The Week in Pictures: February 9-16, 2024

Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed in an Israeli bombing on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel is planning a ground offensive on Rafah, into which hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled Israeli bombardment. Mohammed Talatene/dpa
Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed in an Israeli bombing on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel is planning a ground offensive on Rafah, into which hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled Israeli bombardment. Mohammed Talatene/dpa
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From the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war, conflict in southern Lebanon and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to the Middle East to the Super Bowl, dpa International presents its Pictures of the Week.

Fernando Marman, who was held hostage by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, hugs a relative at Sheba Medical Center, after he was rescued along with Louis Har in an IDF operation on Sunday night in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israeli special forces entered a building in the centre of Rafah where two hostages guarded by Palestinian Islamist Hamas forces were kept, and freed them under heavy fire, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Monday. -/IDF/dpa
Palestinians walk next to damaged buildings on their way back to their homes in the wake of the Israeli army withdrew from North of Gaza Strip. Omar Ishaq/dpa
Palestinians walk next to damaged buildings on their way back to their homes in the wake of the Israeli army withdrew from North of Gaza Strip. Omar Ishaq/dpa
Palestinian children walk under the remains of Al-Huda Mosque, which was destroyed following an Israeli bombing on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. Israel is planning a ground offensive on Rafah, into which hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled Israeli bombardment. Mohammed Talatene/dpa
Palestinians walk next to damaged buildings on their way back to their homes in the wake of the Israeli army withdrew from North of Gaza City. Omar Ishaq/dpa
Palestinians walk next to damaged buildings on their way back to their homes in the wake of the Israeli army withdrew from North of Gaza City. Omar Ishaq/dpa
A Palestinian inspects damaged buildings after Israeli airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli special forces entered the buildings to free two Israelis who Hamas was holding. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
A Palestinian inspects damaged buildings after Israeli airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli special forces entered the buildings to free two Israelis who Hamas was holding. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
Israeli right-wing activists block the Nitzana Border Crossing between Israel and Egypt to prevent trucks with aid from entering the Gaza Strip. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Israeli right-wing activists block the Nitzana Border Crossing between Israel and Egypt to prevent trucks with aid from entering the Gaza Strip. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
A general view of destruction on a five-storey building that was targeted by Israeli drones, killing at least five people. Marwan Naamani/dpa
A general view of destruction on a five-storey building that was targeted by Israeli drones, killing at least five people. Marwan Naamani/dpa
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson. -/Kremilin Pool/dpa
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson. -/Kremilin Pool/dpa
Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer, as they listen to a speech by Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-general of Hezbollah, who appears via a video link, during an event to mark the "Wounded Resistance Fighter Day". Marwan Naamani/dpa
Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer, as they listen to a speech by Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-general of Hezbollah, who appears via a video link, during an event to mark the "Wounded Resistance Fighter Day". Marwan Naamani/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (2nd R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sign a long-term security agreement between the two countries at the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (2nd R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sign a long-term security agreement between the two countries at the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
(L-R) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Bavaria's State Premier Markus Soeder and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg take part in the CSU's Transatlantic Forum as part of the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC), held from February 16 to 18, 2024. Sven Hoppe/dpa
(L-R) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Bavaria's State Premier Markus Soeder and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg take part in the CSU's Transatlantic Forum as part of the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC), held from February 16 to 18, 2024. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) meets with Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha. -/Iranian Foreign Ministry via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) meets with Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha. -/Iranian Foreign Ministry via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomes Presdient of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival to Cairo. Erdogan arrived in Cairo on 14 February for talks with al-Sisi in a landmark visit that comes after around a decade of diplomatic strain between the two countries. -/Presidency of the Republic of Turkey/dpa
