Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2366, Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

1. Health: More than 72,000 martyrs — toll of the genocide in Gaza

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip released its daily statistical report on the number of martyrs and wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression, stating that hospitals in the Strip received one new martyr and eight injuries over the past 24 hours.

It indicated that since the ceasefire on October 11, the total number of martyrs has reached 615, while injuries have risen to 1,651, in addition to 726 bodies recovered.

According to the cumulative statistics since the beginning of the offensive on October 7, 2023, the number of martyrs has risen to 72,073, while total injuries have reached 171,749, amid ongoing catastrophic humanitarian and health repercussions affecting the residents of the Gaza Strip.

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**2. Settler attacks escalate in the Yatta wilderness amid livestock theft and assaults on shepherds**

A Palestinian shepherd was attacked by armed settlers in the Yatta wilderness, south of Hebron in the West Bank, where they stole several of his sheep after beating him.

Local sources reported that armed settlers chased citizen Haitham Ayed Marr, blocked his way near the al-Daqiqa area in the Yatta wilderness, severely assaulted him causing bruises, smashed his mobile phone, and seized seven heads of sheep.

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**3. Settlers burn entrance of mosque south of Nablus and spray racist slogans**

Settlers set fire to a mosque in the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, and spray-painted racist and inciting slogans on its walls, including “revenge” and “price tag.”

According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out at the mosque’s entrance and caused damage to the gate and outer façade. Villagers managed to extinguish the flames and prevent them from spreading inside the mosque.

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**4. 99,000 settlers left the occupied territories in two years**

A study issued by Tel Aviv University revealed that approximately 99,000 settlers left occupied Palestine during 2023 and 2024.

Researchers attributed the phenomenon to security and economic conditions, noting that the continuation of these factors could lead to an increase in departures in the coming period.

In 2024 alone, 79,000 settlers left, as Tel Aviv experiences unprecedented conditions amid its offensive on the occupied Palestinian territories and regional countries.

Year after year, “Israel” is increasingly becoming an environment that drives residents away, with departures exceeding arrivals.

Official 2024 data also show an acceleration in the emigration of academic elites, posing a serious threat to the country’s scientific foundation, according to Haaretz newspaper.

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**5. Occupation discusses plans to build 1,517 settlement units in the West Bank**

The movement “Peace Now,” which monitors Israeli settlement activity, revealed that the “Higher Planning Council” of the occupation will discuss plans next Wednesday to build 1,517 settlement units throughout the occupied West Bank.

Among the four plans on the agenda, 1,388 settlement units are planned as a new neighborhood in the settlement of Kedumim, east of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank, under the name “Nahalat Ester.”

The planned neighborhood will be located near the Palestinian village of Jit to the south, effectively bringing Kedumim closer to the settlement of Havat Gilad to its southeast.

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**6. Occupation bans five Palestinian media platforms covering Jerusalem issues**

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced a ban on five Palestinian media platforms concerned with covering issues related to occupied Jerusalem, claiming “incitement.”

The decision includes Al-Asima News Network, Miraj Network, Al-Quds Al-Bousla Network, Maydan Al-Quds, and Quds Plus, despite the absence of official headquarters for these platforms in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Shin Bet had sought in recent days to classify these platforms as “terrorist organizations.” Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly signed the classification decision, and the channel claimed the platforms act as a “Hamas arm” focusing on developments in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

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*European*

**7. #Video: Brazilians drive away Israeli tourists**

“You are killing Palestinians” — a heated verbal confrontation, including insults, broke out on a street in Brazil between Israeli tourists and local residents after they were asked about their nationality.

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**8. Spain calls on the European Union to use pressure tools against the occupation government**

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for a firmer European stance amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Albares stated that killings continue in Gaza while humanitarian aid remains stuck at crossings, noting that the European Union’s silence regarding Israeli violations in the West Bank and attempts to displace Palestinians is incomprehensible.

He added that the EU possesses the necessary tools to exert pressure on the Israeli government and urged their effective use to address the worsening humanitarian conditions and continued settlement expansion.

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**9. UN official: Situation in Gaza catastrophic, fears of ethnic cleansing**

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk affirmed that the situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic, noting that Palestinians are being killed by Israeli fire.

He added that aid is not entering Gaza in sufficient quantities relative to the immense needs.

