In Occupied Palestine

Zionism in practice

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

08:00, 04 February until 08:00, 05 February 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: 113 people killed in Gaza brings the total number of deaths since 7 October to at least 27,478. With another 205 wounded, that has risen to 66,835. Fully accurate statistics are not available, due to insecurity menacing hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

OCHA Flash Update #111

As of 5 February, the influx of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into Rafah continues to be reported, including due to intense fighting in Khan Younis, combined with reports of an increase in strikes in Rafah on 4 and 5 February. In addition to insecurity, IDPs face acute shortages of food, water, shelter and medicine. Describing the dramatic conditions facing IDPs, UNICEF reported on 5 February that most of the newly displaced have 1.5-2 litres of water per day to drink, cook and wash, and highlighted a significant increase in cases of chronic diarrhoea among children. It is estimated that Rafah is already hosting over half of Gaza’s population and five times its population prior to 7 October.

On 5 February, the Israeli military re-announced evacuation orders that were first issued on 23 and 29 January for residents of specific areas in Khan Younis and Gaza governorates, respectively. Since 7 October 2023, 246 square kilometres, which amount to 67 per cent of the Gaza Strip, have been placed under evacuation orders. This area was home to 1.78 million Palestinians before 7 October and, as of late December 2023, it contained 210 shelters hosting over 770,000 IDPs. It includes all areas north of Wadi Gaza, whose residents were ordered to evacuate in late October, as well as specific areas south of Wadi Gaza slated for evacuation by the Israeli military since 1 December. Overlapping orders are accounted for.

On 5 February, a convoy waiting to move to northern Gaza was hit by gunfire but there were no casualties, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator reported. On 4 February, a group of people waiting for humanitarian aid trucks near Al Kuwaiti roundabout in southern Gaza city were reportedly fired at. This marks the fifth time that shooting allegations on people gathering to obtain humanitarian aid supplies have been reported. In January, 56 per cent of humanitarian aid missions planned for northern Gaza (34 out of 61) and 25 per cent of missions planned for the middle area (28 out of 114) were denied access by the Israeli authorities.

Health care in Gaza remains extremely precarious, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). For the past two weeks, heavy fighting continues to be reported near Nasser and Al Amal hospitals in Khan Younis, jeopardizing the safety of medical staff, the wounded and the sick, as well as thousands of IDPs seeking refuge at the hospitals. On 5 February, PRCS reported that ICRC had informed them of the approval by the Israeli authorities of a safe passage to enable IDPs who had sought refuge at Al Amal hospital and the PRCS headquarters in Khan Younis to reach Al Mawasi area, also in Khan Younis. On the same day, PRCS reported that hundreds of displaced families began departing “amid an atmosphere of terror and panic due to the ongoing panic and gunfire.” PRCS also reported that the Israeli military summoned three PRCS senior staff including Al Amal Hospital’s Director for interrogation. As of 5 February, the fate of two PRCS staff members and the six-year-old girl they had been dispatched to rescue a week ago remained unknown, PRCS also reported.

Attacks on schools hosting IDPs continue to be reported. On 5 February, several IDPs taking refuge at a school in Khan Younis were reportedly injured by gunfire. Moreover, in two separate incidents between 1 and 3 February, UNRWA reported that two IDPs sheltering in a school in Khan Younis were killed and many others sustained injuries as a result of shooting and shelling. Overall, as of 3 February, UNRWA reported that at least 282 incidents have impacted its facilities sheltering displaced families. As a result, at least 377 IDPs taking refuge in UNRWA shelters (including schools) have been killed and 1,365 injured since 7 October, the Agency reports. Education Cluster partners are also concerned about reports, videos and pictures showing that schools are being used for military operations, including their use as detention and interrogation centres or as military bases.

Hostilities and casualties (Gaza Strip)

Among the deadliest incidents reported between the afternoons of 4 and 5 February took place in Deir Al Balah:

On 5 February, at about 11:30, 7 Palestinians were reportedly killed, and several others injured, when a house in Az Zawayda area of Deir Al Balah was struck.

On 4 February, at about 13:45, 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed, and 70 others were injured, including children, when two residential buildings in Deir al Balah were struck.

