In continuing operations in Bayt Hanun, the IDF fires on residential areas, fences off a 46-dunam plot of land nr. the Erez crossing that was previously bulldozed. During the day, the IDF also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis (wounding a staff mbr. inside a local hospital, a Palestinian inside his home), Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., Tulkarm, Yatta; demolishes several “civilian structures” in al-Walaja village northwest of Bayt Jala for construction of a separation wall segment around Bethlehem; announces plans to seize a total of 4,980 dunams of land in the Hebron area for construction of the separation wall. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops, military vehicles, helicopters into Khan Yunis, shelling and firing on residential areas, killing a Palestinian woman inside her home, demolishing 8 Palestinian homes. (PR 8/4; PCHR 8/5)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 AMB mbrs., 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. who approach Gaza’s Aley Sinai settlement; raids a bedouin encampment northwest of Jerusalem, ordering them to leave the area within 10 days to make way for separation wall construction; bulldozes 80 dunams of land nr. al-Walaja for construction of the separation wall; fires on residential areas of `Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., Bayt Lahia, Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, nr. Jenin, and in Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm camp. An ailing Palestinian woman dies after being barred by Israel fr. leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment in Egypt, despite intervention by the PA Health Min. The Israeli DMin. approves plans to build 600 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement (see Settlement Monitor). (MM, REU 8/2; VOI 8/2 in WNC 8/4; MA 8/2 in WNC 8/4; MM, NYT, WP 8/3; VOP 8/3 in WNC 8/5; PR 8/4; AP, IDF Radio, MA, PCHR 8/5; NYT 8/6; al-Quds 8/6 in WNC 8/10; WP 8/26)

In Gaza City, a Palestinian police officer tosses 2 grenades into a jail cell holding alleged collaborators, wounding 7, who are taken to al-Shifa hospital; 1 Palestinian dies of his injuries; 2 others are later killed by masked Hamas gunmen who storm the hospital’s intensive care unit. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing some damage.

The IDF makes a massive predawn raid on Rafah, sending in nearly 300 military vehicles and helicopters, shelling residential areas, raiding and searching homes, occupying several as observation posts, demolishing 10 Palestinian homes, exchanging gunfire with Palestinian gunmen. During the day, Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF bulldozer in Rafah but misjudge the placement of the device, inadvertently killing 3 Palestinians, wounding at least 10 (including a Reuters cameraman). In ongoing operations in Bayt Hanun, the IDF fires on residential areas, on Palestinians attempting to enter the town; demolishes 1 Palestinian home. The IDF also shoots, wounds, arrests a Palestinian in Hebron who reportedly failed to obey orders to stop; demolishes a Palestinian home, a bird farm, several agricultural warehouses and water tanks nr. Qalqilya for construction of the separation wall; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Hebron, Jenin. (VOI 8/3 in WNC 8/5; NYT, PR, WP 8/4; PCHR 8/5; PR 8/11)

Hamas warns that it will step up rocket attacks on Sederot unless the IDF withdraws fr. Bayt Hanun.

The IDF sends tanks fr. Bayt Hanun to the Jabaliya r.c., sparking clashes with armed Palestinians that leave 3 Palestinians dead (including a 10-yr.-old bystander), at least 36 wounded. The IDF continues bulldozing operations in Rafah, exchanging gunfire with mbrs. of the local resistance, killing 1 armed Palestinian, demolishing another 12 Palestinian homes and 4 shops, damaging a mosque, local infrastructure before pulling out in the evening; 1 tunnel reportedly is found. Elsewhere in Rafah, the IDF fires on residential areas, moderately wounding a 4-yr.-old Palestinian boy inside his home, seriously injuring a Palestinian driving 100s of meters away. The IDF sends undercover units into Nablus to secure, search a commercial building, sparking stone-throwing; undercover units fire on the protesters, fatally shooting a Palestinian bystander, intensifying the clashes; the IDF sends some 20 uniformed soldiers in to extricate the undercover unit, during which soldiers shoot, wound 3 Palestinians, including seriously injuring a child. The IDF also fires on residential areas of al-Qarara; raids the Islamic Charitable Association offices in Bani Na`im nr. Hebron, confiscating computers and files, vandalizing and sealing the offices; demolishes a Palestinian home in Dahaysha r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and nr. Hebron, and in al-Bireh, Nablus. (PR 8/4; VOP 8/4 in WNC 8/5; HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/5; PCHR 8/12)

