The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained in an Israeli drone strike on Jenin on 2/22. Israeli settlers raid Taybeh, kidnapping 3 elderly Palestinian farmers who are later released from a military base in Tarqumiyah. Israeli forces seize a bulldozer during a raid in Nabi Salih. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 90 people. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb near Baalbek, killing 2 people and injuring 6 others. Israeli forces also bomb al-Sarira, Ayta ash Shab, Majadel, and Wadi al-Dalafa, killing at least 2 people in Majadil. Islamic Jihad says 2 of its fighters are killed in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah shoots down an Israeli drone using a surface-to-air missile and fires 60 Katyusha rockets at an Israeli military site. In Yemen, U.S. forces attack 6 sites. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AP 2/27; UNOCHA 2/28)

More than 29,782 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 12,000 children and 7,200 women, and around 70,043 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 8,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 102 children. More than 4,575 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, 238 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,396 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. 138 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. Israel allows 10 trucks carrying aid to enter northern Gaza. Jordan and France airdrop aid to Gaza from 4 C-130 planes at 11 sites. The Red Crescent says it has suspended medical missions for the next 48 hours as it is unable to ensure the safety of its staff. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AP, UNOCHA 2/27)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigns on behalf of himself and the rest of the cabinet during the weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah, saying “the next stage and its challenges require new governmental and political arrangements that take into account the new reality in Gaza and the need for a Palestinian-Palestinian consensus based on Palestinian unity.” Shtayyeh says he submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas on 2/20 but formally submitted his resignation in writing today. Abbas accepts the resignation of Shtayyeh and the rest of the cabinet, asking him and the rest of the ministers to stay on as caretakers until a new government is formed. Shtayyeh, who has been prime minister since March 2019, also cites the genocide in Gaza and the “unprecedent escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem” as reasons for resigning. Before Shtayyeh’s resignation, over the weekend it was rumored that the Palestinian government would resign in order to facilitate the formation of a technocratic government to be led by the PA as requested by the U.S. (HA 2/25; AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; AP, HA 2/27)

The New York Times reports that Israel has agreed to release 15 high-profile Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 5 female Israeli soldiers as part of the potential ceasefire deal. U.S. president Joe Biden says he hopes a ceasefire agreement can be reached by 3/4. Axios reports that Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet director Ronen Bar traveled to Egypt last week to assure the Egyptian government that Israel will take measures to prevent Palestinians from fleeing to Egypt during its planned invasion of Rafah. A delegation of Israeli officials arrive in Qatar for ceasefire talks. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Palestinians will not be allowed to return to northern Gaza until all Israeli captives are released. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi and U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken discuss the ceasefire negotiations. (AJ, AP, AX, AX, HA, NYT, REU, REU 2/26; AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/27)

Israeli industry minister Nir Barkat meets with Saudi minister of commerce Majid bin Abdullah Alkassabi on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization meeting in the UAE, saying the 2 countries can “make history together.” (AJ 2/26)

During the sixth and final day of the ICJ hearings on the legality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the Arab League calls the occupation an “affront to international justice” and says Israel perpetrates “racial domination and apartheid” against Palestinians. Turkey, Zambia, Spain, Fiji, the Maldives, the African Union, and the OIC also present arguments. During the 6 days of hearings, only the U.S., Fiji, Hungary, and the UK spoke in favor of Israel’s argument that the court should not make a decision on the occupation while 50 other countries and organizations argued, to varying degrees, that the occupation is illegal and has to end. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/26; WAFA 2/27)

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says the UN Security Council’s “lack of unity on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and on Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October, has severely—perhaps fatally—undermined its authority,” calling for reform of the council. Arab diplomats meet with Guterres, warning him about Israeli plans to severely limit the number of worshippers allowed at the Haram al-Sharif compound during Ramadan. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA 2/26)

USAID administrator Samantha Power visits a World Food Programme warehouse in Jordan, saying only around 85 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza a day while around 500 are needed. (AJ, HA 2/26)

President Biden reiterates in an interview his previous claim that without Israel, Jews living throughout the world would not be safe. (AJ 2/27)

Israel submits a report on progress it has made since the ICJ issued provisional measures to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza as part of the South African genocide case against Israel. Human Rights Watch says Israel has ignored the ICJ provisional measures and “in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.” Amnesty International also says Israel has failed to comply with the measures. (Airwars, AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 2/26; NYT 2/27)

EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell criticizes European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in an interview with El Pais, saying her trip to Israel in October 2023 “with such a completely pro-Israeli position, without representing anyone but herself in a matter of international politics, has carried a high geopolitical cost for Europe.” Borrell also says Israeli prime minister Benjamin “Netanyahu’s plans for Gaza are unacceptable. The seeds of hatred are being sown for generations. It is an open secret that the Israelis funded Hamas and played at dividing the Palestinians.” (AJ, EP 2/26)

19,012 artists sign an open letter calling on Israel to be banned from the Venice Biennale, saying there should not be a “genocide pavilion at the Venice Biennale.” Italian minister of culture Gennaro Sanguiliano rejects the call, saying the letter is “shameful.” The Biennale later issues a statement saying it would “not take into consideration any petition or call to exclude” countries. (AJ, ANGA, HA 2/26; AJ, AJ, REU 2/27; AP, NYT 2/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raid Mughayyir al-Ubeid in the Masafer Yatta area, assaulting an elderly woman and stealing 3 of her sheep. Israeli settlers also assault a Palestinian grazing sheep in Shaab al-Butum. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian child in ‘Ayn Bus. Israeli forces kill 5 Palestinians in an airstrike on a car in Balata refugee camp and raid the camp, raiding 400 homes, vandalizing 50 business, and damaging 18 vehicles. Israeli forces also raid Tulkarm, killing 6 Palestinians, including 4 in an airstrike, 2 of them children, and 2 with live ammunition; 7 Palestinians are injured, including 2 medics, and an Israeli soldier is also injured, 5 medics are arrested, while Israeli bulldozers uproot pavement. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raid Bani Na’im, injuring a Palestinian with live ammunition. Israeli forces also demolish an agricultural structure in Jayyus. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seize a vehicle in Umm al-Jimal. Israeli forces arrest 85 Palestinians, including 40 workers from Gaza, during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Qalqilya, Hebron, Tulkarm, Jericho, and Bethlehem. In Gaza, telecommunications services are down for the sixth day in a row. Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Rafah, Maghazi, al-Bureij refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, and Jabalia refugee camp, killing at least 163 people. Israeli forces also damage the Jordanian field hospital in Khan Yunis and the Nasser Hospital, where about 7,000 people are sheltering, in airstrikes, and demolish al-Israa University in a controlled explosion after using it as a military base. An Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Hura, Israeli police arrest 2 Palestinian citizens of Israel for writing “Free Palestine” and “Free Gaza” on a school blackboard in Meitar. In Lebanon, Hamas says its forces fire 20 rockets at an Israeli military base. Israeli forces attack Hula, Ayta ash Shab, and Dhayra. In the Red Sea, a drone launched from Yemen hits a U.S.-owned commercial ship, causing damage. U.S. forces launch 14 airstrikes in Yemen. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/17; AJ, REU, UNOCHA 1/18)

More than 24,448 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 10,600 children and 7,200 women, and around 61,504 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 359 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 90 children. More than 4,234 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, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 191 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,152 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 69,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 98 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza via the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings. Medical aid for Palestinians and Israeli captives arrives in Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Hamas says that for each box of medicine earmarked for captives Palestinians receive 1,000. The Gaza Ministry of Health says Hepatitis A is spreading in makeshift refugee camps, noting that more than 8,000 cases have been detected. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 1/17; AJ, UNOCHA 1/18)

A video shows Israeli forces bulldozing graves and exhuming bodies at a cemetery in Khan Yunis. The Israeli military later says it exhumed the bodies to see if they are Israeli captives. (UNOCHA 1/17; AJ, HA, UNOCHA 1/18)

The Commission for Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs says Israeli officials admitted in an Israeli court that Palestinian prisoner Abdul-Rahman Marei was tortured to death by Israeli prison guards on 11/7/2023. (WAFA 1/17)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh meets Australian foreign minister Penny Wong in Ramallah. Wong expresses “deep concern” about settler violence in the West Bank during a tour of affected communities. The PA requests an extraordinary meeting at the Arab League to discuss the ongoing assaults on Gaza and the West Bank and the Israeli efforts to Judaize Jerusalem. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/17; AJ, HA 1/18)

Palestine Investment Fund head Mohammed Mustafa tells the World Economic Forum that $15 billion will be required to rebuild homes in Gaza and more will be needed to rebuild infrastructure and hospitals. (AJ 1/18)

MK Ofer Cassif is indicted on charges of assaulting an Israeli police officer in 2022 while on his way to a protest in the Masafer Yatta area. Cassif says he did not hit the officer but deflected his push, calling the indictment “political persecution.” Cassif last week supported the South African case against Israel at the ICJ. (HA 1/17)

