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Friday demonstrations near Israel’s perimeter fence around Gaza continued, resulting in the killing of four Palestinians and the injury of 531 others by Israeli forces. All fatalities occurred on 26 October, when hundreds of demonstrators reached the fence and, according to Israeli sources, threw a relatively large number of Molotov cocktails, homemade grenades and incendiary balloons, alongside various attempts to breach the fence. By contrast, the following Friday, 2 November, witnessed a dramatic reduction in violent clashes and ended without fatalities. Israeli sources indicated that no incendiary kites or balloons were launched during that day and that no attempts to breach the fence were recorded. Of the injuries recorded, 405 were hospitalized, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH).
Since 30 March 2018, the Gaza Strip has witnessed a significant increase in Palestinian casualties in the context of mass demonstrations and other activities along Israel’s perimeter fence with Gaza, taking place as part of the «Great March of Return», as well as during hostilities. The large number of casualties among unarmed Palestinian demonstrators, including a high percentage of demonstrators hit by live ammunition, has raised concerns about excessive use of force by Israeli troops. Exposure of children to violence along with media reports of the militarization of children are also of concern. Despite significant assistance provided, Gaza's health sector is struggling to cope with the mass influx of casualties, due to years of blockade, the internal divide and a chronic energy crisis, which have left essential services in Gaza barely able to function.
On Friday, 12 October, seven Palestinians, including a 17-year-old child, were killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, during the ‘Great March of Return’ demonstrations and clashes at Israel’s perimeter fence. According to Israeli sources, there was a significant increase in the throwing of Molotov cocktails, homemade grenades and incendiary balloons towards Israeli forces during demonstrations, as well as in damage to the fence, with four of the fatalities shot after they breached the fence and reached a military post inside Israel. The scope of confrontations reportedly declined during the demonstrations held the following Friday, 19 October, which ended with no fatalities. In total, 831 people were injured during both Fridays, of whom 590 were hospitalized, including 271 hit by live ammunition, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Gaza Strip faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, impacting the livelihoods and access to essential services by its two million residents. This crisis has been driven by over 11 years of an Israeli blockade and an unsolved internal Palestinian divide, exacerbated since March 2018 by the massive increase in Palestinian casualties in the context of demonstrations taking place near Israel’s perimeter fence, as well as limited escalations in hostilities. The following indicators were identified by the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) to monitor the crisis, trigger humanitarian action and prevent further deterioration.
Since 30 March 2018, the Gaza Strip has witnessed a significant increase in Palestinian casualties in the context of mass demonstrations and other activities along Israel’s perimeter fence with Gaza, taking place as part of the «Great March of Return», as well as during hostilities. The large number of casualties among unarmed Palestinian demonstrators, including a high percentage of demonstrators hit by live ammunition, has raised concerns about excessive use of force by Israeli troops. Exposure of children to violence along with media reports of the militarization of children are also of concern. Despite significant assistance provided, Gaza's health sector is struggling to cope with the mass influx of casualties, due to years of blockade, the internal divide and a chronic energy crisis, which have left essential services in Gaza barely able to function.
Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of about two million Palestinians in that area. Many of the restrictions, originally imposed by Israel in the early 1990s, were intensified after June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of Gaza and the imposition of a blockade. These restrictions continue to reduce access to livelihoods, essential services and housing, disrupt family life, and undermine people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future.
Demolitions remain below the 2018 and 2017 monthly averages. Seven donated structures demolished in Area C herding communities. Israeli court ruling provides green light for the demolition of Khan al Ahmar-Abu al Helu.
Ten Palestinians, including three children, were killed by Israeli forces during Friday demonstrations and clashes taking place near Israel’s perimeter fence in the context of the ‘Great March of Return’, and 882 others have been injured. Friday, 28 September, recorded the highest fatality toll in a single day (seven) since 14 May 2018, prompting a call by the Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Jamie McGoldrick, "on Israel, Hamas and all other actors with the ability to influence the situation, to take action now to prevent further deterioration and loss of life.” Two of the child fatalities, boys aged 11 and 15, were shot in the head and chest with live ammunition, bringing to 39 the number of children killed in Gaza since the start of the protests on 30 March. Of the people injured on 28 September and 5 October, 402 were hospitalized, including 216 people (53 per cent) hit by live ammunition; the rest were treated in the field, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. According to Israeli sources, a number of explosive devices were thrown at Israeli forces during the protests, none of which resulted in Israeli injuries.
The oPt Humanitarian Fund launched an $8.3 million allocation for the implementation of some critical but unfunded HRP projects, the majority in the Gaza Strip. Less than 60 per cent of applications for exit permit by patients seeking treatment outside Gaza were approved by the Israeli authorities in the first half of 2018. The continuous opening of the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing has been impaired by factors, including the reduced number of passengers allowed through and the obscure criteria used for selecting travelers. OCHA recorded 705 permanent checkpoints and roadblocks restricting or controlling Palestinian vehicular or pedestrian, movement across the West Bank.
Participants in the 27 September meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), the minister-level gathering of oPt donors, in New York, were unanimous regarding the disastrous humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Among other remarks, The World Bank warned that the Gaza economy “is in free fall registering minus 6 percent growth in the first quarter of 2018, and an unemployment rate of 53 percent (over 70 percent for youth) … Given that every second person in Gaza lived below the poverty line before these latest developments, the deterioration is alarming.”
