Approximately 3,000 Palestinians gather along Gaza’s northern border to continue the Great March of Return and to cheer on approximately 15 Palestinian boats setting sail in a symbolic protest of the Israeli blockade. Israeli naval forces fire warning shots at the boats, forcing them to turn back to shore, and IDF troops along the border fence open fire on the other protesters; 1 Palestinian is killed and 34 are injured, including 3 paramedics. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 186. Also along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home under construction in Atana refugee camp near Ramallah and uproot approximately 550 Palestinian trees outside Bayt Ula near Hebron. IDF troops arrest 14 Palestinians during late-night raids near Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm; and patrol in and around Nablus and Hebron. (EI, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 10/29; MNA 10/30; PCHR 11/1)
The PLO Central Council (PCC) convenes for a 2d day of meetings in Ramallah and reaches a non-binding decision to suspend all PLO and PA agreements with Israel, including those that govern the PA’s security coordination with the IDF, until the Israeli government recognizes the State of Palestine. PA president Mahmoud Abbas vows to implement the decision, a move he has not taken in response to similar PCC decisions in the past. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 10/30)
Senior Israeli security officials speculate that the uptick in violence along Gaza’s border fence this weekend stemmed from a power struggle in Gaza between PIJ and Hamas over the ongoing Great March of Return and the potential benefits to come from a cease-fire agreement with Israel. Separately, a senior Israeli political source says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is focused on the ongoing negotiations on a cease-fire, rather than preparations for another assault on Gaza. “We can reoccupy Gaza and remove Hamas from power, but there are no volunteers to take Gaza off our hands,” the source says. “If there was someone willing to take responsibility for the strip, we would have taken over it tomorrow.” (HA, YA 10/29)