Military and Diplomatic Highlights:
· On January 21th, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Chief of the General Staff resigned to the Minister of Defense over IDFs failure to prevent the October 7th attack. This resignation will be effective on March 6th.
Gaza Strip
· On January 19th, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into effect. The first 42-day phase entails the following actions:
o Gradual release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of some Palestinian detainees.
o Withdrawal of Israeli forces from population centers except for identified buffer zones.
o Gradual withdrawal from the Netzarim corridor between northern and southern Gaza.
o Large-scale expansion of aid delivery into Gaza.
West Bank
· On January 20th, one IDF solider was killed, and four others were injured by an Improvised Explosive Device in Tammun, Tubas, during a patrol.
· On January 21st, the IDF announced the beginning of Iron War operation in Jenin:
o Multiple airstrikes were carried out on Jenin city, refugee camp, and nearby locations.
o The Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed that 12 Palestinians were killed and at least 50 others were injured.
o On January 22nd, the operation was extended to Birqin village, west of Jenin city, where Israeli forces killed another two Palestinians.
Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:
Israel
The Magen David Adom (MDA) reported two incidents, these were:
· On January 20th MDA treated and transported two people by Ramat Gilad.
· A stabbing incident occurred on January 21st in Tel Aviv. MDA treated and transported three people.
Gaza Strip
· With the implementation of the ceasefire on January 19, large volumes of humanitarian aid have been entering Gaza through the Erez and Zikim crossings in the north and Kerem Shalom crossing in the south:
o The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) reported that on January 19th, 630 trucks with relief aid entered Gaza. At least 300 of these trucks were directed to Northern Gaza.
o Movement within southern and northern Gaza has become largely unhindered, allowing for the movement of aid cargo and humanitarian personnel, including to areas that were previously hard to reach, while access between southern and northern Gaza remains restricted.
o The UN and its partners have been dispatching incoming aid to warehouses, designated emergency shelters and distribution centers as well as scaling up distributions and services across Gaza.
· The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on January 22nd reported that they have been able to return to Northern Gaza. They are actively providing humanitarian and medical assistance in Jabalya, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun where all medical facilities have been destroyed.
· Healthcare and Public Health Update:
o The UN and its partners are trying to establish trauma stabilization points to handle emergency cases, resuming services at primary health care centers, and expanding disease surveillance.
o The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on January 24th that they have been scaling up the health response:
ü 70,000 liters of fuel have been delivered, which is enough to sustain the 20 partially functional healthcare facilities and ambulances in Gaza City.
ü Essential medical supplies that can support 50,000 patients have also been delivered which will support six healthcare facilities, medical points and 21 WHO Emergency Medical Teams.
ü Additional supplies are in-route to WHOs Humanitarian Hub in Dubai. These supplies will be enough to support 95,000 people for three months.
o As of January 26th, PRCS has stationed personnel along the Al-Rashid Street and Salah Al-Din Street. Their teams are offering emergency medical services.
· World Central Kitchen on January 23rd, deployed a Mobile Bakery, which can bake 3,000 loaves of pita bread per hour. The Kingdom of Jordan supported the building and transport of this vehicle.
· To ensure an effective response, the UN and its partners are also conducting a wide range of rapid assessments in areas that were previously hard to reach in order to evaluate needs and guide response efforts:
o Three inter-agency assessments were carried out between January 20-22 to Beit Hanoun, Jabalya and Beit Lahiya, in North Gaza.
· Solid waste collection by local municipalities has similarly resumed, with support from the UN.
West Bank
· The PRCS reported on January 25th, that their teams have provided aid and assistance for the fifth consecutive day to the residents of the City of Jenin and the refugee camp.
· The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), has reported that 68% of health service points in the West Bank are partially functional and are unable to open for more than two or three days a week, and hospitals are functioning at only 70% of their capacity.
· The Palestinian Authority’s fiscal crisis and Israeli forces’ movement restrictions are gravely affecting access to health care in the West Bank, according to the Health Cluster:
o A reduced capacity to pay health workers’ salaries or procure medical supplies and equipment has significantly diminished the ability of health facilities to fully operate.
Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:
· The State of Israel has ordered that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) vacate their facilities located in the occupied East Jerusalem and cease its operations in them by January 30th. This order violates the General Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
Gaza Strip
· As part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, on January 19th, three Israeli female hostages were released from Gaza and handed over to Israeli authorities via the International Committee of the Red Cross, which subsequently facilitated the release of 90 Palestinian detainees (69 women and 21 children) from Israeli prisons.
· On January 25th, four more Israeli hostages were released and returned to Isreal.
· As of January 22nd, it is estimated that 94 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza.
· As of January 19th, at least 377 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza. This includes 270 UN personnel and 73 personnel from various Non-Governmental Organizations.
· WHO as of January 25th has documented a total of 75 attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital, 63 attacks on Al-Awda Hospital, and 28 attacks on the Indonesian Hospital. These attacks resulted in severe damage and destruction to all three facilities:
o Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals are currently non-functional, while restoration efforts are underway at Al-Awda Hospital.
West Bank
· The PRCS reports that the IDF have obstructed the movement of its ambulances.
· There are some 600 people, including women, children, elderly and patients who are currently seeking shelter within the premises of Jenin Governmental Hospital, primarily in its yard:
o The hospital’s facilities are overwhelmed and unable to provide adequate shelter or food for the displaced people.
· OCHA has documented a sharp increase in settler raids that targeted 11 Palestinian towns and villages in four governorates:
o 17 Palestinians (including two children) were killed.
Lebanon
· The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on January 26th reported that Lebanese civilians were fired on by the IDF. An unknown number of civilians were injured. These civilians were returning to villages in the area that were still occupied by the IDF.
Sources:
· Humanitarian Situation Update #257 | Gaza Strip
· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page
· Magen David Adom Twitter Page
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page
· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page
· United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Twitter Page
· World Central Kitchen Twitter Page
Resources
ACAPS, GAZA CEASEFIRE: PRIORITY NEEDS & RISKS (New)
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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