Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #28

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is reporting the following accomplishments between January 8-9:

o Ali Hussein was killed. He was the Hamas Commander of the Southern Lebanon Region of Hezbollah’s Aerial Unit.

o The IDF has stated that they located weapons, ammunition, mortal shells, and explosives at the Gaza's Islamic University.

o On January 8th, the IDF uncovered the largest weapons production site in Bureij (Central Gaza). This site included:

ü Components for long-range rockets capable of reaching northern Israel.

ü Underground long-range rockets manufacturing facilities.

ü Tunnel shafts

ü Light weapons and drones

· On January 8th, the Israeli Prime Minister stated that the Israeli government will do everything in its power to restore security and allow residents to return to their homes in Northern Israel. On January 9th, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that they have begun to distribute weapons and equipment containers to the Northern settlements local defense forces.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

Israel:

· On January 7th, the Magen David Adom responded to a vehicle ramming terrorist attack at the Bidu checkpoint. One person was treated and transported.

Gaza Strip:

· Up to 1.9 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been displaced (some multiple times):

o As of January 2nd, nearly 1.4 million IDPs are sheltering in 155 UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

o A total of 1.88 million IDPs are receiving assistance from UNRWA.

o As of January 9th, UNRWA reported that Gaza Rafah had a resident population of 280,000 people but now hosts over 1 million IDPs.

· The Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories reported that as of January 7th, a total of 198 trucks with relief supplies were inspected and transferred to Gaza:

o Humanitarian partners in Gaza reported that the delivery of these supplies to the affected areas has been repeatedly disrupted by denial of coordinated movements. An example was a planned UN mission on January 8th to deliver medical supplies to the Central Drug Store in Gaza City and the Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya.

· Healthcare and Public Health Update:

o The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on January 8th that they visited the Al Aqsa Hospital in Central Gaza. This is the only functioning hospital in central Gaza and it has significant needs (shortages of healthcare workers and medical supplies). The hospital director also reported that IDF evacuation orders have forced 600 patients and healthcare workers to leave the facility.

o No hospitals are currently fully functioning in Northern Gaza.

o As of January 8th, UNRWA reported that only five out of 22 health centers are still operational in middle and southern Gaza.

o On January 9th, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Al-Amal Hospital in collaboration with ambulance and emergency teams for the third consecutive day continued to transport IDPs to medical clinics and hospitals. So far, a total of 920 IDPs have been assisted in this manner.

West Bank:

· As of January 8th, at least 1,208 IDPs have been displaced amid settler violence and access restrictions.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

· As of January 6th, a total of 146 UNRWA staff have been killed.

· There has been a total of 63 direct hits on UNRWA facilities as of January 8th.

· On January 8th, a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) shelter in Khan Yunis (housing 100 MSF personnel and family members) was struck by shelling. Five people were injured, and a staff member’s child (5 years old) was killed. Prior to the attack there was no evacuation order received from the IDF.

· The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as of January 8th has recorded 386 Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Dis-Information Highlights:

· Iran has falsely accused the United States and Israel for attacks in Kerman.

Sources:

· Gaza: MSF condemns strike on shelter that killed staff member’s five-year-old daughter

· Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #87

· UNRWA Situation Report #61 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (all information from 4-6 January 2024, is valid as of 6 January 2024 at 22:30)

· Prime Minister of Israel Twitter Page

· Israeli Ministry of Defense Twitter Page

· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page

· Magen David Adom Twitter Page

· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page

· OCHA Palestine Occupied Territories Twitter Page