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UNRWA Situation Report #131 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information from 22-26 August 2024, valid as of 26 August 2024 at 22:30 (local time)

UNRWA

28 Aug 2024

Day 322-326 of Hostilities

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

• Ongoing strikes by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) continue, with aerial, land and maritime bombardments across the Gaza Strip, resulting in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of residential structures and public infrastructure.
• According to OCHA, Israeli Security Forces (ISF) have issued 16 evacuation orders in August so far, impacting approximately 12 per cent of Gaza's population (258,000 people). The latest orders in Deir al Balah have also displaced humanitarian staff from different UN agencies, NGOs, and service providers, along with their families, severely hindering their ability to deliver essential support and services. Specifically, the order issued on 25 August, impacted 15 UN and NGO premises, as well as four UN warehouses. Since October 2023, only about 11 per cent of the Gaza Strip has not been placed under evacuation orders.
• According to UNFPA, the continued displacement due to fighting and frequent evacuation orders have had a devasting impact on maternal health and protection services in Gaza, with at least 17 health facilities facing operational disruptions in August. One safe space for women and girl, that provided support to those at risk of gender-based violence, has been forced closed.
• According to WHO, the health system continues to be dismantled, with reduced health service availability. Only 16 out of 36 hospitals (or 44 per cent) are partially functional and 58 out of the 132 (44 per cent) primary health care facilities are functional as of 20 August.
• UNRWA remains a major actor in the health sector, providing health services across 10 primary health centres and up to 100 medical points across the Gaza Strip.
• According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people (or nine in ten people) across the Gaza Strip are internally displaced, including people who have been repeatedly displaced (some up to 10 times).
• As of 26 August, the total number of UNRWA team members killed since 7 October is 212.
• Several challenges stand in the way of collecting much needed humanitarian supplies from the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing point in southern Gaza. These include deteriorating law and order, the war and insecurity, damaged infrastructure, fuel shortages and access restrictions. According to OCHA, between 1 and 12 August 2024, an average of only 76 humanitarian trucks entered the Gaza Strip per day. This is well below the pre-crisis average of 500 trucks per working day.
• The latest information on supplies entering Gaza can be accessed through the below link:
  Gaza Supplies and Dispatch Tracking | UNRWA

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem update is now once a week.

• According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023 and 21 August 2024, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This includes a total of 128 Palestinians, including 26 children, have been killed in airstrikes in the West Bank from 1 to 21 August alone. Separately, UNICEF[1] reported that 143 children have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 7 October 2023 until 22 July 2024.
• Between 19 and 25 August, there were 183 recorded ISF search and arrest operations across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. At least 113 Palestinians, including Palestine Refugees, were detained by the ISF during this period.
• During the same period, there were 10 recorded Palestinians killed, including two Palestinians who were killed in an ISF drone strike on Tulkarm Camp in northern West Bank on 22 August, during an ISF operation. Another Palestinian was killed and at least four camp residents were injured during the operation, which also caused extensive damage to camp infrastructure and rendered an estimated 21 houses uninhabitable.
• Numerous instances of Israeli settler violence were recorded during the reporting period, with two Palestinians reportedly kidnapped by armed settlers near Nab' Al'Auja in central West Bank on 23 August. On 25 August, clashes took place between settlers and Palestinians near Al Buweib in southern West Bank, after settlers reportedly threw stones and physically assaulted residents. Six Palestinians and three settlers were injured, with nine Palestinians detained by the ISF. On the same day, armed settlers reportedly attacked residents and property in Beit Furik in the northern West Bank, injuring at least one Palestinian. New Israeli settlement outposts were recorded across the West Bank, near Beit Furik, Deir Quruntul, and al Maniya.