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 137 of the US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 9 Massacres, 103 Palestinians Killed, 142 Injured, with a Death Toll of  29,195 and 69,173 Injuries

February 20, 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 20, 2024, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 36,195+.   

This includes the accounted for deaths (29,195) and those who are still missing under the rubble (Corrected on February 7, 2024: 7,000+).   

By February 20, 2024, the documented injuries exceeded 69,173, 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 20, 2024, there were 410 Palestinians who were killed, 3,650 who were injured, and 7,120, 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.

*** 

***

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.

***

A crying Palestinian woman carrying her dead child, who was killed by an Israeli genocidal air strikes on Gaza Strip, February 20, 2020	Palestinian women in Gaza have been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked,  searched by males, and raped, according to a UN Report, February 20, 2024
Some ot the Palestinian victims who were killed by Israeli genocidal air strikes on Gaza Strip, on February 20, 2024	103 Palestinian killed, 145 injured, mostly women and children , by Israeli genocidal air strikes on Gaza Strip, February 20, 2024
More than one million Palestinians are suffering from infectious diseases, due to crowdedness, shortage of water and medicine, imposed by Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip, February 2024	A view of the Israeli genocidal mass destruction of Gaza city, February 20, 2024
Searching for the victims who were killed and injured by Israeli genocidal air strikes on Al-Nusayrat residential neighborhoods, on February 20, 2024	Performing prayer and bidding farewell to the Palestinian victims who were killed by Israeli genocidal air strikes on Rafa'h, on February 20, 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). 

***

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.

***

***

US vetoes Algerian resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza

NEW YORK, Monday, February 20, 2024 (WAFA) -

During the UN security meeting today on the situation in the Gaza Strip, the United States vetoed the latest resolution that was put forward on behalf of Arab States by Algeria, which demanded “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties.”

The resolution has failed to be adopted due to a veto by the United States. The voting was 13 in favor, 1 abstention (the UK) with the US voting against.

Algeria, on behalf of Arab states, submitted a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been under brutal Israeli aggression since October 7.

The draft resolution also rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians, called for compliance with international law and renewed the call for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

'Ammar Bin Jami', the Algerian Ambassador, introduced his country's resolution, saying it was a product of extensive discussions.

He said the Council "cannot afford passivity" in the face of what is unfolding in Gaza. He says the Council must follow its mandate, and demand an immediate ceasefire.

“Throughout this process we have heard calls to give time to a parallel track, with concerns raised that any action from the Council would jeopardize these efforts, however, almost one month after the ICJ orders, signs of hope are still absent for improvement on the situation in Gaza. Silence is not a viable option. Now is the time for action and the time for truth,” he said.

T.R.

***

UN voices alarm over reports of serious Israeli violations against Palestinian women

Tuesday 20-February-2024, GENEVA, (PIC)

UN experts have expressed their concern over reports of gross human rights violations, including sexual assaults and executions, committed by the Israeli army against Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a statement on Monday that it had received information that Palestinian women and girls have “reportedly been arbitrarily executed in Gaza, often together with family members, including their children”.

The UN experts said they were “shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces.”

The UN experts expressed alarm over the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls including human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers in Gaza and the West Bank.

Many Palestinians women and girls have reportedly been subjected to inhuman treatment, denied menstrual pads, food and medicine and also severely beaten by Israeli forces, the OHCHR said.

On at least one occasion, Palestinian women detained in Gaza were allegedly kept in a cage in the rain and cold, without food, according to OHCHR.

“We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence,” the UN experts said.

The experts noted that photos of female detainees in degrading conditions were also reportedly taken by the Israeli army and uploaded online.

An unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, have reportedly gone missing after being detained by the Israeli army in Gaza, the experts said.

“There are disturbing reports of at least one female infant forcibly transferred by the Israeli army into Israel, and of children being separated from their parents, whose whereabouts remain unknown,” they said.

They called for an independent, impartial and effective investigation into such incidents and for Israel to cooperate.

“Taken together, these alleged acts may constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and amount to serious crimes under international criminal law that could be prosecuted under the Rome Statute,” the experts said.

“Those responsible for these apparent crimes must be held accountable and victims and their families are entitled to full redress and justice,” the experts emphasized.

***

'Hamas calls for int’l probe into exposure of Palestinian women to Israeli crimes,

Tuesday 20-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The 'Hamas Movement has called for launching an international investigation into the crimes that were committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian citizens, especially the gross human rights violations against women and girls in the Gaza Strip.

“The statement that was released by a galaxy of UN experts, which documented serious human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, confirms and proves further the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing that are being committed by the occupation regime led by war criminal Netanyahu and its Nazi army against our Palestinian people,” Hamas said in a statement on Tuesday.

“What the experts said about the exposure of Palestinian women to different violations by the occupation army, such as executions, arbitrary arrests, severe beatings and deprivation of food and medicine during detention, in addition to threats of rape and insults during interrogation, entail international investigational action against this rogue entity to hold it and its leaders accountable for their brutal crimes,” Hamas added.

In a recent statement, UN experts have expressed their concern over reports of gross human rights violations, including sexual assaults and executions, committed by the Israeli army against Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023. 

