In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assault and injure a Palestinian man in Aqabah. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 19th day in a row, bulldozing homes, arresting residents, and seizing a vehicle. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm and Tulkarm refugee camp for the 13th day in a row, destroying and damaging property. Elsewhere, hundreds of Palestinians flee al-Far’a refugee camp during the seventh day of Israel’s raids and siege of the camp. Israeli forces withdraw from nearby Tammun after 7 days of raids. Israeli forces also demolish a warehouse in Nablus. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raid the home of Ibda’a Center executive director Khaled al-Sayfi, notifying him that Israel will close the cultural center in Dheisheh refugee camp for 6 months. Israeli forces also arrest 9 Palestinians in and around Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force 2 Palestinian families to demolish their own homes in Jabel Mukaber and Umm Tuba. In Gaza, 2 children are killed and 1 is injured in the collapse of a damaged building in Gaza City. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Jennata, killing 6 people and injuring 2 others. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Deir Ali, claiming they targeted Hamas weapons. (AJ 2/7; AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/8)
More than 48,181 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,287 women, and around 111,638 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 903 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 181 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 2,485 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 2/7; HA, WAFA 2/8)
183 Palestinians, including 111 taken from Gaza after 10/7/2023, are exchanged for 3 Israeli captives during the fifth exchange of the current ceasefire agreement. 131 of the Palestinian prisoners are released to Gaza, 7 serving life sentences are deported outside of Palestine, 42 are released to the West Bank, and 3 to East Jerusalem. 7 Palestinian prisoners are admitted to hospitals following their release in Ramallah due to their poor health, while other prisoners recount beatings and starvation. Israel criticizes Hamas for not taking proper care of the 3 Israeli captives who are said to appear emaciated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemns Hamas, saying he will eliminate the group, calling them “monsters.” The Red Cross calls on both parties to keep future releases “dignified and private.” Israeli forces begin withdrawing from the Netzarim Corridor as part of the ceasefire deal. Israeli Channel 12 airs a video of an Israeli military officer telling soldiers at Netzarim that they will return and build settlements. Netanyahu orders an Israeli negotiation team to leave for Doha on 2/9. Kan reports that the team is not authorized to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire deal despite those discussions having been scheduled to start on 2/3. Kan also reports that Netanyahu is seeking to extend the first phase of the agreement for as long as possible. (AJ 2/7; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA 2/8)
Hamas Political Bureau deputy chairperson Khalil al-Hayya and Shura Council chairperson Muhammad Darwish meet with Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. (AP 2/8)
Prime Minister Netanyahu suggests in an interview that Saudi Arabia create a Palestinian state within its borders. The PA calls the suggestion “racist and anti-peace.” PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh says the suggestion would violate international law and international conventions, saying the “State of Palestine will only be on the land of Palestine.” Saudi Arabia releases a statement completely rejecting the suggestion, saying it “affirms that the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes.” The statement also says Netanyahu’s comment is an attempt to divert attention from Israel’s crimes in Gaza. Egypt condemns the suggestion as “irresponsible.” (AJ 2/7; REU, WAFA 2/8; AJ, AJ, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/9)
Lebanon announces the formation of its first government in 2 years. The 24 ministers are split evenly between Christian and Muslim sects, with former ICC president Nawaf Salam as prime minister. Hezbollah is not assigned any ministerial positions. (AJ 2/7; AJ, AP, HA, REU 2/8; HA 2/10)