Military and Diplomatic Highlights:
· The Israel Defense Force (IDF) have continued to target and kill terrorists operating in Gaza. They have also apprehended two individuals who participated in the October 7th attack.
· Between February 6-7, one IDF soldier died from a health complication after being injured in Gaza.
Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:
· On February 7th, the IDF announced a temporary and tactical suspension of military activities in the western neighborhood of Rafah between 1000 to 1400 hours for humanitarian purposes.
· As of February 8th, the European Union reported that the Humanitarian Aid Bridge has delivered 38 tons of relief supplies.
· Healthcare and Public Health Update:
o As of February 7th, there are no longer any fully functional hospitals in Gaza while 36% of hospitals and 17% of primary health care centers are only partially functional.
o The Al-Shifa Hospital has reverted to minimal functionality status after beginning to resume some services with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO).
o The Health Cluster for the Occupied Palestinian Territory is reporting that a total of 45 partners are supporting healthcare and public health assistance. These partners include:
ü 15 National Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
ü 25 International NGOs
ü 5 UN Agencies
· Food Security Update:
o The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing by the day, particularly for an estimated 300,000 people in northern Gaza who have been predominantly cut off from assistance.
o The World Food Programme (WFP) that the following needs to occur to deliver essential food assistance:
ü Unimpeded access to all areas of Gaza and improved ability to safely move within Gaza.
ü Speedy approvals and provision of humanitarian material and operational support needed for humanitarian operations.
ü Use of Ashdod port, as well as more entry points and supply routes into Gaza.
o On February 4th, the World Central Kitchen with support from the Royal Jordanian Air Force and the Dutch Air Force, carried out airdrops using GPS-guided parachutes to deliver 500 pallets of humanitarian aid for the Jordanian field hospital in northern Gaza.
o The last time the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was able to carry out food distribution in the north of Wadi Gaza was on January 23.
Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:
· On February 7th, a Palestine Red Cresent Society (PRCS) paramedic was killed when his ambulance was deployed from southern Gaza to evacuate injured people from Gaza city.
· The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has stated that Israel is destroying all buildings in Gaza along the border with Israel with the objective of creating a buffer zone.
Cultural Heritage Impact Highlights:
· The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESO) has verified damage to 22 cultural heritage sites in the Gaza Strip. This includes:
o 5 Religious sites
o 10 Buildings of historical and/or artistic interest
o 2 Depositories of movable cultural property
o 1 Monument
o 1 Museum
o 3 Archeological sites
· As of February 2nd, UNESCO is conducting a preliminary damage assessment for cultural properties through satellite imagery and analysis provided by UNOSAT.
Sources:
· Gaza Strip Health Cluster: Partner Presence (February 2024)
· Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #113
· WFP Palestine Emergency Response External Situation Report #14 (2 February 2024)
· UNESCO action in the Gaza Strip/Palestine
· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page
· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page
· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· UNOSAT Twitter Page
· EU ECHO Twitter Page
· World Central Kitchen Twitter Page
Resources
ADL, We Stand with Israel Website
Monetary Donations:
Before you donate please review the organization’s track record by using CharityWatch and Charity Navigator.
· UN Crisis Relief, Occupied Palestinian Territories
· IsraAID
· WHO Foundation, Gaza Crisis: Help Save Lives
· UN Migration Agency, Gaza