Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

On Day 118 of the US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 15 Massacres, 118 Palestinians Killed, 190 Injured, with a Death Toll of  27,019 and 66,139 Injuries

February 1, 2024 

***

Editor's Notes:  

Here are some initial (not final) statistics, which show the Israeli war crimes against humanity, during the current Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip:  

By February 1, 2024, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 34,019+.   

This includes the accounted for deaths (27,019) and those who are still missing under the rubble (Corrected on January 31, 2024: 7,000+).   

By February 1, 2024, the documented injuries exceeded 66,139, and more than 2,520 civilians have been abducted from Gaza Strip.

By January 17, 2024, about 661 detainees from Gaza are currently languishing in Israeli prisons as “illegitimate combatants” (the Israeli term for Palestinian fighters) in addition to more than 50 Gazan women detained in Damon prison, noting that 8 women of whom have been recently released.

By January 31, 2023, the death toll included 11,730+ children and 8,000+ women (more than 70% of the victims). 

By February 1, 2024, there were 382 Palestinians who were killed, 3,632 who were injured, and 6,426, who were abducted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, since October 7, 2023 (Some of the detainees have been released).

About 12,091 Palestinians, from both the West Bank and Gaza, have been detained in 2023. About half of them were detained after October 7. This included 1,085 children and 300 women.

The total number of detainees in the occupation prisons until the end of December was 8,800, and the number of administrative detainees was 3,291.

*** 

***

By January 9, 2023,  there was a complete destruction of 69,000+ housing units, and a partial destruction of 290,000+ housing units (60% of Gaza housing units). This forced about 1.5 million people to become homeless, taking refuge in crowded UN schools and ultimately sleeping in the streets.  

The Israeli refusal to allow international aid caravans to enter Gaza freely led the Palestinian population to be on the verge of mass extermination for the lack of food, water, medicine, and fuel.  

By January 31, 2024, 339 health personnel and 97 journalists were killed and hundreds were injured, 121 ambulances were destroyed while on duty, killing and injuring their crews, and destroyed 150 health institutions. As a result of the strikes and lack of fuel, 30 hospitals and 53 primary care centers are not functioning. In addition, 99 health personnel and 10 journalists have been abducted by the invading Israeli occupation forces.

Meanwhile, 134 government offices and 95 schools and universities were completely destroyed, while 295 schools and universities were partially damaged.

138 mosques were completely destroyed, while 240 others were partially damaged, in addition to three churches.

***

A Palestinian little girl was among the 118 martyrs, who were killed in Khan Younus by the Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment, February 1, 2024	Palestinian children waiting for getting fresh water, as the shortage of food and water endangers the life of Gaza population, file, February 1, 2024
Two Palestinian girls standing on the rubble of their home in Gaza Strip, which was destroyed by an Israeli genocidal air strike, February 1, 2024	A Palestinian rescuer bidding farewell to his martyred son, who was killed in an Israeli genocidal air strike on Dair El-Bala'h

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

"مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا"  (الْمَائِدَةُ ، 5: 32).

"وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا" (النِّسَاءُ ، 4: 93).

"إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ " (الإسْرَاءُ ، 17: 7). 

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

"Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul, or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had killed humankind entirely" (The Holy Quran, Al-Ma-ida, 5: 32).

"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him, and has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great torment" (Al-Nisa, 4: 93).

"If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, (you do it) to yourselves" (Al-Isra, 17: 7). 

***

While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written human history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of Prophets David and Solomon , peace be upon them, and Solomon's son).

 After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus, peace be upon him, started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

No matter what the Zionists and their supporters do, they cannot change the will of God, Who promised the Holy Land to Abraham and his descendants, basically the Palestinian Muslims and Christians.

No matter how much persecution and aggression the Zionists and their supporters inflict upon the Palestinian people, they will never be able to force them out of the Holy Land, which Allah, praise to Him, promised for them, and kept His promise ever since.

