In Occupied Palestine
Zionism in practice
Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Land
08:00, on 04 January until 08:00, 05 January 2024
[Source of statistics: Palestinian Monitoring Group]
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co–ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The war in Gaza must end
(New York, 5 January 2024)
Statement by Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co–ordinator
Three months since the horrific 7 October attacks, Gaza has become a place of death and despair. Tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured. Families are sleeping in the open as temperatures plummet. Areas where civilians were told to relocate for their safety have come under bombardment. Medical facilities are under relentless attack. The few hospitals that are partially functional are overwhelmed with trauma cases, critically short of all supplies, and inundated by desperate people seeking safety.
A public health disaster is unfolding. Infectious diseases are spreading in overcrowded shelters as sewers spill over. Some 180 Palestinian women are giving birth daily amidst this chaos. People are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded. Famine is around the corner. For children in particular, the past 12 weeks have been traumatic: No food. No water. No school. Nothing but the terrifying sounds of war, day in and day out.
Gaza has simply become uninhabitable. Its people are witnessing daily threats to their very existence – while the world watches on.
The humanitarian community has been left with the impossible mission of supporting more than 2 million people, even as its own staff are being killed and displaced, as communication blackouts continue, as roads are damaged and convoys are shot at, and as commercial supplies vital to survival are almost non-existent. Meanwhile, rocket attacks on Israel continue, more than 120 people are still held hostage in Gaza, tensions in the West Bank are boiling, and the spectre of further regional spillover of the war is looming dangerously close.
Hope has never been more elusive. Gaza has shown us the worst of humanity, as well as moments of great heroism. We have seen how violence cannot resolve differences, but only inflame passions and build new generations of danger and insecurity. We continue to demand an immediate end to the war, not just for the people of Gaza and its threatened neighbours, but for the generations to come who will never forget these 90 days of hell and of assaults on the most basic precepts of humanity.
It is time for the parties to meet all their obligations under international law, including to protect civilians and meet their essential needs, and to release all hostages immediately. It is time for the international community to use all its influence to make this happen.
This war should never have started. But it’s long past time for it to end.
Gaza Strip
Armed Palestinian Resistance: Palestinian Resistance continued launching dozens of missiles towards the Green Line.
Air strikes: Heavy aerial bombardment on buildings, homes and many facilities.
Attacks: All over Gaza there are air strikes, heavy gunfire, tank and artillery shelling, as well as missiles fired from Israeli forces and military occupation, especially in Khan Yunis. The Israeli Navycontinues to fire missiles, targeting facilities and buildings along the shoreline of the whole of Gaza.
Victims:
162 people killed in Gaza brings the total number of deaths since 7 October to at least 22,600. With another 296 wounded, that has risen to 57,910. Fully accurate statistics are not available due to insecurity menacing hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
On 5 January, UNICEF announced that a survey conducted on 26 December found that about 90 per cent of children under two years of age are consuming two or fewer food groups. Most children are reportedly only getting grains (including bread) or milk, meeting the definition of “severe food poverty.” Dietary diversity for pregnant and breastfeeding women are reportedly severely compromised with 25 per cent having only consumed one food group the day before the survey, and almost 65 per cent only two groups. According to UNICEF, the malnutrition is particularly worrisome for over 155,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, as well as more than 135,000 children under two, given their specific nutrition needs and vulnerability.
On 5 January, UNICEF’s Executive Director stated that “time is running out. Many children already face severe acute malnutrition in Gaza. As the threat of famine intensifies, hundreds of thousands more young children could soon be severely malnourished, with some at risk of death. We cannot allow that to happen.”
According to UNICEF, cases of diarrhoea in children under five years of age rose from 48,000 to 71,000 in just one week starting 17 December. This is equivalent to 3,200 new cases of diarrhea per day. Before the escalation in hostilities, an average of 2,000 cases of diarrhea in children under five were recorded per month. It has been reported that displaced children and adults are unable to maintain the necessary hygiene levels, with some resorting to open defecation. The inability to prevent diseases is attributed to the lack of safe water and sanitation due to damaged or destroyed essential water and sanitation systems in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, UNRWA reported that diaper supplies are not sufficient, as they cover only 25 per cent of the babies in shelters.
Hostilities and casualties (Gaza Strip)
On 4 January, eight people were reportedly killed and tens people injured when a residential building in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza city was struck.
