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UNRWA Situation Report #75 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information from 6-7 February 2024, is valid as of 7 February 2024 at 22:30)

UNRWA

10 Feb 2024

Day 123-124 of Hostilities

Key points

The Gaza Strip

• Intense fighting in/around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last 17 days is causing loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA's largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC). This is forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee further south towards Rafah, which is severely overcrowded, with reports of Israeli Forces' strikes in Rafah on 7 February. It is estimated that there are currently up to 1.5 million people in Rafah. Further fighting in Rafah would further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations.

Accessing isolated populations north of Wadi Gaza remains a challenge. Between 1 January and 5 February only 10 UNRWA/UNRWA inclusive missions reached north Wadi Gazi out of 35 planned.

• As of 7 February, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is now 154.
• As of 7 February, 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 Area in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south.

*This includes one 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

Several Israeli Security Forces (ISF) search and arrest operations leading to confrontations with Palestinians occurred between 6-7 February.

Between 6 - 7 February, the following ISF search and arrest operations occurred:

• Overnight between 5 -6 February, ISF conducted a search and arrest operation in Aqbat Jaber refugee camp, central West Bank.
• In addition to search and arrest operations, overnight between 5- 6 February, ISF reportedly physically assaulted and injured one Palestinian at Wadi an Nar checkpoint, Southern West Bank.
• In the early morning on 6 January, three Palestinians were detained during a search and arrest operation in Nablus, northern West Bank. Then overnight between 6-7 February, another six Palestinians were detained. And on the night of 7 February, ISF reportedly opened fire during clashes with Palestinians in the city.
• On 6 February, a Palestinian from Balata camp allegedly attempted to attack ISF soldiers in the vicinity of Beit Furik checkpoint, northern West Bank. ISF reportedly shot and killed him then closed the checkpoint denying Palestinian access.
• Overnight between 6-7 February, ISF conducted search and arrest operations in Tulkarm city, Tulkarm refugee camp, Jenin city, Jenin refugee camp, Nur Shams refugee camp, Tammun, Al Yamun and Qalqiliya, northern West Bank. Exchanges of fire took place in several locations; six Palestinians were detained, and two Palestinians injured with live ammunition in Tammun. ISF bulldozers reportedly damaged and destroyed the infrastructure in Jenin refugee camp and Nur Shams refugee camp.
• On 7 February, it was reported that ISF surrounded a Palestinian house in Al Damaj quarter in Nur Shams refugee camp, targeted it with missiles, set it on fire, demolished parts of it, killing three Palestinians and injured two Palestinians with live ammunition, including a woman. UNRWA services were severely affected.
• Overnight between 6-7 February, clashes were reported between Palestinians and ISF in the vicinity of Road 60 in Al Khadr, southern West Bank. ISF reportedly held several Palestinians west of the village.
• On 7 February, ISF conducted a search and arrest operation in Tubas, northern West Bank. Exchange of fire was reported between Palestinians and ISF in Wad El Far'a, south of Tubas. A Palestinian was injured with live ammunition shrapnel and another Palestinian was detained.
• On 7 February, ISF reportedly opened fire at journalists and Palestinians near Iktaba village, opposite Nur Shams Camp, northern West Bank.
• On 7 February, ISF reportedly protected settlers while they entered Khallet Al-Farra community, southwest of Yatta, southern West Bank. The settlers reportedly physically assaulted Palestinians seized their cell phones and forced them to sit on the ground for long hours.
• On 7 February, ISF reportedly chased Palestinian youths in the Bab Al 'Amud Damascus Gate area in Jerusalem, central West Bank. ISF reportedly held a Palestinian child and handed him a summons order for interrogation.
• On 7 February, Palestinians demonstrated outside UNRWA offices in Jenin city and Nablus city, northern West Bank, and in Beituniya and West Jerusalem, central West Bank.