Military and Diplomatic Highlights:
· On September 14th, a surface-to-surface missile was launched from Yemen and struck an open area in Central Israel. No injuries were reported.
· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that on September 17th that they killed Ahmed Aish Salame al-Hashash, the Head of the Islamic Jihad's Rocket and Missile Unit.
· The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on September 18th intercepted a drone over the Sea of Galilee area.
· On September 19th, the IAF struck 30 Hezbollah launchers and terrorist infrastructure sites. The IDF also struck targets in Northern Lebanon, which included terrorist infrastructure and a weapons storage facility.
Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:
Israel
· The Magen David Adom on September 15th responded to a stabbing terror attack at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. One person was treated and transported to an area hospital.
Gaza Strip
· On September 14th, the IDF issued another evacuation order affecting three neighborhoods in central Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza. The order affected two internally displaced collective centers and one makeshift site, hosting a total of 850 people.
· The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that humanitarian access to Northern Gaza has been virtually shut off:
o Between September 1-15 only a quarter of the 49 aid missions led by seven UN agencies could cross the Israeli checkpoints into the north, typically after long delays/impediments.
o 20 missions were denied.
o Only two missions were facilitated.
· The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported the following activities between September 13-17:
o PRCS on September 13th reported that they distributed food parcels to 11,000 families.
o On September 17th, they distributed relief supplies to 750 families. The supplies included hygiene kits, blankets, and tarps.
o A total of 29 shelters have been established.
· Healthcare and Public Health Update:
o As of September 13th, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support the deployment of 37 Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) to key hospitals in Northern and Southern Gaza. The EMTs have accomplished the following:
ü They have provided over 1.4 million consultations.
ü Conducted close to 30,000 surgeries.
ü Treated 56,500 people with noncommunicable diseases.
ü Provided an additional 500 beds.
ü Established six hospitals.
o WHO on September 19th, reported that they delivered the first batch of procured oncology medicines and medical supplies to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah.
o Polio Vaccination Update:
ü The third and last phase of the polio vaccination campaign took place in northern Gaza between September 10-12.
ü As of September 13th, over 560,000 children aged below ten years of age were vaccinated against polio.
· Food Security Update:
o Distributions in South Gaza have been severely disrupted by recent forced evacuation orders and ongoing displacement, particularly in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis. These challenges have significantly hindered the World Food Programme’s (WFP) ability to sustain assistance to those most in need.
o The Norwegian Refugee Council as of September 19h reported that 83% of required food aid does not enter Gaza. On average most Palestinians are surviving on one meal every other day. In response The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees and WFP has distributed high-energy biscuits to children during recreational activities.
o OCHA reported that as of September 19th a total of 150 kitchens are cooking 500,000 meals daily.
o A total of 14 bakeries are currently open.
o WFP suspended all movements of cargo through the Erez crossing point on September 16th, after the arrest of ten WFP-contracted truck drivers on September 15th who were collecting WFP commodities.
o WFP suspended the Logistics Cluster convoys through the Jordan Corridor on September 8th, due to a new import declaration of goods form imposed by the Government of Israel.
Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:
· As of September 17th, 220 UNRWA employees were killed.
Cultural Heritage Protection Highlights:
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) has verified damage to 69 sites as of September 17th, they include:
· 10 Religious sites
· 43 Buildings of historical and/or artistic interest
· 2 Depositories of movable cultural property
· 6 Monuments
· 1Mmuseum
· 7 Archeological sites.
Sources:
· WFP Palestine Emergency Response External Situation Report #33 (18 September 2024)
· Humanitarian Situation Update #217 | Gaza Strip
· UNRWA Situation Report #137 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information from 13 - 16 September 2024, valid as of 16 September 2024 at 22:30
· UNESCO's action in the Gaza Strip / Palestine
· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page
· Magen David Adom Twitter Page
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page
· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page
Resources
FAO, On the ground in Gaza Website
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
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