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 134 of the US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 9 Massacres, 83 Palestinians Killed, 125 Injured, with a Death Toll of  28,858 and 68,677 Injuries

February 17, 2024 

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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 17, 2024, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 35,858+.   

This includes the accounted for deaths (28,858) and those who are still missing under the rubble (Corrected on February 7, 2024: 7,000+).   

By February 17, 2024, the documented injuries exceeded 68,677, 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 women from Gaza, who are detained in the Damon prison, noting that 8 women of whom have been recently released.

By February 8, 2023, the death toll included 12,150+ children and 8,300+ women (more than 73% of the accounted for victims). 

By February 17, 2024, there were 407 Palestinians who were killed, 3,645 who were injured, and 6,995, 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 3,484.

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GMO reveals latest statistics on Israeli genocidal war on Gaza

Saturday 3-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Government Media Office (GMO) in the Gaza Strip revealed on Saturday the latest and most significant figures on the Israeli ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7.

This announcement comes as the latest updates from the GMO, showing the scale of human and material damage that resulted from the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, on its 120th day.

The statistics demonstrated latest updates on the numbers of martyrs, missing, and wounded people in addition to the sick, displaced and prisoners as well as numbers of damaged structures and infrastructure.

Below are figures released by the GMO about Israel’s violations over the period of 120 days since the start of its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

(2,325) Massacres (34,238) Martyrs and missing people. (27,238) Martyrs who arrived in hospitals. (12,000) Child martyrs. (8,190) Female martyrs. (339) Martyrs of medical staff. (46) Civil defense martyrs. (122) Journalist martyrs. (7,000) Missing, 70% of whom are children and women. (66,452) Wounded.

(11,000) Wounded people in need of travel abroad for treatment, (life-saving and critical cases). (10,000) Cancer patients facing the risk of death. (700,000) Wounded with infectious diseases as a result of displacement. (8,000) Cases of viral hepatitis infection due to displacement. (60,000) Pregnant women at risk due to the lack of health care. (350,000) Chronic patients at risk due to blocked medications.

(99) Cases of arrest among health personnel. (10) Cases of arrests among identified journalists. (2 million) Displaced people in the Gaza Strip.

(140) Government headquarters destroyed. (100) Completely destroyed schools and universities. (295) Partially destroyed schools and universities. (183) Completely destroyed mosques. (264) Partially destroyed mosques. (3) Destroyed Churches.

(79,200) Completely destroyed housing units. (290,000) Partially destroyed and uninhabitable housing units. (66,000) tons of explosives dropped on Gaza. (30) Hospitals knocked out of service. (53) Health centers knocked out of service. (150) Partially targeted Health institutions. (122) Destroyed ambulances. (200) Destroyed archaeological and heritage sites.

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The Israeli occupation regime forces and settlers have restricted entry of relief and aid trucks into Gaza Strip, leading to famine among Palestinians, February 17, 2024	UNRWA services office in Jineen, which Israel and its supports want to destroy, part of their genocidal war on the Palestinian people, February 17, 2024
Children represented most of the victims of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip, as in this scene, February 17, 2024	Some victims of the Israeli genocidal air strikes on Dair El-Bala'h, treated at Shuhada Al-Aqsa hospital, February 16, 2024
A Palestinian house in Dair El-Bala'h, which was destroyed by an Israeli genocidal air strike, on February 17, 2024	Victims of the Israeli genocidal air strikes arrive at Shuhada Al-Aqsa hostpital, in Dair El-Bala'h, February 17, 2024

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). 

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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/


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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.

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ICJ: Israel remains bound to comply with the Genocide Convention

Saturday 17-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its decision on the urgent request submitted by South Africa regarding the situation in Rafa'h, stressing that “Israel remains bound to comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, including ensuring the security of the Palestinians in Gaza.”

