Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #86
- Emergency Manager's Weekly Report
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Military and Diplomatic Highlights:
· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Younes Mohammed Hussein Alian on March 17th. He was the Commander of Hamas’ Northern Gaza Brigade in the Naval Array.
Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:
Gaza Strip
· Despite an increase in humanitarian aid since the declaration of a ceasefire on October 10, 2025, needs on the ground are not being met at scale:
o Damaged roads, limited warehouse capacity, and restrictions on materials continued to impede effective delivery, response quality and durability, and longer-term recovery efforts.
o Partners highlighted persistent challenges in accessing essential shelter sealing materials, including nails, timber, and other basic items required for repairs and weatherproofing.
o The population’s basic needs remain extremely high, particularly in shelter, food security, water and sanitation, and healthcare. This is due to the limited quantity of aid allowed into the Strip compared to actual needs, irregular supply flows, and the continued restrictions on movement and on certain items classified by occupation forces as dual-use materials.
o All crossings into Gaza except for Kerem Shalom remain closed.
· On February 24th, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) launched a major medical relief convoy from the West Bank to Gaza via the Karem Abu Salem crossing to prevent the collapse of critical health services:
o The convoy consisted of nine trucks carrying 194 pallets loaded with 3,284,684 units of essential medicines and IV fluids.
· Between February 27 and March 5, the UN reported 3,424 pallets of aid administered by the UN and partners were offloaded at Gaza’s crossings:
o About 71% of these pallets contained food supplies.
o 17% were shelter items.
o Education, WASH and nutrition assistance accounted for 8%.
o 4% was operations, logistics and telecommunication material.
· The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that Israel have expanded the militarized “Orange Line” in Gaza, placing additional UNRWA installations, including shelters hosting displaced people within restricted areas requiring coordinated access.
· As of March 13th, the PRCS reported that an estimated 1.4 million people remain in displacement sites throughout the Strip.
· UNRWA reported on March 14th that a sand storm and strong winds have damaged makeshift shelters across the Gaza Strip.
· Public Health and Healthcare Updates:
o Respiratory infections, acute watery diarrhea, and skin infections are the most commonly reported illnesses.
o Respiratory infections rose dramatically in the first three weeks of 2026 including severe cases requiring hospitalization.
o Health partners report low stocks of essential medicines, including those for noncommunicable diseases, antibiotics, and anesthetics.
o Surgical consumables and trauma supplies are also critically low, with only a limited buffer remaining.
o Laboratory reagents and diagnostic equipment continue to be denied or delayed, putting disease surveillance at the risk of disruption if closures persist and supplies and equipment are not cleared to enter.
o World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency medical teams (EMTs) continue to play an important role in service provision:
ü The temporary halt to all international humanitarian personnel rotations has disrupted the rotation of internationally deployed EMT personnel.
ü Since the beginning of the year, 32 EMTs have been deployed (30 international and three national teams) supporting service delivery across 32 health facilities.
o WHO reported that all medical evacuations from Gaza was suspended by Israel ON February 28th:
ü The PRCS stated that more than 18,000 patients (including 4,000 children) are still awaiting medical evacuation.
o The PRCS reported as of March 14th that all hospitals remain fully dependent on emergency back-up generators.
· Food Security Update:
o Throughout February, partners reached approximately 1.2 million people with reduced rations that covered only 50% of minimum caloric needs, compared to 1.6 million people reached with full rations in January.
o As of March 3rd, approximately 133,000 two-kilogram bread bundles continued to be produced daily through 30 UN-supported bakeries:
ü One-third of this bread is distributed for free, along with cooked meals, while two-thirds are sold through 139 retailers at a subsidized price ($0.95) per bundle.
o In February, access restrictions on supply from the neighbouring countries had already obliged the World Food Programme (WFP) to halve food rations in Gaza, to preserve stocks.
o WFP is now prioritizing food deliveries to cooperating partners and bakeries while preparing contingency and prioritization plans, should conditions deteriorate further.
o Despite these constraints, WFP reached nearly 940,000 people in February with general food assistance.
· Fuel Shipments:
o Delays and closure have caused shortages of fuel, driven up prices, and increased reliance on humanitarian assistance.
o The closure of the crossings forced the limited fuel reserves within the enclave to be rationed:
ü Humanitarian partners and service providers suspended vehicle-supported solid waste collection and reduced water production levels.
ü Contingency measures were also activated across hospitals and primary health-care centers.
West Bank
· The Israeli government has increased the closures of checkpoints and road gates, severing movement between communities and governorates.
· Access to healthcare has been obstructed. Ambulances are taking longer to reach patients as they must use longer routes and search for accessible gates.
· Even before this escalation, medical supplies were in short supply and health workers were receiving only partial salaries, affecting the functioning of health facilities.
· Violent attacks continued, causing casualties, displacement and damage, amidst risk of falling debris following missile interceptions.
Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:
· Between October 10, 2025 and February 27, 2026, the UN Human Rights Office recorded the killing of at least 224 Palestinians east or near the so-called “Yellow Line” and 347 Palestinians in attacks far from it.
· Three Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on March 7th, marking six deaths as a result of settler violence since the beginning of 2026.
Sources:
· UNRWA Situation Report #212 on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem
· Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) on Hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) - 09 March 2026
· Humanitarian Situation Report | 6 March 2026
· WHO Occupied Palestinian Territory Flash Update – 4 March 2026
· WFP Palestine Emergency Response External Situation Report #84, 5 March 2026 (Reporting period: 1-28 February 2026)
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Humanitarian Response Report in the Gaza Strip Since the Ceasefire Agreement (9 October 2025 - 28 February 2026)
· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page
· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· UNRWA Twitter Page
Resources:
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 - Advance unedited version (New)
Monetary Donations:
· UN Crisis Relief, Occupied Palestinian Territories
· WHO Foundation, Gaza Crisis: Help Save Lives
· UN Migration Agency, Gaza