured tires on 21 vehicles. (HA, WAFA 7/31; PCHR 8/1)

Israel’s security cabinet approved construction permits for 715 housing units for Palestinians in Area C for the first time since 2016 and approved 6,000 Israeli settlement units. (HA, 7/30; AJ, NYT 7/31)

After a confidential report was leaked alleging misconduct by the top management of the UNRWA on 7/29, Switzerland and the Netherlands suspended their funding to the UNRWA. (HA 8/1)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Authorities demolish 2 Arab houses in Sakhnin and Jisr al-Zarqa village, claiming the buildings violated construction laws [FJ 12/19].

Other Countries: In testimony before U.S. House Armed Services Com., NATO commander indicates there is evidence that U. S. arms sold to Iran may have been taken from army stocks in Europe [NYT 12/13]. The Boston Globe reports that U.S. will cut interest rates for Israeli and Egyptian arms purchases from 11.5% to 7% [BG 12/12].