What’s happening in Gaza and the West Bank (Jan. 11, 2024)

AFSC has offices and staff in Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, and Jordan. Today, we are providing humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank—as we advocate for a permanent cease-fire and protection for the Palestinian people. 

Here’s the latest from our Middle East team on the situation facing Palestinians and how AFSC is responding to the crisis.    

By the numbers: The human toll since Oct. 7  

GAZA 
•    23,357+ killed
•    10,000+ buried under the rubble
•    59,410 injured
•    2 million displaced
•    6,000+ arrested
•    355,000 homes and other structures partially or completely destroyed

WEST BANK
•    341 killed
•    4,040 injured 
•    1,208 displaced
•    4,800 arrested
•    418 homes and other structures partially or completely destroyed 

Credit: UN OCHA 

The humanitarian situation in Gaza

After over 96 days of Israeli aggression on Gaza, the number of Palestinians killed has surpassed 23,000—70% of whom are women and children. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic and continues to worsen exponentially. The total population of Gaza—2.3 million Palestinians—is in urgent need of help. If we want to save something of Gaza, we need a total cease-fire, the immediate opening of all crossings and the unconditional access of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, and the restoration of all services (water, electricity, and fuel access) that have been cut off by Israel since the beginning of hostilities.

Destroying and obstructing access to health facilities has increasingly become a commonly used tactic in Gaza and the West Bank. To date, there have been over 304 attacks on health facilities in Gaza and 286 in the West Bank. On Jan. 9, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head of Gaza sub-delegation stated that: “For three months, we have witnessed medical facilities, healthcare workers, vehicles, and first responders face relentless insecurity due to the conflict. No part of the medical system has been untouched by this war—from the killing and detention of medical professionals to the lack of essential equipment and supplies, the impact of ongoing hostilities has contributed to the total shutdown of most hospitals in Gaza."  

More forced displacement and high risk of ethnic cleansing: Over 2 million out of Gaza’s total population of 2.3 million population were estimated to be internally displaced, including some who have been displaced multiple times, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The internally displaced people (IDP) population are concentrated in the south, mainly in Rafah, Deir El-Balah, and Khan Younis. Areas classified as “safe” by Israeli authorities continue to be hit. 

Severe overcrowding: It is estimated that over 1.5 million internally displaced people are in Rafah alone, squeezed into an extremely overcrowded space. People are sleeping in the streets, out in the open. Due to the extreme overcrowding in Rafah city, the roads are so congested that trucks cannot operate, further hampering efforts to distribute humanitarian aid.
The severe overcrowding—together with the impeded access to health and medical supplies, the lack of food and clean water, and poor living conditions—have increased the risk of deaths to many. 

Hunger and starvation: People are starving to death. The risk of famine increases each day as the conflict continues and restricted humanitarian access persists. The Famine Review Committee (FRC) stated that it is imperative to halt the deterioration of health, nutrition, food security, and mortality situation through the restoration of health, water, sanitation, and hygiene services. In addition, the FRC has called for the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of humanitarian space for delivering assistance, noting these were vital first steps to eliminate any risk of famine. 

Despite 2.3 million people urgently needing food assistance each day, the average daily assistance in the last week of December reached only between 6%-8% of the people in need.  

Lack of humanitarian access: We need unconditional humanitarian access to Gaza now. Today, there is just a fraction of the needed food supplies coming in. About 500 trucks used to enter Gaza daily. Since Oct. 21, only an average of 100 trucks per day have been allowed to enter. 

The vast majority of aid has been distributed in the south. Access to north of Gaza, where needs are estimated to be the highest and most severe, remains a great challenge. Sixteen out of 21 missions to deliver aid have been denied. Every day of assistance missed results in lost lives and suffering for thousands of people who remain in northern Gaza.  Humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent, safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access to the North of Wadi Gaza. 

The lack of security, limited fuel, and erratic internet connectivity continue to significantly hinder humanitarian operations and respond to the deepening crisis.  

Buildings and infrastructure destroyed: Extensive bombardment has resulted in the destruction and damage of almost all buildings, alongside widespread damage to roads and essential infrastructure such as power systems and distribution networks, and water storage tanks, pipes, supply networks, and drainage channels. This has prevented access to services and infrastructure critical to meeting basic needs. 

