8 stories for 2026-02-23 · Armed conflict, civilian harm & humanitarian access · Israel/Palestine
Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on February 23, 2026, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The attackers also sprayed racist graffiti on the mosque's walls and charred its entrance. The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as Jewish settler gangs.
Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in October 2025, Gaza continues to experience Israeli military operations that have killed over 600 Palestinians, according to reporting from February 2026. An infant died after being denied medical evacuation, and a 27-year-old woman was shot by Israeli forces north of the enclave. The World Health Organization reports approximately 15,600 patients remain awaiting medical evacuation from Gaza, including 3,800 children, while about 42,000 people suffer from injuries that have disrupted their daily lives. Palestinians are observing Ramadan amid displacement, destroyed homes, lack of access to basic utilities including gas and fuel, and widespread environmental damage that threatens long-term habitability in southern Gaza.
An American teenager has been killed in the occupied West Bank. Details regarding the circumstances of the death remain limited in available reporting. The incident marks a significant development in ongoing tensions in the region.
Foreign ministers from 20 Arab, Islamic, and Western countries issued a joint statement condemning Israeli decisions to expand illegal control over the West Bank. The countries called for an end to settler violence and accountability for those responsible. The statement was coordinated by Saudi Arabia and supported by multiple international organizations.
International donors have pledged $17 billion toward Gaza's reconstruction, falling significantly short of the estimated $60 billion needed to rebuild infrastructure damaged during ongoing conflict. The funding gap highlights the substantial financial challenge facing Gaza's recovery efforts. Reconstruction needs encompass housing, healthcare, education, and other essential services across the territory.
Israeli military operations in Gaza on February 23 included airstrikes and shelling that killed two Palestinians and wounded three others, according to Palestine Today. A UN report warned of fire risks to displacement camps as humanitarian conditions deteriorate. Occupation authorities have blocked water supply to Gaza City since February 10. Fourteen Arab and Islamic states criticized statements by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made on February 21.
Escalating tensions reported in northern Gaza with plans announced for construction of 1517 settlement units. Al-Akhbar reports on renewed military operations in the northern sector and ongoing settlement expansion activities in the region.
Al-Akhbar reports on rising emigration from Israel in the period following the October 2023 conflict referred to as 'Al-Tufan.' The article presents statistics on Israelis leaving the country, though specific figures and destinations are not detailed in the available excerpt.