Military and Diplomatic Highlights: · The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has had forces operating on the ground in Northern Gaza since October 27th, these forces have conducted the following operations: o Identified and attacked terrorist cells attempting to launch anti-tank missiles and mortar shells. o Identified and destroyed a booby-trapped structure. o IDF tanks directed helicopters that struck the building of a Hamas operational meeting point. · The IDF on October 28th struck Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon in response to three rockets launches. · Israel forces between October 26-28 targeted and killed numerous Hamas senior leaders, this includes: o Asem Abu Rakaba, Head of Hamas' Aerial Array o Madhath Mubashar, Commander of Hamas' Western Khan Yunis Battalion o Shadi Barud, Deputy Head of Hamas’ Intelligence Directorate o Hassan Al-Abdullah, Commander of Hamas' Northern Khan Yunis Rockets Array · The U.S. Department of Defense reported on October 26th, that 900 soldiers are in process of being deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations and two U.S. Iron Dome Systems are being deployed to Israel. Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights: Israel · Rockets continue to target Israeli communities. · Magen David Adom reported on October 27th that they treated and transported five people to area hospitals. Gaza Strip · The IDF has delivered an urgent video that residents of Northern Gaza and Gaza City should evacuate to the south immediately. · The Israel Ministry of Defense reported that on October 26th they completed transfer of financial advances in the amount of approximately NIS 70 million to the four regional councils in the Gaza Strip and the municipality of Sderot: o The advances are to finance the evacuation of the residents of Sderot and the settlements within a range of 4-7 km from the Gaza border. · As of October 27th, there are almost 640,000 Internally Displaced Persons that are sheltering in 150 UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) installations across the Gaza Strip. · On October 27th, the Israeli government instituted a communications blackout which is affecting landlines, cellular networks, and the internet in Gaza, which has interfered in the operations of numerous humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza. · As of October 28th, UNRWA reported that they have reduced their fuel consumption so they can continue to provide critical services. · The Palestine Red Crescent Society is continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to residents. · On October 26th, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt opened for the sixth consecutive day, allowing the entry of 12 trucks carrying water, food, and medical supplies. · About 45% of the housing units in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed. · A agricultural damage assessment for the Gaza Strip was conducted by UNOSAT. The assessment reported: o A total of 13 greenhouses were destroyed. o 17 greenhouses were severely damaged. o 22 greenhouses were moderately damaged. · European Union (EU) Update: o The humanitarian air bridge has completed two flights carrying 56 tons of relief supplies. An additional six flights are planned. o The EU as of October 26th has provided over 78 million Euros for humanitarian assistance. o The EU has completed 12 repatriation flights which transported 1,467 EU citizens. Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL): · 224 Israelis and foreign nationals are being held by Hamas. · In the last 24 hours 14 additional UNRWA staff were killed. · The IDF has stated that Hamas is operating an underground base beneath the Shifa Hospital. Dis-Information Highlights: · A video is circulating that apparently shows protestors attacking the Israeli embassy in Bahrain. However, this video is from 2012 and the protestors are outside a police station. · Another video is being circulated that apparently shows crisis actors in Palestine. The video is from a 2017 film project. · Hamas’ leader has claimed that Hamas did not deliberately kill civilians during October 7th assault. The factcheck is available here. Sources:
· UNRWA Situation Report #16 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (all information valid as of 26 October 2023 at 18:00 local time) · Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #20 · UCPM and EU humanitarian aid response to the situation in the Middle East - DG ECHO Daily Map · Israel Ministry of Defense Twitter Page · Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page · Magen David Adom Twitter Page · UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page · OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page · WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page · Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page · EU ECHO Twitter Page · U.S. Department of Defense Twitter Page · PolitiFact Twitter Page · PolyGraph Info Twitter Page
Resources GSC OpT Gaza Strip Damage Affected Areas (26 October 2023) (New) https://reliefweb.int/map/occupied-palestinian-territory/gsc-opt-gaza-strip-damage-affected-areas-26-october-2023 ADL, We Stand with Israel Website https://www.adl.org/stand-with-israel Monetary Donations: Before you donate please review the organization’s track record by using CharityWatch and Charity Navigator.
· Palestine Red Crescent Society
· Magen David Adom
· United Hatzalah
· UN Crisis Relief, Occupied Palestinian Territories
· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees
· American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc.
· Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center
· Sderot Foundation
· Soroka Medical Center
· American Friends of Rambam Hospital in Haifa
· Syrian American Medical Society Foundation
· American Near East Refugee Aid
· Doctors Without Borders
· IsraAID
· Jewish Agency for Israel
· Jewish Federations of North America
· Middle East Children's Alliance
· Palestine Children's Relief Fund
· Save the Children
· World Central Kitchen
· WHO Foundation, Gaza Crisis: Help Save Lives (New)
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