Nov. 1, 2004: In Paris, Palestinian spokeswoman Leila Shahid announces Arafat is “improving by the hour, but he is very tired and exhausted,” and denies stories he had been poisoned.

Nov. 2, 2004: A statement, drawn up with French doctors treating Pres. Arafat at the request of his wife Suha, indicates that his condition was improving with treatment and ruled out a diagnosis of leukaemia, while other test results are still pending.

Nov. 3, 2004: As the condition of Arafat deteriorates he is placed in intensive care; no visitors except his wife are allowed to see him.

Nov. 4, 2004: After Pres. Arafat is reported to have lapsed into a coma, the Fateh Central Committee holds an emergency meeting in Ramallah.
- Israeli Channel Two TV citing French sources says that Arafat was declared clinically dead; however, Percy Hospital spokesman Estripeau states that “Mr. Arafat is not dead.”

Nov. 5, 2004: Palestinian faction leaders meet in Gaza City, aimed at maintaining a united front during Arafat’s health crisis. In Clamart, meanwhile, spokeswoman Leila Shahid says Arafat was “between life and death” and in a reversible coma.

Nov. 6, 2004: PM Tayyeb Abdel Rahim, the Sec.-Gen. of Arafat’s office, announces that Arafat’s authorities have been divided between Abbas and Qrei’a, while Arafat’s condition remains unclear.

Nov. 7, 2004: French FM Barnier says Arafat is still alive, describing his condition as “very complex, very serious and stable.”

Nov. 8, 2004: On Al-Jazeera TV, Yasser Arafat’s wife Suha lashes out at Palestinian leaders (Abu Ala’, Abu Mazen and Nabil Sha’ath), accusing them of traveling to Paris with plans “to bury Arafat ‘alive” to inherit power from him, adding “Abu Amar is alive and is returning to the homeland. Revolution to victory. Allah akhbar.” Her comments prompt them to cancel their visit, but later decide to nevertheless travel to Arafat’s bedside. PLC head Rawhi Fattouh demands an apology from Suha.

Nov. 9, 2004: In Ramallah, Presidential Sec.-Gen. Tayyeb Abdul Rahim flanked by chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, struggles with tears as he tells a press conference that “all the necessary arrangements” would be made at the Muqata’a, which the leadership had decided to turn into a mausoleum for Arafat, should he die, making it his final resting place until circumstances allow him to be buried in Jerusalem.
- Palestinian officials FM Nabil Sha’ath, PM Qrei’a , Mahmoud Abbas and PLC Speaker Rawhi Fattouh arrive in Paris and meet with Arafat’s doctors who say that tests rule out cancer or poisoning as the reason for his decline. Sha’ath puts an end to speculation by declaring Pres. Arafat was still alive but “very poorly” and that his life was “now in the hands of God.”

Nov. 10, 2004: The Palestinian leadership decides to split power between former PM Mahmoud Abbas and current PM Ahmed Qrei’a in the case of Arafat’s death, with Abbas becoming head of the PLO’s Executive Committee, while Qureia would be PM and head of the PA security services. PLC speaker Rawhi Fattouh will temporarily replace Arafat as PA chairman until new elections can be held - within 60 days.
- After visiting Pres. Arafat at his Paris hospital, Sheikh Taysir At-Tamimi, the PA’s chief Islamic judge, stresses that it was illegal under Islamic law to remove life support “as long as there are any signs of life in the body.”
- Israel agrees to Arafat being buried at the Muqata’a.
- Palestinian envoy to France Leila Shahid tells the media outside Percy Hospital that Arafat was “in the final phase of his life,” while French PM Jean-Pierre Raffarin describes Arafat as being in his “final hours.”