The Knesset approves an extension of the temporary order which allows for poorer conditions for Palestinian prisoners with 3 months. (WAFA 1/17)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir tells Israeli Channel 7 that Israel should hit Hezbollah with “a preemptive attack” as he thinks “no political settlement will help.” Ben-Gvir also condemns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not making sure that Israel could examine the medical aid shipment that entered Gaza earlier. Later he tells Channel 13 that there is no other way to restore security in the State of Israel than occupying all of Palestine, saying “[v]oluntary immigration of the residents of Gaza should be encouraged.” (AJ 1/17; AJ 1/18; HA 1/19)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken says there is a need for a “pathway to a Palestinian state,” adding Israel will not “get genuine security absent that.” Blinken also describes the situation in Gaza as “gut-wrenching.” The U.S. redesignates the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization, placing them under sanctions. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says the U.S. will reconsider the terrorist designation if the Houthis end their attacks in the Red Sea. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU 1/17; AJ, REU 1/18; AP 1/19)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Senate Democrats are discussing conditioning further aid to Israel. (AJ, HA 1/17)

French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne says France rejects the case brought by South Africa at the ICJ, saying “[t]o accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold.” (NYT 1/17)

NBC reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected a U.S. plan that links Israeli-Saudi normalization with the rebuilding of Gaza and steps toward the creation of a Palestinian state, telling Secretary Blinken in a meeting last week that he is not prepared to allow the creation of a Palestinian state. NBC further reports that the U.S. now is working on a plan for Gaza that would start after Netanyahu no longer is prime minister. (HA 1/17; HA 1/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort assaulted 3 Palestinians in Khallet al-Daba in the Masafer Yatta area and stole their mobile phones. Israeli settlers also vandalized 8 olive trees in Burin. Israeli forces shot and killed 6 Palestinians, including a child, during a raid in al-Fara’a refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and injured 8 Palestinians, including a child, during raids in Fawwar refugee camp, Kafr Ni’ma, Beit Umar, and Hizma. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrested the deputy director of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, Sheikh Najeh Bkerat, in Dar Salah. Israeli forces also raided Qarawat Bani Hassan, destroying a memorial erected for a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces on 12/2. An Israeli soldier was shot and injured during a raid in Ya’bad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians heading for the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bombed Jabalia refugee camp, Gaza City, Nuseirat refugee camp, Khan Yunis, Rafah, and Dayr al-Balah, killing around 350 people. Israeli airstrikes targeted the Yaffa Hospital in Dayr al-Balah, Al Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, and Palestinians queuing for water in Khan Yunis. Rockets were fired at Israel; no damage was reported. 4 Israeli soldiers were killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked a military hospital in Ain Ebel, causing damage. Israeli forces also injured 3 Lebanese soldiers in Naqoura. In Syria, Israel said it attacked several targets near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. 4 people were reportedly killed in an airstrike on a car in Madinat al-Baath. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/8; AJ, HA, REU 12/9)

More than 17,487 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women, and around 46,480 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people were missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 264 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 68 children. More than 3,387 people have been injured. Israel reported that 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured since 10/7. 97 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. As of 12/3, at least 52,000 housing units had been destroyed and 253,000 had been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 60% of all housing units. UNRWA said that at least 273 Palestinians sheltering at its shelters have been killed and 966 injured in Israeli attacks since 10/7. Rafah remained the only governate to receive aid. 4 injured Palestinians and 585 foreign nationals were evacuated to Egypt while 13 humanitarian staff and 11 ambulances donated by Turkey entered Gaza. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 12/8; UNOCHA 12/9)

Hamas said an Israeli attempt to free a captive failed, leading to the death of the captive, Israeli solider Sa’ar Baruch. Israel said 2 Israeli soldiers were seriously injured in the rescue attempt. (AJ, HA, NYT, REU 12/8; AJ, HA 12/9)

Al Jazeera said a number of the Palestinians taken by Israeli forces from UN schools in Beit Lahiya on 12/7 and stripped to their underwear were released, while others were taken to a military base in Israel, including Al-Araby Al-Jadeed journalist Diaa al-Kahlout. (AJ, AP, NYT 12/8)

