In Occupied Palestine
Zionism in practice
Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Land
08:00, 26 February until 08:00, 27 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 Navycontinues to fire missiles, targeting facilities and buildings along the shoreline of the whole of Gaza.
Victims: 96 people killed in Gaza brings the total number of deaths since 7 October to at least 29,878. With another 172 wounded, that has risen to 70,215. Fully accurate statistics are not available,due to insecurity menacing hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
OCHA Flash Update #127
Key Highlights
On 27 February, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) said that humanitarian partners have been unable to reach northern Gaza and increasingly parts of southern Gaza safely, as aid convoys have come under fire and are systematically denied access to people in need.
Allegations of shooting by Israeli forces at Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza city continue to be reported, raising concerns about the protection of civilians.
HelpAge reports that the approximately 111,500 older people in Gaza are among those most at risk of hunger, dehydration, illness, injury, and death.
Three Palestinians are killed in Tubas in the West Bank.
Gaza Strip Updates
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, particularly in Khan Younis, Gaza city and east Deir al Balah.
Between the afternoon of 26 February and 10:30 on 27 February, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, 96 Palestinians were killed, and 172 Palestinians were injured. Between 7 October 2023 and 10:30 on 27 February 2024, at least 29,878 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and 70,215 Palestinians were injured, according to MoH in Gaza.
Between the afternoons of 26 and 27 February, there were no Israeli soldiers reported killed in Gaza. As of 27 February, 238 soldiers have been killed and 1,408 soldiers injured in Gaza since the beginning of the ground operation, according to the Israeli military. In addition, over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli authorities, the vast majority on 7 October. As of 27 February, the Israeli authorities estimate that 134 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including fatalities whose bodies remain withheld in Gaza.
Allegations of shooting by Israeli forces at Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza city continue to be reported. On 25 February, at least 10 Palestinians were allegedly killed in two incidents of shelling and shooting at people who were gathering near the An Naboulsi roundabout, in expectation of an aid delivery.
The following are among the deadliest incidents reported on 25 and 26 February:
On 25 February, at about 13:00, seven Palestinians were reportedly killed and 62 others were injured when several houses in Al Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza city were hit.
On 25 February, at about 16:00, people were reportedly killed and injured when the gate of the Ash Sheikh Redwan Clinic in northern Gaza city was hit.
On 25 February, at around 21:00, about 20 Palestinian bodies were reportedly retrieved from different areas in Khan Younis, including five bodies near Nasser Medical Complex.
On 25 February, at about 22:30, four Palestinians were reportedly killed, including a woman and a child, and others were injured when a house in An Naser area in Rafah was hit.
On 26 February, at about 09:00, four Palestinians were reportedly killed, and three others were injured, when a civilian car and a nearby group of Palestinians were hit in Abu Al Ajin area, in eastern Deir al Balah.
On 26 February, at about 10:15, two Palestinian fishers were reportedly killed when the coast off Khan Younis was struck by naval fire.
On 25 February, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and a United Nations team evacuated 24 patients from Al Amal hospital in Khan Younis. The hospital was subject to a prolonged siege and raids by the Israeli military until 22 February, which resulted in at least 25 fatalities, and rendered it ‘minimally functioning’ according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite prior coordination with the Israeli authorities for the staff members and vehicles, Israeli forces blocked the convoy, forced patients and staff from ambulances and stripped the paramedics of their clothes. Three of the PRCS paramedics were subsequently detained, delaying the convoy for over seven hours. Two of the paramedics remain in detention.
On 26 February, the PRCS announced the suspension of all humanitarian coordination procedures on medical missions in Gaza for 48 hours, due to “failure to ensure the safety and security of the Society’s Emergency Medical Services teams, the wounded and the sick in PRCS hospitals, centres and ambulances.”
On 27 February, regarding the medical evacuation, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Palestine stated that this was not an isolated case, as aid convoys have come under fire and are systematically denied access to people in need. Furthermore, humanitarian workers have been harassed, intimidated or detained by Israeli forces, and humanitarian infrastructure has been hit, the statement said, indicating that the requirements for the meaningful facilitation of relief efforts have been consistently communicated to the Israeli authorities. As a result of inadequate facilitation of relief operations, humanitarian partners are unable to reach northern Gaza and increasingly parts of southern Gaza safely. The HCT pledged to continue to engage with Israeli forces so that the critically needed humanitarian response is enabled.
According to a report by HelpAge, the approximately 111,500 older people in Gaza are among those most at risk of hunger, dehydration, illness, injury, and death. Prior to the current hostilities, older people in Gaza were already living with the long-term impact of conflict and displacement, with reduced access to essential health and social services. Older people are also disproportionality affected by non-communicable diseases and are likely to be severely impacted due to damage to health infrastructure and shortages in medication, the report said. Older people who have had to evacuate are said to be mostly accommodated in overcrowded shelters that are inadequate to meet their needs, as many require support to manage chronic health issues and disabilities. Older women often face violence, abuse and neglect because of their age, gender, or other factors such as disability or being a widow, according to the report. These risks are compounded in humanitarian crises for women of all ages on the move and living in emergency shelters. HelpAge is calling for safe, full, and unimpeded humanitarian access to ensure that all affected people, including older people and people with disabilities, can be reached and can access urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance.