On 4 February, at about 19:30, 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed, and several others injured, when a residential building in Deir al Balah was struck.

Displacement (Gaza Strip)

As of 3 February, UNRWA estimates that some 75 per cent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people, more than half of whom are children, are displaced. They face acute shortages of food, water, shelter and medicine. Intense fighting around Khan Younis continues to drive thousands of people into the southern town of Rafah. Most are living in makeshift structures, tents, or out in the open, according to UNRWA.

Electricity

Since 11 October 2023, the Gaza Strip has been under an electricity blackout, after the Israeli authorities cut off the electricity supply, and fuel reserves for Gaza’s sole power plant were depleted. The communications and industrial fuel shutdown continue to significantly hinder people from seeking lifesaving services, as well as the aid community’s efforts to assess and to adequately respond to the deepening humanitarian crisis. For more information on electricity supply to the Gaza Strip, please see this dashboard.

Violence and casualties (West Bank)

On 5 February, Israeli forces shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy at the entrance to Al ‘Eizariya town (Jerusalem). Video footage shows that the boy pulled out a knife to stab a Border Police officer who had stopped him before he was shot.

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, 373 Palestinians have been killed, including 95 children, in conflict-related incidents across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the majority (361) by Israeli forces. Additionally, two Palestinians from the West Bank were killed while carrying out an attack in Israel on 30 November. Between 1 January and 5 February 2024, 64 Palestinians, including at least 14 children, have been killed, the majority by Israeli forces.

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, ten Israelis have been killed in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel. These include five Israelis, including four members of Israeli forces, killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; four Israelis killed by Palestinians from the West Bank in Israel, and one Israeli killed by Israeli forces who misidentified him during a Palestinian-perpetrated attack in West Jerusalem.

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, 4,415 Palestinians, including 670 children, have been injured in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of them, 4,277 have been injured by Israeli forces, 117 people by settlers and 21 people by either Israeli forces or settlers. Of the total injuries, 54 per cent were reported in the context of search-and-arrest and other operations, 34 per cent in demonstrations and 8 per cent during attacks perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians.

Settler Violence

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, OCHA has recorded 506 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in Palestinian casualties (49 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (399 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (58 incidents).

Displacement (West Bank)

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, 503 Palestinians, including 248 children, have been displaced following the demolition of their homes in Area C and East Jerusalem, due to lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain. Overall in 2023, 892 structures were demolished, sealed off and/or confiscated, due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits in Area C and East Jerusalem, resulting in the displacement of 1,152 Palestinians, including 575 children. One-fourth of the demolished structures and 52 per cent of the people displaced were in East Jerusalem.

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, Israeli forces punitively demolished 22 Palestinian-owned homes, displacing 105 Palestinians, including 45 children. The numbers exceed those reported in the first nine months of 2023, during which 16 homes were punitively demolished and 78 people displaced in that context.

Since 7 October 2023 and as of 5 February 2024, 780 Palestinians, including 325 children, have been displaced, following the destruction of 123 homes during 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 86 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: Tubas – 02:10, the Israeli Army, firing live ammunition, stormed Tubas.

Israeli Army attack – 1 wounded: Nablus – 22:50, Israeli Occupation forces, firing live ammunition, stormed into Sarra village, wounding a resident: Adam Mahmoud Turabi.

Israeli Army attack – damage: Nablus – 05:55, Israeli forces, firing live ammunition, damaged motor vehicles as they stormed Nablus as well as the Ein Beit al-Maa refugee camp.

Home invasions and armed robbery: Tubas – 02:10–04:45, Israeli Occupation forces raided the city, invaded homes and took prisoner one person. They also robbed one householder of cash worth the equivalent to around$US4000, bulldozed the main road and took prisoner one resident.

Home invasions – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades: Tulkarem – 18:45–02:30, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades raided homes, as well as a café, in the village of Ramin.

Home invasion: Nablus – 17:10, the Israeli Army raided Madama village and searched a house.

Home invasions: Nablus – 22:30–05:20, Israeli troops raided Beit Furik and searched five homes.