This is a necessary brief background to understand the US-Backed Zionist Israeli continuous wars against the Arab nation generally, and the Palestinian people in particular, which included the wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, 1978, 1982, the brutal crushing of the two Uprisings (1987-1993 and 2000-2004), 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the current genocidal war on Gaza, which has culminated a blockade of Gaza since 2007. In addition, the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime launched so many covert operations, raids, and air strikes on many Arab states since 1948.

The following news stories are just examples, not a systematic record, of the Israeli occupation government abuse, mistreatment, and violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

More detailed news stories can be found at the following sources:

http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/


***
Editorial Notes about terms & names of people and places:

1. Names of people and places have been standardized to match standard Arabic grammatical rules.

2. Underlined letters and letters preceded by an apostrophe are references to Arabic letter sounds, which does not exist in the English alphabet.

3. The English letter i is equivalent to the Arabic short vowel known as kasra, as in Ibraheem and Qasim as well as in the English words sit and bit. So, it is incorrect to use it as a long vowel for such Arabic names as Jameel and Jibreel.

4. The English letter e is equivalent to the Arabi short vowel known as fat'ha, as in A'hmed and Mu'hammed.

5. It is more accurate to refer to the land-grabbing Israelis, who establish illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, as illegal Israeli settlers, than referring to them as colonists.

The term colony is a reference to a large entity or a country, such as American states before independence. It was also a reference to Egypt, and India, when they were British colonies.

In addition, the term "colony" represents a positive nostalgic theme, in the minds of native speakers of English, particularly in America and Britain.

6. It is more accurate to use the verb "abduct" than the verb "detain," in reference to taking Palestinian citizens by force to prisons and interrogation centers, by Israeli occupation regime soldiers. This is because the presence of the Israeli occupation regime forces is illegal in the Palestinian territories, and they have no jurisdiction over the Palestinian people.

Click here for more about using the apostrophe and the underlining of letters in the transliteration of Arabic names.

***

***

PPS accuses Israel of carrying out field executions against Gazan prisoners

Thursday 1-February-2024, RAMALLAH, (PIC)

Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) accused the Israeli occupation of carrying out field executions against Gazan prisoners, saying it is the reason behind refusing to unveil their fate.

The Society expressed its concerns over the fate of Gazan prisoners following the crime committed by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip where bodies of 30 martyrs were found inside a school that was besieged by the IOF.

According to eyewitnesses, the martyrs were handcuffed and blindfolded, indicating that they were under arrest.

The PPS said in a press statement on Wednesday that Bait Lahya crime is a clear indication that the IOF carried out a field execution against the 30 detainees.

The PPS statement added, “News on detainees from Gaza being subjected to executions have been increasing amid the continued crime of enforced disappearance and with the mounting testimonies of recently released detainees, including women and children, about acts of torture, abuse and humiliation.”

The Society’s statement said that “the IOF’s insistence on holding Gazan prisoners under enforced disappearance has only one explanation, which is the persistence in carrying out more crimes against them.”

“The IOF has been refusing to provide international and Palestinian human rights organizations with any information on the prisoners from Gaza including martyrs,” the statement added.

***

UN envoy to Gaza calls out the ‘double standards’ of governments over UNRWA funding

Thursday 1-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The UN envoy to Gaza called out the “double standards” of governments that have suspended funds from the world body’s agency for Palestinian refugees.

About 18 countries have suspended funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), even though an investigation has yet to be completed into an allegation that 12 former staff members (of about 30,000) took part in the October 7 events.

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese said that while the governments have suspended aid, “the same governments have not suspended ties with the state whose army has killed 26,000 people in Gaza in 3.5 months, though the [International Court of Justice] said it may plausibly constitute genocide.”

She said: “Double standards? Yes, big time.”

UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai earlier said that while the agency had sacked nine of the 12 accused employees, the move was made “pre-emptively” while investigations were under way.

She said that they now had “the right of recourse in case the findings are in their favor.”

Meanwhile, an array of UN organizations warned of the “catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza” if key donor countries don’t resume funding for UNRWA.