The IDF pulls out of Bayt Hanun, pulls back from the outskirts of Jabaliya r.c., ending Operation Active Shield, revealing the widespread destruction (including an estimated 3,900 dunams bulldozed, 10,000s of trees razed) wrought since it entered and sealed the area on 6/28. The IDF also fires on, shells residential areas of Khan Yunis (wounding a Palestinian inside a hospital nearby, seriously damaging a home), nr. Gaza City; fires on, demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khuza nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Halhul nr. Hebron, Ramallah. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Some 150 Jewish settlers erect tents on a new unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Hebron, harass local Palestinians. Sharon orders 3,700 acres of Palestinian land to be annexed to Ma’ale Adumim settlement for construction of a new neighborhood, linking the settlement to Jerusalem 4 mi. to the west. (AP, BBC, HA, MA, MM, REU 8/5; VOI, VOP 8/5 in WNC 8/7; VOI 8/5 in WNC 8/10; AFP, MM, NYT, WT 8/6; al-Quds 8/6 in WNC 8/10; PR 8/11; PCHR 8/12; NYT 8/18)

At the Bayt Hanun municipal office, 6 armed, masked AMB mbrs. break up a news conference called by 3 PC mbrs. to discuss the pullout, denounce the PA for failing to do anything while the area was under siege. After the pullout, Palestinians fire at least 7 Qassam rockets toward Sederot and the Negev, causing no damage or injuries.

The IDF reopens the Rafah checkpoint where some 2,500 Palestinians have been stranded on the Egyptian border since 7/18; some 1,400 enter today; it is expected to take 2 more days for all 2,500 to cross. The IDF also fatally shoots an Islamic Jihad mbr. attempting to lay a roadside bomb outside a Gaza settlement; fatally shoots wanted Hamas mbr. Muhammad Balasma nr. Nablus in what may be an assassination; fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager nr. the Qarni crossing into Israel; fires on residential areas of Rafah; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Dahaysha r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Hebron, several villages around Jenin. (BBC, MM 8/6; VOI, VOP 8/6, YA 8/7 in WNC 8/10; NYT, WP, WT 8/7; NYT 8/8; PR 8/11; PCHR 8/12)

The IDF send troops into Nablus and neighboring Bayt Furik, firing on stone-throwing youths, shells residential areas, wounding 5; fires on Palestinians waiting to cross a checkpoint e. of Jerusalem, wounding 1; shells residential areas of Rafah; fires on residential areas of Balata r.c., Brazil r.c., Dayr Ghassana nr. Ramallah, Tulkarm; fires on a PSF observation post in Rafah, injuring 1 PSF officer; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bethlehem, 1 in Dahaysha r.c.; raids, checks identification of everyone in a PSF office nr. Hebron. (VOI 8/8 in WNC 8/10; PCHR 8/12)

PA Planning M Nabil Qassis resigns to accept a position as pres. of Birzeit University. Arafat does not immediately name a replacement. (PSCT 8/7 in WNC 8/10; NYT, WP, XIN 8/8; PR 8/11)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops, military vehicles into Rafah, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes, firing on residential areas. The IDF also sends troops into al-Qarara under heavy shelling, injuring 4 Palestinians, bulldozing 5 dunams of land; expels to Gaza fr. Jericho a Palestinian woman married to a Jericho resident, their 2 children, arguing that her Gaza residency card means that she has been living in the West Bank illegally. (XIN 8/8; PCHR 8/12)

