Israel/Hamas War Situation Report #55

Military and Diplomatic Highlights:

· Between July 5-8, one Israeli soldier was killed in Gaza.

· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on July 6th that they have eliminated Meitham Mustafa Altaar who was a key operative in Hezbollah's Aerial Defense Unit.

· On July 11th, five projectiles were launched from Rafah toward communities near Gaza and were successfully intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array. In response to these launches the IDF killed the terrorists who carried out the launches.

Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Highlights:

Israel

The Magen David Adom (MDA) reported the following activities:

· On July 7th, MDA treated a 28-year-old patient with shrapnel injuries in Lower Galilee. He was listed in serious condition and was transported to an area hospital.

· The MDA on July 9th treated two individuals in critical condition due to a direct rocket strike in Golan Heights.

Gaza Strip

· The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported on July 7th, that their staff working in Gaza are exhausted after operating non-stop for the last nine months. However, due to travel restrictions they are unable to rotate staff in from Ramallah.

· On July 7th and 8th, the IDF ordered tens of thousands of people residing in 19 blocks in Gaza city to immediately evacuate:

o The July 7th order covered five blocks and instructed residents to evacuate to western Gaza city while the July 8th order covered 14 blocs, including areas where people had fled to a day earlier, and instructed people to evacuate southwards to shelters in the humanitarian zone in Deir al Balah.

o The PRCS reported receiving dozens of distress calls following the orders to evacuate parts of Gaza City. But their ambulance teams were unable to respond due to the intensity of the bombardment.

o In response to the IDF evacuation orders, all PRCS medical points and emergency clinics in the Gaza Governorate were shut down.

· Healthcare and Public Health Updates:

o Only 13 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are now partially functional.

ü Hospitals that remain partially functional throughout the Strip are struggling to maintain vital operations amid chronic fuel shortages:

Ø On July 7th, the Kamal Adwan Hospital reported that the lack of fuel has forced the hospital to suspend dialysis services, which has deprived 21 kidney patients of life-saving treatment.

ü The UN Health Cluster is seeking to urgently address the rising needs at Nasser Medical Complex, which is currently the last tertiary hospital available in southern Gaza:

Ø All hospital beds are currently fully occupied, and the hospital is facing critical shortages of supplies, particularly abdominal gauzes, wound dressing materials and surgical gowns for operations.

o On July 8th, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reopened a health center in Khan Yunis after it was severely damaged in January.

o Save the Children as of July 9th, reported that in the last nine months, an estimated 50,000 babies have been born in Gaza.

o On July 11th, the PRCS deployed a new ambulance that is specifically designated for mortuary management.

· Food Security Update:

o Insecurity, damage to roads, and risks from military operations continue to significantly hinder the movement of food within Gaza.

o Looting on the road from Kerem Shalom has reduced the flow of goods to southern and central Gaza, and access constraints are the primary reason that many humanitarian warehouses are non-operational.

o Data collected from June shows a likely decrease in the volume of food entering Gaza compared to May:

ü An estimated 16,850-27,728 metric tons of food entered Gaza in June, compared to an estimated 28,400-30,400 metric tons in May.

o Only seven out of 18 bakeries supported by humanitarian partners remain operational across Gaza due to lack of fuel and ongoing hostilities.

o While some markets were reported to have improved stocks, many Gazans cannot afford to purchase food at current prices.

o World Central Kitchen (WCK) reported the following activities:

ü On July 10th, WCK operating in Central Gaza have set up a meal distribution site for Palestinians evacuating from the north.

ü Travel restrictions have made it increasingly difficult to deliver humanitarian supplies in Northern Gaza. WCK teams in Madaba, Jordan however they are working to pack pallets of food and coordinate convoys that are reaching their partners in northern Gaza. As of July 11th, they dispatched 15 trucks carrying needed supplies.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Highlights:

· As of July 7th, UNRWA reported that 197 staff have been killed.

· The UNRWA as of July 10th have documented 453 attacks on their facilities and personnel. A total of 524 people sheltering in their facilities were killed.

Sources:

· Humanitarian Situation Update #188 | Gaza Strip

· UNRWA Situation Report #119 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 4–7 July, is valid as of 7 July 2024 at 22:30

· Gaza food supply assessment, as of June 30, 2024

· Israeli Defense Forces Twitter Page

· Magen David Adom Twitter Page

· Palestine Red Crescent Society Twitter Page

· OCHA Occupied Territories Twitter Page

· UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Twitter Page

· U.S. Central Command Twitter Page

· World Central Kitchen Twitter Page

Resources