Hostilities In The Gaza Strip And Israel | Flash Update #40 – Occupied Palestinian Territories

KEY POINTS

On November 15, Israeli troops, including tanks, entered the Shifa Hospital compound in Gaza City and reportedly took control of several areas, searching them and interrogating people. Due to the disruption of communications in the region, the impact of the military operation remains unclear.
Of the 24 hospitals with inpatient capacity in the north, only one, Al Ahli in Gaza City, is currently operational and accepting patients. Eighteen hospitals have been closed and evacuated since hostilities began, including three – An Nasr, Ar Rantisi and Al Quds – in the last three days.
Another five hospitals, including Shifa, are offering extremely limited services to patients who have already been admitted. These hospitals are inaccessible, have no electricity or supplies, and are not accepting new patients.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that it was unable to respond to hundreds of calls for help and evacuate people injured or trapped under the rubble. Internally displaced people fleeing the north report bodies on the streets. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as of November 10, around 2,700 people, including around 1,500 children, were still missing and believed to be trapped under the rubble or dead.
Hospitals and medical personnel are subject to the special protection of international humanitarian law and all parties to the conflict must ensure their protection. Hospitals must not be used to protect military targets from attack. During every military operation around or within hospitals, measures must be taken to protect and protect patients, medical personnel and other civilians. All possible precautions must be taken, including effective warnings that take into account the ability of patients, medical personnel and other civilians to evacuate safely.
On November 15, around 23,000 liters of fuel arrived in Gaza from Egypt, the first such shipment since October 7. Israeli authorities have limited the use of this fuel to that of UNRWA trucks distributing aid. The importation of fuel for all other purposes remains prohibited, including for hospital generators and water and sanitation systems. Given that UNRWA requires approximately 160,000 liters of fuel per day to carry out basic humanitarian operations. It had to stop essential services.
According to reports, around midday on November 15, the As Salam Mill in Deir Al Balah was hit and destroyed. This was the last functioning mill in Gaza, and its destruction means that locally produced flour will no longer be available in Gaza for the foreseeable future.
Also on November 15, Gaza’s telecommunications companies announced the gradual cessation of all communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip due to exhaustion of fuel reserves to run generators. Humanitarian organizations and first responders have warned that power outages threaten the delivery of life-saving aid.
The Israeli military also reportedly dropped leaflets in areas east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 15, urging residents of the towns of Al Qarara, Khuza’a, Bani Suheila and Abasan to immediately evacuate to “known shelters.” .
In the north, hundreds of thousands of people unwilling or unable to move south live amid intense hostilities. They struggle to secure the minimum amount of water and food necessary to survive. Consuming water from unsafe sources raises serious concerns about dehydration and water-borne illnesses. The World Food Program (WFP) has expressed Concern about malnutrition and hunger.
United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said today that “the carnage in Gaza must not continue” and unveiled a ten-step plan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis, including agreeing to a humanitarian ceasefire, respecting the international humanitarian law etc. allow the entry of fuel.

Hostilities and casualties (Gaza Strip)

Clashes continued overnight (14 and 15 November) between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in and around Gaza City, as well as in several areas in North Gaza Governorate and Khan Younis (south). Intense attacks by the Israeli armed forces also continue in the south. Israeli ground forces have maintained the effective separation of the north from the south, with the exception of the “corridor” to the south.
Deadly attacks in the last 24 hours included the following: Air strikes reportedly hit Al-Mohophin School in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City on the afternoon of November 14, killing 17 people; On the same day, airstrikes reportedly hit a residential building in the As Saftawi area, north of Gaza City, at around 8:30 p.m., killing 13 people, including six women; Airstrikes reportedly hit a building in Al Qarara, east of Khan Yunis, at midday on November 14, killing nine people; Airstrikes reportedly hit the As Salhi Towers area in Nuseirat around midday on November 15, killing 14 people.
On November 15, the Ministry of Health in Gaza did not update casualty figures for the fifth consecutive day following the collapse of services and communications in hospitals in the north. The reported death toll among Palestinians in Gaza as of 2:00 p.m. November 10 (last update provided) was 11,078, of which 4,506 were reported to be children and 3,027 women. Another 27,490 Palestinians were reportedly injured.
Two Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of soldiers killed since ground operations began to 53, according to official Israeli sources.
For more breakdowns, see the latest snapshot.

