In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort assault Palestinians with batons, causing injuries in Wadi Jahish in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 47th day in a row. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 41st day in a row. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians with tear gas and sound grenades during a raid in Kafr Qaddum. Israeli forces also raze land, uprooting olive trees in Madama. Meanwhile, Israeli forces push a Palestinian-owned vehicle down a cliff near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest journalist Ahmad Jalajel at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, killing 3 Palestinians. Later, an Israeli bombing injures 2 Palestinians in Rafah. Israeli forces also bomb Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza, injuring 3 Palestinians. Elsewhere, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, injuring 2 Palestinians. Israeli forces also bomb Beit Hanun, injuring 7 Palestinians. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Khirbet Selm, killing 1 person. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/8)
More than 48,453 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,749 women, and around 111,860 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 926 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. (AJ, WAFA 3/8)
Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi dismisses media reports that Hamas is willing to accept a temporary ceasefire, saying the party wants to move to the second stage of the ceasefire deal. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office says Israel will send negotiators to Doha on 3/10. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU 3/8; AJ, AP 3/9)
The OIC issues a final communique at the conclusion of its 20th extraordinary session in Jeddah, condemning the Israeli aggression against Palestinians and endorsing plans for a Palestinian unity government in Gaza. PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa meets with Pakistani foreign minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, and Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty separately on the sidelines of the OIC summit. (WAFA, WAFA 3/8)
France, Germany, Italy, and the UK issue a joint statement in support of the Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, saying Hamas can neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel again. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA 3/8)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrest Palestinian Algerian Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil in a raid on the university’s student housing, bringing him to an ICE detention facility. Khalil is a U.S. green card holder and his 8-month pregnant wife is a U.S. citizen. ICE tells Khalil’s lawyer that it was acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s student visa and said they had revoked his green card too on the basis that he had taken part in pro-Palestine protests. Khalil led negotiations between the university and the student movement last year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responds to reporting on the detention of Khalil, saying on X “[w]e will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.” The American Civil Liberties Union says Khalil was arrested because of his political viewpoint and the development will “chill student speech and advocacy across campuses nationwide.” (AJ, AJ, AX, HA, NYT, REU 3/9; AJ 3/10)
Qatar calls for Israel’s nuclear facilities to be brought under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency and for Israel to join the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons treaty. (HA 3/8; AJ 3/9)
A man climbs the Elizabeth Tower in London holding a Palestinian flag. The man is arrested when he is brought down from the tower. Protesters also spray paint “Gaza is not for sale” on a Donald Trump-owned golf course in Turnberry, Scotland. (AJ, HA, REU 3/8)