In the West Bank, Israeli tanks are deployed for the first time in more than 20 years, entering Jenin. Raids in Jenin continue for the 34th day in a row, with Israeli forces imposing a 48-hour curfew on nearby Qabatiya and demolishing infrastructure, property, and electric and water lines there. Israeli forces also raid Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 28th day in a row, seizing and demolishing homes. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man in Nablus. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinians during a raid in Qusra, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces expel 5 Palestinian employees at the Ibrahimi Mosque. Israeli forces also arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in Deir al-Hatab and Nablus. PA forces violently disperse a pro-Hezbollah demonstration in Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces violently disperse a funeral in Isawiya, causing tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man near Gaza City. In Tamra, Palestinians demonstrate and strike against Israeli police inaction in addressing violent crime in their community. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb the Baalbek area and Tyre, injuring a child in Tyre. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/23; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA 2/24; UNOCHA 2/25)
More than 48,399 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. (AJ, WAFA 2/23)
Hamas says it will not engage in ceasefire talks until Israel releases the more than 600 Palestinian prisoners who should have been released in the exchange on 2/22, saying the “mediators must ensure that the enemy adheres to the terms of the agreement.” The Palestinian Prisoners Society calls the Israeli decision “state terrorism against the prisoners and their families.” Egypt and Qatar reportedly press Israel to release the prisoners. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes says the U.S. supports the Israeli delay in releasing the prisoners, calling it an “appropriate response” to the “barbaric treatment” of Israeli captives, likely referring to unsubstantiated claims that Palestinian militants killed 2 Israeli children who were held captive. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is prepared to resume the war “at any moment.” U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff tells CNN that phase 1 of the ceasefire deal needs to be extended and that he will travel to the Middle East on 2/26. Democrats party leader Yair Golan says Netanyahu is “openly violating the [ceasefire] deal and blowing up Phase A [1],” saying “there are no real negotiations on Phase B [2], just spin and the neglect of the hostages’ lives.” (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU 2/23; HA, HA, HA, NYT 2/24)
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz boasts in a statement that Israel has forcibly displaced more than 40,000 Palestinians from Jenin refugee camp, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp, saying the camps are empty of residents. Katz also says UNRWA activities in the camps have been stopped and that Israel “will not return to the reality that was in the past. We will continue to clear refugee camps,” saying soldiers will remain in the camps to prevent the return of Palestinians. The PA calls the deployment of Israeli tanks to the West Bank a systematic continuation of genocide, displacement, and annexation. (AJ, AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 2/23; AJ, HA 2/24)
Prime Minister Netanyahu says that Israel will not allow the new Syrian government to have troops south of Damascus. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU 2/23)
Around 450,000 people attend the funeral of former Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, 5 months after Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israeli fighter jets fly at low altitude over the funeral. Defense Minister Katz says those who threaten Israel will “specialize in funerals,” commenting on the fighter jets. The funeral is attended by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU 2/23)