In the West Bank, Israeli settlers spray racist graffiti on walls and set vehicles on fire in Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli forces shoot and kill 2 Palestinians and injure 3 others during a raid in...
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire approximately 20 projectiles into s. Israel, causing no injuries and minor damage to several buildings in 1 kibbutz. Two projectiles are intercepted by Iron...
The IDF bulldozes a main street, a deserted Palestinian home, water and sewerage networks nr. Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops,...
In retaliation for the 11/10 AMB kibbutz attack, the IDF launches a predawn raid on Tulkarm town and r.c. and Nur al-Shams r.c., sending in at least 30 tanks and APCs, firing on residential areas...
Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. After Palestinians fire mortars at Nahal Oz kibbutz inside the Green Line, the IDF fires surface-to-surface rockets...
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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers spray racist graffiti on walls and set vehicles on fire in Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli forces shoot and kill 2 Palestinians and injure 3 others during a raid in Tulkarm refugee camp, an Israeli soldier is injured during the raid. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a member of the PA security forces near Beit Furik. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces seal off the family home in Shu’fat of a Palestinian who was shot dead on 2/16 after allegedly killing 2 Israelis. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Nuseirat refugee camp, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 126 people. Israeli forces also fire tank shells at al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis. Israeli attacks render the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis inoperative as an eighth patient dies due to the lack of power at the hospital. 1 Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Lebanon, Hezbollah fires an anti-tank missile at a building in Kibbutz Yir’on, causing damage. In the Red Sea, Houthi forces fire a missile at a UK-owned ship, causing damage. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/18; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 2/19; AP 2/20)
More than 28,985 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 12,000 children and 7,200 women, and around 68,883 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 393 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 100 children. More than 4,499 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 232 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,361 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 38 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (WAFA 2/18; UNOCHA, UNOCHA 2/19)
PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh addresses the Munich Security Conference, saying the PA and Egypt will not allow Israel to push Palestinians into the Sinai. Shtayyeh also says the PA is prepared to cooperate with Hamas to achieve national unity. EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell highlights the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank during a speech at the conference. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/18)
The Israeli High Court of Justice dismisses a request for Israel to disclose the whereabouts of 62 Palestinians from Gaza who have been taken to Israel by Israeli forces and for them to be allowed to meet a lawyer. (HA 2/18)
The Israeli cabinet unanimously approves a declaratory decision to reject any unilateral recognition of the state of Palestine. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz says Israel will limit the number of people entering the Haram al-Sharif compound during Ramadan. Channel 13 reports that the proposal was made by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The PA calls the decision “racist incitement against Palestinians.” The Supreme Fatwa Council of Palestine warns Israel of a “religious war” if Muslims are denied access to the compound during Ramadan. The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee says Ben-Gvir is organizing his own war against Palestinian citizens of Israel. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/18; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/19; HA, HA, REU 2/20)
Norway says an agreement has been reached on the transfer of PA tax funds from Israel to the PA via Norway. Norway will withhold the part of the tax revenue Israel considers is for Gaza. Prime Minister Shtayyeh says after a meeting with Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide that the funds will not be transferred to the PA. (WAFA 2/18; AP, REU 2/19; WAFA 2/20)
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addresses the African Union Summit, calling Israel’s war on Gaza “genocide” and compares the attacks to the Holocaust, saying it has happened before “when [Adolf] Hitler decided to kill the Jews.” Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz summons the Brazilian ambassador. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 2/18)
UK Labour party leader Kier Starmer calls for a lasting ceasefire. (AJ, HA, REU 2/18; AJ 2/19)
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Biden administration is looking at ways to give direct financial support to the PA to prevent it from running out of funds. (HA, WSJ 2/18)
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire approximately 20 projectiles into s. Israel, causing no injuries and minor damage to several buildings in 1 kibbutz. Two projectiles are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. The IDF launches air strikes on 3 Hamas-related targets in the s. Gaza Strip. IDF troops on the border fence nr. Rafah fire tank shells at the remains of the Gaza international airport, causing no casualties. Later, IDF troops open fire on farmers close to the border fence nr. Dayr al-Balah, wounding 1. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, IDF naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops injure 8 Palestinians with live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets during clashes with demonstrators at Qalandia checkpoint nr. Ramallah. There is also a demonstration in Surayf village nr. Hebron protesting Israeli settlements, and IDF troops open fire during the ensuing clashes, wounding 5 Palestinians. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and, occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces deploy in large numbers and restrict worshippers’ access to Haram al-Sharif. Two days after his death on 7/2, Abu Khdeir’s funeral is held in Shu‘fat, after which there are violent clashes with Israeli police, who use rubbercoated metal bullets and injure 20. (HA, JP, MNA, REU 7/4; PCHR 7/10)
Israeli media reports that Egyptian intelligence officials are mediating a truce between Israel and Hamas, on the basis of “quiet for quiet.” Israeli FM Lieberman criticizes talk of a possible cease-fire and urges the IDF to target the Hamas leadership. Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri, meanwhile, says the group is “not interested in a confrontation” and holds Israel “responsible for the escalation.” (REU, ToI, YA 7/4)
The IDF bulldozes a main street, a deserted Palestinian home, water and sewerage networks nr. Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops, military vehicles, helicopters into Rafah, firing on residential areas, demolishing 18 Palestinian homes; fires missiles at a workshop in Khan Yunis, destroying it. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket into a Negev kibbutz, damaging a home but causing no injuries. Armed AMB mbrs. kidnap Nablus local governate head Fadil Shuli; accuse him of collaboration with Israel, corruption, failing to provide local security; release him after several hrs. without explanation. (JTA, MA, MM, PR 7/21; JAZ, VOI 7/21 in WNC 7/23; PCHR 7/22; VOI 7/22 in WNC 7/24; PR 7/28)
The PC votes to support the recommendations of a report prepared by a recently appointed special comm. on the political and security situation in the Palestinian territories, urging Arafat to accept Qurai‘’s resignation, appoint a new government with expanded powers that could restore stability in Gaza, undertake comprehensive reforms. (MM 7/21; JAZ, VOP 7/21 in WNC 7/23; NYT, WP, WT 7/22; HJ 7/23 in WNC 8/3; NYT 7/26)
In retaliation for the 11/10 AMB kibbutz attack, the IDF launches a predawn raid on Tulkarm town and r.c. and Nur al-Shams r.c., sending in at least 30 tanks and APCs, firing on residential areas, conducting house-to-house searches, arresting 2 Palestinians, blowing up 1 Palestinian home. The IDF also halts an ambulance at a checkpoint nr. Nablus, arrests a patient being transported to the hospital for heart trouble; bulldozes 1 Palestinian home, 3 dunams of land n. of Rafah; conducts arrest raids nr. Dayr al-Balah. (NYT, WP 11/12; LAW, NYT, PCHR, WT 11/13; PRCS press release 11/17)
Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. After Palestinians fire mortars at Nahal Oz kibbutz inside the Green Line, the IDF fires surface-to-surface rockets in Bayt Lahia, hitting a PSF post, a Fatah headquarters, 2 Palestinian homes; injuring 4 passers-by; damaging 20 Palestinian homes; causing blackouts. The IDF also shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, al-Bureij, Khan Yunis. (REU 4/8; HP, MM, PMC, WP 4/9; MEZ 4/10; LAW 4/12)