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomes Presdient of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival to Cairo. Erdogan arrived in Cairo on 14 February for talks with al-Sisi in a landmark visit that comes after around a decade of diplomatic strain between the two countries. -/Presidency of the Republic of Turkey/dpa
A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 15 February 2024 shows a test firing of the new-type surface-to-sea missile Padasuri-6, at an undisclosed location in North Korea. -/KCNA via YNA/dpa
A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 15 February 2024 shows a test firing of the new-type surface-to-sea missile Padasuri-6, at an undisclosed location in North Korea. -/KCNA via YNA/dpa
Iranian people take part in a rally marking the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Iranian people take part in a rally marking the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
People stand at the Theresienwiese during a demonstration under the motto "Sea of lights for democracy, against racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech". Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
People stand at the Theresienwiese during a demonstration under the motto "Sea of lights for democracy, against racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech". Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
Farmers with their tractors block an access road to the Rheinmetall Armaments Company during a protest. German Chancellor Scholz is expected to attend a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a new Rheinmetall ammunition factory. The ammunition factory will produce artillery ammunition, explosives and rocket artillery. Philipp Schulze/dpa
People march on the Chain Bridge during a protest to demand the resignation of Hungarian President Katalin Novak at Sandor Palace. Marton Monus/dpa
People march on the Chain Bridge during a protest to demand the resignation of Hungarian President Katalin Novak at Sandor Palace. Marton Monus/dpa
Police charge against demonstrators who wanted to block the road during a national meeting of the Civil Society. Diego Radamés/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
Police charge against demonstrators who wanted to block the road during a national meeting of the Civil Society. Diego Radamés/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba (L) battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich at BayArena. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba (L) battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich at BayArena. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
Eintracht Frankfurt's Mario Goetze (R) and Bochum's Patrick Osterhage battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum at Deutsche Bank Park. Arne Dedert/dpa
Eintracht Frankfurt's Mario Goetze (R) and Bochum's Patrick Osterhage battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum at Deutsche Bank Park. Arne Dedert/dpa
German biathlete Janina Hettich-Walz celebrates her second place with teammates Selina Grotian (R) and Vanessa Voigt (L) after the award ceremony of the Women's individual 15 km during the Biathlon World Championships. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
German biathlete Janina Hettich-Walz celebrates her second place with teammates Selina Grotian (R) and Vanessa Voigt (L) after the award ceremony of the Women's individual 15 km during the Biathlon World Championships. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Handout photo provided by McLaren F1 Team, shows the MCL38 car for the 2024 season. Mclaren/Handout/PA Media/dpa
Handout photo provided by McLaren F1 Team, shows the MCL38 car for the 2024 season. Mclaren/Handout/PA Media/dpa
American singer Usher (C) performs during the Apple Music Halftime Show at Super Bowl LVIII, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada. -/PA Wire/dpa
American singer Usher (C) performs during the Apple Music Halftime Show at Super Bowl LVIII, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada. -/PA Wire/dpa
Ahmed Kamel, 17 years old, manufactures aluminium utensils in workshops in Aleppo Governorate. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa
Ahmed Kamel, 17 years old, manufactures aluminium utensils in workshops in Aleppo Governorate. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa
The two-year-old themed float, which shows Russia's President Putin opening his mouth and trying to devour Ukraine, and the words Erstick dran!!!, moves during the Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf. Federico Gambarini/dpa
The two-year-old themed float, which shows Russia's President Putin opening his mouth and trying to devour Ukraine, and the words Erstick dran!!!, moves during the Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf. Federico Gambarini/dpa
A dancer dances at the carnival parade in the capital of Uruguay. Santiago Mazzarovich/dpa
A dancer dances at the carnival parade in the capital of Uruguay. Santiago Mazzarovich/dpa
Dancers perform during the Chinese Lunar New Year 2024 celebration in the Usera neighbourhood of Madrid. Miguel Candela/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Dancers perform during the Chinese Lunar New Year 2024 celebration in the Usera neighbourhood of Madrid. Miguel Candela/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Cillian Murphy speaks during 'Small Things Like These' press conference, on the first day of the Berlinale. The 74th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 15 - 25, 2024. Sören Stache/dpa
Cillian Murphy speaks during 'Small Things Like These' press conference, on the first day of the Berlinale. The 74th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 15 - 25, 2024. Sören Stache/dpa
Terry, a barbary lion, rests at it's outdoor enclosure in Liberec Zoo. Slavek Ruta/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Terry, a barbary lion, rests at it's outdoor enclosure in Liberec Zoo. Slavek Ruta/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa