Monday, August 31, 2015

Amid ongoing tensions in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinian guards and 3 Palestinian worshippers at Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces block off all entrances to al-Tur, following clashes in the area with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; arrest 5 Palestinians on raids in the Old City and Shu‘fat r.c. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian farmers e. of Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 23 structures in a bedouin village n. of Jerusalem. They also surround the home of a local leader in Jenin r.c.; conduct wide-ranging raids in the area and demolish parts of the home when the man does not give himself up, sparking an hours-long firefight with armed residents (1 Israeli soldier and 5 Palestinians are injured, 2 Palestinians are arrested). Meanwhile, Israeli authorities deliver a stop-work order to a school under construction in a village nr. Hebron. IDF troops search homes nr. Hebron, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; there are no injuries. They also patrol nr. Ramallah, Hebron, and Jericho; conduct late-night house searches and raids nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, and Nablus, arresting 8 Palestinians. (AP, MNA, NYT, WAFA 8/31; HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 9/1; MNA 9/2; PCHR 9/3)

After a week of protests obstructed the start of the 2015–16 school year, UNRWA schools in Gaza open regularly following an agreement between the union of UNRWA staff, parents, and reps. of various Palestinian factions. Negotiations will continue on unresolved issues until a final agreement is reached on 9/9. (MNA, WAFA 8/31)