Home invasion – youngster terrorised: Nablus – 22:30–01:15, the Israeli military raided the village of Yatma and terrorised a 15-year-old youth, holding him captive for a time.

Home invasion: Nablus – 22:50–01:20, Israeli Occupation forces stormed the village of Sarra, wounding one resident.

Home invasion: Nablus – 01:15–03:40, Israeli soldiers raided the village of Awarta and searched a house.

Home invasions – 2 taken prisoner – vandalism: Nablus – 05:55, Israeli Occupation forces raided and invaded homes in Nablus as well as the Ein Beit al-Maa refugee camp, taking prisoner two residents and damaging motor vehicles.

Raid: Salfit – midnight-02:20, Israeli forces raided Bidya and searched three homes.

Home invasion: Hebron – 21:05, Israeli forces raided the Beit Einoun area in Sa’ir and searched a home.

Home invasions – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Hebron – dawn, the Israeli Army, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided Beit Ummar and searched two homes.

Israeli Occupation population–control: Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation renewed a banning order on the Governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, preventing him from visiting the rest of the West Bank for the next six months.

Israeli Occupation population–control: Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation renewed a banning order on one person, Shadi Al-Mutawar, preventing him from visiting the rest of the West Bank for the next four months.

Israeli police and settlers’ mosque violation: Jerusalem – 08:00, settler militants, escorted by Israeli police, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and molested worshippers.

Occupation settler vandalism – arson: Ramallah – 21:45, Israeli settlers closed the main road from Ramallah to Nablus, near the entrance to Turmusaya, setting fire to tyres on parked vehicles.

Occupation settler stoning: Jenin – 14:05, Israeli settlers raided the Khirbet Farasin area, south–west of Ya’bad, and stoned people’s homes.

Occupation settler vandalism: Bethlehem – 19:30, Israelis, from the Betar Illit Occupation settlement, vandalised a motor vehicle, smashing its windows and causing further damage.

Raid: Jerusalem – 10:10, Israeli Occupation forces raided al-Eizariya.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Jerusalem – 10:10, Israeli forces raided Abu Dis, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Ramallah – 14:30, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Beitunya.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 01:40–03:20, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Beitunya, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 02:20–03:20, the Israeli military raided the village of Beitin, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 1 youngster abducted – 1 other person taken prisoner: Ramallah – 03:50, Israeli soldiers raided Silwad, and abducted a 17-year-old youth, Laith Anwar Salah Hamed. One other person was taken prisoner.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 04:10, Israeli Occupation forces raided al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 04:45, Israeli forces raided Bir Zeit and the village of Barham, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner – theft: Jenin – 22:55-midnight, the Israeli Army raided Ya’bad, taking prisoner one person and seizing a motorcycle.

Raid – population–control: Jenin – 01:05–05:20, Israeli troops raided Araba, detaining and interrogating a number of people.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Tulkarem – 18:10, the Israeli military raided the village of Shufa, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 5 taken prisoner: Tulkarem – 02:30, Israeli soldiers raided the city, taking prisoner five people.

Raids – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Qalqiliya – 22:25-midnight, Israeli Occupation forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided and patrolled the villages of Hajjah and Immatin.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Qalqiliya – 01:25–04:40, Israeli forces raided the village of Kafr Laqif, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Qalqiliya – 01:40, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Azzun.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner – theft: Qalqiliya – 02:40–04:40, Israeli troops raided the city, taking prisoner three people and seizing a motor vehicle.

Raids: Qalqiliya – 02:50–04:35, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the villages of Ras Tira and al-Daba.

Raid: Nablus – 10:20, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Odala.

Raid: Nablus – 01:15–03:40, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Beita.

Raid: Bethlehem – 16:30-18:00, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Husan.

Raid: Bethlehem – 17:45-18:00, Israeli troops raided and patrolled al-Khas village.

Raid: Bethlehem – 19:40, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Umm Salmuna.

Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Hebron – 01:00–02:10, Israeli soldiers raided Halhul, taking prisoner three people.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 02:40–06:45, Israeli Occupation forces raided the city, taking prisoner one person.