In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire 1 rocket into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Palestinians throw Molotov cocktails at an Israeli vehicle nr. Nablus, causing no injuries, and the IDF subsequently imposes a curfew on the villages of Hawara and Bayta. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; patrols in 3 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and 3 villages nr. Jericho at night. (MNA 3/5; JP, PCHR 3/6)
Early in the morning, Israel intercepts a ship in the Red Sea carrying Iranian-made rockets bound for Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli govt. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad deny involvement, with the former dismissing Israel’s announcement of the action as a “silly joke.” White House spokesperson Jay Carney says that the action would not affect the ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran regarding the country’s disputed nuclear program. (MNA, REU, ToI 3/5)
Israeli forces on the border with Syria open fire on several men. The IDF subsequently identifies the targets as Hizballah fighters that were trying to plant a bomb on the fence between the Israeli occupied Golan Heights and Syrian territory. The Syrian state news agency, meanwhile, reports that Israeli forces fire shells into Syria, wounding 7 mbrs. of the security services. The attack is also reported by UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Separately, Syrian forces conduct air strikes on the outskirts of a Lebanese border town. (AP, REU 3/5)
The head of the mission charged with destroying Syria’s chemical weapons says that Damascus has accelerated its efforts after several missed deadlines. Sigrid Kaag makes the remarks to reporters following a closed-doors update to the UNSC where the official said around one-third of the weapons material had already been removed or destroyed. (AP, REU 3/5)