Military and Diplomatic Highlights:
· The Israel Defense Force (IDF) continues to operate in Khan Yunis, Central and Northern Gaza.
· On January 29th, a Hezbollah fighter rammed a vehicle into a IDF base in Northern Israel. The attacker was killed by IDF soldiers.
· Israeli fighter jets on January 30th attacked and destroyed Hamas mortar positions after they fired rounds into Central Israel.
· The IDF has been pumping water into Hamas underground infrastructure n selected areas of Gaza.
Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:
Israel:
· The Magen David Adom (MDA) on January 29th responded to a ramming incident in Haifa. MDA staff treated a 20-year-old male and evacuated him in serious condition to Rambam Hospital.
· The United Hatzalah responded to a rocket attack in Rishon LeZion. Two vehicles were damaged but there were no injuries reported.
Gaza Strip:
· The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is reporting that as of January 22nd, there was up to 1.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the Gaza Strip.
· On January 29th, the IDF ordered the neighborhoods of An Nassar, Ash Sheikh Radwan, Ash Shati Refugee camp, Rimal Ash Shamali and Al Janubi, Sabra, Ash Sheikh ‘Ajlin, and Tel Al Hawa in western Gaza city to evacuate towards the south:
o The new order covered an area of 12.43 square kilometers, which amounts to 3.4% of the Gaza strip.
o This area was home to almost 300,000 Palestinians before October 7th and, subsequently, 59 shelters with an estimated 88,000 IDPs sheltered there.
· On January 29th, the transfer of humanitarian supplies into Gaza through Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel was resumed after four days of disruption by Israeli protests.
· In the second half of January, humanitarian partners continue to observe an increasing trend in denied and restricted access to the northern and central areas of Gaza:
o The reasons include excessive delays for humanitarian aid convoys before or at Israeli checkpoints and heightened military activity in central Gaza.
o Threats to the safety of humanitarian personnel and sites are also frequent, not only impeding the delivery of time-sensitive and life-saving aid but also posing serious risks to those involved in humanitarian efforts.
· The UNRWA reported that as of January 27th, nine countries have suspended funding of the agency. These cuts significantly affect urgently needed humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
· Healthcare and Public Health Updates:
o On January 29th, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that the surgical ward at Al Amal Hospital had ceased operations due to the depletion of oxygen supplies.
o IDPs have evacuated toward PRCS headquarters and the Al Amal Hospital:
ü A total of 7,000 IDPs are currently sheltering at the hospital.
o The PRCS reports that as of January 30th, they have lost contact with an ambulance crew that was dispatched to rescue a six-year-old that was surrounding by Israeli troops. She was the only survivor after the rest of the vehicle’s occupants were killed.
o On January 30th, the World Health Organization (WHO) reached the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis:
ü WHO and its partners delivered food and essential medical supplies for 1,000 patients.
ü A total of 400 patients are being treated at the hospital.
ü This hospital is the most important referral hospital in southern Gaza, within a week Nasser has gone from partially to minimally functional.
ü The hospital still has critical shortages of:
Ø Specialized medical practitioners
Ø Medicines, oxygen, food, and fuel
Ø Methods of disposing of solid waste.
Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:
· On January 26th, the Israeli government provided UNRWA with information that several employees were involved in the October 7th attack:
o UNRWA immediately terminated the contracts of these staff members.
o The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services is carrying out an investigation into staff’s involvement in the attack.
· The PRCS reported that on January 27th, IDF targeted the Khan Yunis Ambulance Center and damaged or destroyed several ambulances.
Sources:
· Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #105
· UNRWA Situation Report #70 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (all information from 25 - 27 January 2024, is valid as of 27 January 2024 at 22:30)
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Response Report As of Saturday, October 7th 2023, 18:00 PM until Tuesday, January 27, 2024, 24:00 AM
· Serious allegations against UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip
· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page
· Magen David Adom Twitter Page
· United Hatzalah Twitter Page
· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page
· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page
· UNRWA Commissioner-General Twitter Page
· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page
· EU ECHO Twitter Page
· ICOM Twitter Page
Resources
Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on allegations concerning UNRWA (New)
International Council of Museums, Statement condemning violence against people and their cultural heritage (New)
European Commission Statement on UNRWA (New)
UNRWA funding cuts threaten Palestinian lives in Gaza and region, say NGOs (New)
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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