Israeli Prime Minister Heckled at Military Graduation Ceremony

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced heckling during a military graduation ceremony in Tel Aviv on February 23. The incident occurred after Netanyahu displayed a photo of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas and her family, despite requests not to do so. The Bibas family has accused Netanyahu of failing to secure their release, while Hamas claims they were killed during Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

Escalation Across the Region

On February 23, Israel deployed tanks in the occupied West Bank for the first time in over two decades. This action, along with violations of the ceasefire in Palestine's Gaza, air strikes in Lebanon, and reaffirmed occupation plans in Syria, marked a significant escalation across the region.

Calls for Violence Against Palestinians

In an interview on the ultra-Orthodox radio station Kol BaRama, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Nissim Vaturi, of the far-right Likud party, called for the killing of all adults in Gaza. He stated, "The children and women must be separated, and the adults in Gaza must be eliminated. We are being too considerate." He also referred to Palestinians as "scoundrels" and "subhumans."

Mass Grave Found in Syria

A mass grave believed to contain the remains of civilians killed by the deposed Assad regime has been found in Sbeneh, near Damascus. Syrian Civil Defence teams have recovered the bodies of at least 20 victims, with the number expected to rise. The remains show signs of burning and gunfire, and some bones appear to be those of children.

Macron Corrects Trump on EU Payments to Ukraine

During a joint press conference between the French and US heads of state on February 24, Emmanuel Macron corrected Donald Trump's comments regarding the status of European Union payments towards Ukrainian military efforts.

Bridge Collapse in South Korea

At least three people died and six were injured in a bridge collapse at a highway construction site in the South Korean city of Cheonan on February 25. Authorities are also reportedly searching for another person thought to be buried under rubble at the site.

Trump Rescinds Policy Preventing US Weapons Use in War Crimes

US President Donald Trump has rescinded National Security Memorandum-20 (NSM-20), a policy introduced by Joe Biden in 2024 to prevent US weapons from being used in potential war crimes. The memorandum required the US to monitor and report when allied nations, including Israel, used American weapons to violate international law. The move comes after Biden's administration said Israel may have breached international humanitarian law with US weapons.