In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort raid Halhul assaulting and injuring 2 Palestinians who refuse to leave their land. Israeli settlers also steal 15 sheep in al-‘Awja. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 39th day in a row. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 33rd day in a row, forcing Palestinians to leave their homes at gunpoint, firing warning shots at Red Crescent crews in Nur Shams, and setting fire to homes in al-Manshiyya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man and injure others with tear gas during a raid in Dura. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinians during a raid in Dura al-Qar’, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians during raids in Hebron, as-Samu, Beit Umar, Khirbet Yirza, Qarawat Bani Hassan, and Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, killing a Palestinian man. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces open fire at Palestinians fishermen, injuring 2. (AJ 2/27; HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/28; UNOCHA 3/6)
More than 48,365 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,749 women, and around 111,780 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 922 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.
4 Palestinian families, comprised of 34 people, flee their homes in ‘Ain al-Hilweh due to continued Israeli settler violence. The community has been terrorized by settlers who erected an outpost nearby a month ago. (UNOHCA 3/6)
Hamas reiterates its commitment to the ceasefire deal and urges the international community to pressure Israel to move to the second phase. (AJ 2/27)
The State of Palestine submits a written plea to the ICJ asking for an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations not to obstruct humanitarian and development assistance in the occupied Palestinian territory. Qatar also submits a plea to the ICJ, urging it to clarify Israel’s obligations to allow UN agencies to operate in occupied territories. PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh meets with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh, discussing the upcoming Arab summit in Cairo. (AJ 2/27; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/28)
Haaretz reports that Israeli soldiers forced Palestinians near the Beit Aryeh settlement to evacuate without the knowledge of the Israeli military leadership. (HA 2/28)
Haaretz also reports that the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation is expected to approve a bill that would enable the annexation of Israeli settlements surrounding Jerusalem on 3/2. The bill proposes the establishment of “metropolitan Jerusalem,” including the Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev, Erfat, and Ma’ale Mikhmas settlements as part of Israeli-controlled Jerusalem. (HA 2/28)
The Guardian reports that COGAT presented UN officials with a plan that would tighten Israel’s control of aid to Gaza even more than before 10/7/2023, in which aid would be distributed to Israeli-vetted recipients in areas of Gaza under Israeli control. The proposal, presented earlier this week, would make UNRWA’s work in Gaza impossible as aid would only be allowed through Israeli crossings. (GDN 2/28; HA 3/1)
Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam tours South Lebanon, calling on Israel to immediately withdraw its troops. (AJ 2/27; HA 2/28)
The U.S. State Department approves a $3 billion arms sale to Israel, including $2 billion in bombs and warheads, $676 million in bomb guidance kits, and $295 million in bulldozers and related equipment. (AJ 2/27; AP, HA 2/28; HA, HA 3/1)
A jury in Illinois convicts a 73-year-old American man of the murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy who he stabbed 26 times on 10/14/2023 in the boy’s home near Chicago. (AJ 2/27; HA 3/1)