West Bank Updates
On 27 February, Israeli forces shot and killed three Palestinians, and another Palestinian was injured, in two separate military operations in Tubas city and the nearby El Far’a Refugee Camp (both in Tubas). The raid in the camp involved an exchange of fire between Palestinians and Israeli forces and the throwing of pipe bombs and stones by Palestinians. Two of the fatalities, including a bystander, were killed in this incident. Initial information indicates that Israeli forces bulldozed multiple sections of streets in the camp, causing damage to infrastructure, including water networks, resulting in continuous water cut-offs. The third fatality occurred when a unit of undercover Israeli forces entered Tubas city and shot him. Reportedly, there was no exchange of fire.
Since 7 October 2023 and as of 27 February, 403 Palestinians have been killed, including 102 children, and 4,590 Palestinians have been injured, including 708 children, in conflict-related incidents across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. Since the beginning of the year, 90 Palestinians have been killed, including 25 in refugee camps. During the same period, 13 Israelis, including four members of Israeli forces, were killed and 86 injured in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
Since 7 October 2023, 576 people, including 276 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.
According to the latest field assessments, since 7 October 2023, 848 Palestinians, including 397 children, have been displaced, following the destruction of 132 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.
Since 7 October 2023, OCHA has recorded 590 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in Palestinian casualties (52 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (472 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (66 incidents).
Since 7 October, the Cash Working Group (CWG) has supported hundreds of conflict-affected Palestinian families in the West Bank through emergency multi-purpose cash assistance. Those include 98 households, comprising 581 individuals, from 15 communities, who were displaced due to settler violence; over 600 households affected by curfews in the H2 area of Hebron; and 131 families, comprising 662 people, affected by military operations in Jenin. In addition, 457 Gazan patients that are stranded in the West Bank were assisted with up to three payments to meet their most urgent needs.
Between 25 and 26 February, some 50 Palestinians were arrested across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Over 5,700 Palestinians have been arrested since 7 October.
West Bank
[Palestinian Monitoring Group]
Israeli Army attack – 3 killed – 3 more wounded: Tubas – 22:55–04:20, Israeli Occupation forces stormed Tubas as well as al-Far’a refugee camp and invaded homes, killing three people: Osama Jabr Mahmoud Al-Zalt, Muhammad Samih Bayadsa and Ahmed Jamal Daraghmeh. Three other residents were wounded. The Israeli forces also sabotaged and destroyed infrastructure throughout the refugee camp. One person was taken prisoner as a hostage, in order to put pressure on his son to surrender himself to the Israeli military.
Israeli Army attack – 1 wounded – 1 taken prisoner: Nablus – 21:55, Israeli forces stormed into the city, wounding one person and taking prisoner one other.
Home invasions: Nablus – 15:20, Israeli Occupation forces raided the village of Tal and searched a number of homes.
Home invasions: Bethlehem – 02:30–03:45, Israeli forces raided Battir village and invaded a number of homes.
Home invasions: Hebron – 22:40, the Israeli Army raided Bani Naim and searched a number of homes.
Home invasions: Hebron – 00:55, Israeli troops raided Yatta 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 assault with rubber-coated bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Ramallah – 12:10, Israeli Occupation forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades, near the entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp.
Occupation settler stoning: Qalqiliya – 13:00, Israelis, from the Karnei Shomron Occupation settlement, stoned passing vehicles near the roundabout on the main Qalqiliya to Nablus road.
Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Bethlehem – Israeli Occupation forces invaded an area near Wadi Rahal, demolishing structures and vandalising around 20 grapevines.
Raid – stun grenades: Jerusalem – 18:20-21:00, Israeli Occupation forces, firing stun grenades, raided and patrolled Abu Dis.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Jerusalem – dawn, Israeli forces raided Anata, taking prisoner two people.
Raids: Ramallah – 01:35–03:30, the Israeli Army raided Ramallah and al-Bireh.
Raid – stun grenades in refugee camp – 2 minors abducted: Ramallah – dawn, Israeli troops, firing stun grenades, invaded the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, taking prisoner four people including two minors, Raed Nasr Dalaysha and his 16-year-old son, Rayan, as well as Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Hattab and his son, Anas (aged 14).
Raid: Jenin – 03:30–04:40, the Israeli military raided Zababdeh.
Raid – around 30 taken prisoner: Jenin – dawn, Israeli soldiers raided the village of Barta’a, taking prisoner around 30 workers from the Gaza Strip.
Raid: Qalqiliya – 19:55, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of Kafr Qaddum.
Raid – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired – 1 resident wounded: Nablus – 00:50–04:20, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided and patrolled Beit Furik, wounding one resident: Rami Bilal Dweikat.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Nablus – 03:10–05:00, the Israeli Army raided the city, taking prisoner two people.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Nablus – 03:20–05:05, Israeli troops raided Kafr Qallil, taking prisoner one person.
Raid: Salfit – 12:55, the Israeli military raided and patrolled Deir Ballut.
Raid: Salfit – 16:00, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Yasuf.
Raid – 1 youngster abducted: Jericho – 23:35–00:35, Israeli Occupation forces raided al-Auja and abducted a 17-year-old youth: Yamen Yasser Saeed Al-Laddah.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 08:55, Israeli forces raided Beit Ummar, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 18:55, the Israeli Army raided Tarqumiya, taking prisoner one person.
Raid – 4 taken prisoner: Hebron – 19:55, Israeli troops raided Beit Ummar, taking prisoner four people.
Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Hebron – 02:10, the Israeli military raided Dura, taking prisoner two people.
YAWN!