The top UN court said, “The most recent developments in the Gaza Strip and in Rafa'h particularly, would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences,” noting that “the perilous situation in Gaza demands immediate and effective implementation of the measures referred to in the Order issued on January 26.”

“The Court emphasizes that the State of Israel remains bound to fully comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and with the said Order, including by ensuring the safety and security of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” it added.

The South African government submitted an urgent request to the ICJ to consider whether the decision announced by Israel to expand its military operations in Rafah, the last refuge for survivors in Gaza, demands that the court use its authority to prevent further imminent violations of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza.

South Africa said, in a request submitted to the court on Monday, it is deeply concerned that the unprecedented military attack on Rafa'h has already led to more widespread killing, harm and destruction.

By February 16, 2024, since October 7, the Israeli occupation army has been waging its aggression against the Gaza Strip, leading to the killing of 28,775 citizens and the injury of 68,552 others, in addition to the displacement of more than 85 percent (about 1.9 million people) of the Strip’s population, according to the Strip’s authorities and international bodies and organizations. 

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The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime aims to destroy UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), head says

GENEVA, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) –

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime is waging a concerted campaign aimed at destroying UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, the head of the UN agency said in a press interview published today.

Philippe Lazzarini said calls for his resignation were part of the Israeli government’s endeavors in this direction.

“Right now we are dealing with an expanded, concerted campaign by Israel aimed at destroying UNRWA,” he told the Swiss newspaper group Tamedia.

“It is a long-term political goal because it is believed that if the aid agency is abolished, the status of the Palestinian refugees will be resolved once and for all -- and with it, the right of return. There is a much larger political goal behind this.

"Just look at the number of actions Israel is taking against UNRWA," the main aid body in the Gaza Strip, he said.

He cited measures in the Israeli parliament aimed at removing the Agency’s VAT exemption and orders for contractors at Israel’s port of Ashdod to "stop handling certain food deliveries for UNRWA." He added, "And all these demands come from the government."

Furthermore, Lazzarini said more than 150 UNRWA installations have been hit since the Israeli aggression on Gaza began.

He pointed out that Israel was alone in calling for him to quit and there was “no reason” to comply with a single UN member state’s demand for him to go, “especially since my resignation would not improve the situation at UNRWA.”

“The criticisms are not concerned with me personally, but with the organization as a whole. The calls for resignation are part of the campaign to destroy UNRWA,” he said.

By February 16, 2024, the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip since October 7 has since killed at least 28,775 people, mostly women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

M.N.

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Haniyya: 'Hamas deals positively and responsibly with ceasefire talks

Saturday 17-February-2024, DO'HA, (PIC)

Head of the 'Hamas’s political bureau, Isma'eel Haniyya has affirmed that his Movement is doing everything it can to stop the bloodbath that is taking place in the Gaza Strip at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces.

In a statement on Saturday, Haniyya affirmed that his Movement would continue to respond positively and responsibly to the mediators in order to stop the Israeli aggression against its people in Gaza, but it would never give up its people’s great sacrifices and the resistance’s achievements.

Haniyya said that his Movement showed flexibility in the ceasefire talks, but the Israeli occupation regime continues to manipulate and stall on issues that concern the Palestinian people in Gaza, while its position is focused on the release of its captives.

The 'Hamas leader stressed that the resistance would not accept anything less than a complete cessation of the aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza and the lifting of the unjust siege.

He also said that the resistance calls for providing safe and appropriate shelters for the displaced people, allowing the families to return to northern Gaza, ending the starvation policy and making a commitment to reconstruct Gaza.

He highlighted that his Movement aims to achieve a prisoner exchange deal that leads to the release of the Palestinian prisoners, especially those who are serving long terms or have spent long years in Israeli jails.

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Badran: Netanyahu bears responsibility for the lives of Israeli captives

Friday 16-February-2024, DOHA, (PIC)

'Hosam Badran, a member of the 'Hamas Movemen political bureau, confirmed on Friday that Netanyahu and the Israeli war council bear responsibility for the lives of Israeli captives held by the Palestinian resistance.

