In Occupied Palestine

Zionism in practice

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

08:00, on 20 January until 08:00, 21 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: 178 people killed in Gaza brings the total number of deaths since 7 October to at least 25,105. With another 293 wounded, that has risen to 62,681. Fully accurate statistics are not available, due to insecurity menacing hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

OCHA Flash Update #98

On 20 January, the UN Secretary-General stated: “People are dying not only from bombs and bullets, but from lack of food and clean water, hospitals without power and medicine, and gruelling journeys to ever-smaller slivers of land to escape the fighting. This must stop. I will not relent in my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

Beyond telecommunication shutdowns, the capacity of humanitarian agencies to operate safely and effectively anywhere in Gaza remains heavily compromised by recurrent denials of access to the north, restrictions on the import of critical equipment, and the intensity of hostilities, among other factors.

At a press briefing in Geneva on 19 January, upon the conclusion of her visit to Gaza, a UNICEF Communication Specialist stated: “In the 105 days of this escalation in the Gaza Strip, nearly 20,000 babies have been born into war. That’s a baby born into this horrendous war every 10 minutes. Mothers face unimaginable challenges in accessing adequate medical care, nutrition, and protection before, during and after giving birth. Becoming a mother should be a time for celebration. In Gaza, it’s another child delivered into hell. Humanity cannot allow this warped version of normal to persist any longer. Mothers and newborns need a humanitarian ceasefire.”

Key points

Intense Israeli bombardments from air, land, and sea continued across much of the Gaza Strip on 20 and 21 January, resulting in further civilian casualties and displacement, as well as destruction. The indiscriminate firing of rockets by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza continued. Ground operations and fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups were also reported across much of Gaza.

Between the afternoons of 19 and 21 January, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, 343 Palestinians were killed (178 between 20 and 21 January; 165 between 19 and 20 January), and another 573 people were injured (293 and 280 injuries, as per the same timeframe). Between 7 October 2023 and 12:00 on 21 January 2024, at least 25,105 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and 62,681 Palestinians were injured, according to the MoH.

On 20 January, the UN Secretary-General stated: “People are dying not only from bombs and bullets, but from lack of food and clean water, hospitals without power and medicine, and gruelling journeys to ever-smaller slivers of land to escape the fighting. This must stop. I will not relent in my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

Between 19 January and 21 January, two Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed in Gaza. Since the start of the ground operation and as of 21 January, 193 soldiers have been killed, and 1,203 soldiers have been injured in Gaza, according to the Israeli military.

Since the evening of 19 January, mobile phone communication – which had been down since 12 January – has been restored to most of Gaza, with the exception of some services in the north. However, tinternet remains down across the whole of Gaza. The blackout of telecommunications restricts people in Gaza from accessing lifesaving information and impedes other forms of humanitarian response.

Beyond telecommunication shutdowns, the capacity of humanitarian agencies to operate safely and effectively anywhere in Gaza remains heavily compromised by recurrent denials of access to the north, restrictions on the import of critical equipment, and the intensity of hostilities, among other factors.

Humanitarian partners report that, as of 17 January, only 15 bakeries were operational across the Gaza Strip; six in Rafah and nine in Deir al Balah. No bakeries are functioning north of Wadi Gaza. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been supporting eight of the functional bakeries (six in Rafah and two in Deir al Balah), providing them with wheat flour, salt, yeast and sugar. Through this initiative, about 250,000 people were able to purchase bread at a subsidized price.

At a press briefing in Geneva on 19 January, upon the conclusion of her visit to Gaza, a UNICEF Communication Specialist stated: “In the 105 days of this escalation in the Gaza Strip, nearly 20,000 babies have been born into war. That’s a baby born into this horrendous war every 10 minutes. Mothers face unimaginable challenges in accessing adequate medical care, nutrition, and protection before, during and after giving birth. Becoming a mother should be a time for celebration. In Gaza, it’s another child delivered into hell. Humanity cannot allow this warped version of normal to persist any longer. Mothers and newborns need a humanitarian ceasefire.”

On 19 January, about 100 Palestinians were released back to Gaza by the Israeli military through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Speaking to the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory, men who had been detained by Israeli forces in unknown locations for 30 to 55 days described “being beaten, humiliated, and subjected to ill-treatment, and to what may amount to torture. Such allegations are consistent with reports our Office has been gathering of the detention of Palestinians on a broad scale, including many civilians, held in secrecy, often subject to ill-treatment, with no access to their families, lawyers or effective judicial protection. Israel must take urgent steps to ensure that all those arrested or detained are treated in line with international human rights and international humanitarian law norms and standards, notably with full respect for their due process rights.”

As of noon on 15 January, the Israeli authorities estimated that about 136 Israelis and foreign nationals remained captive in Gaza. During the humanitarian pause (24-30 November), 86 Israeli and 24 foreign national hostages were released. Israeli media has reported that an agreement had been reached for medicine to be delivered to some of the hostages still held in Gaza, but there is no confirmation yet if this has been implemented. The UN Secretary-General has again reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Hostilities and casualties (Gaza Strip)

The following are among the deadliest incidents reported on 19 and 20 January:

On 19 January, at about 14:30, seven Palestinians were reportedly killed when a house was struck in Al Maghazi Camp, Deir al Balah governorate.