He warned of genuine fears of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank, noting that “Israel” is intensifying efforts toward unlawful annexation of Palestinian land.

He stressed that any sustainable solution to the Middle East crisis must include the implementation of a “two-state solution” to guarantee Palestinian rights and establish lasting peace in the region.

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**10. Campaign in Ireland calls for adopting “Teva Nothing” policy in pharmacies**

Activists distributed awareness leaflets prepared by the organization “Uplift,” calling on pharmacies in Ireland to adopt a “Teva Nothing” policy — refraining from providing Teva medications unless no safe generic alternative exists.

Campaign organizers note that the Israeli company supplies one in every eight generic medicines on the Irish market, making it a major player in the sector.

They argue that pressure through pharmaceutical supply chains constitutes a practical step in supporting Palestine, urging citizens to contact their local pharmacies and demand adoption of the policy.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is included in boycott campaigns as a major Israeli company contributing to the Israeli economy through taxes and profits, which activists consider indirect support for Israeli government policies.

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**11. Hundreds protest in Valletta demanding Malta boycott Eurovision**

Hundreds of protesters marched in the streets of Valletta, Malta’s capital, demanding a boycott of the Eurovision contest following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel’s participation despite the ongoing war in Gaza.

The demonstration followed months of pressure campaigning aimed at pushing the Maltese government to officially withdraw from the song contest.

After marching through the capital, protesters gathered near the Maltese Minister of Culture’s office.

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**12. Upcoming trial of “Palestine Coalition” leaders in Britain**

Final hearings will begin in London for the trial of two prominent leaders of the Palestine solidarity movement in Britain, Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham, before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The activists are accused of breaching public order law and violating protest conditions during a march organized in January 2025 outside the BBC headquarters.

If convicted, they could face up to one year in prison. Supporters gathered outside the court to express solidarity amid warnings that the prosecutions are part of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression and the right to protest.

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*International*

**13. Continued global support campaigns for Albanese after accusations of antisemitism**

The “Global Campaign for Gaza” announced its solidarity with UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, amid a new targeting campaign by officials in France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Germany.

The campaign said the latest attack followed an “edited and clearly truncated” video clip, describing what is happening as a “systematic smear campaign.”

It stated that Albanese documents alleged genocide and relies on existing legal frameworks, including the Genocide Convention, international humanitarian law, and provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice.

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**14. Protest outside Chicago restaurant that hosted fundraiser for Israeli army**

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Tao Chicago restaurant in downtown Chicago, Illinois, protesting a fundraising event for the Israeli army organized by Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Protesters carried signs condemning U.S. financial and military support for Israel and called for halting billions of dollars in annual military aid.

One arrest was reported during the protest.

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**15. Protest outside AIPAC annual conference in the United States**

Activists from the Palestinian Youth Movement gathered outside the Walter Conference Center in Washington, where the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was holding its annual conference.

The protest denounced AIPAC’s role in supporting Israel at multiple levels, including repeated calls for unconditional military aid and lobbying Congress to ensure continued massive military funding.

Activists argue that such funding directly supports the war in Gaza.

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**16. CAIR executive director: “Israel skins the bodies of my brothers in Palestine”**

“It skins the bodies of my brothers and sisters in Palestine” — the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Ohio, Khaled Al-Tarawneh, claimed that Israel possesses the largest human skin bank in the world derived from Palestinians.

The remarks were made during an Ohio Senate session discussing bill “SB 87,” which seeks to formally recognize antisemitism and classify anti-Israel activities as legally punishable acts.

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**17. Calls to prevent oil tankers from Turkey to the occupation**

Activists from the group Direnis Cadiri in Turkey announced documentation of two supertankers passing through the Bosphorus Strait, which they say constitutes documented evidence of oil shipments transported from the Turkish port of Ceyhan to Israeli ports, notably Haifa.

Data indicate that the oil tanker “Nissos Christiana” departed Ceyhan on February 7, 2026, declaring Port Said as its destination but headed directly to Haifa, where it remained until February 12 before unloading on February 13.

The tanker’s cargo is estimated at approximately 800,000 barrels — enough to cover Israel’s oil needs for about three days with a single shipment.

Activists state that this movement is part of a series of regular oil shipments from Ceyhan to Israel, all affiliated with the Greek company Cyclades Maritime, according to AIS records, satellite imagery, and documents collected over two years.