(Last update: 28 June 2021)
Recent hostilities in Gaza and continuing protests across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, originate from a series of discriminatory practices and systematic violations of international law by Israeli authorities, most recently centred on occupied East Jerusalem. Subsequent protests across the West Bank have been met by the widespread use of excessive force against Palestinians. Israel’s 11-day military assault on blockaded Gaza, which ended with a ceasefire on 21 May, caused widespread civilian casualties and extensive damage to homes and essential infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.
Our teams in the West Bank and Gaza are working with partners to ensure that Palestinians get the medical aid they need during this critical time.
In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, MAP is providing essential medications, dressings and fluids to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) teams who are treating the wounded. In Gaza, we are procuring essential medicines and disposables alongside our ongoing support to the central blood bank, limb reconstruction services and neurosurgery. MAP is thoroughly assessing emerging humanitarian needs and will continue to update supporters as we respond.
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At the time of writing, 38 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, since 7 May, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). A further 7,056 have been injured.
Since 10 May, the PRCS has documented 48 direct attacks against their teams, including 18 incidents of denying access and 14 incidents of staff and volunteers injured. The PRCS has reported significant impediments to its work, including being prevented by Israeli forces from accessing the wounded, and physical assaults on its ambulances and paramedic crews.
A number of PCRS teams and vehicles have been delayed by Israeli forces and settler attacks in Nablus and refugee camps near Hebron. One PRCS volunteer near Ramallah was hit in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet.
On 8 June, a Palestinian Medical Relief Society ambulance and emergency team were attacked by Israeli forces in the village of Beita, in Nablus. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and a tear gas bomb, causing damage to the ambulance.
Between 1 to 14 June, UN OCHA reported that five Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and a sixth died from wounds sustained by Israeli forces on 18 May. At least 495 Palestinians were injured across the West Bank, 374 in protests against an Israeli settlement outpost in Beita, in Nablus). 11 Palestinians were injured by perpetrators known or believed to be Israeli settlers, including four children, as well as vehicles, trees, water systems and property damaged.
Between 18 to 24 June, UN OCHA reported that at least 430 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces in protests against settlements in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, including 400 in Beita village, Nablus.
In the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces stationed around the Karm Al Jaouni area are allowing entry only to Palestinian neighbourhood residents with ID documents and Israeli settlers, as well as journalists, ambulances and UN vehicles. Settlers were reportedly given access without ID checks.
A ceasefire entered into effect in Gaza at 02.00 local time, on 21 May. According to UN OCHA, between 1 to 14 June, Israel launched “warning” fire along the perimeter fence and off the coast of Gaza at least nine times.
During the 11-day Israeli military campaign in Gaza, 260 Palestinians were killed, including 66 children and 6 people with disabilities, and 2,200 people were injured, according to UN OCHA.
Between 1 to 14 June, two Palestinians in Gaza died from wounds sustained in the earlier assault, and a nine-year-old boy was killed by the detonation of an explosive remnant of war.
Hundreds of sites in Gaza were damaged or destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, including residential buildings, water and electricity infrastructure, and medical facilities. Ten hospitals and 23 clinics were damaged, including the Hala Al Shawwa primary health centre, which provides COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
Israeli airstrikes targeted roads to two main hospitals in Gaza, restricting access for emergency services, as well as causing indirect damage to two other healthcare facilities. Two prominent doctors and a psychologist have also reportedly been killed.
The North Gaza Seawater Desalination Plant has halted operations due to damage and risk to staff, affecting the availability of water for over 250,000 people. Most damaged electricity lines have been reconnected, but electricity is available for only 12 hours per day due to disruption in some lines and insufficient fuel for the Gaza Power Plant.
While some restrictions on the departure of patients and relatives of terminally ill Palestinians have been eased as of 23 June, the vast majority of Palestinians remain trapped due to the blockade.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 8,500 people remain displaced from their homes with host families and in UNRWA schools as of 6 June.
In Israel, 12 were killed and hundreds more injured by rockets fired from Gaza, according to UNOCHA.
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