Documentation of the Israeli abuse of power, mistreatment of humanity, and perpetration of the genocidal war on the Palestinian people in the  Gaza Strip.

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2 Palestinian Children Killed by Israeli Snipers and Ordinance Explosion, 2 Fishermen Injured, 20,000 Displaced, 470 Facilities and Homes Destroyed in Jineen by the Israeli Occupation Forces

February 14, 2025

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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 the Gaza Strip, based on the reliable data reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza:

By February 13, 2025, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 61,786+.   

This includes the accounted for deaths (48,239), those who are still missing under the rubble (an estimate of at least 13,561+). 

By February 13, 2025, the documented injuries exceeded 111,676.

By February 14, 2025, 895 Palestinians who were killed, 6,822 who were injured, and 11,190*, who were abducted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, since October 7, 2023, including 310 women and 640 children (Some of the detainees have been released).  

Note: The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported, on February 8, 2025, that the names of 572 Palestinians have been added to the overall death toll after checking their details by relevant authorities.

***

A Palestinian child was killed when an Israeli unexploded ordnance exploded in Al-Nusayrat, another teen was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper's gunfire in Al-Buraij, on February 13, 2025 pic	About 40,000 Palestinians perform Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, amidst tight Israeli restrictions, February 14, 2025.
Southern Lebanese people continued returning to their villages, despite the continued Israeli occupation army violations of the ceasefire, by blowing up their homes in Al-Nabatiyyah, February 14, 2025.	Palestinian detainee 'Abbas Al-Sayid who was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces from the city of Toulkarm has been subjected to horrific torture and mistreatment, as reported on February 14, 2025.
During the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli bombardment destroyed 22 Palestinian local radio stations and Al-Aqsa tv station, as reported by the Palestinian Journalists Forum, February 13, 2025.	20,000 Palestinians forced to flee the Jineen refugee camp, 470 of their homes and facilities were destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces, by February 14, 2025.
The UNRWA said that while relief operations in Gaza are making progress, many Palestinian families are returning to destroyed homes, leaving them vulnerable to the harsh winter conditions, February 14, 2025.	The Israeli offensive on Jineen has continued for the 25th consecutive day, resulting in the killing of 25 Palestinians, the injury of dozens, and widespread destruction of infrastructure and properties, February 14, 2025.
A limited number of humanitarian aid truck has been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip but many more are needed particularly those carrying tents and mobile homes, February 14, 2025.	Widespread destruction of infrastructure and properties in the Jineen refugee camp, as a result of the continuous Israeli occupation forces offensive, February 14, 2025.

***

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 (Since October 7, 2023), 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.

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

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Two children killed by Israeli gunfire, unexploded ordnance in Gaza

Thursday 13-February-2025

GAZA, (PIC)

Two Palestinian children have been killed in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday despite the ceasefire in the enclave.

A 14-year-old boy lost his life when an unexploded ordnance left behind by the Israeli occupation forces exploded in Al-Nusayrat refugee camp.

Another teen was shot and killed by Israeli snipers and his body was recovered in Al-Buraij refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip.

The new incidents occurred as the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement continued to hold.

Last month, Luke Irving, director of the UN Mine Action Service in the occupied Palestinian territory, warned about the dangers of huge amounts of unexploded ordnance in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army launched an air attack in the Gaza Strip, despite a ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian territory.

An Israeli military statement claimed that the strike targeted a rocket launcher used to fire a rocket from inside the enclave.

No injuries were reported and there was no immediate Palestinian comment on the Israeli attack.

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Two fishermen injured as Israeli occupation forces target boat off Gaza’s coast

GAZA, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

Two Palestinian fishermen were injured on Friday after Israeli occupation forces targeted their boat off the coast of Gaza.

According to WAFA correspondent, Israeli naval boats fired two shells targeting a fishing boat near Gaza’s port, wounding two fishermen.

T.R.

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

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IOFs carry out more raids across the West Bank

Friday 14-February-2025

WEST BANK, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) continued to carry out overnight and early morning Friday raids across the West Bank amid violent clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters.