Badran said in media statements: “The threats of the occupation army leaders do not intimidate the leaders of the resistance and 'Hamas.”

He emphasized that “our priority is to stop the aggression and massacres against our Palestinian people,” but added, “We put the interests of our Palestinian people and their aspirations in mind during our negotiations with the Israeli enemy.”

Badran continued, “Netanyahu personally stands against making any progress in the negotiation process.”

Regarding the Israeli allegations about the resistance’s use of hospitals in Gaza, Badran said, “We are ready to let Gaza’s hospitals be monitored and inspected by any international body.”

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Abu 'Obayda: Our people will not be defeated

Friday 16-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

Spokesperson for the 'Hamas Movement’s armed wing, Abu 'Obayda, said that “133 days have passed since the beginning of the Aqsa Flood operation, which changed and will change the face of the region and marked the beginning of the end and the decline of the longest and last occupation in contemporary history.”

“Our mujahideen (holy fighters) are inflicting heavy losses on the enemy’s [Israel’s] ranks that are unprecedented in the history of our people,” he said in a recent recorded statement obtained and aired by Al-Jazeera tv channel on Friday evening.

“The scenes we broadcast are part of what our fighters are carrying out in the field, and we prefer to postpone the broadcast of some scenes for security reasons.”

“We are carrying out specific deadly operations in parallel with the work of the nation’s resistance forces.”

“We warned dozens of times about the dangers to which enemy prisoners held by the resistance were exposed, but the enemy leadership ignored this.”

“The losses among captives have become very large. We have tried to protect and care for the prisoners for months to achieve the interests of our people, and we are still striving to do so.”

“Captives are living in difficult conditions and struggling for life. We are trying to protect their lives, and the enemy army deliberately killed and wounded its prisoners.”

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UN Relief Chief: 'Hamas is not a terrorist group

Friday 16-February-2024, LONDON, (PIC)

UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told a representative from Sky News on Wednesday that he did not consider 'Hamas to be a terrorist group.

Asked about the feasibility of Israel’s military goal to eliminate 'Hamas, Griffiths responded, “'Hamas is not a terrorist group for us, as you know, it is a political movement. But, I think it is very difficult to dislodge these groups without a negotiated solution; which includes their aspirations.”

“I cannot think of an example offhand of a place where a victory through warfare has succeeded against a well-entrenched group, terrorist or otherwise.”

Griffiths acknowledged the trauma caused by 'Hamas’s actions but underscored the necessity for Israel to establish relationships with its neighbors, regardless of the group’s political status.

He further expressed concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, highlighting the challenges faced by Palestinians in accessing aid and finding safe havens amid ongoing military operations.

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Israeli occupation army bars access of UN aid convoy to Nasir Hospital in Gaza

Saturday 17-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Friday that the Israeli occupation army blocked a World Health Organization (WHO) aid convoy and top UN officials from reaching the besieged Nasir Hospital in Khan Younus.

In a statement, the Ministry said that the convoy, which consists of two trucks carrying food, water and fuel, had been stopped by the Israeli army on the road for several hours, while bulldozers dug holes in front of and behind the convoy.

There was no information if the Israeli occupation army released the convoy later and allowed it to go back or reach the hospital.

In this regard, Palestinian minister of health Mai Kayla accused the Israeli army of committing a genocidal crime against the remaining displaced civilians, patients and medical staff at the Nasser Hospital.

Kayla warned that there would be a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip if the hospital stopped providing medical services, describing the facility as the backbone of the health system in the war-torn territory.

For its part, WHO described the reports emerging from the Nasser hospital as “deeply alarming” and expressed its concern over the safety of the patients, health workers, and civilians sheltering at the facility.

WHO spokesperson Tariq Jasarevic told journalists at a press briefing in Geneva that the UN health body was trying to gain urgent access to the hospital.