Expulsion (Gaza Strip)

On November 15, the Israeli military – which had urged residents of the north to evacuate to the south – continued to open a “corridor” along the main artery, Salah Ad Deen Road, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The Israeli military also announced a “tactical halt to military activities” in the As Salam and An Nour neighborhoods of Jabaliya between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to allow people to move south. OCHA’s monitoring team estimates that about 8,000 people moved during the day.
Israeli forces have reportedly arrested some internally displaced persons who had fled through the “corridor.” There are anecdotal and eyewitness accounts of some IDPs being beaten and stripped of their clothing. On November 14, internally displaced persons (IDPs) reported that the Israeli army had set up an unstaffed checkpoint where people are remotely instructed to pass through two checkpoints where a surveillance system is believed to be installed. IDPs are reportedly being ordered to show their IDs and appear to undergo a facial recognition scan.
Over the past 48 hours, internally displaced people staying outside crowded shelters in the south have been affected by intermittent rains and floods that have damaged or destroyed tents and makeshift areas where they sought refuge. These conditions place these IDPs at increasing risk of disease and water-borne illnesses
It is estimated that over 1.5 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, including approximately 813,000 internally displaced persons living in at least 154 UNRWA shelters. UNRWA shelters accommodate far more people than intended. Overcrowding leads to the spread of disease, including acute respiratory illness and diarrhea, leading to environmental and health problems. Overcrowding affects the agency’s ability to provide effective and timely services.
For the latest numbers and further breakdowns, see the live IDP dashboard.

Humanitarian access (Gaza Strip)

On the afternoon of November 15, a truck full of fuel entered the Gaza Strip, leaving insufficient time to refuel the trucks needed to distribute humanitarian aid that had been delivered to warehouses in Rafah on November 14 . With camps at capacity, the agency was unable to receive additional humanitarian supplies.
Dozens of trucks waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing are expected to enter on November 16. Since October 21, 1,139 trucks carrying mostly medicine, food and water have entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a fraction of the demand.
On November 14, the Egyptian border was opened for the evacuation of around 600 foreigners and dual citizens, as well as four injured people. Between November 2 and 13, around 135 injured people were brought to Egypt for medical treatment.
The Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel, which was the main entry point for goods before hostilities, remains closed. According to media reports, Israeli authorities have rejected requests from member states to operate this border crossing in order to increase the flow of humanitarian aid.

electricity

The Gaza Strip has been in a blackout since October 11 after Israeli authorities cut power and fuel reserves for Gaza’s only power plant were exhausted. The input of fuel urgently needed to run electricity generators that power life-saving equipment.

Health care, including attacks (Gaza Strip)

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, before the Israeli military attack on the Shifa Hospital compound, parts of it were bombed and damaged, including the special surgery department, the cardiovascular disease department and a warehouse. Following the troops’ entry, patients, staff and internally displaced persons were reportedly relocated within the compound.
On November 14, around 200 people, including medical staff and 25 patients, were evacuated by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) from Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City to a hospital in Khan Younis in the south. The journey, which reportedly took seven hours, was partly made on foot in rain and muddy roads. The area surrounding the hospitals was bombed last week and the hospital has had a power outage since November 11th.
For the third day in a row, the main generator at Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis was shut down due to a lack of fuel. The hospital runs a small generator that powers the delivery room and lighting in the reception area. Over 8,000 internally displaced people are housed in this severely overcrowded facility.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said that as of November 15, 179 bodies held in Shifa that could not be evacuated or properly cared for were buried in a mass grave at the site.
The Israeli military has repeatedly claimed that Palestinian armed groups operate a military compound inside and below Shifa Hospital. The hospital management and the Palestinian Ministry of Health have strongly rejected these allegations and called for an independent investigation.
UNRWA continued to provide medical care to IDPs in emergency shelters through 124 medical teams stationed at the shelters. However, health centers’ fuel reserves may be exhausted today. UNRWA operations will rely entirely on solar energy, which is designed for minimal operation. The functionality of solar energy cannot be guaranteed, as malfunctions or battery failures may cause all operation to stop completely.

