In the West Bank, a Palestinian child dies of wounds sustained from Israeli airstrikes on Qabatiya on 2/1. Israeli settlers vandalize a poultry farm and a home in Duma. Israeli settlers also throw stones at homes in Jurish. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assault 2 Palestinians and steal sheep in Aqraba. Israeli settlers also graze their sheep on Palestinian farmlands in al-‘Awja. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 29th day in a row, attacking a Palestinian ambulance staff member and destroying roads in Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also raid Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 22nd day in a row, uprooting streets and vandalizing properties. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian child in Tell. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinians with tear gas during a raid in Qusra. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seize a vehicle in ‘Usarin and a concrete pump and mixer in Haris. Israeli forces also uproot olive and almond tree seedlings in Nahalin. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 25 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 2 Palestinians succumb to injuries sustained in Israeli attacks in Rafah and Khan Yunis on 2/15. In Lebanon, Israeli forces assassinate Hamas member Muhammad Shaheen in a drone strike near Sidon. (AJ, AP, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/17; WAFA 2/18; UNOCHA 2/20; UNOCHA 2/25)
More than 48,284 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,287 women, and around 111,709 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 911 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 183 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. (AP, WAFA 2/17)
COGAT presents Israeli defense minister Israel Katz with a plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza. Katz says the plan includes “extensive assistance” to any Palestinian “who wants to emigrate to a third state.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says Hamas must leave Gaza and lay down their arms and that Israel must annex 10% of Gaza at the end of the first stage of the ceasefire. Religious Zionist Party cabinet member Orit Strook from the says she will leave the government if Israel ends the war on Gaza. (AJ, AJ, HA 2/17)
An Israeli military spokesperson says Israel will keep troops in 5 locations in Lebanon after the 2/18 deadline for its withdrawal. (REU 2/17)
U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio arrives in Riyadh for meetings with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, discussing the situation in and future of Gaza and Ukraine. (AJ, NYT, REU 2/17)
The Lebanese government approves guidelines that would effectively ban Hezbollah from being armed. The guidelines will have to be approved by the parliament before taking effect. The Lebanese presidency says that the cabinet has also decided to extend the suspension of flights arriving from Iran. (AJ 2/17; HA 2/18)