The Israeli occupation forces carried out a raid on the 'Askar refugee camp east of Nablus, firing tear gas and sound grenades in addition to live bullets as they searched homes.

The Palestinian resistance fighters have confronted Israeli troops storming the 'Askar refugee camp east of Nablus.

During the raids, IOFs kidnapped a young man at the 'Awarta checkpoint and assaulted him and broke into dozens of local houses amid heavy gunfire.

In Toulkarm, the Israeli occupation forces stormed the center of the city, demolished a house in the Nour Shams refugee camp, and continued their destructive campaign for 19 days in the area.

Hundreds of families were forced to flee their homes, amid widespread destruction of infrastructure and public facilities. The IOF also arrested two young men in the city.

The IOF soldiers were deployed throughout Tulkarem city, particularly in the market area, and near the Al-'Alami Roundabout, where they conducted searches and patrols.

Israeli military vehicles and soldiers stormed Toulkarm’s eastern suburb of Dthinnaba, searching homes and interrogating residents.

In Jineen, the Israeli occupation forces escalated attacks in the Jineen refugee camp for the 25th day, which has led to the martyrdom of 25 Palestinians so far.

20,000 Palestinians were displaced during the campaign amid a complete water and electricity outage. 470 facilities and homes were completely or partially destroyed.

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Several Palestinians suffocate by tear gas during confrontations south of Nablus

NABLUS, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

Several Palestinians suffocated by tear gas on Friday during confrontations that erupted following an Israeli military excursion into the town of Baita, south of Nablus, according to local sources.

Sources told WAFA that Israeli occupation forces fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at residents, causing multiple cases of suffocation. They were all treated at the scene.

Baita has been subjected to repeated attacks by Israeli forces and colonists since the establishment of the illegal colonial outpost of Avitar on Palestinian-owned land atop Mount Subai'h.

T.R. 

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20,000 Palestinians forced to flee their homes, 470 Palestinian homes and facilities destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces in Jineen

Friday 14-February-2025

Jineen, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) destroyed 470 homes and facilities completely or partially during the ongoing 25-day Israeli aggression on Jineen in the northern occupied West Bank.

25 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were injured during the campaign, in addition to the widespread destruction of infrastructure and properties.

20,000 Palestinians were also forced to flee their homes during the same reported period amid a stifling humanitarian crisis.

470 facilities and homes were completely or partially destroyed during the ongoing military campaign amid a complete water and electricity outage, and a severe shortage of food and basic needs.

The Israeli occupation forces are preventing water from reaching 4 main hospitals, which deprives 35% of the residents of the city of Jineen of water, increases the suffering of the residents, and exposes them to a health disaster.

Along the same line, the IOFs kidnapped 20 citizens in Jineen and its refugee camp, and carried out 153 house raids and 14 airstrikes.

Since the start of the Israeli campaign in the West Bank, at least 380 Palestinians have been kidnapped from Jineen, Toulkarm, and Toubas.

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Israeli military assault on Jineen enters its 25th day

Jineen, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

The Israeli military offensive in Jineen and its refugee camp has continued for the 25th consecutive day, resulting so far in the killing of 25 Palestinians, the injury of dozens, and widespread destruction of infrastructure and properties.

Local sources report that the ongoing assault, which has lasted for 24 days in the Jineen refugee camp, has forced 20,000 residents to flee their homes amid severe destruction and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

According to the sources, 470 homes and structures have been either completely or partially destroyed due to continuous shelling and demolitions. Residents of the city and the camp are also facing complete and partial cutoffs of water and electricity, along with severe shortages of food and essential supplies, particularly affecting children. Schools and healthcare services have also come to a complete halt.

During the ongoing assault, Israeli forces have blocked water access to four major hospitals, depriving 35% of Jineen’s residents of clean water, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and increasing the risk of a public health catastrophe.

Since the beginning of the offensive, Israeli forces have arrested at least 120 residents from Jenin and its refugee camp, subjecting many to field interrogations. The army has also carried out 153 home raids and launched 14 airstrikes, causing significant damage to residential areas and infrastructure.