The IDF resumes work (halted by Israeli court order in late 2002) on a settler bypass road in Hebron linking Kiryat Arba settlement to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, demolishing 3 600-yr.-old historic buildings (including 11 residential apartments); local Jewish settlers harass Palestinians in the area. The IDF also continues operations in Rafah begun overnight, demolishing 12 Palestinian homes; uproots 130 dunams of citrus groves s. of Gaza City; raids the offices of the al-Islah Islamic Association in Bethlehem, confiscating computers, files; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, al-Qarara; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Yatta. Jewish settlers burn 60 olive trees in Marda village nr. Salfit. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian shot by the IDF in Khan Yunis on 8/7 dies of his injuries. (HA, PM 8/10; PR 8/11; PCHR 8/12)

The IDF sends troops into Nablus, Tulkarm r.c., sparking stone-throwing by youths, then opening fire, shelling residential areas, withdrawing. Later in the day, the IDF again fires on stone-throwing youths in Nablus, killing a Palestinian teenager, wounding 10. During the day, the IDF also fires on stone-throwing youths in Balata r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in villages outside Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Qalqilya; resumes bulldozing begun 2 wks. ago in Wadi Rahal e. of Bethlehem for construction of a settler bypass road. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops, heavy vehicles into Khan Yunis, bulldozing 3 Palestinian homes and several dunams of land, firing on and shelling residential areas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. (HA 8/10; PR, WP, WT 8/11; PCHR 8/12)

Palestinian gunmen fire on a Jewish settler bus nr. Barqan settlement, lightly injuring 2 Jewish settlers.

The IDF continues a major raid on Khan Yunis, demolishing 13 Palestinian homes, firing missiles at a residential neighborhood “to deter gunmen,” wounding 12 Palestinians; fires on stone-throwing youths in Balata r.c., killing 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Rafah, seriously injuring a 5-yr.-old girl; conducts raids in and around Hebron; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem. Israel bars entry at Ben-Gurion Airport to British journalist Eva Jasciewicz, who appeals her deportation, is jailed pending a court ruling. (HA, XIN 8/11; JP, VOI, YA 8/11 in WNC 8/13; MM, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP, WT 8/12)

A medium-sized bomb left by the AMB Jenin faction in a bag nr. the Qalandia checkpoint n. of Jerusalem explodes, killing 2 Palestinians and injuring 6 Israeli border police officers (2 seriously, 1 moderately), 10 Palestinians (including a 6-yr.-old in a coma).

The IDF makes a predawn raid on Rafah, shelling residential areas, demolishing 10 Palestinian homes and a carpentry workshop; during the operation, 1 IDF soldier is wounded by a Palestinian sniper. Later in the day in Rafah, the IDF deliberately fires on a PRCS ambulance, 5 uniformed doctors, 2 uniformed nurses, a clearly identified driver distributing first aid kits (donated by Germany) to Palestinians made homeless by IDF demolitions in an attempt to scare them away, causing no injuries. In Nablus, the IDF detains 3 BBC journalists, a Palestinian doctor who attempt to enter an apartment for a prescheduled interview with a resident, not realizing that the building had been occupied as an IDF observation post; the IDF releases them with an apology after 3 hrs. of questioning. The IDF also bulldozes 100 dunams of land in Mughraqa nr. Netzarim settlement, destroying 5 wells and related irrigation works; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Tulkarm; raids the Islamic Charitable Association of Hebron, confiscating computers and office equipment, sealing the offices; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Tulkarm and villages nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Late in the evening, the IDF raids Gaza City’s Zaytun neighborhood, searching homes, shelling and firing on residential areas. (AFP, HA, PM, XIN 7/12; HA 8/13; PR 8/18; PCHR 8/19)

The IDF continues operations in Gaza City, bulldozing 700 dunams of land, demolishing several Palestinian homes, firing on Palestinians, wounding 4 before withdrawing later in the day; fires on residential areas of Aida r.c., Bayt Furik, Tal al-Sultan, Yatta; raids, fires on stone-throwing youths in Balata r.c., Tulkarm r.c. and town; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Khadir, Bayt Sahur; shells an electricity tower in Rafah, cutting electricity to some neighborhoods and Brazil r.c. The IDF also fires warning shots at a Spanish emb. vehicle at the Abu Huli checkpoint in Gaza; Spain lodges a formal complaint, saying it had received Israeli approval for the trip. (NYT, WP 8/14; PCHR 8/19)

An AMB gunman ambushes, fatally shoots a Jewish settler security chief patrolling around Itamar settlement in the West Bank, is then shot dead by other security guards; the IDF later blows up the gunman’s home in nearby Bayt Furik.

