In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalize an agricultural structure and olive trees during a raid in Kafr Qaddum. Israeli settlers also set fire a vehicle and vandalize a home near Yatta. Israeli forces raid Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 32nd day in a row, shooting and killing a 13-year-old Palestinian girl. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 26th day in a row, bringing additional troops to the area. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and kill a 12-year-old Palestinian boy in Hebron. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian child with a baton round and injure others with tear gas during a raid in Kafr Qaddum. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians during raids in Beita, Tell, Qaryut, Yatma, Qusra, and Marah Rabah, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also arrest 9 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, the Jordan Valley, Bani Na’im, Silwad, Jalazone refugee camp, and Surda. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault Palestinians making their way to the Haram al-Sharif compound, preventing some from reaching it for Friday prayers. In Gaza, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian woman east of Rafah. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/21; AJ 2/22)
More than 48,319 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,749 women, and around 111,733 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 918 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 186 children. More than 6,500 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, 408 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,579 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. 92% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023.
Hamas hands over the body of Israeli captive Shiri Bibas a day after handing over the wrong body. Hamas says it is committed to the ceasefire agreement, that a mistake happened, and that it will be investigated. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, REU 2/21; AJ 2/22; UNOCHA 2/25)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a meeting with Israeli military officials in a seized Palestinian home in Tulkarm refugee camp. Netanyahu also orders more Israeli troops and enhanced Israeli activities in the West Bank. The PA and the OIC condemn the actions by Netanyahu. Tulkarm governor Abdullah Kmeil warns that Israel has the intent to commit genocide in the Tulkarm refugee camps. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/21; WAFA 2/22)
Defense of Children International – Palestine condemns Israel’s killing of 2 Palestinian children, calling the actions of Israeli forces “reckless and indiscriminate.” The group also says that Israeli forces shot and injured an 8-year-old Palestinian girl on 2/11 in Sa’ir, saying she will suffer from lifelong vision loss. (AJ 2/21)
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatari emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwaiti emir Meshal al-Ahmad Al Saban, Bahraini crown prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Jordanian king Abdullah II, and Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman meet in Riyadh, discussing a joint Arab plan for Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU 2/21; HA 2/23)
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi meets with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, telling him that “the Palestinian issue [is] at the core of the Middle East issue, China will continue to stand firmly with Arab brothers and make efforts to correct historical injustice thoroughly, and restore lasting peace in the region at an early date,” according to a Chinese statement. Also at the G20, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan meets with South African foreign minister Ronald Lamola, discussing the South African genocide case against Israel. (AJ 2/21)
U.S. president Donald Trump tells Fox News in an interview that he does not “know why Israel ever gave that [Gaza] up,” calling it a great location. Trump also calls Gaza “not livable,” expresses disappointment that Jordan and Egypt will not take part in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, saying that he will not force the issue, and says Prime Minister Netanyahu is “a very angry man” over the situation with the Israeli captives. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT 2/21)
Northern Ireland first minister Michelle O’Neill says she will not attend the yearly St Patrick’s Day event at the White House on 3/17, citing President Trump’s call for “the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.” (AJ, AP 2/21)
The BBC removes the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, publicly stating that the withdrawal is due to the 13-year-old narrator being the son of Gaza’s deputy minister of agriculture Ayman al-Yazouri. (AJ 2/21)