The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized around 1,000 olive, almond, and grape trees in al-Khader. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians during a raid in Ya’bad. Israeli forces demolished 2 homes and razed land, uprooting 120 olive trees and water pipes in Birin. 56 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Kafr Ni’ma, Jaba’, Nablus, and Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israel forced a Palestinian family to demolish their apartment building in Jabel Mukaber. Israeli forces raided Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah, Isawiya, and al-Tur, warning families not to celebrate the release of their relatives in the prisoner exchange. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/27)

The Gaza Media Office updated the casualty numbers after dozens of bodies were found in rubble, saying the comprehensive death toll from Israel’s attacks on Gaza was 15,000, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, and around 35,000 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 231 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 56 children. More than 3,150 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 have been injured since 10/7. 75 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.7 million Palestinians, more than 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/18, at least 45,000 housing units had been destroyed and 233,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. 200 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing. 40 trucks carrying aid entered northern Gaza. 34 wounded Palestinians and 18 foreign nationals entered Egypt while 300 Palestinians returned to Gaza. A French military ship docked in El Arish in Egypt, where it will be used to treat wounded Palestinians. (AJ, AP, HA, UNOCHA 11/27; AJ 11/28)

Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the ceasefire agreement until the morning of 11/30. 33 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons as part of the fourth prisoner exchange, including 3 women and 30 boys. 17 Hamas-held captives were released, including 3 French citizens, 2 Germans, 6 Argentinians, and 6 Thai nationals. Hamas said it was willing to negotiate the exchange of Israeli soldiers held in Gaza and that they had located more captives. U.S. national security council spokesperson John Kirby said that the U.S. hopes to see the ceasefire extended further. Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Hamas needs to locate more than 40 women and children held captive by different factions to be able to extend the ceasefire further. (HA 11/26; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/27; AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 11/28)

Prominent Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was one of the names added to the list of Palestinian prisoners Israel is willing to release in exchange for Hamas-held captives. Tamimi was arrested on 11/6 and placed in administrative detention on 11/26 for a social media post that reportedly was made from an account that Tamini did not control but was in her name.  (AJ, HA, NYT 11/27; AJ 11/28)

The PA finance ministry said public servants will only be paid 50% of their salaries due to Israel withholding a large part of the PA tax revenue, leading to the PA refusing to accept the heavily reduced funds. (WAFA 11/27)

An Israeli court charged Palestinian journalist Marwat al-Azza with sympathizing with a terror organization, incitement to terrorism, and obstruction of justice for a social media post. Al-Azza was arrested on 11/24. (HA 11/28)

X, Tesla, and SpaceX owner Elon Musk met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, touring the Israeli villages attacked during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Hamas later invited Musk to see the devastation in Gaza to which Musk responded that it “[s]eems a bit dangerous there right now.” Israel said Musk had promised not to activate the Starlink internet satellites over Gaza without Israel’s permission. Musk has faced accusations of anti-Semitism and of promoting anti-Semitism on his social media platform X.  (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/27; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU 11/28; AJ, AJ 11/29)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant told Israeli soldiers that after the ceasefire ends the Israeli attacks “will be bigger and take place throughout the Gaza Strip.” (AJ, HA 11/27)

At a meeting hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona, Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said Israeli attacks on Gaza are within the realm of the legal definition of genocide. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said the attendees had to find a way to pressure Israel to stop its attacks. 43 countries, mostly represented by foreign ministers, attended the meeting that was chaired by EU high commissioner for foreign policy Josep Borell. Israel did not send a representative despite receiving an invitation. (AJ, AP, HA 11/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces destroyed a water pipeline supplying the village of Bayt Dajan east of Nablus. Israeli forces also demolished an animal barn near Yatta in a confrontation with local Palestinians protesting the demolishing; several Palestinians were injured. Late at night, Israeli settlers with Israeli military escort stormed ‘Urif near Nablus. Several Palestinians were injured, and 1 Palestinian-owned vehicle was vandalized. Israeli forces imposed a curfew on Huwwara after a Palestinian allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli settler; Palestinian teens were also reported to have been throwing rocks at an Israeli settler vehicle. (WAFA, WAFA 5/2; MNA, MNA 5/3)

The PA returned the full amount of the deducted tax revenue Israel transferred to the PA. The PA have on several occasions reiterated that it would not accept any tax revenue transfer that is not the full amount. Israel has deducted the PA tax revenue because the PA pays stipends to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families. (HA, MNA 5/3)

PA minister of Information Nabil Abu Rudayna reiterated that the PA leadership would not partake in any conference related to a peace plan that is not within the framework of international law and the Arab Peace Initiative. (WAFA 5/2)

The PA minister for Women’s Affairs Amal Hamad was refused entry to Jordan by Israeli authorities. She was traveling to Jordan to attend a Euro-Mediterranean conference for regional cooperation for zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. (MEMO, WAFA 5/2; MNA 5/3)

Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine (PIJ) condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza on 5/1. A PIJ official warned that any further aggression would be responded to with hits on Israel’s “biggest cities.” (HA 5/2)

In an interview at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, U.S. president Donald Trump’s son in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner said in response to a question of why the U.S. administration had not taken a position on the 2-state solution, that, “[i]f you say ‘two-state’, it means one thing to Israelis and another to Palestinians, so we told ourselves—let’s try not to say it.” (AJ, HA 5/3)