On Thursday, two civilians were injured after being assaulted by Israeli forces at the Al-Jalama military checkpoint north of Jineen. Additionally, an Israeli strike targeted a vehicle in the eastern neighborhood of the city the same day, though no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation authorities have issued a demolition notice to the family of Hammam and 'Harith Hashash in Jineen, whose home had already been partially destroyed and burned down last July after a siege that ended in their killing. The family has been given 72 hours before the house is demolished completely.

The Palestinian Prisoner's Society reported that Israeli forces have detained at least 380 individuals from the Jineen, Toulkarm, and Toubas governorates since the beginning of the ongoing military offensive.

M.N.

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Human rights organization holds IPS responsible for the life of detainee 'Abbas Al-Sayid

Friday 14-February-2025

RAMALLAH, (PIC)

Al-'Ahd International Foundation has held the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) fully responsible for the fate of detainee 'Abbas Al-Sayid (59 years old) from the city of Toulkarm. This statement comes in light of preliminary testimony from a detainee who recently emerged from Ramon prison, reporting that Al-Sayid has been subjected to horrific torture and mistreatment.

The Foundation emphasized in its statement on Friday that since the beginning of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, the IPS has targeted the leaders of the prisoner movement through torture, isolation, transfer, and ongoing mistreatment.

It asserted that what has happened to detainee 'Abbas Al-Sayid amounts to an attempted murder, similar to what many other detainees have faced since the onset of the genocide. The Foundation stressed that time is a critical factor in the fate of Palestinian detainees due to the dangerous measures continuously implemented by the IPS against them, primarily torture, starvation, and medical neglect.

The detainee testified that the prison guards stormed Al-Sayid’s cell, brutally assaulted him, and transferred him to an unknown location.

In recent weeks, Al-Sayed has suffered brutal assaults, as the IPS deliberately takes him out every night to punishment cells, shackles his hands and feet, and forces him to sleep on his stomach for long hours, which has caused him numerous health issues, especially in the cold weather.

The detainee further said that Al-Sayid has long suffered from diabetes, which has led to the spreading of boils all over his body, significantly affecting his eyesight, while the IPS refuses to provide him with treatment.

Al-Sayid was arrested in 2002 after an eight-month manhunt, during which he faced several assassination attempts by the occupation forces following a widespread invasion of Tulkarem. The unjust occupation courts sentenced him to 35 life sentences and 100 years.

He was accused of being responsible for the “Park Hotel” human bombing attack carried out by the martyr Abdul-Basit 'Awda, which resulted in the death of 32 settlers and injuries to 150 others, as well as his involvement in the “Hasharon” martyrdom operation conducted by Ma'hmoud Marmash, which killed 5 settlers and injured several others.

During his detention, Al-Sayed has endured numerous forms of oppression and mistreatment, including long periods of isolation, deprivation of visits, and continuous transfers.

Al-Sayid has a son and a daughter. His son Abdullah graduated from Khadoori University with a degree in e-commerce and currently manages a small business.

Al-Sayid holds a master’s degree in Israeli studies from Abu Dis University and recently completed a second master’s degree titled “Cryptocurrency: Its Finances and the Legality of Mining,” from the College of Da’wah for Islamic Studies.

He also holds a degree in mechanical engineering and specialized before his arrest in respiratory device engineering.

Al-Sayid is considered one of the prominent leaders of the Palestinian prisoner movement and a leader of Hamas and its armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in the West Bank.

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Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

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Note: Despite the Trump administration support for the Israeli occupation apartheid regime, the U.S. official policy is still considering the Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories as illegal.

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15 Palestinians injured in settler attack east of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem)

Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

At least 15 Palestinians sustained fractures and injuries on Friday in a violent attack by the illegal Israeli settlers in the Al-Maniya wilderness east of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), according to a local official.

