As per reports, heavy rainfall has caused flooding in Hadera and Netanya. Reports indicate that homes are being flooded as well as nearly 90mm of rainfall fell in the last 24 hours.

Gaza’s largest functioning hospital in Khan Younis remains under siege by Israeli troops with reports of medical staff being beaten and aid being blocked.

• The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says the Palestinian death toll in the war in the Strip has reached 28,858.
• On Saturday (17 February) morning, rocket warning sirens were sounded in the Ashkelon area. The Ashkelon municipality said that one rocket was apparently intercepted over the city. There are no reports of injuries or damage.
• Six humanitarian and human rights organisations warned of “catastrophic” consequences of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah. The joint statement was signed by the heads of Oxfam, Amnesty International, ActionAid, War Child, the Danish Refugee Council and Handicap International.
• Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh stated that Israel is to be blamed for a lack of progress in achieving a truce deal in Gaza. He further stated that Hamas will not accept anything less than a complete cessation of the aggression, withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza and lifting of the unjust siege.