The Israeli Education Ministry ordered school principals in East Jerusalem to suspend Palestinian students who were released as part of the prisoner exchange last week until 2024. (HA 12/8)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant signed an order to place an Israeli settler in administrative detention for attacks on Palestinians. Gallant also spoke with U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, who urged him to “increase efforts to protect civilians in Gaza, increase delivery of humanitarian assistance, and curb extremist settler violence in the West Bank.” Israel said an Israeli military helicopter killed an Israeli soldier during an attack on a building in Gaza last week. (HA, HA 12/8)

A UN Security Council resolution calling for ceasefire and the unconditional release of the Hamas-held captives was vetoed by the U.S., with the UK abstaining and the remaining 13 members voting in favor. Before the vote, PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour said the objective of the Israeli campaign was to ethnically cleanse Gaza, adding Israeli representatives were publicly admitting it. U.S. UN ambassador Robert Wood said the Hamas attack on 10/7 was the “worst attack on our people” in decades. After the vote Wood explained the veto, calling the resolution imbalanced for not condemning Hamas’ operation on 10/7. UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said the constant Israeli bombings have made UNRWA’s ability to operate extremely limited. After the vote, Mansour called the U.S. vote a disaster. Hamas called the veto “unethical and inhumane.” Israeli UN ambassador Gilad Erdan thanked the U.S. for “standing firmly by our side.” Human Rights Watch UN director Louis Charbonneau said that the U.S. risks being complicit in Israeli war crimes by continuing to provide weapons and diplomatic cover. Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf called the UK’s abstention “incomprehensible.” (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/8; AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, NYT, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/9)

During an interview with Reuters, PA president Mahmoud Abbas called for an international conference to end the war in Gaza and to create the foundations for a lasting end to the Israeli occupation. Abbas said he was for “peaceful resistance” that led to a 2-state solution with a sovereign Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Abbas also said he would accept a future election result if Hamas won. Later, Abbas’ office released a statement saying the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council made it complicit in war crimes against Palestinians. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 12/8; REU 12/9)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the PA governing Gaza after Bloomberg News ran an interview with PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on 12/7, where he said the PA was working with the U.S. in preparation for taking over the governing of Gaza. (AJ, HA 12/8)

French president Emmanuel Macron spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, urging him to open the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing and calling on Israel to protect civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. (AJ, HA 12/8)

The Arab-Islamic Summit Ministerial Committee met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken, discussing the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The committee expressed their disappointment with the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council. The committee was represented by foreign ministers from the PA, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud also met with Blinken separately, calling for a ceasefire. (AJ, HA, NYT, WAFA 12/8; AJ, HA, NYT 12/9)

The Biden administration bypassed congressional review of the sale of 14,000 tank shells to Israel worth $106.5m. The Biden administration had asked Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells with the sale of the remaining 31,000 pending congressional approval. (AJ 12/8; AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU 12/9)

The European Commission announced that the EU will provide Palestine with at least $135 million in humanitarian aid through 2024. (HA 12/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 2 cars in Huwwara. Israeli settlers also vandalized 70 olive trees in Yasuf. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive and grape trees and damaged water tanks and solar panels in Shaab al-Butum in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli settlers also assaulted Palestinians in Kisan. Israeli forces carried out an airstrike from a fighter jet on al-Anasari Mosque in Jenin, killing 2 Palestinians. It was the first time since the Second Intifada that Israel has used fighter jets in the West Bank. Israeli forces shot and killed 5 others, including a minor, during raids in Qabatiya, Tammun, Zawata, and Askar refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian they claimed had tried to ram Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also seized a bulldozer and arrested the driver in Qablan. 52 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Ramallah, al-Bireh, Hebron, Nablus, Qabatiya, Kafr Ra’i, Tubas, and Salfit, including al-Bireh mayor Islam al-Tawil. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in support of Gaza, arresting 6 people. In Gaza, Israeli forces killed nearly 400 Palestinians in airstrikes. Israeli forces also targeted the vicinity of al-Shifa and al-Quds hospitals. An Israeli soldier was killed and 3 wounded in anti-tank fire during a raid in near Khan Yunis. Rockets were fired at Israel causing no new fatalities. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked and killed militants in a missile strike that were allegedly firing anti-tank missiles at Israel. In Syria, Israeli forces fired missiles at Damascus and Aleppo international airports, killing 2 airport workers in Damascus and causing enough damage to close both airports. In Egypt, Israeli tank fire hit an Egyptian military post, injuring 7; Israeli called the incident an accident. (AP 10/20; AJ, HA 10/21; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/22; AJ, HA, REU 10/23)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said as of 5 p.m. at least 4,651 Palestinians had been killed, including at least 1,524 children, and 14,245 had been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7, including 47 entire families consisting of 500 people. The UN said that about 70% of Palestinians killed in Gaza are children and women. It is estimated that hundreds are still trapped in rubble. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. 92 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 27 children. More than 1,734 have been injured, including at least 360 with live ammunition. Israeli officials recorded no new fatalities, leaving the Israeli death toll at around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals; 4,932 have been injured since 10/7. The UN reported that over 1.4 million Palestinians, more than half the population in Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. At least 26,756 housing units have been destroyed and 139,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. At least 42% of all housing units have been either destroyed or damaged in Israeli airstrikes. UNRWA said 29 of its staff members have been killed in Gaza since 10/7. AP reported that 17 aid trucks entered Gaza today, including 7 carrying fuel. The WHO said 4 trucks of medical supplies had entered Gaza to help more than 300,000 patients. The Gaza Ministry of Endowments said 31 mosques have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes. (AJ 10/21; HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/22; HA 10/23)

