In Occupied Palestine

Zionism in practice

Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Land

08:00, on 11 January until 08:00, 12 January 2024

[Source of statistics: Palestinian Monitoring Group]

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:

151 people killed in Gaza brings the total number of deaths since 7 October to at least 23,708. With another 248 wounded, that has risen to 60,005. Fully accurate statistics are not available due to insecurity menacing hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

OCHA Flash Update #91

Access denials of humanitarian missions and severe access constraints by Israeli authorities have risen since the start of the year, with only 21 per cent (five out of 24) of planned deliveries of food, medicine, water and other lifesaving supplies successfully reaching their destinations in northern Gaza. These denials paralyze the ability of humanitarian partners to respond meaningfully, consistently and at-scale, to widespread humanitarian needs.

On 12 January, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Griffith’s stated that: “Our efforts to send humanitarian convoys to the North have been met with delays, denials, and the imposition of impossible conditions. The lack of respect for the humanitarian notification system puts every movement of aid workers in danger, as do the wholly insufficient quantities of armoured vehicles and the limited communications equipment that we have been allowed to bring in… Providing humanitarian assistance across Gaza is almost impossible.”

Overall, the rate of access denials for missions to the north of Wadi Gaza seen as of 12 January 2024 presents a significant deterioration when compared with those of December 2023, where more than 70 per cent (13 out of 18) of planned UN missions to the north were coordinated and undertaken, where needs are estimated to be the highest and most severe. Every day of assistance missed results in lost lives and suffering for hundreds of thousands of people who remain in northern Gaza. Access to the north is almost impossible, and access the Deir al Balah and Khan Younis areas is shrinking by the day.

Since 1 January, Israeli authorities have restricted all six humanitarian missions to resupply fuel to water and wastewater stations in the north, for life-saving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance. This denotes a shift from the period between October and December 2023, where only 33 per cent of the missions (2) were restricted . Humanitarian partners have not been able to assess or resupply fuel to Jabalya area since receiving initial reports of water and waste flooding in Jabalya camp on 5 January. At least 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are estimated to reside in UN and public shelters in that area. The last humanitarian mission reaching there was on the 29 November, during the ceasefire.

Flooding and waste contamination pose serious health threats. With one latrine shared by hundreds of displaced people, urgent access to the aforementioned areas is imperative. Unmanaged human waste, combined with flooding of water and sewage not only increases health risks, but also causes sustained damage to remaining public infrastructure and induce environmental hazards.

Since 1 January, only one of ten planned missions in support of health lifesaving and emergency activities (including the provision of medicines) proceeded to north Gaza and they could not be carried out fully. As a result, hospitals in northern Gaza remain without sufficient access to life-saving medical supplies and equipment.

On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that after more than two weeks, humanitarian partners were able to reach Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza. They delivered 9,300 litres of fuel and medical supplies to cover 1,000 trauma and 100 kidney dialysis patients. Shifa Hospital has re-established some of its medical services, with 60 medical staff, ⁠a surgical and medical ward with 40 beds, an emergency department, ⁠four operating theatres, basic emergency obstetric and gynaecological services, a limited haemodialysis unit, minimal laboratory services, and basic radiology services.

As of 12 January, less than half of the planned coordinated missions across Gaza (3 of 7) aimed at providing food assistance, including jointly with other sectors, were completed. Two missions were denied access by Israeli authorities and two had to be cancelled due to infeasible access through routes assigned by the Israeli authorities. Only eight per cent (2) of missions were denied access or were on hold due to security concerns between October and December 2023. Due to the increasing access constraints, especially in the north and middle areas, the World Food Programme (WFP) was able to provide food assistance to about 900,000 people through food parcels, wheat, flour, bread at 91 locations, which is a portion of the needs of food assistance in December.

On 12 January, between 15:30 and 16:00, telecommunication companies in Gaza announced that services had been shut down. This is the seventh time that communications in the Gaza strip have stopped working since 7 October.

On 12 January, 178 trucks with food, medicine and other supplies entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Griffith’s stated today that: “while we have seen some minor increase in the number of trucks entering via Rafah and Kerem Shalom, humanitarian supplies alone will not be able to sustain more than 2 million people. We cannot replace Gaza’s commercial sector. Commercial goods must be let in, at scale. A growing list of rejected items means we are unable to bring into Gaza supplies to rehabilitate life-sustaining infrastructure. The system for medical evacuation of patients to Egypt is also woefully inadequate in the face of the massive needs.”