The U.S. puts the 2d round Syrian-Israeli talks on hold, saying Israel, Syria have fundamental differences that must be resolved for the next round to be substantive. Both sides agree to send experts to Washington in the interim to discuss the U.S. working paper. (AFP, ANSA, al-Safir 1/17, al-Quds 1/18 in WNC 1/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; NYT, WT 1/19; al-Quds 1/19 in WNC 1/24; MM, WJW 1/20; MEI 1/28)

In Tel Aviv, Barak holds a private mtg. with Arafat, asks for a 2-mo. extension to the 2/13 FAPS deadline. Arafat refuses. (AFP 1/17 in WNC 1/19; MM, WP, WT 1/18; CSM, MM, NYT 1/19; MENA 1/19 in WNC 1/21; MM 1/20; MEI 1/28)

An EU delegation meets separately with Arafat, Barak for talks on the Palestinian track, increasing the EU role in the peace process. The EU reps. express extreme concern by the slow movement on the Palestinian track. (ANSA 1/17 in WNC 1/19)

In Tel Aviv, Jordanian FM Khatib meets with FM Levy, urges Israel to implement the 1/20 FRD. (DUS 1/18 in WNC 1/19; JT 1/25 in WNC 1/27)

In Cairo, French FM Hubert Vedrine holds talks with Pres. Mubarak, FM Musa on the peace process, the Barcelona process. Egypt agrees to host a Euro-Mediterranean partnership mtg. on 10/3. (MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/19)

The PA for the 1st time turns over a Palestinian prisoner to Israel. The prisoner, Hisham Najim, is wanted for rape and murder of a child nr. Nablus. (al-Quds 1/18 in WNC 1/19; JP 2/11)

Turkey says that it wants to aid the peace process by selling water to Israel, Jordan. Jordan's water M arrives in Ankara today for 3 days of talks on importing 180 mcm of water over 2 yrs. (ATL, JT 1/17 in WNC 1/19; WP 1/18; MM 1/19; ATL, JT, Milliyet 1/19 in WNC 1/21; SA 1/28 in WNC 1/31)

In Hadera, Israel, a crude pipe bomb, similar to those used in Natanya on 11/7, explodes in a trash can. 22 Israelis seek medical attention, mostly for shock. Israel suspects Islamic Jihad (see 1/14). (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; MM 1/19; WJW 1/20; JP 1/28)

In Nicosia, the Cyprus DMin. receives an Israeli DMin. delegation for exploratory talks on developing bilateral ties. (Cyprus News Agency 1/17 in WNC 1/19)

In s. Lebanon, a roadside bomb thought to have been planted by Hizballah explodes, injuring 1 civilian. (WP 1/18)

In Palermo, Italy, 2-day Euro-Mediterranean mtg. (attended by 15 EU FMs, 12 Mediterranean FMs) closes. This is an ad hoc mtg., outside the normal cycle of "Barcelona" conferences, held to set priorities for preparation for the 4/99 Euro-Mediterranean conference planned for Stuttgart, Germany. The Barcelona process focuses on 3 areas for Mediterranean cooperation, unification: politics and security; economics and finance; social and cultural issues. The last mtg. was held in 3/97. (RJ 6/4, SA 6/5 in WNC 6/8; JTV 6/5 in WNC 6/9; JP 6/13)

Jordan, U.S. end their annual 1-mo. joint military maneuvers in the Jordanian desert. (JTV 6/4 in WNC 6/8)

Palestinian High Court orders PA police to release Hamas spokesman `Abd al-Aziz Rantisi, who was arrested 4/9. PA police refuse to comply. (PCHR press release 6/4)

After 2 days of closed door briefings, Richard Butler, exec. chmn. of the UN Special Comm. (UNSCOM) in charge of Iraqi weapons inspections, gives the UN Security Council (UNSC) a "road map" of missing information UNSCOM needs before it can decide whether to lift sanctions; says Iraq could fulfill obligations by 10/98 if it continues its recent cooperative attitude. Iraq rejects agenda as nonstarter. (WP 6/5; NYT, WP 6/6; MM 6/26)

A Jordanian trying to sneak into Israel is shot dead by the Israeli border guards. (ITV 10/11, al-Dustur 10/12 in WNC 10/15)

EU releases to Jordan $44 m. for economic reform projects. The $44 m. is part of a $110 m. package fr. the "MEDA project," an aid instrument adopted in 7/96 following the 11/95 Barcelona conference to launch EU-Mediterranean partnership. (JT 10/18 in WNC 10/22)

Israeli cabinet approves (10-7) 1st stage of FRD covering 9% of West Bank. (MM 3/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/7; RE 3/7 in WNC 3/11; ITV 3/7 in WNC 3/13; NYT WP 3/8; CSM 3/13; JP 3/15; Hatzofe [Tel Aviv] 3/17 in WNC 3/19; WP 3/25; Vesti [Tel Aviv] 3/24 in WNC 3/27; PR 3/14)

12 Mediterranean (including Egypt, Israel, Jordan, PA), 15 EU states attend Euro-Mediterranean conference in London. (JT 3/8 in WNC 3/13)

Jordan says that Lebanon is barring entry to Jordanian trucks transporting produce, claiming that the Lebanese markets are inundated; believes the move is in violation of trade agmt. stipulations that Jordan may sell unspecified amounts of produce to Lebanon until the end of April; bars the entry of Lebanese produce in response. (JT 3/6 in WNC 3/7)

Lebanon releases 3 Japanese citizens arrested along with 5 Red Army mbrs. on 2/15; charges the 5 Red Army mbrs. with passport forgery, entering the country illegally. (Kyodo [Tokyo] 3/14 in WNC 3/17) (see 3/3)