In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and soldiers raid Deir Dibwan, stealing around 800 sheep, 3 horses, 2 donkeys, and water tanks from Palestinians. Israeli settlers also set fire to a home and a vehicle in Jaba’ near Jerusalem. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian homes in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 33rd day in a row, bulldozing infrastructure and placing barbed wire around homes in Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 27th day in a row. Elsewhere, Israeli forces bomb a home in Yasid near Nablus. Israeli forces also arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in Nablus, Jenin, Jericho, and al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/22)
More than 48,329 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,749 women, and around 111,753 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 918 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 186 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. UNRWA says a polio vaccination campaign will begin today and end on 2/26. (AJ, WAFA 2/22)
Hamas releases 6 Israeli captives, including 2, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held for more than 10 years, while Israel delays the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says the release is delayed due to “humiliating handovers” and “until the release of the next hostages is guaranteed.” The Israeli decision is likely a response to scenes in Gaza where 1 of the Israeli captives kissed the forehead of 2 Palestinian militants during the ceremony for his release. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU 2/22; WAFA 2/23; UNOCHA 2/25)
Hamas official Basem Naim says in an interview that Hamas, even before 10/7/2023, had expressed its willingness to step down from governing Gaza and allow for a Palestinian unity government or a Palestinian technocratic government to take control. Naim says Hamas has welcomed the Egyptian proposal to form a committee that will be tasked with governing all aspects of life in Gaza in coordination with the PA. (AJ, AJ 2/22)
Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon demands an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the dubious Israeli claim that 2 child captives were killed by Hamas militants using “their bare hands.” Hamas calls the accusation “false,” “baseless,” and a “fabrication.” It said in November 2023 that the 2 children and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Relatives of the 3 deceased captives say Israel never informed them about any such details before publicly announcing them. (AJ 2/22)