Israeli occupation forces persist in violating the ceasefire in Gaza, launching coordinated air, ground, and naval attacks targeting Rafah, eastern Gaza, Bureij refugee camp, and Khan Yunis, striking residential buildings and displaced persons’ centers.
Palestinian infant, Nidal Abu Rabee, tragically passed away this morning due to severe complications from liver enlargement and related health issues, after being denied exit from the Gaza Strip for specialized medical treatment.
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 22, 2026
Israeli occupation authorities completely… pic.twitter.com/ou0QyS44gA
Overnight Raids and Escalating Attacks
During the night, Israeli occupation forces demolished residential structures in the eastern Gaza Strip while targeting centers hosting displaced families, as the assaults intensified on the fifth day of Ramadan.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli fighter jets struck eastern Rafah, while military vehicles opened heavy fire toward eastern Khan Yunis. Concurrently, Israeli naval forces shelled the city’s coastline.
In Gaza City, airstrikes and sporadic artillery fire targeted eastern neighborhoods, according to local witnesses.
The escalation comes amid ongoing humanitarian suffering, with the Rafah crossing operating at limited capacity and Israel failing to honor ceasefire commitments, including the entry of humanitarian aid, cargo trucks, fuel, and the transfer of patients and the wounded from damaged hospitals.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Amjad Al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network, reported that no mobile homes (caravans) have entered Gaza, warning that Israeli forces control roughly 60% of the territory. He added that the so-called “yellow line” is being expanded toward residential areas, further restricting space for civilians, particularly in eastern and northern Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that since the ceasefire on October 11, 612 Palestinians have been killed, 1,640 injured, and 726 bodies recovered.
Returnees Arrive Through Rafah Crossing
The fifteenth group of 50 Palestinians returned to Khan Yunis via the recently reopened Rafah border crossing, reuniting with families at Nasser Hospital in emotional scenes.
Returnees described smooth procedures on the Egyptian side while enduring hours of questioning by Israeli forces controlling the crossing. Despite the challenges, they expressed joy at returning to Gaza and reaffirmed their commitment to their land.
Between displacement tents and shelters, Gaza's displaced population are trying to preserve the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, but the pain and destruction make it far more difficult. pic.twitter.com/03wpJeuP2k
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 22, 2026
The Palestinian government’s media office reports that around 80,000 Palestinians abroad have registered to return, a move seen by analysts as disrupting Israeli plans to depopulate Gaza.
Between February 2 and 15, Israeli authorities allowed only 29% of registered travelers—811 of roughly 2,800—to cross in both directions. More than 22,000 injured or ill Palestinians urgently need to leave Gaza for medical care amid the near-collapse of the health system.
Freedom Flotilla Launches Global Campaign to Break Gaza Siege
Saif Abu Kashk, spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla, announced a new international campaign in protest of the Israeli enemy’s continued control over the Rafah crossing. The initiative will include a historic flotilla toward Palestine, highlighting global rejection of the ongoing blockade.
The campaign aims to break international silence on what organizers describe as the “genocide” in Gaza and the blockade preventing essential humanitarian aid.
The flotilla is scheduled to depart March 9 from Barcelona and other Mediterranean ports, accompanied by overland convoys from North Africa and Asia. Over 100 boats and thousands of international activists, including doctors and legal and environmental experts, will participate to deliver a unified humanitarian and political message demanding an immediate end to the blockade and holding the international community accountable for ongoing Israeli violations in Gaza and the region.
Source: Al-Manar Website