Tuesday, February 18, 2020

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 12 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Jericho, Qatanna, Ramallah, al-Bireh, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Hebron. PA security forces violently dispersed a celebration for the release of a Palestinian from Israeli prison; 1 Palestinian minor was fatally wounded and another injured. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian shepherds east of Yatta. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished a horse barn in Jabal Mukabir. In Gaza, Israeli authorities said they would expand the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles, and allow an additional 2,000 merchants to obtain exit permits. The Israeli government cited “the relative calm in recent days.” (HA, WAFA, WAFA 2/18; PCHR 2/19; PCHR 2/20)