Palestinian soccer player Mahmoud Sarsak upon his arrival in Gaza City, 10 July. Israel released him following a lengthy hunger strike in protest of being held without charge or trial for three years. Ashraf Amra APA images

The month of July began with Palestinians outraged over the Palestinian Authority police’s brutal crackdown on protests in Ramallah against normalized relations with Israel at the close of June. Palestinians in the West Bank also demonstrated against political arrests by PA police in the West Bank and Hamas police in the occupied Gaza Strip. The West Bank city of Nablus was subjected to arrest raids by both PA police and the Israeli army.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian motorist at a checkpoint outside East Jerusalem. An armed Palestinian was killed and two others were injured in fighting with Israeli forces during an incursion near the fence separating Israel and Gaza, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported. Dozens of Palestinians in the West Bank were injured during regular protests against the Israeli occupation.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera English broadcast an investigation into the 2004 death of Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat following a short illness; new laboratory tests indicate Arafat may have been poisoned with polonium, a rare and highly radioactive substance.

Palestinians in Gaza welcomed home national football team star Mahmoud Sarsak from Israeli prison following his intermittent three-month hunger strike protesting his three years of detention without charge or trial. Akram Rikhawi ended his long-term hunger strike after Israeli agreed to his early release; Hassan Safadi, Samer al-Barq and Ayman Sharawna all continued their renewed, open-ended hunger strikes in protest of their detention by Israel without charge or trial.

Racially-motivated attacks were perpetrated against Africans and asylum seekers were deported as Israeli leaders continued their racist incitement. The Israeli government also announced plans to demolish eight villages in the southern West Bank under the pretext of establishing a military firing zone.

Palestinian Muslims throughout historic Palestine and in exile marked the beginning of the month of Ramadan; also celebrated was Palestine’s participation in the London 2012 Olympics.

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Hamas fighter Mahmoud al-Heggi during his funeral in the al-Zaitoun area in the east of Gaza City, 12 July. Al-Heggi was killed and others were wounded after an Israeli air strike in the area. Ashraf Amra APA images

The family home of Hassan Safadi, a Palestinian political prisoner embarking on a second hunger strike, is decorated with messages of solidarity, 4 July. Ahmad Al-Bazz ActiveStills

Speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Aziz Dweik, speaks to his family at the Beit Sira roadblock in the occupied West Bank after his release from Israeli prison, 19 July. The Israeli army arrested Dweik on 19 January at a roadblock between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah and held him for six months without charge or trial. Issam Rimawi APA images

Relatives of Palestinian political prisoners call for their release in front of the Red Cross in Gaza City, 9 July. Majdi Fathi APA images

A sign installed by the Israeli army near the Palestinian village of Jimba, near the West Bank city of Hebron, warns people of military activity in the area, 25 July. Israel announced that Palestinians in the area must evacuate since the army plans to use it as a military firing zone. Mamoun Wazwazi APA images

Palestinian Authority police block demonstrators from reaching the presidential headquarters in the West Bank City of Ramallah during a protest against a scheduled meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, 1 July. Issam Rimawi APA images

Palestinians in Nablus protest political arrests by Palestinian Authority security forces and call for national reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, 20 July 2012. Ahmad Al-Bazz ActiveStills

Israeli medics evacuate an injured Eritrean refugee after an Israeli man stabbed three refugees in a suspected racist attack in the Shapira neighborhood of south Tel Aviv, 31 July. Oren Ziv ActiveStills

Refugees board a bus taking them to Ben Gurion airport where they were to be deported to South Sudan along with 150 others on a flight leaving that same night, 2 July. Oren Ziv ActiveStills

Shoes are held high during a protest in Nazareth against a visit to the city by extremist settler Baruch Marzel and MK Michael Ben-Ari — both of whom were disciples of Meir Kahane and who have provoked attacks on African asylum-seekers — and tens of right-wing activists, 15 July. JC ActiveStills

Palestinians in the northern West Bank village of Kufr Qaddum take cover from tear gas during clashes with Israeli border police following a protest against the expansion of the nearby Jewish settlement of Kedumim, 6 July. Nedal Eshtayah APA images

Merchandise with pictures of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza City, 7 July. Arafat, who died after a sudden illness in 2004, may have been poisoned by polonium, according to an investigation broadcast this month by Al Jazeera English. Ashraf Amra APA images

Women police officers march during a ceremony in Gaza City, 5 July. Ashraf Amra APA images

Israeli border police check the IDs of Palestinian women at Qalandiya checkpoint outside the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on the second Friday of Ramadan, 27 July. Issam Rimawi APA images

Palestinian worshippers pray in front of Dome of the Rock near al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City during the month of Ramadan, 25 July. Mahfouz Abu Turk APA images

Palestinian children in Gaza City on the eve of the month of Ramadan, 19 July. Majdi Fathi APA images

Palestinian musicians perform in Jerusalem’s Old City during celebrations to mark the breaking of the fast on the seventh day of the month of Ramadan, 26 July. Mahfouz Abu Turk APA images

A Palestinian man prepares the traditional sweet qatayef, enjoyed during Ramadan, in the Old City of Jerusalem, 23 July. Mahfouz Abu Turk APA images

Palestinian construction workers work at night in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, 29 July. Laborers work during the night in the month of Ramadan because of the high temperatures during the day when they are fasting and cannot drink any water. Ashraf Amra APA images

Palestine flag bearer Maher Abu Rmilah leads his team into the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, 27 July. Jonathan Brady EPA

Palestinian singer Reem Talhami during a concert at a music fetival in Jerusalem, 14 July. Mahfouz Abu Turk APA images

A dabke troupe dances with symbolic keys at a ceremony celebrating the rebuilding of the Shawamreh family house and peace center in Anata, occupied West Bank, which has been demolished five times by Israeli authorities, 15 July. RRB ActiveStills

Palestinian students look for results of their final secondary school exams, known as tawjihi, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, 19 July. Mamoun Wazwaz APA images

Palestinian boxers fight during a friendly match in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, 13 July. Nedal Eshtayah APA images

Bedouin women graze their sheep in the Zeitoun neighborhood southern Gaza City, 9 July. Ashraf Amra APA images

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