***

WHO: Allow more aid into Gaza or risk famine

Thursday 1-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said that the risk of famine is increasing every day in the Gaza Strip’s hospitals.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated that WHO faced “extreme challenges” in delivering medical supplies in the enclave. It did manage, however, to deliver supplies to the Nasser hospital on Monday, but a mission to deliver fuel and food was denied.

“WHO has faced great difficulty even reaching hospitals in southern Gaza,” he said. “Heavy fighting has been reported near hospitals in Khan Yunis, severely impeding access to health facilities for patients, health workers, and supplies.”

Tedros said WHO workers on the ground were reporting increasing food shortages among patients and health workers in the enclave.

“The risk of famine is high and increasing each day, with persistent hostilities and restricted humanitarian access,” he said. “Every person our teams talk to asks for food and water.”

***

Joint statement by 28 NGOs: UNRWA cuts threaten Palestinian lives in Gaza and the region

RAMALLAH, Thursday, January 2, 2024 (WAFA) –

A statement issued by around 28 organizations expressed deep concern and outrage that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region. This comes amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, stressed a joint statement published by UNRWA.

“As aid organizations, we are deeply concerned and outraged. The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza. The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel’s continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza.”

We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population by some of the very countries that had called for aid in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected while doing their job. This decision comes as the International Court of Justice ordered immediate and effective action to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, according to the joint statement.

The statement added that 152 UNRWA staff have already been killed and 145 UNRWA facilities damaged by Israeli bombardment. “UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and their delivery of humanitarian assistance cannot be replaced by other agencies working in Gaza. If the funding suspensions are not reversed, we may see a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response in Gaza,” warned the NGOs.

The countries suspending funds risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection, stressed the joint statement.

“We urge donor states to reaffirm support for the vital work that UNRWA and its partners do to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our times. Countries must reverse these funding suspensions, uphold their duties towards the Palestinian people and scale up humanitarian assistance for civilians in dire need in Gaza and the region,” said the NGOs.

T.R.

***

Red Crescent confirms continued Israeli occupation's targeting and siege of Al-Amal hospital in Gaza

Gaza, Thursday, February 2, 2024 (WAFA) –

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PPS) confirmed tonight the continued Israeli occupation’s targeting and siege of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younus, in the southern Gaza Strip for the eleventh consecutive day.

PRCS confirmed the occupation forces’ persistent intense shelling and shooting in the vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital.

The society added that the Israeli forces continued their military raids into the hospital and PRCS premises, amid direct gunfire threatening the lives of staff and displaced individuals seeking shelter there.

The Occupation military tanks are surrounding the hospital from all directions, preventing anyone, including ambulance teams, from entering or leaving the premises of the hospital and the PRCS building, reported PRCS.

PRCS reported a severe food shortage left available for staff, patients, and displaced people. The Society said they were forced to reduce the meals to one meal a day in a desperate effort to preserve remaining supplies.

PRCS warned that the hospital is experiencing a severe shortage of infant formula, which puts breastfeeding infants at great risk.

The Society also warned that the hospital is suffering from critical shortages in medical supplies, medications and fuel.

PRCS said its teams were forced today to bury five bodies in the hospital’s courtyard due to the ongoing siege, bringing the total number of people buried in the hospital’s courtyard since the beginning of the siege to 15.

“Seven patients and wounded people face life-threatening situations if not transferred for treatment outside the hospital,” the Society warned in a post on the X platform.

T.R.

***

Humanitarian crisis deepens at a time funding suspensions put UNRWA aid operations in peril - UNRWA

RAMALLAH, Thursday, February 1, 2024 (WAFA) -

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) warned that the colossal humanitarian needs of over 2 million people in Gaza now face the risk of deepening following the decision of 16 donor countries to stop financial support to UNRWA. 

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee to the south due to bombardment and fighting in Khan Yunis over the last week, adding to more than 1.4 million people already crammed in the southern governorate of Rafah, stressed UNRWA in a statement. Most are living in makeshift structures, tents, or out in the open, and now also fear they might no longer receive any food or other humanitarian assistance from UNRWA, added the UN relief agency.