The Palestinian Prisoners Society said 300 Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention and 1,130 have been arrested since 10/7. (AJ 10/21)

Israel evacuated 14 towns near the Blue Line. (HA 10/22)

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziyad al-Nakhalah. (AJ 10/21; HA 10/22; HA 10/23)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with 25 ambassadors and representatives in Ramallah, urging a united front in ending the Israeli attacks on Gaza. (WAFA 10/22)

Katyusha rockets were fired at the U.S. Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq. (HA 10/22)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog claimed that Hamas militants planned to use cyanide on Israelis, showing documents he said were found on a USB drive in the possession of militants killed by Israel. The documents Herzog presented did not seem authentic as the word “Al Qaeda” was written in English in a large font. (HA 10/22)

Israel closed its Public Diplomacy Ministry, allocating the budget of the ministry to rehabilitation of Israeli towns near the Gaza fence. (HA 10/22)

The New York Times reported that the U.S. has asked Israel to suspend its ground invasion of Gaza to allow negotiations over releasing more captives held by Hamas. President Joe Biden reiterated his belief that Israel has a “right to defend itself,” but said it must operate within the laws of war. Biden also discussed the situation in Gaza with Pope Francis. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. “expects a likelihood” of regional escalation and claimed that Hamas is preventing U.S. citizens from leaving Gaza. (AJ 10/21; AJ, HA, NYT, REU 10/22; HA 10/23)

President Biden, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, French president Emmanuel Macron, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for Israel’s war against Hamas, calling for the release of all captives, and calling for Israel to adhere to international law and protect Palestinian civilians. (AP 10/20; AJ, HA 10/22)

The Israeli Education Ministry removed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg from the Israeli curriculum because of her support for Palestinians in Gaza and calls to end Israeli attacks. (HA 10/22)

Thousands marched in solidarity with Palestine in Copenhagen, Paris, Sydney, Brussels, Sarajevo, Sao Paolo, Santiago, and elsewhere. 2 people attacked a pro-Palestine demonstration in Skokie near Chicago, 1 attempted to ram protesters, while another, wearing an Israeli flag as a cape, sprayed pepper spray at protesters. Both were arrested. (WAFA 10/22; AJ 10/23)

In the West Bank, an Israeli settler was filmed shooting a Palestinian man point-blank in the stomach, critically injuring him during a settler raid in al-Twana. Israeli settlers also shot and injured 3 Palestinians with live ammunition in Nablus, Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized 2 agricultural structures and uprooted fruit trees in Masafer Yatta, damaged vehicles near Nahalin, and homes in Silat ad-Dhahr. Israeli forces shot and killed 15 Palestinians, including 3 minors, during raids in Tulkarm, Beit Furik, Beit Ula, al-Ram, Atuf, Biddu, Bayt Liqya, and Hebron. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Halhul, Dheisheh refugee camp, Qalandia, Huwwara, Budrus, al-Khader, Bethlehem, al-Twana, Jenin, Hebron, and Qalqilya, injuring 53 with live ammunition and baton rounds. An Israeli soldier was killed in friendly fire in Nablus. 36 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Fawwar refugee camp, Qalqilya, Dheisheh refugee camp, Beit Umar, and Halhul. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians children in Isawiya. Israel also refused Palestinians under the age of 35 entry to the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 70 Palestinians following Israeli evacuation orders were killed and more than 200 wounded in an airstrike on a road. Around 300 others were also killed and more than 1,100 were injured in Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza. Israeli forces also made incursions into Gaza, retrieving the bodies of several Israelis. Rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza; no deaths were reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdullah and injured 6 others in a missile strike. Al Jazeera said Israel targeted the group of journalists intentionally. (AP 10/7; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; AJ, HA, HA, REU 10/14; AP, REU, REU 10/15)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said that as of 2 p.m. at least 1,799 Palestinians had been killed and 7,388 had been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. In addition, Israeli media reported that 1,500 Palestinian militants have been killed near Gaza. Hamas said 13 of the captives from Israel, including foreign nationals, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours. Israel said it hit 750 targets overnight and destroyed 12 high-rise buildings within a minute. 51 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 11 children. More than 700 have been injured. Israeli officials said 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 3,436 injured since 10/7. The UN reported that 423,378 Palestinians have been displaced since 10/7 and that since 11 p.m. on 10/12 there has been a complete electricity blackout due to the Israeli blockade. At least 9,283 housing units have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA 10/13)