Chief of the Al-Maniya village council, Zayid Kawazba, told WAFA that a large group of colonists attacked residents in several areas in the wilderness, using clubs, rifle butts and tear gas canisters. Among the injured were 15 members of the Shalalda family, five of whom were transported to the hospital for treatment.

In addition to the physical assaults, the colonists set fire to two vehicles, vandalized several others and destroyed solar panels, tents and barracks in the area.

T.R.

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 Illegal Israeli settlers kidnap a Palestinian man in Aree'ha (Jericho), West Bank

Thursday 13-February-2025

WEST BANK, (PIC)

A group of the illegal Israeli settlers stormed the agricultural cooperative village of Al-'Awsaj north of Aree'ha (Jericho) in the occupied West Bank on Thursday.

They kidnapped a Palestinian man and took him to an unknown location, according to 'Eid Barahma, local sources revealed.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces kidnapped a Palestinian man from Jiftlik, north of Aree'ha (Jericho), while he was herding sheep.

The Israeli occupation soldiers present at Al-Karama crossing also kidnapped a high school student from the city of Bethlehem while he was returning from Jordan.

Along the same line, an illegal Israeli settler destroyed a drinking water network in Kisan town, east of Bethlehem, in the West Bank, which serves 15 families.

The Israeli occupation forces and settlers have recently escalated their attacks against Palestinian citizens and properties in the West Bank. 

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 Israeli occupation forces seal off side road west of Salfeet

SALFIT, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

Israeli occupation forces closed on Friday evening a dirt side road near the entrance of Dair Istya, west of Salfeet, according to local sources.

Sources told WAFA that Israeli troops, accompanied by a military bulldozer, blocked the road with earth mounds near the town’s main entrance.

The road was used by residents as an alternative route after Israeli forces sealed off the main entrance with iron gates nearly two months ago.

T.R.

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 Illegal Israeli settlers open new settler road connecting to illegal outpost in northern Jordan Valley

JORDAN VALLEY, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

A group of the illegal Israeli settelers opened a new colonial road connecting to an illegal outpost in the northern Jordan Valley, further entrenching their presence in the area.

The head of the Al-Mali'h village council, Mahdi Daraghma, reported that colonists undertook the construction of a three-kilometer-long road overnight, extending the road from the main highway to the colonial outpost in the Umm El-Jimal area.

Last summer, colonists established the outpost in the area and have since been seizing surrounding lands, barring Palestinian residents from grazing their livestock.

As a result of escalating attacks and harassment by the illegal Israeli settlers, 14 Palestinian families have been forced to leave the area.

According to a report by the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, colonists carried out 318 acts of vandalism and theft targeting Palestinian properties last month. These violations affected vast tracts of land and led to the uprooting of 969 trees, 960 of which were olive trees.

The destruction included 350 trees in Hebron, 328 in Bethlehem, 160 in Salfeet, 100 in Nablus and 31 in Ramallah.

The settler violence against Palestinians and their properties has escalated significantly since October 7, 2023, drawing widespread condemnation. In response, several countries have imposed sanctions on Israeli colonists involved in acts of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

T.R.

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Illegal Israeli settlers plant trees on Palestinian land south of Al-Khaleel (Hebron)

Al-Khaleel (Hebron, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

Dozens of the illegal Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, planted trees on Palestinian-owned land in the Masafir Yatta area, located to the south of Hebron, this Friday.

Osama Makhamra, a local activist, reported to WAFA that the colonists planted the trees near the homes of Palestinians in the village of Khirbet Um Al-Khair, a part of Masafir Yatta area. This move followed excavations carried out in the area two weeks earlier, and the colonists raised Israeli flags in preparation to seize the land.

The colonists also planted trees in the Baireen area, east of Masafir Yatta, on lands belonging to Palestinian citizens, Makhamra added.

Colonists have intensified their attacks on Palestinian residents and their property in Masafir Yatta. They have blocked residents' access to their fields and pastures, releasing their herds of livestock onto Palestinian lands, destroying large areas of wheat and barley crops. 

These acts of aggression are part of an ongoing campaign to pressure Palestinian farmers and shepherds, aiming to force them off their land to facilitate further land grabs for colonial expansion.

