Saturday, February 18, 2017

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian family demolishes their own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threaten to harm a group of Palestinian shepherds over an ongoing land dispute in the n. Jordan Valley. IDF troops patrol in Qalqilya, firing tear gas canisters that injure a Palestinian baby. They also arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah, and patrol nr. Nablus and Ramallah throughout the day. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/18; MNA 2/19; JP 2/20; PCHR 2/23)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing to allow Palestinians in Egypt to enter Gaza. (MNA 2/18; MNA 2/19)