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UNRWA Situation Report #68 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information from 21- 22 January 2024, is valid as of 22 January 2024 at 22:30)

UNRWA

24 Jan 2024

Key points

The Gaza Strip

• Intense fighting in/around Khan Younis over the last 3 days is causing loss of lives and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA's largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre.
• As of 22 January 2024, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities has increased by one and is now 152.
• According to OCHA, telecommunication services in Gaza have been gradually restored in most of the Strip, while internet remains severely disrupted in all areas. This prevents people in Gaza from accessing life-saving information and continues to impede humanitarian response. Due to the security situation and poor internet connectivity we are unable to update the number of people reached since Sitrep 67.
• As of 22 January, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population)** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Areas in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved again further south.

*This includes 1 million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of October 12, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in north Gaza and Gaza governorates. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by Israeli Forces, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times.

**UNRWA has reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs are either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered.

*** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

West Bank updates cover 18 -- 21 January 2024.

Between 18 -- 21 January the following Israeli Security Forces (ISF) search and arrest operations occurred:

• Search and arrest operations in Tulkarm city, Tulkarm refugee camp and Nur Shams refugee camp, northern West Bank concluded on the morning of 19 January, after 45 hours. The operations resulted in multiple fatalities, injuries and arrests, as well as unprecedented damage to both refugee camps, including houses and streets.
  • On 18 January, exchanges of fire between Palestinians and ISF continued in Tulkarm refugee camp, nine Palestinians were reported injured, eight from physical assault and one from live ammunition. ISF reportedly prevented Palestinian Red Crescent Services' ambulances from transferring injured Palestinians and a woman who was giving birth, to the hospital. In the afternoon, ISF reportedly detonated several Palestinian houses and installations with explosives and set a house on fire. Also, ISF reportedly continued destroying property and infrastructure in the camp, physically assaulting people and detaining Palestinians. Two Palestinian children were killed and three Palestinians injured. In Nur Shams camp, ISF reportedly continued bulldozing and destroying camp infrastructure. One house was demolished, one Palestinian killed and one child injured.
• Overnight on 18 January, four Palestinians were detained in a search and arrest operation in Nablus, northern West Bank.
• Overnight on 18 January, six Palestinians were injured with live ammunition when ISF reportedly opened fire at Palestinians during a search and arrest operation in Al Am'ari camp, central West Bank.
• Early in the morning on 18 January, ISF conducted multiple search and arrest operations in different locations in southern West Bank. Twelve Palestinians were detained in Aroub refugee camp and eighteen Palestinians were detained in Harmala, southern West Bank.
• On 19 January, ISF conducted a search and arrest operation in Qalqiliya city, northern West Bank. ISF reportedly opened fired during clashes with Palestinians near the southern entrance of the city, injuring one Palestinian with live ammunition. Another exchange of fire between Palestinians and ISF was reported at the northern entrance of the city. On 22 January, ISF detained two Palestinians and reportedly assaulted and injured a Palestinian elder in his home during a search and arrest operation.
• Early in the morning on 21 January in Al Khalil, southern West Bank ISF conducted punitive demolition of the houses of the two Palestinians who were killed in the security incidents at the Tunnels checkpoint on 16 November 2023. Clashes started during the demolition, and ISF reportedly opened fire at Palestinians, injuring one with live ammunition.
• On 22 January, ISF opened fired in clashes during a search and arrest operation in Al Bireh, central West Bank. One Palestinian was injured in the head with a live ammunition shrapnel and three Palestinians were detained.
• On 22 January, ISF opened fired in clashes during a search and arrest operation in Yatta, southern West Bank. Two Palestinians, including one minor, were injured with a live ammunition.
• On 22 January, ISF conducted a search and arrest operation in Izbat At Tayyah village, east of Tulkarm city, northern West Bank. UNRWA operations were severally impacted.