M.N.

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An illegal Israeli settler attempts to run over farmer north of Salfeet

SALFEET, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

An illegal Israeli settler attempted on Friday evening to run over a Palestinian farmer near Wadi Qana north of Salfeet, according to local sources.

Sources told WAFA that a colonist targeted farmer Sala'h Mansour while he was displaying his orange and lemon produce at the entrance to the valley, causing damage to his goods.

Colonists' violence against Palestinians and their properties has escalated significantly since October 7, 2023, drawing widespread condemnation. In response, several countries have imposed sanctions on Israeli colonists involved in acts of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

T.R.

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Illegal Israeli settlers encroach upon Palestinian land near Bait La'hm (Bethlehem)

Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), February 13, 2025 (WAFA) –

Illegal Israeli settlers Thursday encroached upon Palestinian land in Al-Maniya village, east of the occupied West Bank city of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), according to a local official.

Zayid Kawazbeh, head of Al-Maniya Village Council, said that a large number of colonists, lead by supremacist Jewish Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir trespassed onto the villagers’ lands at al-Maniya wilderness and planted olive saplings.

Al-Maniya wilderness (Barriyyet Al-Maniya) covers an area of several hundreds of donums and is classified as a nature reserve in Area B.

Al-Kawazba added that there was an upsurge of attacks by colonists against the village, including attacking farmers and shepherds and taking over their crops as a means to seize their land and displace them for colonial settlement expansion.

He added that the illegal Israeli settlers who had set up a colonial outpost in the area threatened to kill him over the phone.

The illegal Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by the Israeli occupation apartheid regime.

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

Over 700,000 Israeli colonists are living in colonies in the West Bank and Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem) in violation of international law.

K.F.

***

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News Related to the Israeli Genocidal War on the Palestinian People

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U.S. imposes sanctions on ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan

WASHINGTON, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on (Kareem Khan) Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement published on its official website Thursday evening, the Treasury Department announced that Khan had been added to the Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) sanctions list.

The decision follows an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on February 7, 2025, which sanctioned the ICC in response to its issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The two Israeli officials were accused of committing war crimes in Gaza.

Karim Khan, a prominent British lawyer born in 1970, previously served as a King’s Counsel in the United Kingdom. He became the ICC’s third Prosecutor and the first to be elected through a secret ballot.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on November 21, 2024, citing their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza.

Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, Israeli forces carried out a genocide in Gaza. The attacks led to the killing and injuries of approximately 160,000 people, the majority of whom were women and children, with more than 14,000 individuals reported missing.

M.N.

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UNRWA reports ongoing struggles for displaced families in Gaza amid harsh winter conditions

NEW YORK, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said today that while relief operations in Gaza are making progress, many families are returning to homes that have been completely destroyed, leaving them vulnerable to the harsh winter conditions.

In a recent update on X, UNRWA noted that the severe winter weather, heavy rainfall, and overcrowding in shelters are putting many individuals at significant risk, with inadequate protection. The agency emphasized the urgent need to expand humanitarian assistance to address the growing needs of the population.

Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, 2025, UNRWA says it has distributed food aid to over 1.5 million people in Gaza. The agency currently operates 120 shelters across the region, hosting around 120,000 displaced individuals. Furthermore, 37 emergency shelters, including 7 in Gaza City and 30 in northern Gaza, were opened after the ceasefire.

Earlier, UNRWA warned that the heavy rains and strong winds in Gaza are exposing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the dangers of cold weather, as their homes were destroyed during the Israeli military offensive that lasted for over 15 months. 

M.N.

***

On World Radio Day, Israel’s aggression silences 22 local radio stations in Gaza

Friday 14-February-2025

GAZA, (PIC)

The world celebrates World Radio Day today, February 13, at a time when Palestinian media is suffering an unprecedented disaster due to Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Israeli bombardment has led to the destruction of the headquarters of 22 local radio stations, causing them to cease broadcasting entirely or partially, in a blatant violation of press freedom and the public’s right to access information.