The Israeli military told around 1.1 million Palestinians in the northern part of Gaza, including Gaza City, that they should flee south within the next 24 hours. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that would have “devastating humanitarian consequences” and strongly appealed to Israel to rescind the order. Many countries also called on Israel to reverse its order. The WHO called relocating severely ill people a “death sentence.” UNRWA offered its staff and their families shelter at an UNRWA compound in southern Gaza but said it did not have plans to evacuate Palestinians sheltering in UNRWA schools throughout Gaza as it does not have any capacity in the south and has no means of transporting the many thousands of people. Hamas’ refugee affairs authority called on Palestinians to remain in their homes, calling the Israeli evacuation order “disgusting phycological war.” Egypt moved thousands of troops to its Gaza border to prevent Palestinians fleeing Israeli attacks from breaching the border fence. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; AJ, AJ, AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/14; WAFA, WAFA 10/15)

Adalah, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, ACRI, and HaMoked sent letters to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara, and Israel Prison Service head Katy Perry demanding that water and electricity be restored in the security wings of Israeli prisons that hold Palestinians. The Commission for the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs said on 10/12 that Israel had started collectively punishing prisoners in the Naqab prison on 10/11. (Adalah, WAFA 10/14)

The UN appealed for $294 million in aid to help around 1.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. (REU 10/13)

A Turkish cargo plane with humanitarian aid arrived in Egypt for transfer to Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog blamed Palestinian civilians in Gaza for the Hamas operation, saying “[i]t is not true this rhetoric about civilians [being] not aware, responsible for the attack . . . They could have risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup d’état.” (FT 10/13)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said Israel received a second plane carrying U.S. ammunition. (AJ 10/13)

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Baghdad and Tehran against the Israeli attacks in Gaza. Jordanians marched toward the border with the West Bank in protest against the Israeli attacks. Jordanian police violently dispersed protesters at the border. Large protests were also held in Yemen, Pakistan, and elsewhere. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, WAFA 10/13)

After meeting Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati and Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel that if it does not stop its attacks on Gaza the war could spread to other parts of the Middle East. (AP, REU, REU 10/13)

U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin III arrived in Israel to meet with Israeli leaders. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan for meetings with Jordanian king Abdullah II and PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas told Blinken that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and called for the opening of humanitarian corridors and for aid to enter Gaza. Blinken offered condolences for the Palestinian victims of the Israel-Hamas war. Abbas also spoke with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. 55 members of Congress wrote a letter to U.S. president Joe Biden, urging him to pressure Israel to protect civilians in Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13)

Russia introduced a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. President Vladimir Putin compared the siege of Gaza to the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II. (HA 10/13)

Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had frozen normalization talks with Israel and the U.S. due to the attacks on Gaza. (HA, HA 10/13; AJ 10/14)

The New York Times and NBC News reported that they had obtained documents that allegedly show how Hamas instructed militants to target schools and seize captives during its 10/7 operation. Israeli schools were closed on 10/7 as it was a Saturday. The documents were allegedly found on the bodies of militants killed by Israel and were labeled “top secret” in Arabic. Other media outlets questioned whether the documents were fabricated. (HA 10/13; HA 10/14)

The Huffington Post reported that the U.S. State Department was telling its diplomats not to use the terms “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed,” and “restoring calm,” when referring to Israel and Gaza. (AJ 10/13)

New South Wales police force said it has sought legal advice on if it can use special stop-and-search powers for the first time since 2005 to demand the identities of pro-Palestinian protesters attending an unauthorized demonstration in Sydney, Australia on 10/15. (REU 10/13)