The Palestine Chronology

Overnight in Gaza, the IDF sends troops into Dayr al-Balah and al-Maghazi r.c., conducting arrest raids and house searches, bulldozing at least 55 d. of olive and citrus groves, firing on residential areas, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3, withdrawing by evening. During the day, the IDF bulldozes 150 d. of citrus and olive groves, 2 greenhouses, 270 beehives e. of Bayt Hanun. In Bureij r.c., 2 Hamas mbrs. are injured when explosives they are handling detonate prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Jenin in a vehicle with Palestinian license plates to ambush and assassinate AMB mbr. Muhammad Abu Sorour, also shooting, wounding, and arresting AMB mbr. Hilal al-Sa‘di, who is traveling with him; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, nr. Bethlehem and Nablus; demolishes the single shantylike structure comprising the Netzer unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Bethlehem (which has been removed by the IDF and rebuilt by settlers several times since its 1st incarnation in 2005). In ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, the IDF deliberately fires on the main electricity transformer, cutting power to the village; bulldozes 7 d. of Palestinian crops; issues military orders confiscating 390 d. of Palestinian land for construction of the separation wall. A Jewish settler fr. Kiryat Arba injures a 2-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a deliberate hit-and-run. Some 700 Fatah mbrs. in al-Maghazi r.c. hold a rally commemorating local Palestinians killed in the 6/07 clashes with Hamas. (NYT 10/12; OCHA 10/17; PCHR 10/18)

IDF undercover units raid Jenin, assassinate AMB mbr. Majid al-Sa‘di, also fatally shooting a Palestinian bystander. The IDF also demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Wadi al-Silqa; fires on protesting youths in Balata r.c. (seriously injuring 3), residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, al-Duha nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm. Wanted Hamas mbr. Awni Taha is killed in a mysterious explosion inside his Gaza City home, apparently while preparing explosives. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. PA Education M Na‘im al-Humus says that the IDF recently sent letters to several Palestinian colleges and universities warning that they could be shut down if they continue “incitement activities.” (XIN 6/16; VOI, VOP 6/16 in WNC 6/18; NYT, PCHR 6/17; HA 6/18; VOP 6/16 in WNC 6/18; NYT 6/20; PR 6/23; PCHR 6/24)