The 20th summer Olympics opens in Athens. Palestine is represented by 2 track-and-field athletes, 1 swimmer. The International Olympic Comm. (IOC) 1st recognized Palestine in 1934, but rescinded recognition in 1948, when it recognized Israel. After the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993, the IOC recognized Palestine again. Palestinian teams have competed in the summer Olympics in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). (PR 8/18, 8/25)

The IDF shells, directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Brazil r.c., Khan Yunis, Rafah (wounding 1 woman inside her home); sends troops into Balata r.c., Nablus under cover of shelling, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 6; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Yatta. A 13-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received during the 8/8–9 IDF raid on Rafah. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones at, lightly injure a 15-yr.-old Palestinian in Hebron. (HA, WT 8/14; WP 8/15; PR 8/18; PCHR 8/19)

A newspaper runs an ad signed by 144 prominent Palestinians, demanding government reform, new elections. More than 100 unemployed Palestinian university graduates temporarily occupy a PA building in Gaza, demanding the PA find them jobs.

The IDF surrounds an area of Wadi al-Silqa, orders all men ages 16–50 to assemble in a field, holds them for 3 hrs., checks their IDs, releases them; for a 2d day sends troops into Balata r.c., Nablus under cover of shelling, fires on stone throwing Palestinians who confront them, seriously injuring 2 stone throwers and a passerby; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, IDF soldiers fatally shoot a Palestinian who attempts to stab a soldier at a checkpoint. Some 1,700 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails begin a hunger strike, citing 57 demands for improved conditions. (PM, XIN 8/15; MM 8/16; MENA, VOI, VOP 8/17 in WNC 8/19; MM, PR 8/18; MM, PCHR 8/19)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fires missiles at 4 Palestinians allegedly preparing to fire a Qassam rocket fr. Bayt Hanun into Israel, killing 2; continues large-scale operations (dubbed Operation Full Court Press) in Nablus that began on 8/7, imposing a curfew, fatally shooting a Palestinian standing on his roof, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops; blows up 3 residential buildings housing 13 Palestinian families (76 individuals) in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Brazil refugee camp (r.c.), Khan Yunis, Rafah; bulldozes 2 wells, a commercial building in Bayt Hanun; conducts arrest raids, house searches in villages outside Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Hanun, orders Palestinians to evacuate several homes nr. Erez Crossing, searches and digs around homes for several hrs. looking for tunnels. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (AP 8/16; PRCS press release, WP, WT 8/17; PR 8/18; PCHR 8/19)

Islamic Jihad fires 2 mortars at Gaza's Gush Katif settlement as a solidarity gesture with the Palestinian prisoners (on hunger strike since 8/15), causing no damage or injuries.

The IDF continues operations in Nablus, conducting house searches, firing on stone-throwing youths, fatally shooting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian sitting on the stoop of his home. The IDF also fatally shoots 2 al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbrs. laying a roadside bomb outside Gaza’s Atzmona settlement; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Brazil r.c.; directs heavy machinegun fire at residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem and nr. Khan Yunis, Qalqilya, Ramallah; raids the offices of the National Society in Dahaysha r.c., arresting 3 employees, confiscating computers, sparking clashes with local Palestinians, wounding 5. The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders for construction of 1,001 new housing units in 4 Jewish settlements (Ariel, 214; Beitar Ilit, 604; Karnei Shomron, 42; Ma’ale Adumim, 141). (HA, MM 8/17; VOP 8/17 in WNC 8/19; MM, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP, WT 8/18; PCHR, WJW 8/19; MM 8/20, 8/23; MEI 8/27)

