Emergency Manager's Weekly Report

Apr 34 min read

Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #43

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· Three Israeli soldiers were killed between March 29 and April 3 in Gaza.

· On March 30th, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) reported an explosion along the Israeli Lebanon border:

o This explosion injured three UN military observers and a Lebanese translator.

o UNFIL has launched an investigation into the origin of the explosion.

o The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has stated that the explosion was caused by an explosive device previously planted by Hezbollah.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

Israel

· On March 31st, Magen David Adom (MDA) responded to a stabbing terrorist attack in Gan Yavne. MDA treated and transported three people.

Gaza Strip

· There has been no significant change in the volume of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza or improved access to the north:

o In March, the daily average of 161 aid trucks have crossed into Gaza per day. The highest was on March 28th, when 264 trucks entered Gaza via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah land crossings.

o According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli authorities have denied 30% of humanitarian aid missions to northern Gaza.

o Israel have continued to deny UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) access to the north to deliver emergency food assistance and other basic supplies.

· The IDF Chief of the General Staff announced on April 2nd that Israel has established a humanitarian command center to improve aid distribution in Gaza.

· As of April 1st, World Central Kitchen (WCK) through their over 61 kitchens were distributed food in Southern and Central Gaza. Because of the attack on April 2nd, WCK has paused their operations in the region.

· Healthcare and Public Health Update:

o The World Health Organization (WHO) as of March 25th, is reporting the following cases of infectious diseases:

ü 586,402 cases of acute respiratory infections

ü 81,259 cases of scabies and lice

ü 46,195 cases of skin rashes

ü 19,117 cases of jaundice

ü 7,037 cases of chickenpox

o WHO reports that as of April 3rd, only 47% of patients who submitted requests for medical evacuation abroad have been approved and 80% of the approved cases have been medically evacuated abroad.

o There are only 10 hospitals that are partially operational in the Gaza Strip:

ü The Al Shifa is now in ruins and no longer able to function as a hospital following a siege by the IDF. A total of 21 patients died during the siege.

ü With support from the Swiss Development and Cooperation, WHO has supplied 24 solar fridges to healthcare facilities to ensure safe storage of medicines.

ü Only eight UNRWA health centers remain operational.

· On April 3rd, the World Bank released an interim damage assessment report. The damage to the region’s physical structures is estimated at $18.5 billion.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

· The U.S. Secretary of Defense on March 26th has stated that the safety and humanitarian support of the Palestinians in Rafah is a top priority of the United States.

· As of April 1st, a total of 176 UNRWA employees have been killed.

· OCHA reported that as of April 1st, there have been more than 400 attacks on healthcare.

· On April 2nd, two WCK marked and armored vehicles were traveling in a deconflicted zone were hit by the IDF:

o Seven WCK staff members were killed. They included citizens of Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, and Palestine.

o The convoy’s movements were reported and coordinated with the IDF.

o Before the convoy was hit it had just unloaded more than 100 tons of food aid.

o The Palestine Red Crescent Society in a complex and long operation recovered the bodies of the WCK employees.

o The IDF has stated that the convoy was mis-identified and that the strike was an accident.

o An independent body will review this strike according to the IDF in the coming days and release its findings to the WCK and other international organizations.

o The Israeli Prime Minister released a statement via Twitter: “Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip. This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.”

· OCHA has documented more than 700 settler violence incidents across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Sources:

· Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #149

· UNRWA Situation Report #98 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 31 March–1 April 2024, is valid as of 01 April 2024 at 22:30

· Prime Minister of Israel Twitter Page

· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page

· Magen David Adom Twitter Page

· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page

· UNFIL Twitter Page

· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page

· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page

· WHO Occupied Territories Twitter Page

· U.S. Department of Defense Twitter Page

· World Central Kitchen Twitter Page

· President of the United States Twitter Page

· World Bank Twitter Page