The Palestinian Journalists Forum confirmed that during the Israeli aggression, which has lasted for more than 15 months, Israeli occupation forces systematically targeted the media infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, destroying the offices of prominent stations such as Al-Aqsa Voice, Jerusalem Voice, Prisoners’ Voice, Government Opinion, People’s Voice, Homeland Voice, Alwan, and the Quran Radio stations affiliated with the Islamic University and the Ministry of Awqaf, along with other stations that served as a main window for the Palestinian public to follow news and field developments.

Severe losses and a violation of press freedom

According to the Forum, the material losses incurred by local radios are estimated in the millions of dollars, as the destruction affected broadcast equipment that is difficult to replace due to the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, which prevents the entry of the necessary equipment and tools to resume journalistic work.

In addition to the bombardment, Israeli restrictions on fuel supplies, electricity outages, and targeting of communication and internet networks have crippled these radios’ ability to continue their work.

The Forum emphasized that depriving Palestinians of their local radios during these difficult times not only represents a loss for media institutions but is also a severe violation of international law, which guarantees press freedom, especially in conflict areas.

International calls for the reconstruction of media institutions

The Journalists Forum strongly condemned the “systematic Israeli targeting of Palestinian media,” affirming its full support for local radio workers who have lost their workplaces and equipment, as well as for their colleagues who have been martyred, injured, or detained during the aggression.

The Forum called on international organizations and the free people of the world to provide urgent support to help local radios restore their broadcasts, emphasizing their crucial role in providing Palestinians with information and community awareness amid the ongoing aggression. It also demanded the launch of a project to rebuild Palestinian media institutions to ensure the return of radio broadcasting as soon as possible.

Radio remains an important voice for the people, especially in times of crisis. On World Radio Day, Palestinian media faces an existential challenge amid a genocidal war targeting all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip, including the media that carries the message of truth to the world.

***

Sick and injured children from Gaza arrive in Italy for medical treatment

ROME, February 14, 2025 (WAFA) –

A group of Palestinian children from the Gaza Strip arrived on Friday in the Italian capital, Rome, to receive medical treatment in Italian hospitals.

Chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine and member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Ramzi Khoury, joined Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, and Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, Father Ibrahim Faltas, in welcoming the children upon their arrival.

Khoury praised Italy’s humanitarian stance and its continued support for the Palestinian people, commending the initiative to receive 14 injured and cancer-stricken children, along with their families, to provide them with much-needed medical care.

He emphasized that these efforts reflect Italy’s deep humanitarian commitment, noting that the children's arrival comes amid dire conditions in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing aggression.

Khoury also expressed appreciation for Father Faltas, who spearheaded the initiative, and for the Italian government’s coordination with the Palestinian leadership to facilitate the children's transfer, highlighting the strong humanitarian cooperation between the two sides.

For his part, Father Faltas thanked Italian hospitals for their continued support over the past year in treating Palestinian children and for their unwavering commitment to humanitarian and medical cooperation amid the hardships faced by the Palestinian people.

Italy has previously welcomed Palestinian patients, including children, from Gaza for medical treatment as part of its ongoing support for the Palestinian people.

T.R.

***

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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 verbs "abduct" and "kidnap" than the verbs "detain" and "arrest," 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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Names of some of the Palestinian cities, as pronounced in standard Arabic, and their foreign names in parentheses: 

Al-Khaleel (Hebron)

Al-Nusayrat

Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem)

Aree'ha (Jericho)

Al-Zaytoun (al-Zeitoun)

Bait (Beit)

Bait La'hm (Bethlehem)

Dair El-Bala'h

Jineen (Jenin)

Khan Younus (Khan Younis)

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Person's names as pronounced in standard Arabic:

A'hmed, 'Hasan, Mu'hammed, Younus, Yousuf,  

'Hasan Mulai'hat,

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Conflict terminology

The Israeli occupation apartheid regime (the Israeli government)

Illegal Israeli settlers (instead of settlers, colonists)

A group of the illegal Israeli settlers

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