Hostilities and casualties (Gaza Strip)

The following are among the deadliest incidents reported on 11 January and 12 January:

On 11 January, at about 10:50, a group of Palestinians came under a strike, with six of them reportedly killed, in Abasan Al Kabira, east of Khan Younis.

On 11 January, at about 19:40, nine people, including a child, where reportedly killed when a house was struck in Ash Shoka neighbourhood, east of Rafah.

On 12 January, at about 1:00, 14 people were reportedly killed and others were injured as a house was struck west of Deir al Balah.

On 11 January 2024, at about 17:15, a car was struck in Al Manara, southeast of Khan Younis. Reportedly, minutes later, another strike hit a group of people who were trying to extract those who had been killed from the car. In total, ten people were reportedly killed.

Displacement (Gaza Strip)

On 11 January, new evacuation orders were issued to people in parts of Al Mawasi area and several blocks near Salah Ad Deen Road in southern Gaza, covering an estimated 4.6 square kilometres. The Israeli military stated that it was preparing to operate in the area and ordered those affected to move to Deir al Balah. More than 18,000 people and nine shelters, accommodating an unknown number of IDPs, are expected to be affected by this latest round of orders.

On 10 January, the UN Human Rights Office expressed concern that Israeli forces “have placed civilian lives at serious risk by ordering residents from various parts of Middle Gaza to relocate to Deir Al Balah – while continuing to conduct airstrikes on the city. Israel Defense Forces must take immediate measures to protect civilians in line with its obligations under international law. Forcing the relocation of civilians in no way absolves the IDF from its obligations under IHL to protect civilians in carrying out military operations.”

As of 8 January, 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 1.72 million IDPs are sheltering in 155 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates including 160,000 in the north and Gaza city; facilities are far exceeding their intended capacity. Rafah governorate has for a while been 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.

As of 11 January, some 230 incidents affecting UNRWA premises and people inside them have been reported since 7 October (some with multiple incidents affecting the same location). At least 23 of the incidents involved military use and/or interference on the premises. They also include 66 direct hits on UNRWA installations and 69 different UNRWA installations sustaining damage when a nearby object was hit. In total, at least 330 IDPs staying in UNRWA shelters have been killed and at least another 1,135 were injured since 7 October. UNRWA estimates that at least 323 people sheltering in their shelters have been killed and at least 1,149 people injured since the escalation of hostilities.

Health care, including attacks (Gaza Strip)

On 12 January, The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), evacuated about 28 injured people and their accompaniers from Shifa Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, and the PRCS medical point in Jabalya to southern Gaza for further treatment.

On 10 January, four members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) ambulance crew and two injured people were killed when an ambulance was struck on Salah Ad Deen Road at the entrance of Deir al Balah, according to PRCS. Condemning all attacks on healthcare workers, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that “International Humanitarian Law is clear. Medical personnel should never lose their own lives while providing support to their community. All parties to this conflict must respect the humanitarian mission of the PRCS and other first responders.”

According to WHO, 15 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially functional; nine in the south and six in the north. In Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, three hospitals – Al Aqsa, Nasser, and Gaza European – are at risk of closure due to the issuance of evacuation orders in adjacent areas and the ongoing conduct of hostilities nearby. Hospitals in the north have been offering limited maternity, trauma, and emergency care services. However, they face challenges such as a shortage of medical staff, including specialized surgeons, neurosurgeons, and intensive care staff, as well as a lack of medical supplies, and have an urgent need for fuel, food, and drinking water. The nine partially functional hospitals in the south are operating at three times their capacity, while facing critical shortages of basic supplies and fuel. According to the MoH in Gaza, occupancy rates are reaching 206 per cent in inpatient departments and 250 per cent in intensive care units.

On 11 January, the MoH stated that 707 injured and 438 other patients were able to cross through the Rafah crossing for treatment outside of Gaza. An additional 6,200 people are awaiting to be transferred for treatment abroad while over 10,000 cancer patients are at risk of death because of lack of access to treatment following the closure of the Turkish As Sadaqa Hospital.

