In Occupied Palestine
Zionism in practice
Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Land
08:00, 13 February until 08:00, 14 February 2024
[Source of statistics: Palestinian Monitoring Group]
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 Navy continues to fire missiles, targeting facilities and buildings along the shoreline of the whole of Gaza.
Victims: 103 people killed in Gaza brings the total number of deaths since 7 October to at least 28,576. With another 145 wounded, that has risen to 68,291. Fully accurate statistics are not available, due to insecurity menacing hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
OCHA Flash Update #118
Key points
Intense Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea continues to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Ground operations and heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups also continue to be reported, especially in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis.
Between the afternoon of 13 February and 12:00 on 14 February, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, 103 Palestinians were killed, and 145 Palestinians were injured. Between 7 October 2023 and 12:00 on 14 February 2024, at least 28,576 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and 68,291 Palestinians were injured, according to MoH in Gaza.
Airstrikes on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah and statements by Israeli officials have heightened concerns about a possible ground invasion in Rafah where well over one million people are crammed amid insecurity and acute shortages of shelter, food, clean water, and medical care. On 13 February, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, warned that a military operation in Rafah “could lead to a slaughter in Gaza” and “leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at death’s door,” noting that the “Government of Israel cannot continue to ignore these calls” by the international community.
Population movements out of Rafah toward Deir al Balah and An Nuseirat Refugee Camp have been reported, following intensified airstrikes on Rafah. This is occurring within the context of rising food insecurity, limitations on the entry of aid, the erosion of coping mechanisms, and the prospects of a ground operation in the area. On 13 February, the World Food Programme (WFP) expressed concern that displacement from Rafah would further decrease the resilience of people who have been previously displaced to Rafah in search of safety, and Action Against Hunger warned that it will be forced to suspend its activities if military operations expand to Rafah. On 12 February, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported “unprecedented levels of acute food insecurity, hunger, and near famine-like conditions in Gaza,” warning that with every passing day “more and more people are simply going hungry and having less accessibility to food, nutrition, water, and medical services.”
Humanitarian and health workers continue to face enormous challenges and risks to serve people in need of urgent assistance and save lives, particularly given the insufficient materials and supplies that aid organizations are able to bring in, according to the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jamie McGoldrick. On 8 February, Project HOPE’s medical coordinator described the “inhumane conditions” she witnessed while working at Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah between 17 and 31 January, noting that “there were not enough health workers, medicine, or supplies to treat everybody.” On 10 February, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and OCHA delivered medicine, trauma supplies, and maternal health kits to Al Aqsa Hospital, following coordination with the Israeli authorities. The hospital is one of six hospitals that remain only partially functional south of Wadi Gaza, according to WHO. Like other partially functional hospitals across Gaza where average bed occupancy is 388 per cent, Al Aqsa Hospital is overwhelmed by the constant flow of patients and wounded persons, amid critical shortages of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, fuel and health personnel, and has expanded services for less critical cases to two adjacent schools to cope with the rising caseload.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis continues to be besieged by Israeli tanks and there are continued allegations of sniper shooting toward the hospital and its vicinity, endangering the lives of 300 medical personnel, 450 wounded, and some 10,000 displaced people who are reportedly sheltering in the hospital’s compound. On 13 and 14 February, the Israeli military called for the evacuation of civilians seeking shelter at Nasser Hospital, claiming that military activities are being carried out from within the hospital’s compound. According to MoH in Gaza, three people were killed, and 10 others injured, inside Nasser medical complex by Israeli sniper fire in the afternoon of 13 February. Also on 13 February, the diesel generators of Nasser hospital reportedly ceased working, which reportedly led to the death of a 10-year-old child. As of 13:00 on 14 February, IDPs, including pregnant women and the elderly, were reportedly forced to begin to evacuate the hospital amid heavy gunfire in the area.
Damage to civilian infrastructure continues to be reported across Gaza, including residential buildings, schools, hospitals, roads, cemeteries, as well as water and sanitation facilities. In December 2023, UNICEF reported that at least half of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities have been damaged or destroyed in Gaza. UNRWA also reports that 152 UNRWA installations have sustained damage across Gaza since 7 October, including premises providing shelter to IDPs. According to UNOSAT data published on 1 February, 30 per cent of structures in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or sustained severe to moderate damage, with the governorates of Gaza and Khan Younis experiencing the highest rise in damage in January 2024 compared to November 2023. On 10 February, the Education Cluster published a Satellite-derived Damage Assessment, which found that at least 55 per cent of 563 school buildings have been either directly hit or confirmed as damaged. On 8 February 2024, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated: “Such destruction of homes and other essential civilian infrastructure also entrenches the displacement of communities that were living in these areas prior to the escalation in hostilities.”
Hostilities and casualties (Gaza Strip)
Reports of attacks on police members and premises in Rafah continue.
On 13 February, the police station in Zalata area, east of Rafah, was reportedly hit; no casualties were reported. Previously, on 6 and 10 February, nine police officers were reportedly killed in Rafah: six while guarding an aid truck, and three as a police vehicle was struck, respectively.
The following are among the deadliest incidents reported on 12 and 13 February:
On 12 February, at about 13:00, two Palestinians, including a boy and his 21-year-old sister, were reportedly killed, when a group of people in Bader Refugee Camp in northwestern Rafah was struck.
On 13 February, at about 1:00, five Palestinians, including a journalist and his son and daughter, were reportedly killed, when a residential building, near Ash Shuhada mosque in Deir al Balah was struck.
On 13 February, at about 2:45, at least three Palestinians, including a young girl and two women, were reportedly killed, when a residential building in southern An Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Deir al Balah was struck.
West Bank Updates
Since 7 October 2023, 388 Palestinians have been killed, including 99 children, and 4,475 Palestinians, including 686 children, injured in conflict-related incidents across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. During the same period, 10 Israelis, including four members of security forces, were killed and 75 injured in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
On 12 February, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli forces, raided Jinba community in the Masafer Yatta area in southern Hebron, searched Palestinian houses, and destroyed belongings inside some 18 houses. Israeli settlers also stole electric tools, water pumps and generators, as well as destroyed the main door of the community’s health clinic and speakers of the local mosque. Furthermore, settlers raided two animal pens, which caused panic among sheep and the death of two lambs while trying to run away. Since 7 October 2023, OCHA has recorded 532 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in Palestinian casualties (50 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (423 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (59 incidents).
On 13 February, a Palestinian residence was rendered uninhabitable after being targeted by two off-shoulder missiles during an operation by Israeli forces in Sir village in Jenin, displacing a family of six. Moreover, initial information indicates that the destruction of homes and roads, during the Israeli military operation in Jenin Refugee Camp on 13 February, has hindered the access of residents to Jenin city. Since 7 October 2023, 814 Palestinians, including 332 children, have been displaced, following the destruction of 127 homes during operations carried out by Israeli forces across the West Bank. About 94 per cent of the displacement was reported in the refugee camps of Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm.
Since 7 October 2023, 513 people, including 251 children, have been displaced in Area C and East Jerusalem after their homes were demolished due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain.
West Bank
[Palestinian Monitoring Group]
Israeli Army attack on refugee camp – 2 wounded (1 aged 14): Ramallah – 13:10, Israeli Occupation forces, firing live ammunition, stormed the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, wounding a 14-year-old boy, Amir Bilal Abu Asba, as well as another resident: Muhammad Essam Ibrahim Abdel Hadi.
Israeli Army attack on refugee camp – home invaded: Jenin – 12:10, Israeli forces stormed the Jenin refugee camp, besieging and then invading a home.
Israeli Army attack – 13-year-old boy wounded: Qalqiliya – 13:50, the Israeli Army, firing live ammunition, stormed Azzun, wounding a 13-year-old boy: Omar Muhammad Ahmed Suwaidan.
Home invasions: Nablus – 02:15–06:55, Israeli Occupation forces raided the village of Salem and invaded a number of homes.
Home invasions – 1 taken prisoner: Jericho – 05:00–07:40, Israeli forces raided al-Auja, taking prisoner one woman after invading her house.
Home invasions: Hebron – 23:10, the Israeli Army raided the city and invaded a number of homes.
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 – armed robbery: Tubas – Israeli Occupation forces seized from one person a commercial vehicle, in the al-Buqai’a Plain area of the North Jordan Valley.
Occupation settler stoning: Ramallah – 18:20, Israelis, from the Ateret Occupation settlement, stoned passing vehicles.
Occupation settler abduction and successful local resistance: Ramallah – 20:05, Israeli Occupation settlers invaded the outskirts of al-Mazraa al-Gharbiya and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl: Layan Walid Ladadwa. Several people were able to pursue the settlers and rescue Layan, forcing the settlers to release her.
Occupation settler stoning: Nablus – 14:15, Israeli settlers stoned passing vehicles, near the Bizzaria village road junction.
Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Nablus – evening, Israeli Occupation settlers invaded Qusra farmland and destroyed an agricultural building.
Joint Occupation settler and Israeli Army assault – head injury: Salfit – 16:15, stone-throwing Israeli settlers, supported by Israeli forces firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided the village of Yasuf. One resident received a head injury from the stoning.
Occupation settler agricultural and pastoral sabotage: Bethlehem – Israelis, from the Maale Amos Occupation settlement, invaded Kisan village land, stoning the home of a resident, Ibrahim Awaida Sawarka, and seizing 40 sheep, a private vehicle and a tractor.
Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Hebron – Israelis, from the Beit Ein Occupation settlement, invaded the Ein al-Bayda area, north of Safa village, uprooting and cutting off branches from 50 olive trees, as well as damaging dozens of almond trees and grapevines.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 02:35–03:30, Israeli Occupation forces raided Ni’lin, taking prisoner one person.
Raid: Ramallah – 04:10–06:00, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Ramallah.
Raid: Jenin – 22:30–01:40, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Jalboun.
Raid: Tulkarem – 04:40–06:40, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the Shweika suburb of the city.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Qalqiliya – 03:25–06:30, the Israeli military raided Azzun, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Qalqiliya – 03:40–05:35, Israeli soldiers raided the city, taking prisoner three people.
Raid: Nablus – 17:30, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of Madama.
Raid – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades: Nablus – 17:40, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided and patrolled Qusra.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Nablus – 22:50, the Israeli Army raided the city, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Nablus – 05:20–06:55, Israeli troops raided the city, taking prisoner two people.
Raid: Salfit – 19:20, the Israeli military raided and patrolled al-Zawiya.
Raid: Salfit – 21:10, Israeli soldiers raided Jayus and invaded a café.
Raid – on refugee camp – 1 taken prisoner: Jericho – 09:50, Israeli Occupation forces raided the Aqbat Jabir refugee camp, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 17:25, Israeli forces raided Tarqumiya, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 4 taken prisoner: Hebron – 02:30–07:20, the Israeli Army raided Dura, taking prisoner four people.
YAWN!