Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #58

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· On August 5th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have killed:

o Ali Jamal Aldin Jawad, Commander in Hezbollah's Radwan Force

o Jaber Aziz, Commander of Hamas' Al-Furqan Battalion

o Abed Al-Zeriei, Minister of Economy in Gaza

· The IDF reported that numerous drones were launched from Lebanon on August 6th. Several civilians were injured during the incident. One of the drones was intercepted.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

Israel

The Magen David Adom (MDA) reported the following:

· On August 4th, they treated four causalities from a stabbing attack in Holon. Two patents were in critical condition and the other two were in moderate to serious condition.

· The MDA treated a 20-year-old female following an attack in the Jerusalem region by the Tunnels Checkpoint.

· The MDA treated two people in Upper Galilee on August 6th who were in mild to moderate condition due to shrapnel injuries.

Gaza Strip

· As of August 7th, the World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting 39,500 fatalities and 91,000 injuries in Gaza.

· On August 4th, the IDF issued a new evacuation order warning people living in areas in southern Khan Younis and northern Rafah to immediately move westwards to Al Mawasi:

o This area was unilaterally declared by IDF as a “safe zone” and has changed in size over the course of hostilities and now spans about 47 square kilometers (13% of the Gaza Strip).

o The recent order affected 24 blocks covering 18 square kilometers, with an estimated population of more than 11,000 compared with about 48,000 people prior to October 2023.

o The area affected by the recent order includes 41 displacement sites, 19 water and sanitation facilities, 12 schools and two functional medical points.

· The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that as of August 5th, their Al-Quds Field Hospital has treated around 58,000 patients.

· As of August 7th, WHO in coordination with the Ministry of Health, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are preparing two rounds of polio vaccination campaigns targeting 600,000 children under the age of eight.

· Food Security Update:

o A surge in malnutrition levels among children in northern Gaza has been observed in July:

ü Only two out of five children received nutrition supplements over the past three months.

ü In North Gaza and Gaza governorates, and while screening levels were relatively low due to access constraints and insecurity, over 650 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition, a 47% increase compared with June when 443 cases were detected, and more than a three-fold increase compared with May when 145 cases were detected.

ü A record 25 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications were admitted to the stabilization center at Kamal Adwan Hospital in July, compared with 27 SAM cases in May and June combined.

ü There were, however, no malnutrition-related deaths reported in July among the children cared for by humanitarian partners and health actors.

ü The July increase in detected cases follows modest improvements in April and early May, during which UNICEF post-distribution assessments showed that improved humanitarian access contributed to improvements in the diets of children between six and 23 months of age.

ü The Nutrition Cluster attributes worsening nutrition conditions to access constraints, shortages of essential nutrition supplies, limited availability of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat, poor water and sanitation services, the related spread of disease outbreaks, and poor infant feeding practices.

ü In northern Gaza, acute supply shortages have meant that only 8% of nearly 50,000 children the Cluster aims to provide with nutrition supplements received these supplies in July, down from 18% in June and 13% in May.

ü Since malnutrition in Gaza is driven by poor diets, inadequate access to basic services, and deficient caring practices, the Cluster reiterates its urgent call for enhanced access to ensure that children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers receive the aid they need.

o A United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) satellite analysis shows that 65% of permanent crop fields in the Gaza Strip (97.6 out of 150.5 square kilometers) exhibited a significant decline in health and density, up from 63% (94.2 square kilometers) in June 2024:

ü At the governorate level, compared with June, the percentage of damaged cropland increased from 75% to 76% in North Gaza, from 69% to 73% in Gaza, from 56% to 59% in Deir al Balah, from 58% to 59% in Khan Younis, and from 52% to 55% in Rafah.

ü The increase is attributed to razing, heavy vehicle activity, bombing, shelling, and other conflict-related dynamics that resulted in damage to orchards and other trees, field crops and vegetables.

· The solid waste management system in Gaza has collapsed:

o There is no access to the major landfills, and waste accumulates at more than 140 temporary dumping sites which causes serious health and environmental risks, including a spike in diarrheal illness and in acute respiratory infections.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

· A PRCS volunteer (Tamer Saqr) on August 2nd was killed due to a head injury inflicted by the IDF during the recent raid on Balata Refugee Camp.

· On August 6th, the PRCS reported that the IDF fired on one of their ambulances and prevented their teams from reaching the injured after the IDF shelled a vehicle in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin city.

· As of August 7th, WHO has recorded 492 attacks on healthcare:

o There were 747 fatalities and 969 injuries.

o A total of 109 healthcare facilities and 114 ambulances were affected.

Sources:

· Humanitarian Situation Update #200 | Gaza Strip

· 300 Days of War

· UNDP/PAPP's Emergency Response to Solid Waste Management - Rapid Assessment: War-induced Impacts on the Waste Management Sector

· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page

· Magen David Adom Twitter Page

· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page

· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page

· Director-General of the World Health Organization Twitter Page