In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up a new outpost near the Tayasir checkpoint. Israeli settlers also bring their sheep to graze on farmland in al-‘Awja. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 30th day in a row, shooting and injuring a Palestinian woman in Jenin refugee camp and preventing Palestinians from returning to the camp. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 24th day in a row. Tulkarm’s deputy governor Faisal Salama says Israel has destroyed 50 homes and 280 shops during the raids. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and kill 3 Palestinians and destroy a home with an anti-tank missile in al-Far’a refugee camp. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian child during a raid in Beita. Meanwhile, Israeli forces assault 6 Palestinians at the Beit Furik checkpoint. Israeli forces also assault several Palestinians during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp. Separately, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians with tear gas during raids in Tell and Qusra. Israeli forces also demolish 3 structures and raze farmland in Hizma, demolish a home in Khallet al-Eidah, and raze farmland in Za’atra. Meanwhile, Israeli forces deliver punitive demolition notices for 2 homes in Rafat and Hebron. Israeli forces also arrest 30 Palestinians during raids throughout the West Bank. In Gaza, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian child east of Rafah. Israeli forces also kill 1 Palestinian and injure others in an airstrike near Rafah. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Ayta ash Shaab, killing 1 person. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/19; UNOCHA 2/25)
More than 48,297 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,287 women, and around 111,733 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 914 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. Oxfam says 80% of Gaza’s water infrastructure has been destroyed, including all 6 water treatment plants. (AJ, AP, HA 2/19)
Israeli media films Israeli prison guards moving Kamal Adwan Hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya from one cell to another at the Ofer Prison. Abu Safiya, shackled at his hands and feet, tells Israeli Channel 13 that he does not know his charges or the reason for his imprisonment. Abu Safiya’s family calls the video “psychological terrorism.” (AJ 2/19; AJ 2/20)
5 Israeli reservists are charged with abuse and causing serious bodily harm to a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention camp. According to the charges, the Palestinian man was raped by the 5 soldiers with a sharp object, causing him to needed prolonged medical care, surgery, and blood transfusions. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/19)
Israel says it will conduct a military exercise in northern Gaza on 2/20, the same day the bodies of 4 Israeli captives are scheduled to be released to Israel. (AJ 2/19)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas chairs a meeting of the Fatah Central Committee, briefing members on international engagement on Israeli violations in Palestine and the PA’s preparedness to resume responsibilities in Gaza. (WAFA 2/19)
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid says the new Israeli demand that Hamas leave Gaza is “a means to obstruct” the second phase of the ceasefire. (AJ 2/19)
In a call with U.S. national security advisor Mike Waltz, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun calls on Israel to leave the 5 military posts it still occupies in Lebanon and to release the Lebanese people it has detained while occupying parts of the country. (AJ, AP, HA 2/19)
Emirati state media reports that UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio in a meeting that the UAE rejects the idea of displacing Palestinians from Gaza. (AP, AJ, HA, REU 2/19)
A U.S. State Department spokesperson tells AJ Jazeera that the U.S. has issued waivers in the pause on U.S. foreign assistance, including for “lifesaving humanitarian assistance” to Gaza. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that security assistance to the PA has been frozen, that some programs have already been canceled, and that a meeting between PA officials and U.S. officials on operations in Jenin has been postponed. (AJ, HA, WP 2/19)
The Knesset passes a law allowing authorities to deny entry to Israel to people deemed to have denied the 10/7/2023 attack or have expressed support for international prosecution of Israeli soldiers. The Knesset also advances a bill that would penalize people who aid the ICC with up to 5 years in prison. (AP, HA, HA 2/19; AJ 2/20)