“Rafah has become a sea of people fleeing bombardments,” said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza and UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory. 

Most of those fleeing Khan Younus have already been displaced several times, and many are forced to leave the largest UNRWA shelter in the Khan Younus Training Centre. UNRWA staff, themselves forced to flee their homes, continue to deliver food and tents to those newly displaced around them, added UNRWA. 

Across the Gaza Strip, nearly 2 million people, the vast majority of whom are women and children, depend on UNRWA for their sheer survival as the Agency manages overcrowded shelters, food assistance and primary health care, it said. “Their humanitarian conditions are getting worse as the war continues and humanitarian access remains largely restricted.” 

In the north where famine is looming, UNRWA has had very little access since the war began, stressed the UN agency.

According to White: “UNRWA received reports that people in the area are grinding bird feed to make flour. We continue to coordinate with the Israeli Army to be able to go to the north, but this has been largely denied,” he said. “When our convoys are finally permitted to go to the area, people rush to the trucks to get food and often eat it on the spot,” he added. 

UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza. Of its 13,000 staff, more than 3,000 continue working. "They are the backbone of the humanitarian aid operations," the agency said. 

“It’s difficult to imagine that Gazans will survive this crisis without UNRWA,” White said. 

As the aggression in Gaza is being pursued unabated, and at the time the International Court of Justice calls for more humanitarian assistance, it is time to reinforce and not weaken UNRWA, stressed the statement.

“The Agency remains the largest aid organization in one of the most severe and complex humanitarian crises in the world," said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. “I echo the call of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resume funding to UNRWA. If the funding remains suspended, we will most likely be forced to shut down our operations by the end of February not only in Gaza but also across the region, he added.

UNRWA provides assistance to Palestine Refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

T.R.

***

***

Killing and Injuring of Palestinians in Ghazza (Gaza) by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces

On February 1, 2024, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra, the Spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment on Gaza Strip resulted in 15 massacres, in which  118 Palestinian civilians were killed, and 190 were injured, in the past 24 hours. This increased the death toll in Gaza Strip to 27,019 and the injuries to 66,139, since October 7, 2023.   

*** 

118 Palestinians killed, 190 injured in the past 24 hours

Thursday 1-February-2024,

GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Health Ministry revealed that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) committed 15 massacres against Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, killing 118 Palestinians and injuring 190 others.

The Ministry indicated in a statement that a number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, as the IOF soldiers are preventing ambulance and civil defense crews from reaching them.

On the 118th day of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the death toll has thus risen to 27,019 martyrs. About 66,139 injuries were also reported.

***

US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza enters Day 118

Thursday 1-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

As the US-backed Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip entered day 118 on Thursday, massive aerial and artillery strikes continued to pound neighborhoods, homes, and shelter centers and massacre more civilians, mostly children and women.

A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that the Israeli occupation army continued to attack different areas of Gaza last night and on Thursday morning, killing and injuring dozens of citizens.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) announced that the occupation vehicles stormed, for the third time at dawn today, the courtyards of Al-Amal Hospital and opened heavy fire in the vicinity of the hospital before withdrawing.

The hospital received yesterday 12 martyrs, including a PRCS employee and volunteer, in addition to six injured.

The intensive Israeli gunshots targeted five vehicles, including three ambulances.

Meanwhile, Israeli gunboats intensively bombarded the coast of Rafa'h City.

A number of people were also injured after Israeli airstrikes targeted the Abu Fayyad family house, west of Nusayrat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip.

The Israeli warplanes also launched new airstrikes on the southern area of Khan Younus.

On the other hand, Israeli artillery bombed the Al-Amal neighborhood and the vicinity of the PRCS premises, west of Khan Younus.

Son of a PRCS ambulance officer was killed in an Israeli genocidal airstrike on the Al-Bu'haisi family home in Dair Al-Bala'h.

