Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #40

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on February 26th that Hassan Hossein Salami, the Hezbollah commander of the Hajir region was killed.

· On February 26th, IDF fighter jets struck Hezbollah sites in Lebanon following the launch of a surface-to-air missile against Israel.

· On February 26th, the Israel Ministry of Defense and the IDF reported that they are expanding projects to protect the settlements in the Gaza Envelope.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

· Increased airstrikes in Rafah, including in residential areas without prior warnings have heightened fears that they will further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations.

· Aid supply routes into the Gaza Strip have functioned inconsistently between February 25-26:

o Only 232 trucks entered the Gaza Strip via both Rafah and the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing points.

o During February aid shipments have decreased with on average of nearly 99 trucks entering per day, whereas approximately 150 trucks of supplies were entering Gaza per day in January 2024.

· The UN Humanitarian Country Team as of February 27th reported 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.

· On February 26th, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) suspended all humanitarian coordination procedures on medical missions in the Gaza Strip for 48 hours, due to the failure to ensure the safety and security of the Society's Emergency Medical Services teams, the wounded and the sick in PRCS hospitals, centers, and ambulances because of the lack of commitment and respect of the IDF to the procedures and coordination mechanisms agreed upon with the UN organizations.

· On February 28th, the IDF in partnership with the United States, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, and France air dropped 160 packages of food and medical equipment into southern Gaza and the Jordanian field hospital in Khan Yunis.

· Healthcare and Public Health Update:

o The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting the following:

ü 12 of 36 hospitals (33%) are partially functional.

ü 1 of 36 hospitals (3%) are minimally functioning.

ü 2 of 3 field hospitals (67%) are fully functioning.

ü 1 of 3 field hospitals (33%) are minimally functional.

o Referring patients outside of Gaza for tertiary care is a challenge, over 8,000 patients are currently on a waiting list.

o On February 25th, the PRCS and the United Nations evacuated 24 patients from Al Amal hospital in Khan Younis:

ü 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.

ü Three of the PRCS paramedics were subsequently detained, delaying the convoy for over seven hours. Two of the paramedics remain in detention.

o Access for WHO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) to Northern Gaza remains challenging. Currently, no EMTs are operating in this area.

· In December 2023, the UN projected that the entire population of 2.2 million people in Gaza would face high levels of acute food insecurity by February 2024:

o As of February 27th, at least 576,000 people are suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting.

· As of February 28th, water is running out in the Gaza Strip, the Food and Agricultural Organization is reporting that the water supply is at 7% of pre-October levels. Over one fourth of the water wells have been destroyed.

· Following the October 7th attack, the Palestinian economy experienced one of the largest shocks recorded in recent economic history:

o In Gaza, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plummeted by more than 80% percent in Quarter 4 of 2023.

o Almost all economic activity in Gaza has grounded to a halt, with little indication of substantial improvement at the time of publication.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

· There have been 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:

o On February 25th, at least 10 Palestinians were allegedly killed in two incidents of shelling and shooting at people.

· As of February 20th, WHO reported the following in the Gaza Strip:

o 29,195 Fatalities and 7,780 are reported missing.

o 69,170 Injured.

o There has also been a total of 378 attacks on healthcare:

o These attacks have killed 659 people and injured 843 people.

o A total of 116 health workers have been detained/arrested.

o 98 healthcare facilities have been affected.

o 98 ambulances have been affected and 52 sustained damage.

· The PRCS reports that the IDF as of February 26th are continuing to detain seven PRCS members.

Cultural Heritage Impact Highlights:

· The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) and UNOSAT have verified damage to 22 cultural heritage sites as of February 21st. 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

Sources:

· Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #127

· oPt Emergency Situation Update 23 (as of 27 February 2024 at 16:00)

· Note on the Impacts of the Conflict in the Middle East on the Palestinian Economy, February 2024

· UNRWA Situation Report #83 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 25–26 February 2024, is valid as of 26 February 2024 at 22:30

· UNESCO's action in the Gaza Strip / Palestine