Health officials said at least 92 people were killed overnight in Israeli attacks, including on a kindergarten in Rafah.
Here's what the situation looks like on Sunday, February 4, 2024:
Gaza humanitarian crisis
- The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 92 people were killed overnight in the southern city of Rafah, where besieged Palestinians are seeking refuge.
- According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, at least two children were killed when Israeli forces attacked a kindergarten.
- Concerns over a possible Israeli ground invasion of Rafah have grown in recent days, with hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking refuge from the fighting there in temporary shelters and encampments.
- One person was killed and the hospital building was damaged in an attack on a fuel tank near the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, Wafa news agency reported.
- Israeli soldiers continue movie Bisan Research and Development Center said it committed crimes even after the ICJ ruling ordered Israel to take action to stop genocide in Gaza.
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he wants a “thorough investigation” into allegations that U.N. Palestine Refugee Agency staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attack, but left Gaza residents “literally starving.” He said it should not be kept.
- Since October 7, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 27,238 people and injured 66,452. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas attack on October 7th has been revised to 1,139.
Regional tensions and diplomacy
- The United States and Britain issued a joint statement saying their forces, with support from allies including Australia, Bahrain and Canada, attacked 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations across Yemen.
- In addition to airstrikes on Yemen, the US military said it shot down six anti-ship missiles as the Houthis prepared to launch them against ships in the Red Sea.
- The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to address recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
- Iran says US attacks in Iraq and Syria are a “strategic mistake” that will only increase tensions and instability in the Middle East.
- Regarding negotiations for the release of prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza, a senior Hamas official in Lebanon said Palestinian groups needed more time to “express our position” on the proposed framework.
occupied west bank
- Israeli forces continue to carry out near-daily raids across the occupied West Bank.
- Overnight, Israeli forces attacked Beita south of Nablus, Arabeh south of Jenin, Shuafat refugee camp north of Jerusalem, and Kaffin north of Tulkarem.