“We really need to get there to bring fuel so [the] hospital can continue to function and those patients who are still there can continue to receive medical care,” he said, also stressing the need to assess the conditions of patients and for their safe referral to other facilities.

“We have been saying all this time…that patients, health workers and civilians who are seeking refuge in hospitals deserve safety and not a burial in those places of healing,” he added.

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UN official: We demand security guarantees for the entry of supplies to end famine in Gaza

Saturday 17-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), Cindy McCain, said on Friday “We demand security guarantees” to bring food supplies into Gaza Strip to end the famine threatening more than 2.2 million people in the enclave.

McCain added, in a post on the UN program’s account on X: “WFP has food supplies waiting at the Gaza border and we will be able to scale up to feed 2.2 million people across the Strip. But we must have security guarantees and sustained access to deliver safely.”

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

On February 17, 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 9 massacres, in which  83 Palestinian civilians were killed, and 125 were injured, in the past 24 hours. This increased the death toll in Gaza Strip to 28,858 and the injuries to 68,677, since October 7, 2023.   

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Gaza: Death toll surges to 28,858 martyrs

Saturday 17-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Saturday that the Israeli occupation army committed nine massacres in different areas of the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, killing at least 83 civilians and injuring over 125 others, while a large number of victims are still under the rubble of bombed buildings or lying on roads.

In a statement, the health ministry added that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli bombardments, which started on October 7, climbed to 28,858 martyrs and the number of the wounded surged to 68,677 people.

Every day, the Israeli army escalates its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless bombardment since a cross-border operation was launched by Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, on October 7.

Besides the large number of casualties and the huge displacement of people, basic food, fuel, water and medical supplies have run out for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the tight Israeli blockade and the massive destruction of infrastructure and facilities.

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The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces commit nine massacres during the last 24 hours in Gaza

GAZA, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) – 

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime army committed nine massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 83 people and wounding over 125 others during the past 24 hours, according to local and medical sources.

Thousands of victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, as Israeli occupation forces continue to obstruct the arrival of ambulance and civil defense teams.

By February 16, the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has resulted in more than 28,775 confirmed fatalities, including over 12,000 children. Additionally, over 68,552 people have been injured. 

Y.S.

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‎The number of martyrs of the Israeli occupation forces shelling in the central Gaza Strip rises to 40‎

‎Gaza 17-2-2024 Wafa -

The number of martyrs of the Israeli occupation forces bombardment of Palestinian homes in the central Gaza Strip rose this evening, Saturday, to 40 martyrs.‎

‎According to local sources, the number of martyrs rose to 40 in a series of Israeli raids that targeted about 10 homes in the areas of Zawayida and Dair El-Bala'h in the central Gaza Strip, in addition to the presence of dozens under the rubble.‎

‎Israeli warplanes also launched a raid on Al-Sikka Street in Bait 'Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, and another east of Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.‎

‎By February 17, the number of martyrs, who were killed by the Israeli genocidal air strikes, rose to 28,858, the majority of them women and children, and the wounded to 68,677, since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7.‎

‎M.A.‎

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Israeli genocidal airstrikes on central Gaza kill 8 Palestinians, including children

GAZA, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) –

At least eight Palestinian civilians, including children, were killed and dozens more injured this afternoon in a series of Israeli genocidal airstrikes which targeted residential homes in the town of Zawayida in central Gaza, according to local and medical sources.

Israeli warplanes bombed over five inhabited houses in various areas of central Gaza, particularly in the town of Zawayida, resulting in the killing of at least eight civilians and leaving scores injured, with others still trapped under the rubble, the sources said.

In Khan Younus, southern Gaza, the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces continue the detention of 12 of its team members, including seven individuals taken into custody from Red Crescent-affiliated Al-Amal Hospital over a week ago.

