Situation Reports
An Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour cease-fire, accepted by Israel and Palestinian armed groups, entered into force today at 08:00. Israeli forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip and declared a 500 meter-wide ‘no go zone’ on the Gaza side of the border. Over 85 per cent of Palestinian fatalities since the start of the emergency are believed to be civilians (excluding those whose bodies could not be identified or their status determined); child fatalities exceeded 400. Nearly 30 per cent of Gaza’s population has been displaced, including about 65,000 people whose homes have been destroyed
or damaged beyond repair and have nowhere to return. Insecurity and overcrowded conditions fuel frustration and anger among IDPs hosted in UNRWA shelters; multiple incidents of violence against shelter staff and between families have been reported. Lack of adequate transportation arrangements impedes the transfer of patients to medical facilities outside of Gaza, needed for lifesaving treatment and to free up beds for casualties.
Although the Israeli military presence has been scaled back in parts of Gaza, hostilities have continued. In the last 24 hours, at least 192 persons have reportedly been killed or their bodies recovered.
• A Israeli missile landed outside the gate of an UNRWA school in Rafah, killing at least nine people, including women and children, and injuring approximately 45. • Children continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, with 373 killed and at least 2,744 injured. The public health system is on the verge of collapse: while the number of casualties continues to grow, additional hospitals and clinics have reported damage due to hostilities. Up to 25 per cent of Gaza’s population may now be forcibly displaced, of whom 270,000 are hosted in UNRWA shelters alone. A humanitarian pause is urgently needed to complete search and rescue operations, repair critical water and electricity infrastructure, access remote areas, and carry out needs assessments.
The Rafah area was subject to the heaviest shelling and fighting recorded since the start of the emergency, resulting in dozens of fatalities; many of the bodies could not yet be recovered or identified. The public health system is on the verge of collapse: while the number of casualties continues to grow, five hospitals and 34 clinics have shut down due to damage and insecurity. Up to 25 per cent of Gaza’s population may now be forcibly displaced, of whom 259,000 are hosted in UNRWA shelters alone. Lack of electricity and fuel shortages disrupt the functioning of hospitals and affect access
to water for the entire population. The current lack of adequate water chlorination may have serious public health consequences.
A 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire scheduled to enter into effect at 08:00 this morning collapsed after two hours. Following the collapse of the ceasefire, hostilities resumed with reports of large numbers of Palestinian fatalities and injuries in Rafah. Incidents of multiple family member fatalities continue: at least 76 families have lost three or more family members in the same incident, totaling over 400
fatalities. Up to 25 per cent of Gaza’s population may now be forcibly displaced; a quarter of a million people are now seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters alone. Lack of electricity and fuel shortages affect access to water for the entire population of the Gaza Strip. The lack of adequate water chlorination may have serious public health consequences.
110 Palestinian fatalities were recorded in the past 24 hours, including 18 killed in the devastated Ash Shuja’iyeh neighbourhood. Up to one quarter of Gaza’s population may have been forcibly displaced since the start of the emergency, including 250,000 in UNRWA and government shelters. Following an attack hitting Gaza’s sole power plant and its subsequent shut down, along with the inability to repair feeder lines from Israel and Egypt, electricity is only supplied for an average of three hours a day. Access to food is increasingly affected: bakeries cannot meet the additional demand for bread, triggered by the lack of electricity in households, while the prices of vegetables soar. Latest development: a 72 hour ceasefire starting on 1 August at 8:00 has been announced.
An UNRWA school in Jabalia sheltering internally displaced persons (IDPs) was struck by Israeli shells, killing at least 15 people, including four children. A four-hour humanitarian ceasefire was declared by the Israeli military but rejected by Hamas on the grounds that it did not extend to the entire Gaza Strip. Incidents of multiple family member fatalities continue: at least 68 families have lost three or more family members in the same incident, totaling 360 fatalities. The number of IDPs exceeds 240,000 in UNRWA schools and other public buildings. Up to 200,000 may be taking shelter with host families. Gaza’s sole power plant remains shut down after being shelled yesterday: the additional reduction in electricity supply is having an immediate impact on the public health situation, reducing WASH services. Latest development: 18:00, 17 people were killed and hundreds injured in shelling of Ash Shuja’iyah market.
Last night witnessed one of the heaviest Israeli bombardments since the start of the emergency, including the targeting of many residential buildings, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties. Gaza’s sole power plant shut down after being hit and damaged: the additional reduction in electricity supply is expected to have a pervasive impact on the availability of food and access of people to basic
services. The Israeli army warned all Palestinian civilians living within the Israeli imposed three kilometer wide ‘buffer zone’, to evacuate the area, except for three localities, ahead of further attacks. The number of IDPs exceeds 240,000; UNRWA has exhausted its absorption capacity in Gaza City and northern Gaza, while overcrowding at its shelters raises concerns about the outbreak of epidemics.
Following a significant decline in hostilities overnight rocket firing from Gaza and Israeli strikes at targets in Gaza resumed today. 74 Palestinians, including 10 children and six women, are reported to have been killed, or their bodies identified, in the last 24 hours. Approximately 180,000 persons, almost ten per cent of the population of Gaza, are now taking shelter in UNRWA schools, compounding overcrowding and raising health concerns. Latest developments: 17:00. Ten Palestinian children were reportedly killed when a missile struck a park in Beach Camp. Mortars fired from Gaza killed four
Israelis, reportedly soldiers and wounded several others in southern Israel. 22:00. Notices were distributed to Beit Hanoun and all areas in northern Gaza to the east of the three km “buffer zone”, to evacuate to Gaza city. Evacuation notices were also distributed in eastern Gaza city earlier in the day. 24.00: It was also reported that evacuation notices were sent to Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
Hostilities resumed on the night of 26 July, following a short humanitarian pause; efforts to extend the pause have so far failed. The pause allowed for the recovery of over 100 bodies and the delivery of basic supplies to emergency shelters, in previously inaccessible areas. Large areas in Gaza city outside of the three kilometrewide ‘buffer zone’ received warnings from the Israeli army to evacuate their homes ahead of attacks, triggering further displacement. Food shortages in the market are reported in some areas, along with sharp price increases in vegetables and dairy products. Despite some repairs to damaged lines, electricity outages continue for about 20 hours a day, challenging the operation of WASH and health facilities.
A 12-hour ceasefire was observed today in Gaza between 08:00 and 20:00. The pause in hostilities allowed for the recovery of bodies, with at least 90 Palestinian dead reportedly retrieved up to 14:00.
58 Palestinians, including 12 children and eight women, are reported to have been killed in the last 24 hours. This brings the fatality toll to 925, excluding the bodies recovered today. Early this morning, prior to the ceasefire, 20 members of the An Najjar family were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
