In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on a 400 persons-strong demonstration nr. the n. border fence, wounding 3. The protest marks the 20th anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in Hebron. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Bethlehem and Aida r.c., in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and in Tubas at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit and in Hebron in the afternoon. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces enter Haram al-Sharif to disperse a few dozen Palestinian worshippers gathered to protest plans by Jewish extremists to raise Israeli flags at the site. Israeli forces use rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades, while Palestinians throw stones. Meanwhile, a Palestinian prisoner assaulted in an Israeli jail in early 2/2014 dies at a Beersheba hospital, according to the family. (MNA, WAFA 2/25; PCHR 2/27)
The Knesset holds a debate initiated by MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud) on whether to allow Jewish prayer at Haram al-Sharif. Arab MKs boycott the discussion, which is purely declaratory and without any legislative impact. (HA, YA 2/25)
The Israeli air force strikes a weapons convoy in Lebanon nr. the border with Syria. The convoy was reportedly transporting surface-to-surface missiles from Syria to Hizballah. Responding in a statement, Hizballah describes the attack as “a blatant assault on Lebanon and its sovereignty and its territory,” which the group will respond to at “the time and place” of its choosing. (AP, JP 2/25; REU 2/26)
