In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 25 olive saplings in Burqin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to vehicles in Sheikh Jarrah but fled when Palestinians arrived at the scene. (WAFA, WAFA 2/5; PCHR 2/10; UNOCHA 2/11)
PA health minister Mai al-Kaila announced that the PA was closing schools in the West Bank for 10 days to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. Health Minister al-Kaila said that the PA is not considering further lockdown measures. (HA 2/5)
PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh addressed the African Union, urging the organization to reverse its decision to include Israel as an observer state. Prime Minister Shtayyeh said, “Your excellencies, I’m sorry to report to you that the situation of the Palestinian people has only grown more precarious. The decision to grant Israel an observer status is a reward that [Israel] does not deserve, and we call for this decision to be withdrawn.” During the summit, Shtayyeh met with the leaders of Nigeria and Algeria and the foreign ministers of Tunisia, Egypt, and Botswana. (AJ, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 2/5)
The World Bank announced a $3.67 million grant to the PA to help fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. (WAFA 2/6; ALM 2/7)