Water and sanitation (Gaza Strip)

Due to the lack of fuel, UNRWA began closing waste management services on November 14, posing a threat to the environment as around 400 tonnes of waste accumulated daily in overcrowded camps and refugee shelters.
Due to fuel shortages, public sewage pumping stations, 60 water wells in the south, a desalination plant in the Middle Area, the two main sewage pumps in the south and the Rafah sewage treatment plant have stopped operating in recent days. The seawater desalination plant in Khan Younis is operating at 5 percent of its capacity (around 300 cubic meters per day). Combined with the cessation of municipal sanitation, this poses a serious threat to public health and increases the risk of water contamination and disease outbreaks.
The main source of drinking water in the south are two pipelines from Israel, which together deliver about 1,100 cubic meters per hour. A number of private wells and desalination plants that are still operating are expected to be closed in the next two days due to a lack of fuel.
In the north, the water desalination plant and the Israeli pipeline are not working. There has been no distribution of water bottles to internally displaced people staying in shelters for over a week, raising major concerns about dehydration and water-borne diseases due to water consumption from unsafe sources.

Food inspection

The lack of food in the north is a growing concern. Bakeries have not been operating since November 7 due to fuel, water and wheat flour shortages as well as structural damage. According to reports, wheat flour is no longer available in the market. Members of the food security sector were unable to provide assistance in the north as access was largely cut off. There is evidence of negative coping mechanisms, including skipping or reducing meals and using unsafe and unhealthy methods to make fires. People are reportedly resorting to unconventional diets, such as eating combinations of raw onions and uncooked eggplants.

Hostilities and casualties (Israel)

The indiscriminate firing of rockets by Palestinian armed groups at Israeli population centers continued over the past 24 hours without causing any deaths. In total, according to Israeli authorities, over 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed in Israel, the vast majority of them on October 7th. As of November 15, the names of 1,162 people killed in Israel have been released, including 859 civilians and police officers. Of the people whose ages were provided, 33 are children.
On November 14, Israeli sources confirmed that one of the captured soldiers had been killed. Hamas had claimed that she was among 57 hostages killed by Israeli airstrikes. According to Israeli authorities, 238 people are being held captive in Gaza, including Israelis and foreigners. According to some media reports, around 30 of the hostages are children. So far, four civilian hostages have been released by Hamas and one Israeli soldier has been rescued by Israeli forces. On November 15, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths renewed his call for the unconditional release of the hostages.

Violence and Victims (West Bank)

On November 14, a Palestinian child died from wounds sustained after being shot by Israeli forces during a search and arrest operation in Jenin refugee camp on October 29.
Since October 7, 183 Palestinians, including 47 children, have been killed by Israeli forces; and another eight, including a child, were killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Three Israelis were killed in attacks by Palestinians.
The number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since October 7 represents 42 percent of all Palestinian deaths in the West Bank in 2023 (427). About 65 percent of the deaths since October 7 have occurred in clashes following Israeli search and arrest operations, primarily in Jenin and Tulkarm governorates. About 26 percent took part in demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza; Two percent were killed in settler attacks on Palestinians, one percent in punitive destruction, and the remaining six percent in attacks or alleged attacks on Israeli forces or settlers.
Since October 7, Israeli forces have injured 2,655 Palestinians, including at least 27 children, more than half of them in connection with demonstrations. Another 74 Palestinians were injured by settlers. About 33 percent of these injuries were caused by live ammunition.
On November 13 and 14, attackers believed to be Israeli settlers uprooted an unconfirmed number of Palestinian olive trees in the village of As Sawiya (Nablus), adjacent to the settlement of Rehelim. Palestinian access to this area requires permission from the Israeli authorities.
Since October 7, OCHA has recorded 246 settler attacks on Palestinians that resulted in Palestinian casualties (30 incidents), damage to Palestinian property (180 incidents), or both casualties and property damage (36 incidents). This represents a daily average of over six incidents, compared to three since the start of the year. More than a third of these incidents involved firearm threats, including shootings. In almost half of all incidents, Israeli forces actively accompanied or supported the attackers.

Displacement (West Bank)

No new postponements have been registered in the last 24 hours. Since October 7, at least 121 Palestinian households containing 1,149 people, including 452 children, have been displaced due to settler violence and access restrictions. The displaced households come from 15 pastoralist/Bedouin communities.
In addition, since October 7, 48 Palestinians, including 24 children, have been displaced as a result of punitive demolitions, and another 135 Palestinians, including 66 children, have been displaced as a result of demolitions in Zone C and East Jerusalem due to lack of permits.

financing

As of November 15, Member States have disbursed $132.1 million against the updated flash appeal by the United Nations and its partners to implement their response plan to support 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip and 500,000 people in the West Bank. This represents about 11 percent of the requested $1.2 billion. An additional $250 million has been pledged, which, if realized, would increase the Flash Appeal’s funding rate to 32 percent. Private donations are collected through the Humanitarian Fund.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs To learn more about OCHA’s activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

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