Hostilities and casualties (Israel)

Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in Israel, including 36 children, according to the Israeli authorities, the vast majority on 7 October.

The Israeli authorities estimate that about 136 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza. During the humanitarian pause (24-30 November), 86 Israeli and 24 foreign national hostages were released.

On 12 January, the Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths stated that “The families of the hostages have been waiting for the release of their loved ones for nearly 100 days, or at least for some information about their well-being. Unfortunately, since November no hostages have been released and no information has been shared with their families and loved ones.” He reiterated his call for the humane treatment and immediate release of all hostages.

OCHA: West Bank

West Bank

[Palestinian Monitoring Group]

Israeli Army attack – 3 wounded – home invasions: Jenin – 12:45, Israeli Occupation forces, firing live ammunition, stormed Jab‘a and invaded homes, killing one resident, Magdy Abdel Latif Fashafsha, and wounding three others: Youssef Mahmoud Fashafsheh, Bassem Ghannam and Islam Naim Ghannam. One person was taken prisoner.

Israeli Army attack – 1 wounded: Jenin – 02:55, one person, Zain Rajeh Jaradat, was wounded by Israeli forces firing live ammunition, in Silat al-Harithiya. Two people were taken prisoner.

Israeli Army attacks – home invasions – destruction – 1 taken prisoner: Tulkarem – 22:00–06:25, the Israeli Army, firing live ammunition, stormed the city and the Nour Shams as well as Tulkarem refugee camps, raiding homes, destroying a motor vehicle and using bulldozers to ruin streets as well as other infrastructure in the Nour Shams refugee camp. One person was taken prisoner.

Israeli Army attack: Bethlehem – 16:20, Israeli forces opened fire towards people, near the entrance to Husan village.

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 stun grenades and tear gas canisters in refugee camp: Jerusalem – evening, Israeli Occupation forces, in the Shuafat refugee camp, fired rubber-coated bullets andstun grenades towards residents.

Israeli Army – abduction: Ramallah – 09:10, Israeli forces abducted a 17-year-old youth: Fiq Al-Bazzar.

Occupation settler land-grab: Hebron – morning, Israeli Occupation settlers seized land in the Sadda al-Thaala area, east of Yatta, and began preparations for its occupation.

Occupation settler land-grab: Hebron – 20:40, Israeli settlers seized land in the Khallet al-Farra area, west of Yatta, and began preparations for its occupation.

Raids: Jenin – 12:50, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Maythaloun, as well as the villages of Siris and Sir.

Raid: Jenin – 14:00-16:40, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Silat al-Dahr.

Raid: Jenin – 14:55, the Israeli Army raided the village of al-Arqa.

Raid: Jenin – 16:35, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Tura.

Raids: Jenin – 16:45, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the villages of Ta’anak and Zububa.

Raid: Jenin – 19:40–00:50, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled Araba.

Raid: Jenin – 21:00–01:05, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Ya’bad.

Raid: Tubas – 12:35–15:40, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the village of Aqaba.

Raid: Tulkarem – 10:05-11:55, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Izbit Shufa.

Raid: Tulkarem – 20:05-21:35, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Pharaoh.

Raid: Qalqiliya – 18:00, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Hajjah.

Raid: Qalqiliya – 21:20, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Kafr Laqif.

Raid – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Qalqiliya – 18:00, Israeli Occupation forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided Hajjah village.

Raids: Nablus – 10:15-13:55, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Beita and Qabalan, as well as the villages of Awarta and Asira al-Qibliya.

Raids: Nablus – 12:55, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Sebastia, and also the villages of Beit Imrin and Jbeil.

Raid: Nablus – 15:00, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Odala.

Raid – including in refugee camp: Nablus – 21:10–03:20, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the public housing area as well as the Askar refugee camp.

Raid: Nablus – 23:00–02:15, Israeli soldiers raided Beit Furik.

Raid: Nablus – 23:35, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Aqraba.

Raid: Salfit – 14:30, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the village of Iskaka.

Raid: Salfit – 18:00, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Haris.

Raid: Salfit – 21:45, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Qarawat Bani Hassan

Raid – armed robbery: Bethlehem – 01:00–04:40, the Israeli military raided al-Ubeidiya and Za’atara, and seized a motor vehicle.

Raid: Hebron – 14:35–15:50, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the Bab al-Zawiya district.