On 4 January, at about 15:30, five people were reportedly killed when a drone hit a civilian vehicle in Abu Sarar area of the new An Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza.
On 4 January, at about 21:00, three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were reportedly killed and another five were injured by a missile attack in Al Mawasi area.
On 4 January, at about 21:30, five people, including two children and a woman, were reportedly killed and another three were injured when a residential building in Rafah was struck.
On 5 January, at about 9:45, five people were reportedly killed when the Fallouja cemetery in Jabalya Refugee Camp was struck.
On 5 January, at about 10:00, four people were reportedly killed when the Al-Ishreen street in An Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza was struck.
Displacement (Gaza Strip)
By the end of 2023, according to UNRWA, 1.9 million people, or nearly 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza, were estimated to be internally displaced, including many who have been displaced multiple times, as families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Nearly 1.4 million IDPs are sheltering in 155 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates; facilities that are far exceeding their intended capacity. Rafah governorate is now the main refuge for those displaced, with over one million people squeezed into an extremely overcrowded space, following the intensification of hostilities in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah and the Israeli military’s evacuation orders. Obtaining an accurate figure of the total number of IDPs remains challenging.
On 4 January, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that he was “very disturbed by high-level Israeli officials’ statements on plans to transfer civilians from Gaza to third countries. 85 per cent of people in Gaza are already internally displaced. They have the right to return to their homes. International law prohibits forcible transfer of protected persons within or deportation from occupied territory.”
On 3 January, the Israeli military designated two additional blocks for evacuation in Deir al Balah governorate, issuing orders via air-dropped leaflets. The orders cover an estimated 1.2 square kilometres, home to about 4,700 people and where one UN-supported health centre (Nusseriat) is located. Since 1 December, evacuation orders have been issued for several areas, estimated to cover 128 square kilometres south of Wadi Gaza alone (35 per cent of the Gaza Strip) and previously home to just over 1 million people (44 per cent of Gaza’s population). This area encompasses 13 hospitals, 29 health facilities and 143 shelters where over 550,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were taking refuge.
West Bank (OCHA report)
On 5 January 2024, Israeli forces shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian child in the village of Beit Rima (Ramallah) during a search-and-arrest operation. The boy was shot with live ammunition in the chest while attempting to assist another injured person who was also shot by Israeli forces. Another four Palestinians were injured with live ammunition during the same incident.
This brings to 315 the number of Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 January 2024. Among the fatalities were 81 children. Additionally, two Palestinians from the West Bank were killed while carrying out an attack in Israel on 30 November. Of those killed in the West Bank, 306 were killed by Israeli forces, eight by Israeli settlers and another one by either Israeli forces or settlers. The number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 2023 (507) marks the highest number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since OCHA started recording casualties in 2005.
Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 January 2024, four Israelis, including three members of the Israeli forces, have been killed in attacks by Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Another four Israelis were killed in an attack by Palestinians from the West Bank in West Jerusalem (one of the four was killed by Israeli forces who misidentified him). The number of Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel in 2023 in attacks by Palestinians from the West Bank (36) is the highest since OCHA started recording casualties in 2005.
Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 January 2024, 4,021 Palestinians, including 604 children were injured in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of whom 3,918 have been injured by forces, 92 by settlers and eleven by either Israeli forces or settlers. Of the total injuries, 51 per cent were reported in the context of search-and-arrest and other operations, 37 per cent in demonstrations and 8 per cent during settler related attacks against Palestinians. Some 33 per cent of those injuries have been caused by live ammunition, compared with 9 per cent in the first nine months of 2023.
Settler Violence
Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 January 2024, OCHA has recorded 381 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in Palestinian casualties (36 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (297 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (48 incidents). The number of such incidents represents almost one third of all settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank recorded from 1 January 2023 to date.
In 2023, 1,229 incidents involving settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (with or without Israeli forces), resulted in Palestinian casualties, property damage or both. Some 913 of these incidents resulted in damage, 163 resulted in casualties and 153 resulted in both. This is the highest number of settler attacks against Palestinians in any given year since OCHA started recording incidents involving settlers in 2006.
