Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #72

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· February 17th marked 500 days since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th.

Lebanon

· On February 17th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that they have killed Muhammed Shaheen, the Head of Hamas’ Operations Department in Lebanon.

· The IDF as of February 18th have withdrawn from remaining population centers in the southern part of the country. The IDF is maintaining their presence though in five strategic positions along the Blue Line.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

· On February 18th, the World Bank, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union published a report assessing damages, losses and needs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank based on data between October 2023 and October 2024. According to the assessment’s findings, reconstruction and recovery needs in Gaza are estimated to require around $53 billion.

Gaza Strip

· Since the start of the ceasefire, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has estimated that they have reached more than 1.9 million people with food parcels and have enough in the pipeline to reach the rest of the population.

· The UN is mobilizing on average 600 trucks a day to distribute aid supplies. However, this is presenting operational challenges, such as reduced warehousing capacity and destroyed infrastructure.

· The UN is continuing to advocate for an increase of commercial sector activity, to reduce the dependency of people on humanitarian handouts.

· On February 12th the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) with the cooperation of international partners began setting up camps in Gaza and the North Gaza governorates to provide relief services and shelter for the return of thousands of people:

o At least 1,490 tents have been distributed in North Gaza and 1,600 in Gaza governorate.

· Healthcare and Public Health Updates:

o As of February 1st, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 14 of the patients evacuated to Egypt have been further transferred to Italy via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This brings the total number of patients evacuated through this Mechanism to 100.

o According to WHO, between 12,000 and 14,000 people, including about 5,000 children, remain in urgent need of medical evacuation.

o WHO and their partners continue to scale-up health operations across the Gaza Strip, re-establishing presence in previously inaccessible areas. This includes:

ü Resumption of primary care centers in Gaza City, North Gaza, and Rafah.

ü Several hospitals and Public Health Centers (PHCs) are re-establishing functionality and expanding services:

Ø Planned expansion of inpatient capacity by 300 beds in Al Shifa Hospital; provision of pediatric care services in Al-Awda Hospital and inpatient care for psychiatric patients in Qizan Al-Najjar PHC.

Ø Replenishment of blood supplies at As-Sahaba and Al-Ahli Arab Hospitals in Gaza City, which are reportedly depleted.

Ø Re-establishment of hemodialysis services. It is estimated that 40% of hemodialysis patients have died since October 2023 due to inaccessibility to treatment.

Ø Expanding services at severe acute malnutrition stabilization centers (SAM SCs). Three are currently operational in Gaza City (10 beds), Khan Younis (6 beds), and Deir Al-Balah (10 beds).

o UNRWA health teams have also been successful in providing over 297,000 health consultations.

o The PRCS opened its first field hospital in Gaza City on February 20th:

ü This facility includes 54 beds (10 emergency beds and eight intensive care beds) and six neonatal incubators.

ü The field hospital is also equipped with two operating rooms, a medical laboratory, and an X-ray unit.

ü On its first day, they treated dozens of patients.

o Another polio vaccination campaign began on February 22nd. A total of over 586,000 children under the age of 10 have been vaccinated.

o WHO on February 24th deployed the 2nd national Emergency Medical Team (EMT) which consists of 52 doctors and surgeons from Gaza. This team will boost the surgical capacity at the three facilities, focusing on orthopedics, gynecology and obstetrics, general surgery, and anesthesiology.

West Bank

· On February 9th, the PRCS responded to residents’ appeals in Tulkarm’s eastern neighborhood, by providing humanitarian aid amid the ongoing siege by the IDF.

· PRCS on February 11th, assisted people trying to evacuate the Noor Shams Camp.

Lebanon

· The UN Migration Agency reports that a total of 950,652 people have been displaced within the country.

· As of February 21st, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) has provided critical assistance (blankets, mattresses, solar lamps, hygiene kits and kitchen sets).to over 16,000 people.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

Gaza Strip

· As of February 18th, it is estimated that 73 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza.

· On February 20th the remains of four hostages were returned to Israel, the remains that have been identified include:

o 𝐊𝐟𝐢𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐬 (9-months old)

o 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐬 (4-years old)

o Oded Lifshitz (83 years old)

· Four hostages were returned on February 22nd, they included:

o Avera Mengistu

o Tal Shoham

o Hisham al-Sayed

o Omer Shem Tov

· On February 18th, UNRWA reported that the IDF forcefully entered the UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre and ordered its immediate evacuation. On the same day, Israeli police officers, accompanied by staff from the Israeli Ministry of Education went to three UNRWA schools ordering their closure.

West Bank

· Since the beginning of IDFs operations on January 21st, 51 Palestinians, including seven children, and three Israeli soldiers were killed in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas governorates.

· IDF operations in the northern West Bank have caused severe damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, disrupting access to water to tens of thousands of people and heightening public health concerns.

· Israeli settlers vandalized and cut down about 155 olive and fruit trees in Yasuf village.

· Since January, WHO has verified 44 attacks on healthcare, resulting in injuries to eight health workers. Movement restrictions have also created additional physical barriers, hindering the movement of ambulances and health care workers, impeding access to health services.

· On February 12th, the PRCS reported that the IDF rammed one of their vehicles and obstructed their work while evacuating elderly people and children from the Nur Shams camp.

Lebanon

· Prior to and on February 18th, the IDF conducted demolitions and shelling in some border villages.

· The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented 58 conflict-related civilian fatalities since the entry into effect of the cessation of hostilities agreement, including nine women and nine children.

Sources:

· Humanitarian Situation Update #265 | Gaza Strip

· Humanitarian Situation Update #266 | West Bank

· Lebanon: Flash Update #60 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 20 February 2025

· UNRWA Situation Report #160 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 12- 18 February 2025

· oPt Emergency Situation Update 55 (7 Oct 2023 - 14 Feb 2025)

· Israeli Defense Forces 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

· OCHA Lebanon Twitter Page

Resources

FAO, On the ground in Gaza Website

https://www.fao.org/in-focus/gaza/en

ADL, We Stand with Israel Website

https://www.adl.org/stand-with-israel