***

UNRWA: Schools in northern Gaza became “unrecognizable”

Tuesday 20-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

UNRWA has said that the schools in northern Gaza have become unrecognizable after Israeli attacks reduced them to rubble.

In a brief statement on its X page on Monday, the UN refugee agency said that “in Rafa'h, half the population have nowhere to go but UNRWA shelters.”

“153 different UNRWA installations have been attacked during the war in Gaza. Children should be in our schools to learn, not shelter from bombs,” the agency added.

Last Saturday, UNRWA said that the Israeli army’s intensified airstrikes on Rafa'h led many civilians to flee Rafa'h to the central areas of Gaza, while people in the north are on the verge of famine.

***

Civil Defense appeals for saving Palestinians in Rafa'h from exposure to infectious diseases

Tuesday 20-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and the League of Arab States to provide relief to thousands of displaced Palestinians in Rafa'h in southern Gaza, as many of them have been suffering from infectious diseases under very miserable conditions.

Civil Defense spokesman Ma'hmoud Basal confirmed in a press statement on Monday that the displaced people are grappling with miserable living conditions in light of the cold weather, food scarcity, and fear of being targeted by Israeli genocidal airstrikes.

Basal warned against committing more crimes in Rafa'h which shelters hundreds of thousands of displaced people, stressing that civil defense crews “will not be able to respond to citizens’ calls and distresses, which would result in thousands of civilian casualties, in light of the Israeli occupation’s destruction of most hospitals, civil defense and health care centers.

For the 136th day, the Israeli occupation army has been waging its bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip, with the US and European support, leading to the martyrdom of 29,092 people and the injury of 69,028 others, in addition to the displacement of more than 85 percent (about 1.9 million people) of the Strip’s population, according to official authorities and international bodies and organizations. 

***

***

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

On February 19, 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  103 Palestinian civilians were killed, and 142 were injured, in the past 24 hours. This increased the death toll in Gaza Strip to 29,195 and the injuries to 69,173, since October 7, 2023.   

*** 

Gaza: Death toll surges to 29,195 martyrs

Tuesday 20-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Tuesday that the Israeli occupation army committed nine massacres in different areas of the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, killing at least 103 civilians and injuring over 142 others, while a large number of victims are still buried 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 29,195 martyrs and the number of the wounded surged to 69,173 people.

The health ministry also said that 18 patients had been evacuated from the Nasser Hospital to field hospitals, adding that 118 other patients are still inside the facility.

The situation inside the Nasser Hospital, which the Israeli army turned into a military outpost, has become more catastrophic and life-threatening, according to the ministry.

The Nasir Hospital has no electricity, water, food, milk for children, oxygen and other vital medical needs — a situation that threatens the lives of the patients and medical staff.

In the West Bank, the death toll of the Palestinian citizens — who have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces since October 7, 2023 — climbed to 412 martyrs on Monday, February 19. 

***

US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza enters Day 137

Tuesday 20-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

As the US-backed Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip entered Day 137 on Tuesday, 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, killing and injuring dozens of citizens.

According to local media sources, Israeli warplanes simultaneously bombed two homes and a gathering of civilians in Al-Nusayrat refugee camp and a third house in al-Zahra area in central Gaza, killing and injuring several citizens.

Casualties, including at least 15 martyrs, were reported following multiple Israeli attacks on several homes in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

Thousands of civilians had to flee their homes in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood after Israeli forces and armed vehicles stormed it and embarked on bombing homes and opening fire at citizens in its streets.

Five civilians were also martyred and three others were injured after the Israeli army bombed a house in al-Sabra neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.

An unknown number of casualties were also reported following an Israeli attack on a house in al-Zahra City in central Gaza.

A number of citizens were wounded and transferred to Kamal 'Adwan Hospital after the Israeli army carried out attacks on Bait Lahya, while a 15-year-old teenager died of a serious injury following an attack on Khan Younus.

Another citizen was shot dead by an Israeli sniper in 'Abasan al-Kabira area in eastern Khan Younus.

The Israeli army also bombed a house belonging to Qaraman family in Al-Nusayrat  refugee camp in central Gaza, killing four civilians.

Other casualties were reported in different areas of Gaza following Israeli aerial, artillery and shooting attacks last night and today.

***

Death toll of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza jumps to 29,195

GAZA, Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (WAFA) –

The death toll from Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip has jumped to 29,195 since October 7, 2023, medical sources said Tuesday.

They added that 69,170 people have been injured so far.

In the past 24 hours, the Israeli army atrocities across the Gaza Strip left 103 people dead and 142 others injured.

“Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads and rescuers can’t reach them,” the sources noted.

K.T. 

***

***

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

Israeli occupation forces detain 30 Palestinians across the West Bank

RAMALLAH, Monday, February 19, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Israeli occupation forces today detained 20 Palestinian civilians from the West Bank, including two prisoners released under the swap deal that was agreed under a temporary truce in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

PPS said in statement that the detention operations took place in different cities across the occupied West Bank such as Ramallah, Al-Khaleel (Hebron), Toulkarm, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jenin, and Jerusalem, during which the soldiers brutally abused and assaulted during the detention.

It said that during the raid and detention campaigns, the Israeli occupation army inflected damage to civilians' homes and tampered with their contents.  

The total number of Palestinians detained since October 7 has risen to 7,120.

Meanwhile, the occupation army continued to carry out the crime of enforced disappearance against Gaza detainees as Israeli aggression on Gaza enters its 137 day.

The occupation authorities refuses to provide human rights institutions with any information regarding their fate and places of detention to this day.

Y.S.

***

IOFs carry out large-scale raid and kidnapping campaign in the West Bank

Tuesday 20-February-2024, WEST BANK, (PIC)

Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) launched overnight and at dawn Tuesday a large-scale raid and kidnapping campaign across the West Bank, storming many Palestinian homes, kidnapping, and abusing residents, leading to the eruption of confrontations and armed clashes between resistance fighters and IOFs. Some injuries among Palestinians were reported.

Israeli troops raided several cities, towns, and refugee camps in the West Bank, particularly in Toubas, Toulkarm, Jineen, Nablus, Ramallah, and Al-Khaleel governorates in addition to Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem).

As a result, fierce clashes broke out between Palestinian resistance fighters on one hand and the Israeli occupation soldiers and illegal settlers on the other.

In Toubas, Israeli occupation troops, and illegal Jewish settlers, who were escorted by military bulldozers and military reinforcement, raided the city, kidnapped three young men, including two brothers, and injured a fourth young man who was shot in his leg and was transferred to hospital. Sounds of bombing and shooting were heard during the incursion.

Two young men were also rounded up in Burqa town in Jenin after storming, searching and wreaking havoc inside their homes. In Nablus, the IOF continued to encircle the city tightly amid breaking into its houses and assaulting the residents.

Two other young men were kidnapped in  Toulkarm and Ramallah, while a group of fanatic illegal Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians’ houses in Sinjil town, north of Ramallah, leading to clashes with the IOFs while withdrawing from the city.

Meanwhile, the IOFs raided Bait Ummar town in northern Al-Khaleel, kidnapped a young man and confiscated his car.

As for  Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem), Israeli police rounded up two young men from Bait Soureek and Biddo towns in northwest Jerusalem. One of the two detainees was released during the latest prisoner swap deal.

At dawn hours, Israeli occupation forces were heavily deployed in the streets of Shu'fat refugee camp in Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem). 

***

***

Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

Israeli bulldozers demolish 8-story building in Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem)

Tuesday 20-February-2024, Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem), (PIC)

Israeli occupation regime bulldozers demolished on Tuesday morning an eight-story building in the town of Bait 'Haneena, north of Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem).

Large numbers of the Israeli security forces were deployed in the vicinity of the under-construction building, owned by the Maqdisi (Jerusalemite) Fareed Abu Zahariya, and began demolishing the upper floors of the building with bulldozers. Each floor has an area of 300 square meters.

This comes in light of the escalating systematic policy of demolishing Palestinians’ homes in the West Bank and Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem), in addition to dozens of evacuation notices against houses located in areas adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque, for settlement purposes.

Since October 7, the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem has begun accelerating the rate of home demolition operations against Jerusalemites. More than 140 homes in Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem) neighborhoods were knocked down in 2023 so far. 

***

Israeli occupation forces chase Palestinian shepherds and destroy water pipes in Masafir Yatta

Al-Khaleel (Hebron), Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Israeli occupation forces today chased Palestinian shepherds out of their pasture in Masafir Yatta.

Sources said that the occupation army chased the shepherds and prevented them from grazing their cattle on agricultural farmlands threatened with seizure.

Three shepherds were reported detained by occupation forces.   

Meanwhile, Israeli forces further destroyed water pipes supplying the village of Susiya in Masafir Yatta.

There is a surge in illegal settler and occupation forces attacks against Palestinians and their proprieties in Masafir Yatta, including seizing large tracts of pastoral areas and chasing shepherds.

Y.S.

***

Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinian shepherds in Bait La'hm (Bethlehem) city

Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Illegal Israeli settlers today assaulted Palestinian shepherds in the village of Al-Minya, southeast of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem).

Zayed Kawazbeh, the head of the Minya village council, said that a group of colonists, heavily guarded by occupation army, assaulted Palestinian shepherds in order  in order to force them to abandon the area for colonial expansion.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces further fired volleys of tear gas bombs towards villagers, causing dozens to suffocate due to inhaling tear gas.

Illegal Israeli settlers have escalated their attacks against shepherds in Bait La'hm (Bethlehem)

Y.S.

***

Illegal sraeli settlers attack Palestinian house near Ramallah

RAMALLAH, Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Illegal Israeli settlers Tuesday dawn attacked a Palestinian house in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah.

Local sources said that a group of illegal Israeli settlers attacked the house of local resident Ma'hmoud 'Awashra, broke its windows, and spay-painted racist slogans on its doors.

Extremist illegal Israeli settlers’ violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.

Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in illegal Jewish-only settlements across Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) and the West Bank in violation of international law.

All settlements across the West Bank are illegal under international law, particularly article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which establishes that the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.

K.T. 

***

***