The weekly average of such incidents since 7 October is 30, compared with 21 incidents per week between 1 January and 6 October 2023. The number of incidents since 7 October has declined from 127 incidents in the first week (7-13 October) to 18 incidents between 23 and 28 December. One-third of those incidents after 7 October included firearms, including shootings and threats of shootings. In nearly half of all recorded incidents after 7 October Israeli forces were either accompanying or reported to be supporting the attackers.
Displacement (West Bank)
Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 January, at least 198 Palestinian households comprising 1,208 people, including 586 children, have been displaced amid settler violence and access restrictions. The displaced households are from at least 15 herding/Bedouin communities. More than half of the displacements occurred on 12, 15, and 28 October, affecting seven communities. The displacement toll since 7 October 2023, represents 78 per cent of all displacement reported due to settler violence and access restrictions since 1 January 2023 (1,539 people, including 756 children).
Additionally, 444 Palestinians, including 224 children, have been displaced since 7 October, following the demolition of their homes, due to lack of Israeli issued permits in Area C and East Jerusalem. This represents 36 per cent of all displacement reported due to the lack of building permit since 1 January 2023 (1,153 people).
A total of 19 homes have been demolished on punitive grounds since 7 October, resulting in the displacement of 95 Palestinians, including 42 children. Between January and September 2023, 16 homes were punitively demolished, resulting in the displacement of 78 Palestinians. Punitive demolitions are a form of collective punishment and as such are illegal under international law.
Another 537 Palestinians, including 238 children, have been displaced since 7 October following the destruction of 82 residential structures during other operations carried out by Israeli forces across the West Bank; 55 per cent of the displacement was reported in Jenin Refugee Camp, and 39 per cent in Nur Shams and Tulkarm Refugee Camps (both in Tulkarm). This represents 59 per cent of all displacement reported due to the destruction of homes during Israeli military operations since January 2023 (908 people).
West Bank
[Source: Palestinian Monitoring Group]
Israeli Army attack – youngster injured: Jerusalem – 17:00, Israeli Occupation forces, in al-Ram firing live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, seriously injured a 16-year-old youth: Abdullah Hazem Tayseer Al-Hashlamoun.
Israeli Army attack – 1 killed – 1 taken prisoner: Tubas – 00:55–04:55, Israeli forces stormed into Tamoun, killing one resident, Usaid Jawad Matar Bani Odeh, and taking prisoner one other.
Israeli Army attacks on villages and refugee camp: Tubas – 00:55–04:55, the Israeli Army stormed the villages of Tayasir and al-Far’a as well as the al-Far’a refugee camp.
Israeli Army attacks on refugees and homes – air strike – 8 wounded – 16 taken prisoner: Tulkarem – since 00:10 on 3 January 2024, Israeli Occupation forces continued the storming of Tulkarem as well as the Nour Shams and Tulkarem refugee camps. A curfew is being imposed on Nour Shams refugee camp, with constant home invasions and drone-launched missile attacks. One drone strike injured eight residents: Muhammad Shiraz Mashy, Fawaz Qasim Abu Sariya, Mahmoud Yahya Al-Ghoul, Basil Abdullah Badawiya, Mahmoud Essam Muhammad Shawabkeh, Moataz Ibrahim Obaid, Aws Raafat Al-Zabet, and Moamen Al-Awfi. The siege on the Thabet Thabet Governmental and Al-Israa Specialist Hospitals continues, along with searching ambulances and taking prisoner many people. Main roads, homes and shops are being destroyed or damaged. In Tulkarem refugee camp, sixteen people have been taken prisoner and their homes partially destroyed.
Israeli Army attack – special–needs patient shot and wounded: Hebron – 16:45, Israeli Occupation forces, in the al-Masafer area, shot and wounded a patient with special needs: Abdullah Hussein Al-Najada.
Home invasion and destruction – destruction and economic sabotage: Jerusalem – Israeli Occupation forces demolished an apartment building, grocery shop and parking lot in the Jabal Mukaber neighbourhood.
Home invasion and destruction – 1 youngster abducted: Bethlehem – 02:15–05:10, Israeli forces raided Beit Fajjar, taking prisoner a 16-year-old youth: Muhammad Walid Issa Taqatqa.
Israeli police and settlers’ mosque violation: Jerusalem – 08:00, settler militants, escorted by Israeli police, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and molested worshippers.
Israeli Army assault with rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades: Jerusalem – 09:00, Israeli Occupation forces fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades at people in the Jabal Mukaber neighbourhood.
Israeli Army assault with rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades: Jerusalem – 17:00, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades towards people in the Silwan neighbourhood.
Israeli Army assault – youngster wounded: Qalqiliya – 20:00, the Israeli Army, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades towards people, near the entrance to the village of Hajjah,wounded a 17-year-old youth: Abdel Qader Nour Masalha.
Israeli Army assault with rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades in refugee camp: Hebron – 19:45, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades towards people, near the entrance to the al-Arroub refugee camp.
Occupation settler land-grab, with Israeli Army complicity: Nablus – 12:55, Israelis, from the Magdolim Occupation settlement and accompanied by the Israeli Army, moved onto an area in Qusra and set up mobile homes there.
Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Hebron – 11:00, Israeli settlers invaded farmland, in the al-Taybeh area of Tarqumiya, and destroyed the contents of an agricultural building as well asother property.
Raid: Jerusalem – 02:10, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Hizma.
Raid: Ramallah – 14:00, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the village of Medea.
Raid: Ramallah – 14:50, the Israeli Army raided the village of Nabi Saleh.
Raids: Ramallah – 18:00, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the villages of Deir Abu Mash’al and Qibya.
Raid: Ramallah – 22:25–23:55, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Ein Yabroud.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 02:45–04:10, Israeli soldiers raided al-Bireh, taking prisoner two people.
Raid – on refugee camp: Ramallah – 02:45–04:10, Israeli soldiers raided the Jalazoun refugee camp.
Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 03:10, Israeli Occupation forces raided Beit Rima, taking prisoner three people.
Raid: Ramallah – 03:10, Israeli forces raided Deir Ghassaneh.
Raid: Ramallah – 14:50, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Nabi Saleh.
Raid: Ramallah – 03:10, Israeli troops again raided and patrolled the village of Nabi Saleh.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 03:15–07:20, Israeli soldiers raided the city, taking prisoner two people.
Raid: Jenin – 11:00–16:15, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Zububa.
Raid: Jenin – 18:30-21:00, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Nazlet Zeid.
Raid: Jenin – 21:00–02:30, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of al-Jalameh.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Jenin – 02:00, Israeli forces raided the village of Jalboun, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 4 taken prisoner: Tulkarem – the Israeli Army raided the village of Shufa, taking prisoner four people.
Raid: Qalqiliya – 09:45-13:20, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Jinsafut.
Raid – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Qalqiliya – 12:00–13:30, the Israeli military, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, stormed into Azzun.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Qalqiliya – 02:00–03:30, Israeli soldiers raided the village of Beit Amin, taking prisoner one person.
Raid: Nablus – 09:10–11:20, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of Awarta.
Raid: Nablus – 11:15–17:10, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the village of Madama.
Raid: Nablus – 12:30–15:05, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Yatma village.
Raid: Nablus – 13:10–17:10, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Qabalan.
Raids: Nablus – 13:10, the Israeli military raided and patrolled Aqraba as well as Beita.
Raid: Nablus – 20:00–21:10, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled Beita.
Raid: Nablus – 00:30–02:00, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Beit Furik.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Nablus – 01:40–03:25, Israeli forces raided the village of Qusin, taking prisoner one person.
Raid: Salfit – 12:10, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the city.
Raid: Salfit – 12:30-16:10, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Deir Ballut.
Raid: Salfit – 20:45, the Israeli military raided and patrolled Kafr al-Dik.
Raid: Salfit – 19:20, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled al-Zawiya.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Salfit – 00:30–03:30, Israeli Occupation forces raided Bidya, taking prisoner two people.
Raid: Salfit – 01:15, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the village of Qira.
Raid: Jericho – 15:00, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Ein al-Dyouk.
Raid: Bethlehem – 16:40, Israeli troops raided and patrolled al-Khadr.
Raid: Bethlehem – 02:20–04:15, the Israeli military raided the city.
Raid – 4 taken prisoner: Bethlehem – 02:20–04:15, Israeli soldiers raided Husan, taking prisoner four people.
Raid: Hebron – 08:35, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the city.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 02:00–07:30, Israeli forces raided the city, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 5 taken prisoner – armed robbery: Hebron – 02:10–07:30, the Israeli Army raided Yatta, taking prisoner five people and seizing four motor vehicles.
