Military and Diplomatic Highlights: · Israel has laid out their goals regarding defeating Hamas. This includes the full dismantling of its leaders, its military branch, and its working mechanisms. · In Northern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted and destroyed a military compound and an observation post in Lebanon. Four Hezbollah terrorists were killed. · The IDF Yahalom Unit continues to collect explosives and weapons of Hamas terrorists used during the October 7th massacre. A child’s school bag was discovered, and it was set-up as a bobby trap by Hamas. · On October 22nd, a IDF tank accidently fired and hit an Egyptian post adjacent to the border in Kerem Shalom. The incident is being investigated and the details are under review. · The U.S. Secretary of Defense reported that the U.S. has taken several actions because of recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East: o The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group are operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. o A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot battalions have been activated throughout the region to increase force protection for U.S. forces. o Additional U.S. forces are preparing for rapid deployment should the need arise. Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights: Israel · Magen David Adom reported that in Kiryat Shmona they treated and transported two patients who were injured by glass shards. Occupied Palestinian Territories · On October 22nd, the Rafah border crossing was opened and 14 trucks carrying food, water, and medical supplies entered Gaza. This convoy was coordinated by the UN and the Egyptian Red Crescent Society. This convoy did not include fuel. · About 1.4 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are estimated in Gaza, with nearly 580,000 sheltering in 150 UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) designated emergency shelters. · UNRWA is reporting the following: o The number of staff killed has increased to 35. o UNRWA mobile medical teams are continuing to operate in 90 shelters. o The UNRWA as of October 22nd will run out of fuel in three days. Without fuel shipments there will be no water, no functioning hospitals, or bakeries. o Jenin Refugee Camp in the West Bank Update: ü On October 22nd, an IDF airstrike hit the al-Ansar Mosque located in the camp. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that two Palestinians were killed in the airstrike, and another three injured. ü UNRWA staff reported that many families left the camp, seeking shelter with friends and relatives. ü The four UNRWA schools (1,700 students) shifted to online learning. o A total of 40 UNRWA installations have been damaged. Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL): · The IDF reports that Hamas continues to set-up and operate their launch sites near UN facilities, mosques, and civilian infrastructure. · The PRCS on October 22nd provided a video of IDF airstrikes in the vicinity of Al-Quds hospital while a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was visiting. · On October 17th, the International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor reported that they have an ongoing investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine. · As of October 23rd, an estimated 212 hostages are being held by Hamas: o The ICRC and the Egyptian government facilitated the release of two more hostages, they were identified as Nurit Cooper (age 79) and Yocheved Lifshitz (age 85). Sources:
· UNRWA Situation Report #12 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), 22 October 2023 at 22:00
· Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #16
· Israeli Prime Minster Twitter Page
· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page
· Magen David Adom Twitter Page
· OCHA for Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page
· ICRC Twitter Page
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page
· U.S. Secretary of Defense Twitter Page
· International Criminal Court Twitter Page
Resources UNRWA Gaza Field Office - Rapid Gender Analysis: Gendered Impacts of the October 2023 Escalation in Gaza (New) https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/unrwa-gaza-field-office-rapid-gender-analysis-gendered-impacts-october-2023-escalation-gaza 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
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