The IDF launches a predawn air strike on the home of wanted Hamas mbr. Ahmad Jabari in Gaza City, assassinating 2 Hamas mbrs. and 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. (all relatives of Jabari), killing 2 bystanders, wounding 7; Jabari is moderately wounded. The IDF lifts the curfew on all of Nablus, except the Old City and al-`Ayn r.c.; seals al-Fara' r.c. nr. Nablus, patrolling streets, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops; fires missiles at 2 workshops in Gaza City (alleged to be weapons factories), destroying both but causing no injuries; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, 4 shops in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; raids, confiscates equipment and files fr. a charitable association nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c., Nablus, Qalqilya; begins bulldozing a 350 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) nr. Qalqilya for construction of the separation wall. Jewish settlers fr. Pdu’el raze olive trees, place barbed wire around a plot of Palestinian land outside Salfit. Some 60 internationals, 20 Palestinians who began a Freedom March along the separation wall route to protest the wall’s construction in Zababda nr. Jenin on 7/30 arrive at their destination, Jerusalem, a day ahead of schedule. (NYT, PCHR, WP 8/18; PCHR 8/19, 8/25)

Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Gaza's Neve Dekalim settlement, lightly injuring 2 Jewish settlers; detonate a roadside bomb by an IDF tank in Gaza, causing some damage but no injuries.

The IDF fires on residential areas of Nablus but by evening lifts the curfew, withdraws troops, ending Operation Full Court Press. The IDF fires on 2 Palestinians who stray into a closed military zone in Rafah, injuring 1, then fatally shoots another Palestinian youth who attempts to reach him to provide aid; later shells residential areas of Rafah, killing a 62-yr.-old Palestinian; fires tear gas, live ammunition at Palestinians waiting to cross al-Mahatin checkpoint nr. Dayr al-Balah in central Gaza; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., Khan Yunis (seriously damaging a hospital); bulldozes 60 d. of agricultural land, shells residential areas in Wadi al-Silqa in s. Gaza; occupies a building under construction in Hebron as a military post. Late in the evening, the IDF sends bulldozers into Khan Yunis, demolishing 4 Palestinian homes. (HA, XIN 8/19; NYT 8/20; PCHR 8/26)

Palestinians fire 5 Qassam rockets at Sederot, lightly inuring 1 Israeli.

The IDF continues bulldozing operations in Khan Yunis, pulling out early in the morning; imposes a daylong curfew on Wadi al-Hussein nr. Hebron, also transforms an empty Palestinian house into an observation post; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Aza r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Dayr Ghassana nr. Ramallah. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 8/19 in Brazil r.c. (PRCS 8/20; PCHR 8/26)

The IDF sends troops back into Nablus and neighboring Balata r.c., blowing up a metal workshop, conducting house searches, shooting and seriously wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone outside Nussayrat r.c.; sends bulldozers into al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis under cover of heavy shelling to level houses previously demolished, tear up roads leading to 3 residential neighborhoods; fires on residential areas of Rafah. 10s of Jewish settlers in Hebron break windows, attempt to set fire to furniture in several Palestinian homes, destroy a water pumping station and a generator; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (AFP 8/21; PCHR 8/26)

The IDF reimposes a curfew (lifted on 8/19) on Nablus, then sends jeeps to the central market square to fire on surrounding areas to force dealers to close stalls and Palestinians to return home, injuring 15 Palestinians (including 8 children). The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian land in Bardala in the northeastern tip of the Jordan Valley for construction of security and tax offices; fires on residential areas in Rafah, nr. Ramallah. Palestinian Hussein Jabari dies of injuries sustained in the IDF assassination attempt against his brother, Ahmad Jabari. (WP 8/23; PR 8/25; PCHR 8/26; MM 8/27)

Palestinian Authority (PA) Prisoner Affairs M Hisham `Abd al-Raziq, 70 Palestinian figures begin a hunger strike in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners; Israeli prison officials say that the number of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners has nearly doubled to 2,900 since the strike began on 8/15.

