Reports
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.
Electricity supply in Gaza increased up to 18 hours a day in some areas, following the provision of additional fuel to operate the Gaza Power Plant. Only 22 per cent of patients injured during the Gaza demonstrations, who were referred for follow- up surgery in the West Bank or Israel have been granted Israeli exit permits. 97 per cent of ground water extracted in Gaza is unfit for human consumption, generating the risk of a waterborne disease outbreak. The number of Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians and their property during 2018 grew by 57 and 175 per cent, compared with 2017 and 2016, respectively.
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).
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.
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.
Nine Palestinians, including three children, were killed by Israeli forces during events related to the ‘Great March of Return’ in the Gaza Strip, and another 829 were injured. Four of the fatalities, including three men and one boy, were killed during demonstrations that took place on Friday 14 and 21 September near the fence, which have witnessed a significant increase in the overall number of participants. The other Palestinian fatalities were recorded during additional events that have begun to take place on a regular basis, including night demonstrations near the fence (a man and a boy killed); attempts to break the naval blockade (one male fatality); and demonstrations near the Erez passenger crossing with Israel (one male fatality). Another 16-year-old boy died of wounds sustained during a previous demonstration in early August (not included in the total). Of the people injured during the reporting period, 629 were hospitalized, including 261 people (41 per cent) hit by live ammunition and the rest were treated in the field, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza. From the total number of injuries, there were 97 children, of which, 59 were hit with live ammunition, and six women, including three hit with live ammunition.
In August, a total of 25 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized and 14 people displaced, compared to monthly averages of 36 structures and 39 people, respectively, recorded in the past seven months. As of 31 August, 277 structures had been demolished or seized and 287 people displaced, marking a 14 and 43 per cent decline, respectively, compared to the equivalent figures in 2017. All but one of the structures demolished this month were due to the lack of Israeli-issued permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain.