It is estimated that 70% of infrastructure has been either damaged or completely destroyed, including protected infrastructure like hospitals, schools, religious buildings, mosques, and churches. Also, over 200 archeological sites have been destroyed out of 325 registered ones. 

A health system that has collapsed: Twenty-one out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are not functioning, according to the World Health Organization. Some hospitals in the north have been reactivated after being for weeks under siege, raided, and health care personnel, patients, relatives, and people taking shelter in the hospitals themselves or in their surroundings, have been killed, beaten, and detained. Though these hospitals have been offering some services, they still face many challenges as only a minimum level of supplies has been able to reach the facilities.

Personnel are exhausted and have an urgent need for fuel, food, and drinking water. They face a shortage of medical staff as well as a lack of medical supplies such as anesthesia, antibiotics, and pain relief medicines.

The nine partially functional health facilities in the south are operating at three times their capacity, while facing critical shortages of basic supplies and fuel. 

Rising public health concerns: The lack of medical supplies, clean water, food, and other essential supplies—combined with poor living conditions, severe overcrowding in shelters and the disruption of health, water, and sanitation systems—have increased the risk of communicable diseases. There are grave concerns over waterborne diseases due to water consumption from unsafe sources. Diarrhea and respiratory conditions are alarming. And there are also rising cases of influenza, chicken pox, meningitis, jaundice, impetigo acute respiratory infections, skin infections, and hygiene-related conditions like lice. 

By Dec. 12, the Ministry of Health had documented 360,000 cases of infectious diseases in shelters, noting that the actual number is believed to be higher. It has also identified 14 diseases with epidemic potential and fear an outbreak due to the huge shortage of medicines and vaccinations to mitigate infectious diseases. 

Vulnerable groups in difficult conditions: Several groups are especially vulnerable due to the lack of proper shelter, health and basic services. That includes people with disabilities; women who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are breastfeeding; people who are recovering from injuries or surgeries; seniors; children, especially newborns; and those with compromised immune systems. 

AFSC’s emergency relief efforts 

In Gaza, AFSC has provided emergency relief to displaced people in the Khan Yunis and Rafah regions of Gaza, reaching more than 49,000 people. Since late December, our staff have begun serving hot meals from an open-air kitchen to displaced people living outside of shelters, reaching around 2,000 people a day. 

Our staff, working with partners, have so far provided:

• Food for 16,934 people. This includes hot meals, food parcels, and fresh vegetables.
• Drinking water for 29,443 people.
• Hygiene kits for 1,850 women and 200 seniors. This includes soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, women's hygiene products, and other supplies.
• Recreational activities for 645 children.

We are also sending additional aid through Egypt into Gaza when Israeli authorities allow it. So far, we have procured two trucks of food and one truck of medicine. Now we’re procuring three more trucks with blankets and winter clothes for families.

Read more about AFSC’s emergency relief. 

In the West Bank, Palestinians are increasingly facing arbitrary killings and detentions, home demolitions, daily Israeli army raids, and other human rights violations. Those released from detention have reported the violations committed against detainees inside Israeli prisons, including systematic torture and abuse and the forcible disappearance of Gazan detainees. Since the aggression began, the Israeli authorities have amended military orders and laws to facilitate the prolonged detention of Palestinians without due legal process. The International Committee of the Red Cross and lawyers are being denied visits to detainees from Gaza.

Over 150,000 workers from the West Bank, previously employed in Israel and settlements, have lost their jobs due to firing or restricted crossings. 

In recent weeks, AFSC has supported 168 patients from Gaza and their relatives who were receiving treatment in Jerusalem and were forced to relocate to Ramallah during the war. We assisted patients with medical needs and winterization items. Working with partners, we are now providing patients and their families hot meals daily. 

How you can help 

Contact Congress today: Urge your representatives to call for a total cease-fire and humanitarian access to Gaza.

Give to AFSC’s Gaza emergency response: Your donation will bring humanitarian relief and support ongoing efforts to stop the violence, address its root causes, and build conditions for peace.