In Rafat, the IDF opens fire on several Palestinians removing belongings fr. a home that the IDF earlier warned would be demolished, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian, firing on an ambulance that attempts to reach him, allowing him to bleed to death. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; demolishes a Palestinian home in al-Qarara; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Araqa and Qabatya villages nr. Jenin, Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, Balata r.c., Surif nr. Hebron, Tulkarm. Israel announces plans for another 533 new housing units in the Adam, Emmanuel, Har Adar, Har Gilo settlements in the West Bank. (JP, MM 8/23; DS, NYT, WP, WT 8/24; VOP 8/24 in WNC 8/26; PR 8/25; PCHR 8/26)

The PA announces that security forces have recently arrested 6 suspected collaborators in Gaza.

The IDF sends troops into Bethlehem, seals and searches a hospital for 3 hrs., detains 2 Palestinians (apparently not patients). The IDF also stages a major incursion into Askar r.c., rounding up more than 300 Palestinian men for questioning at an UNRWA school (the UN protests); fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer, wounds a 2d in al-Qarara; demolishes 1 Palestinian home, searches 3 in al-Qarara; fires on residential areas of Rafah (breaking windows in a hospital). (AP, JTA, XIN 8/24; VOP 8/24 in WNC 8/26; WT 8/25; PCHR 8/26)

Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza observe a general strike in solidarity with hunger striking Palestinian prisoners; 80 child prisoners join the strike.

The IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 45 d. in al-Mughraqa nr. Gaza City; blows up 1 Palestinian home nr. Nablus; fires tear gas at Palestinians waiting to cross the al-Mawasi checkpoint; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abu Dis, Askar r.c., Bayt Laqia nr. Ramallah, Bayt Jala and neighboring Bethlehem, al-Fara' r.c., Ramallah, Tubas nr. Jenin, Yatta nr. Hebron. The IDF also captures 6 Egyptian students armed with a toy gun, knives, binoculars, radios in the Negev, 6 mi inside Israel. Unidentified gunmen fire on the car of PA General Intelligence Service dep. chief Tariq Abu Rajab as he drives along the coastal road in Gaza, seriously wounding him, killing 2 bodyguards, wounding 2 others; no group claims responsibility. (BBC, HA, PR 8/25; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/26; AYM 8/26 in WNC 8/31; JAZ 8/30 in WNC 9/1; QA 8/31 in WNC 9/3; PR 9/1; PCHR 9/2; PR 9/15; MA 9/15 in WNC 9/21)

After Palestinians fire several Qassam rockets toward Sederot (causing no damage or injuries) and a mortar at Gush Katif (damaging a building), the IDF closes the Rafah crossing linking Egypt and Gaza; shuts main roads in Gaza to Palestinian traffic, dividing the Strip into thirds; attempts to assassinate for a 2d time (the 1st was on 5/15/00) Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Muhammad Khalil by firing rockets at his Rafah home, wounding him and 5 family mbrs., killing 1 Palestinian neighbor. Senior AMB mbr. Shadi Awamir is killed, 2 Palestinians are injured in a mysterious explosion in his home in Gaza City in what may be an assassination. The IDF demolishes 12 Palestinian homes, fires on residential areas in Rafah; conducts a major raid on Nablus, firing on the Old City fr. helicopters, searching and occupying Palestinian homes as gun posts, clashing with local Palestinians, wounding at least 15 (including 5 children); fires on Palestinians waiting to cross Gaza’s Abu Huli crossing, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Dajan nr. Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah. (VOI 8/26 in WNC 8/28; NYT, WP 8/27; HA, VOI 8/27 in WNC 8/31; PCHR 9/2)

The IDF enters, fires on residential areas of Askar r.c., Balata r.c., Nablus. (HA, MM 8/27; VOP 8/27, HA 8/28 in WNC 8/31; PCHR 9/2)

Palestinians fire a mortar at Gush Katif, damaging 1 house. While Palestinians across the territories observe a day of solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners by fasting, staging sit-ins, and demonstrating, some 800 Palestinian prisoners at Israel’s Ashkelon prison, 350 administrative detainees in Shiqma prison temporarily suspend their strike after Israeli officials agree to halt strip searches, allow some physical contact during family visits.