On 19 January, at about 18:00, five Palestinians were reportedly killed when a house was struck in An Nuseirat Camp, Deir al Balah governorate.

On 20 January, at about 15:15, five Palestinians were reportedly killed when a residential building was struck in Jabalya, northern Gaza.

On 20 January, at about 17:10, four Palestinians were reportedly killed when a car was struck in the centre of Rafah.

According to a new report by UN Women, “displacement exacerbates people’s vulnerability, erodes their coping mechanisms, and impacts them differently based on gender. Since the ground operation started in Gaza, it has been reported that men faced arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance. According to media reports, while on the displacement journey, women also faced risks of arbitrary detention and harassment. For families with elderly relatives or family members with disabilities who simply cannot move, it is women who disproportionately stay behind as caregivers.”

Health care, including attacks (Gaza Strip)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health care in Gaza remains extremely fragile. Only 16 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are functional, albeit partially: partial functionality indicates that a hospital is accessible to people in need of health care, can take in new patients and can undertake some level of surgery. According to the MoH in Gaza, occupancy rates are reaching 206 per cent in inpatient departments and 250 per cent in intensive care units.

The 16 hospitals that are still partially functional include nine in the south and seven in the north. This is an increase of one more hospital in the north – Kamal Adwan – which has been functioning again to some degree since mid-January. 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. 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. On 19 January, Israeli forces reportedly carried out an attack in the vicinity of Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, where one Palestinian was reportedly killed. On 20 January, strikes around both Al Amal and the European Hospital continued, with casualties reported.

Reporting that cases of Hepatitis A have been confirmed in Gaza through test kits supplied by WHO, the Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that “inhumane living conditions –- barely any clean water, clean toilets and possibility to keep the surroundings clean – will enable Hepatitis A to spread further … The capacity to diagnose diseases remains extremely limited. There is no functioning laboratory. The capacity to respond remains limited too. We will continue to call for unimpeded and safe access of medical aid and for health to be protected.”

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

The availability of water in Gaza is shrinking. According to WASH humanitarian partners, water availability through the municipal wells is presently at 21,200 cubic metres a day, which is tenth of their production capacity of 255,000 cubic metres a day prior to the escalation of hostilities. Water from these wells is known to be substandard given it is brackish (salty), whereas water from the Israeli-operated lines yielded the optimal safe drinking water prior to the hostilities. At present, only one of the three Israeli lines – the Bani Sa’id point – is functional, yielding 22,000 cubic metres a day, which is less than half of what would have been available if all lines were working.

Furthermore, water availability through the short-term desalination plants presently stands at 1,600 cubic metres per day, which is 7 per cent of the pre-crisis capacity of 22,000 cubic metres per day. Due to import restrictions on critical items, water testing kits and chlorine to treat the water across Gaza are presently unavailable. Furthermore, the amalgamation of solid waste and fecal waste, exacerbated by rains and floods, is giving rise to severe health and environmental threats. With WHO already reporting 152,000 cases of diarrhoea, the inability to perform water chlorination to kill bacteria is exacerbating the already concerning situation. At present, Health and WASH partners have developed an Acute Watery Diarrhoea preparedness and response plan. Barriers to the import of critical items must be removed to enable adequate response.

Humanitarian Access

In the first two weeks of January, humanitarian agencies planned 29 missions to deliver lifesaving supplies to areas to the north of Wadi Gaza. Only 7 of the 29 (24 per cent) were accomplished, either fully or partially. The remainder of the missions were denied access by the Israeli authorities. This is a significant increase in denials compared with the previous months; between October and December 2023, only 14 per cent (6 out of 43) of missions planned to the north were denied, while the remaining 86 per cent (37 out of 43 missions) were facilitated. These denials prevent a scale-up in humanitarian assistance and add significant cost to the overall response. The capacity of humanitarian agencies to operate safely and effectively also remains heavily compromised by the long-term restrictions applied by the Israeli authorities on the import of critical humanitarian equipment into Gaza.

Settler Violence (West Bank)

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 21 January 2024, OCHA has recorded 441 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in Palestinian casualties (45 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (341 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (55 incidents). This reflects a daily average of four incidents.

One-third of the settler attacks against Palestinians after 7 October 2023 have involved 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.

In 2023, 1,229 incidents involving Israeli 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.

Displacement (West Bank)

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 21 January 2024, 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).

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 21 January 2024, 479 Palestinians, including 239 children, have been displaced following the demolition of their homes, due to lack of Israeli-issued building permits in Area C and East Jerusalem, which are almost impossible to obtain.

A total of 19 homes have been demolished and 95 Palestinians, including 42 children, displaced due to punitive demolitions from 7 October 2023 and as of 20 January 2024. The numbers exceed those reported in the first nine months of 2023, during which 16 homes were punitively demolished and 78 people displaced.

