In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 2 structures near Kafr ad-Dik. 4 Palestinian children were arrested during a raid in Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Beit Safafa, displacing 4. In Israel, 2 Palestinians were killed after a container fell on them in Tirat Carmel; 4 others were injured. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/21; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)
Palestinians from the West Bank who work in Israel protested at Israeli checkpoints against an agreement between the PA and Israel to deposit workers’ wages in Palestinian banks rather than paying them in cash. The workers fear that the PA and banks will incur new fees that will lower their income. (HA, REU 8/21; MEE 8/31)
Israel’s high court of justice rejected an appeal to have Khalil Awawdeh released from administrative detention, saying it has no room to intervene despite his medical condition, which is categorized as serious. The number of Palestinians held in administrative detention is at its highest since 2008 at 723. (HA, WAFA 8/21; AJ, AP, HA, TOI 8/22; MEE, MEMO 8/23; REU 8/24; HA 9/1)
The Israeli supreme court rejected an appeal against the demolition of 2 schools and 32 residential structures in Khirbet al-Fakhit and Jinba in the Masafer Yatta area. (WAFA 8/21; MDW, MEE 8/22)
Israel dropped charges against 2 Palestinian men from East Jerusalem after video evidence showed that the 2 of them were attacked by Israeli police, and not the opposite as the Israeli police had claimed. The incident happened in Isawiya in 2019 during a raid in the neighborhood, in which the 2 Palestinians asked the police not to park in a private parking spot and were attacked by Israeli police. (HA 8/21; AJ 8/22)
The directors of Al Haq and Defense for Children International – Palestine received calls from the Shin Bet separately ordering the 2 to show up at Shin Bet facilities in the West Bank. Al Haq director Shawan Jabarin told the Shin Bet representative that he would not show up unless he receives a letter to his lawyer or the Shin Bet shows up at his home. Defense for Children International – Palestine general director Khaled Quzmar showed up at a Shin Bet facility at the Ofer settlement and was told to cease work for his organization immediately during a 2-hour interrogation. The offices of the 2 rights organizations, along with 5 others, were raided by Israeli forces on 8/18. The organizations have been categorized by Israel as terrorist organizations. The international community has largely condemned the raids and the terrorist designations. The PLO also announced that it had opened its offices in Ramallah to the 7 rights organizations to provide them a space to carry out their work. (AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 8/21; MEMO 8/22; MDW 8/23)
Director of Shin Bet Ronen Bar arrived in Egypt for talks with his Egyptian counterparts, as Egypt has expressed anger over Israel’s attacks on Gaza in Operation Breaking Dawn earlier this month. (HA, TOI 8/21; JP, MEE 8/22; HA 8/24)
Israeli spyware company NSO Group, maker of the Pegasus spyware, said its chief executive Shalev Hulio was stepping down and that the company fired 100 employees. (AP, GDN, MEE, NYT, REU 8/21; AJ 8/22)