The IDF bars all access to al-Salim nr. Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah; detonates percussion grenades around Khan Yunis in the middle of the night. A Jewish settler fr. Elon Moreh, with IDF escort, attacks 5 Palestinian shepherds outside Nablus, beating 2, shooting dead 1 sheep and 2 dogs; the IDF does not stop the settler but bars the shepherds fr. leaving. Some 15 Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba throw stones breaking windows of 4 Palestinian homes in 2 neighboring villages. (HA, VOP 8/28, VOP 8/29 in WNC 8/31; PCHR 9/2)

PA FM Nabil Shaath begins a hunger strike in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners.

The IDF shoots a Palestinian farmer watering his garden nr. Morag settlement in s. Gaza, bars an ambulance fr. reaching him, allowing him to die; fires on armed Palestinians approaching Qarni crossing, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian, while 2–3 escape; fires on residential areas, bulldozes 10 d., buries a well in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Lahiya, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Tamun. In the evening, the IDF sends bulldozers into Rafah’s Bloc J area to level land along the Philadelphi Route, fatally shoots a 14-yr.-old Palestinian who emerges fr. a nearby home, hitting him 18 times. Jewish settlers fr. Otniel s. of Hebron set up 4 mobile homes on nearby Palestinian land; the IDF reportedly hooks up electricity. (VOI, VOP 8/29 in WNC 8/31; VOI 8/30 in WNC 9/1; PR 9/1; PCHR 9/2)

The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian; attempts to assassinate senior AMB mbr. Mahmud Abu Khalifa by firing a missile at his car as he drives through Jenin, missing it and hitting a nearby building, injuring a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl; imposes curfews on villages around Jenin; fires on an ambulance waiting to cross Mahatin checkpoint nr. Khan Yunis, seriously injuring a doctor and a paramedic; fires rubber bullets at Palestinians in Budrus w. of Ramallah to disperse their nonviolent protest against the construction of the separation wall. Late at night, Israel border police raid and search homes in the Dahiyat al-Salam neighborhood of Anata in East Jerusalem, take all men ages 16–80 to a nearby base for ID checks, warn those without blue Jerusalem IDs that they could be arrested, detained, possibly sent to the West Bank if they are caught staying in the village overnight again. The IDF also removes a group of Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba who attempt to set up an unauthorized outpost along the route to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. (VOI, VOP 8/30 in WNC 9/1; VOP 8/31 in WNC 9/2; PR 9/1; PCHR 9/2)

Palestinian gunmen fire on a crane doing construction work in Neve Dekalim, lightly injuring an Israeli construction worker.

The IDF imposes tighter restrictions on entry to and exit from Hebron; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian youth during a predawn incursion into Rafah; fires on residential areas of Nablus and reinforces checkpoints on the Nablus–Qalqilya road; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Hebron; bulldozes 360 d. of agricultural land in Juhur Yidiq in central Gaza, 8 d. and 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; raids, searches several charitable societies and PA Information Min. offices in Hebron, briefly detaining 20 Palestinians and 3 journalists covering the incident. A Jewish settler kills a 61-yr.-old Palestinian woman in a hit-and-run nr. Qalqilya. (HA, MM, WP 8/31; JAZ, MENA, VOI, VOP 8/31 in WNC 9/2; CSM, HA, MM, NYT, Palestinian Medial Relief Society press release, PR, WP, WT 9/1; AYM, QA, al-Quds, VOI 9/1 in WNC 9/3; HJ 9/1, JAZ, VOI, VOP 9/2 in WNC 9/4; HJ, MM, PCHR, WJW, WT 9/2; MM 9/3; JAZ 9/4 in WNC 9/7; PR 9/8; JPI, MEI, MM 9/10)

In downtown Beersheba, 2 Hamas suicide bombers simultaneously detonate devices on 2 buses, killing 16 Israelis, wounding 82. The IDF demolishes the family homes of the bombers in Hebron. The AMB Jenin faction issues a statement calling PA FM Shaath a “traitor” for allegedly meeting with Israeli FM Silvan Shalom on the sidelines of a conference in Italy (ca. 8/26), threatening to kill him if he returns to the territories; Shalom says he did not interact with Shaath at the mtg.