The society expressed its deep concern for the safety of its detained personnel— whose fate remains unknown, urging the international community to intervene and press the occupation authorities to immediately release its detained members and to ensure protection for its teams working in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier today, health authorities in Gaza announced that the Israeli military had committed nine massacres against families in the Gaza Strip during the previous 24 hours, leading to the killing of 83 civilians and injuring 125 others.

Medical sources further reported that several victims are still trapped under the debris and on the streets across the enclave, as Israeli occupation forces are preventing the arrival of ambulance and civil defense teams in multiple areas where ground Israeli troops are deployed.

By February 16, 2024, the death toll of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7th has now risen to a documented 28,858, with 68,677 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

M.N.

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Scores of civilians killed following intense Israeli genocidal shelling on Gaza Strip

GAZA, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Scores of civilians today were killed and others were wounded in the ongoing Israeli genocidal airstrikes that targeted multiple areas across Gaza Strip as the Israeli war of genocide enters its 134th day, according to local and medical sources.  

Medical sources said that Israeli warplanes bombed three houses in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, and two houses in the Al-Sabra neighborhood in the center of the city, resulting in the killing of at least 10 people and the injury of 20 others.

Israeli occupation forces also targeted a house in Dair El-Bala'h in the central Gaza Strip, wounding six people, including two children.

In Rafa'h, south of the Strip, Israeli fighter jets carried out three attacks on the Shabboura camp in the center of the city, resulting in the killing of at least six people and causing injury to nine others.

Meanwhile, occupation artillery shelled with several missiles the eastern and southern border areas.

Furthermore, a Palestinian civilian was further reported killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a house in the Al-Junaina neighborhood, in the center of the city of Rafa'h, south of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes also targeted the town of Al-Qarara, north of Khan Younus, coinciding with artillery shelling by Israeli occupation forces in the Shaikh Radhwan neighborhood, in northern Gaza.

Israeli artillery forces further intensively bombed the southern and eastern areas of the city of Dair El-Bala'h, in the central Gaza Strip.

The occupation forces continued their military siege of Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younus city, amid a power outage.

Power generators inside the Complex are expected to stop operating due to running out of fuel, which led to the tragic killing of at least five patients.

Medical sources added that around five medical personnel are still working inside the Complex, under harsh and frightening conditions, lacking adequate medical supplies, facing a power outage and facing a severe shortage of water food, and medicines.

Oxygen support and feeding tubes have stopped operating inside the complex due to the ongoing Israeli shelling.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and drones deliberately shoot anyone who try to move by gun-firing drones in the Complex’s courtyards or within its departments.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the situation in the Nasser Medical Complex is dangerous and catastrophic, as Israeli occupation forces compelled the administration of Nasser Medical Complex to evacuate maternity and surgery department and relocate patients to the old Nasser building under Israel’s indiscriminate shooting and bombardment in a clear violation of all humanitarian, legal and international norms and values.

The Complex's patients, including children, women and the elderly, are at an imminent risk of death due to the ongoing Israeli shelling of the Complex, where four patients were killed today due to a lack of oxygen after Israeli forces cutting off electricity.

The ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has resulted in more than 28,775 confirmed fatalities, including over 12,000 children. Additionally, over 68,552 people have been injured. 

Y.S.

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Ambulances retrieve bodies of ten civilians in different parts of Gaza and Khan Younus cities

GAZA, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Civil defense and ambulance teams today retrieved the bodies of ten people from the rubble of multiple houses bombed in Israeli airstrikes that trageted different parts of the cities of Gaza and Khan Younus, according to local and medical sources.

Medical sources said that the bodies of five civilians belonging to the Masoud family were retrieved following an Israeli airstrike that targeted their home in Gaza City.

Ambulance and rescue teams said that at least six members from Masoud family are still missing under the rubble.

Meanwhile, the bodies of five others were also retrieved following an Israeli airstrike targeting a house in the town of Al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younus.

By February 2024, the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has resulted in more than 28,775 confirmed fatalities, including over 12,000 children. Additionally, over 68,552 people have been injured

Y.S.