The Israeli military operations, which took place in the refugee camps of Nur Shams and Tulkarm (both in Tulkarm) on 17 and 18 January, resulted in damage to homes and infrastructure, in addition to the fatalities and injuries already recorded. At least 21 homes were rendered uninhabitable due to explosions and bulldozing, displacing 137 people, including 46 children. Since 7 October 2023 and as of 21 January 2024, 739 Palestinians, including 309 children, have been displaced, following the destruction of 115 homes during other operations carried out by Israeli forces across the West Bank. About 95 per cent of the displacement was reported in the refugee camps of Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm. This represents 81 per cent of all displacement reported due to the destruction of homes during Israeli military operations since January 2023 (908 people).

West Bank

[Palestinian Monitoring Group]

Israeli Army attack – 1 wounded: Ramallah – 12:50, , near the village of Rammun, Israeli Occupation forces, firing live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets, wounded a resident: Raji Awawda.

Israeli settler attack – 1 wounded: Hebron – 17:00, armed Israeli settlers, in the al-Jawaya area, opened fire towards and pursued local shepherds.

Home invasion and forced personal demolition: Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation forced a resident, Samir Al-Halawani, to destroy his home in the Ras al-Amoud neighbourhood – or otherwise be forced to pay an extortionate sum to the Israeli Occupation demolition squads, who would be sent in to do it.

Home invasions: Salfit – 19:35, Israeli forces raided the village of Marda and searched two homes.

Home invasions and destruction: Hebron – 22:40, the Israeli Army, using explosives and bulldozers, destroyed the family homes of two people killed by Israel.

Home invasion: Hebron – 02:35, Israeli troops raided Yatta and searched a house.

Israeli Army assault with rubber-coated bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Hebron – 22:55, Israeli Occupation forces fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades at people, near the city roundabout.

Occupation settler violence: Jenin – 13:25, Israeli Occupation settlers invaded an area, near the village of Masoudia, and drove people off their own land, close to the Barta’a checkpoint.

Occupation settler population–control: Tulkarem – 11:30, Israeli settlers set up a checkpoint, near al-Nazlah al-Sharqiya village.

Occupation settler violence – beatings-up: Tulkarem – 15:50, Israeli settlers assaulted and beat up two Ramin villagers, Iyad Muhammad Hassan Hamad and Yasser Muhammad Hassan Hamad,on private land in the Ramin Plain area.

Occupation settler plunder – agricultural sabotage: Nablus – 10:45, Israelis, from the Esh Kodesh Occupation settlement outpost, invaded Jalloud village land and stole chickens as well assheep.

Occupation settler violence: Nablus – 14:50, Israeli settlers beat up and hospitalised a Huwara resident: Abdul Rahim Abdullah Salah Maani.

Occupation settler vandalism – arson – plunder: Hebron – Israeli Occupation settlers invaded Farsh al-Hawa farmland, plundering, vandalising and setting fire to property.

Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Hebron – 14:30, Israeli settlers grazed their livestock on Susya village farmland.

Raid – refugee camp: Jerusalem – dawn, Israeli Occupation forces raided the Qalandiya refugee camp, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 06:10, Israeli forces raided Aroura, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 06:20, the Israeli Army raided the al-Amari refugee camp, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Jenin – 12:50–14:20, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Kefert.

Raid: Jenin – 14:20–16:35, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Jalboun.

Raid: Jenin – 22:30, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Ajja.

Raid – 4 taken prisoner: Jenin – 03:20, Israeli Occupation forces raided Maythaloun, taking prisoner four people.

Raid: Tulkarem – 10:00, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Quffin.

Raid – rubber–coated metal bullets and stun grenades fired: Qalqiliya – 12:35, the Israeli Army, firing rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades, raided Kafr Thulth.

Raid: Qalqiliya – 15:00, Israeli troops, firing rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades, raided Azzun.

Raid – rubber–coated metal bullets and stun grenades fired: Qalqiliya – 15:35, the Israeli Army, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided the village of Fara’ata.

Raid – rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades fired: Qalqiliya – 01:00, Israeli Army, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided the city.

Raid: Nablus – 12:40, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Beit Imrin.

Raid: Nablus – 13:10–14:40, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Asira.

Raid: Nablus – 13:30–14:40, the Israeli military raided and patrolled Sebastia.

Raid: Nablus – 13:30–15:55, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Deir al-Hatab.

Raid: Nablus – 16:05–17:40, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Beita.

Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Nablus – 23:25–06:50, Israeli forces raided the city, taking prisoner three people.

Raid: Nablus – 01:00–03:05, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Salem village.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Salfit – 15:25, Israeli troops raided Qarawat Bani Hassan, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Salfit – 21:25, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Yasuf.

Raid: Bethlehem – 21:00, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Khalayel al-Luz.

Raid: Hebron – 09:45, the Israeli military raided Yatta.

Raid – beating: Hebron – 16:40, Israeli soldiers raided Beit Awa and beat up a resident: Moatasem Farouk Masalmeh.

Raid: Hebron – 17:45, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of al-Simiya.

Raid: Hebron – 02:10, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the town of Sa’ir.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Hebron – dawn, the Israeli Army raided al-Shuyukh, taking prisoner two people.