The Government Media Office had earlier said that, by January 31, 2024, at least 33,751 Palestinian citizens were either martyred or reported missing and 65,636 others were injured during 2,269 massacres, which have been committed by the Israeli occupation army since its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip started in October 7, 2023. 

*** 

***

Killing, Injuring, and Abduction of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces 

 

Palestinian resistance fighters confront IOF troops in Tubas

Thursday 1-February-2024, TUBAS, (PIC)

Violent clashes erupted between Palestinian resistance groups and Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in the city of Toubas in the West Bank at dawn Thursday.

The armed wing of the Hamas Movement, Al-Qassam Brigades, posted on X that its forces targeted Israeli vehicles entering Tubas with “appropriate explosive devices and weapons.”

Israeli occupation soldiers in military vehicles, including bulldozers, stormed the city earlier today and broke into several local homes.

The IOF troops were targeted with heavy gunfire and explosive devices before being forced to withdraw from the area.

Medical sources affirmed that two Palestinians have been shot during the clashes.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, Israeli forces have carried out daily raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank, including in the city of Toubas.

At least 382 Palestinians have been killed in IOF and settler attacks across the West Bank since October 7.

***

Large-scale Israeli raid, detention campaign in the West Bank

Thursday 1-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) launched a large-scale raid and detention campaign in different areas of the West Bank, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes at dawn Thursday.

The IOF detained four Palestinians after storming 'Arraba town in Jenin, and three other youths after breaking into Bait Iba and Salem towns in Nablus.

Several local homes were stormed and searched during the raids.

Another young man was rounded up from his family house in Toubas in the northern West Bank. Clashes also erupted in the city after it was violently stormed by IOF troops.

Similar raids were reported in Bait Fajjar and Tuqu’, and the Duhaisha refugee camp in Bethlehem.

At least a young man was arrested during the raids, while 27 Palestinians were rounded up in 'Husan town.

The IOF also stormed Yatta town, south of al-Khalil, and Sinjil town, north of Ramallah, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.

***

Total: 36 detentions

***

***

Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

IOF, illegal Jewish settlers carry out raid and sabotage campaigns in West Bank and Jerusalem

Thursday 1-February-2024, WEST BANK, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued their raids and violations in different areas in the West Bank and Al-Quds (Jerusalem), while wreaking havoc and vandalism on Palestinian property.

The IOF raided the West Bank cities of Nablus, Aree'ha (Jericho), Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), Al-Khaleel (Hebron), and Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The IOF confiscated Palestinians’ vehicles amid humiliation of their owners in the cold weather at military checkpoints, blocking traffic and movement of citizens.

Meanwhile, a group of the illegal Israeli fanatic Jewish settlers uprooted 450 olive and almond seedlings in Dair Sharaf town, west of Nablus.

The owner of the land, Ghazi 'Anteri explained that this is the fourth time settlers uprooted trees from his land in the past two years. They have destroyed 99, 102, and 200 trees in the past three times respectively, he said.

The IOF raided different neighborhoods in the abovementioned cities, conducted field investigation with its residents and wreaked havoc inside their houses.

In Jericho, the “Al-Baidar” organization for defending the rights of Bedouins reported that settlers stormed the Arab Mulai'hat community in Al-Ma’rajat area, west of Jericho, assaulted the residents and attempted to run over their sheep.

In Bethlehem, IOF carried out raid and arrest campaign in 'Husan town, west of Bethlehem city, in southern West Bank, arresting about 30 citizens, 18 of whom were children detained as hostages to pressure their relatives to turn themselves in to the IOF.

Meanwhile, Jewish settlers attacked olive fields in the village of Batteer, west of Bethlehem, and uprooted about 300 trees.

In Al-Khaleel, the IOF opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle southeast of the city of Al-Khalil, wounding a man and preventing ambulance crews from reaching him.

In Occupied Jerusalem, a number of citizens were injured after Israeli police stormed Shufat refugee camp, northeast of the city while assaulting citizens and their property and firing rubber and live bullets. 

***