Saturday, May 12, 2018

The IAF conducts airstrikes on Palestinian agricultural land near Bayt Hanun, causing moderate damage. The IDF later states that it was targeting a tunnel that had not yet been built into Israeli territory. Meanwhile, IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border fence open fire on a Hamas observation post near alMaghazi refugee camp, and violently disperse Great March of Return protesters near Jabaliya refugee camp and al-Bureij refugee camp (3 Palestinians are injured, including 1 minor). In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 13 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Qalqilya; and patrol in and around Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Abu Dis. (HA, JP, WAFA, YA 5/12; PCHR 5/17)

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained when the IDF violently dispersed peaceful protesters along Gaza’s border on 5/11. His death brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 44. (HA, WAFA 5/12)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing in both directions for the first of 4 planned days. (AHR 5/14; OCHA 5/24)

Following the attack on a pipeline in Gaza on 5/11, Israeli DM Lieberman announces that the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza has been closed and will remain closed indefinitely while the damage is repaired. Meanwhile, the IDF musters troops along Gaza’s border in preparation for an escalation of the Great March of Return on 5/14. (HA, JP, YA 5/12)