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

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces raid towns, villages in Jenin, set up flying checkpoints

JENIN, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces today raided several towns and villages in Jenin Governorate, according to local sources.

The Israeli occupation forces raided multiple towns and villages in Jenin city and roamed several streets and neighborhoods, without any reported kidnappings.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces also set up several flying military checkpoints at the entrances to the multiple villages of Jenin city, where they stopped and inspected vehicles and checked their ID cards.

Y.S.

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The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces raid Ramallah-area village, shower residents with tear gas

RMALLAH, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) -- 

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces today raided the village of Dair Ghassana, northwest of Ramallah, according to local and security sources.

The occupation forces stationed in the middle of the village, during which they fired stun grenades and volleys of tear gas bombs towards local residents.

However, no injuries or kidnappings were reported during the raid.

​​ Y.S.

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IOFs storm West Bank areas, kidnap several Palestinians

Saturday 17-February-2024, WEST BANK, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) stormed at dawn Saturday different areas of the West Bank, raided homes and kidnaped a number of Palestinian citizens, mostly workers.

According to local sources, the IOFs kidnaped a young man from his home in Azza refugee camp in Bethlehem City.

The IOFs also raided several homes in Bait Iba town, northwest of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), and kidnaped a woman identified as Shurouq 'Hizam.

In Jineen, the IOFs kidnaped about 20 workmen during a raid in Barta’a town, which is isolated by the Apartheid Wall.

The IOFs also stormed other areas of the West Bank, with no reported kidnappings.

In Al-Quds (east Jerusalem), the Israeli occupation regime police forces raided Al-'Eisawiya district and Bait 'Haneena town and imposed movement restrictions on Palestinian citizens at 'Hizma checkpoint.

The Israeli occupation regime police forces also stormed Shu'fat refugee camp in the northeast of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and ransacked a house belonging to the family of martyr Fadi Jamjoum, who carried out on Friday a shooting operation in Kiryat Malachi area in the southern district of Israel (1948 occupied Palestine).

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Total kidnappings: 22

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Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

Illegal Israeli settlers assault three Palestinians south of Nablus

NABLUS, Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) –

A group of illegal Israeli settlers attacked three Palestinian young men today outside the village of 'Aseera Al-Qibliya, located south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

Hafidth Sali'h, the head of the village council of 'Aseera Al-Qibliya, informed WAFA that a security guard from the nearby Yitzhar colony—illegally built on stolen Palestinian lands—accompanied by a group of colonists set up a roadblock at the entrance to the village.

The illegal Israeli settlers forcibly took three young men out of their vehicle and assaulted them as they attempted to pass through the roadblock, Sali'h added. He said the assailants threatened to burn the vehicle if the three young men returned to the area.

This is not the first time settlers have set up a roadblock at the village entrance, he further added, saying the locals have become accustomed to these checkpoints since October 7 of last year.

M.N.

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Israel forces Palestinian landlord in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) to demolish his own home

Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Saturday, February 17, 2024 (WAFA) –

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime compelled a Palestinian citizen today to demolish his own home in the neighborhood of Silwan in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), citing unauthorized construction as a pretext for the demolition, according to local sources.

'Ali 'Oda, the home owner, was forced into self-demolishing his home under the pretext of building it without an Israeli construction permit, the sources said.

Israeli occupation authorities frequently coerce Palestinian residents, particularly in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), into self-demolishing their homes, citing alleged lack of permits. Those who resist this measure often witness their homes being demolished by Israeli bulldozers, accompanied by hefty fines imposed on the homeowners.

The all-Israeli municipality in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) consistently denies building permits to Palestinians and either demolishes or compels them to self-demolish their homes. These actions are against international laws and humanitarian principles that safeguard the right to housing.

These policies are part of Israel's systematic practices aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians while expanding colonial settlements in and around the city.

M.N.

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