Gaza and West Bank See Continued Incidents, Casualties, and Humanitarian Concerns

Escalating Tensions and Humanitarian Crisis: Gaza and West Bank Updates

Recent days have seen continued military operations, settler actions, and humanitarian challenges across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Incidents reported include drone strikes and shelling in Gaza, resulting in multiple fatalities, alongside reports of extensive settler attacks, land seizures, and arrests in the West Bank. Humanitarian organizations have raised concerns about aid access and medical shortages in Gaza, while casualty figures continue to be reported by various Palestinian and international bodies.

Gaza Strip Incidents and Humanitarian Situation

Early on Saturday, an Israeli drone attack in central Khan Younis, southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of a father and his daughter. Later the same day, another individual was killed and a young girl wounded in a separate incident in Khan Younis, according to Al Jazeera correspondents.

Israeli forces have conducted daily air strikes, artillery shelling, and naval bombardments on Gaza, reportedly despite a ceasefire declared on October 11. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported two additional people wounded in the 48 hours preceding Saturday. Militias affiliated with the Israeli army were reported to have advanced east of Gaza City, where heavy gunfire was documented. Initial reports also stated that a member of the Palestinian police was abducted. Israeli warplanes struck several locations east of the Tuffah neighborhood near Gaza City, and the Israeli navy fired heavy machineguns and shells towards the Gaza City coast, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Further Israeli air attacks reportedly killed at least three people in Khan Younis on March 17, four in Gaza City on March 19, and four on Sunday, including three police officers in the Nuseirat refugee camp. At least three Palestinians were reported wounded in another Israeli attack on Sunday in Gaza City. Heavy Israeli tank fire and artillery shelling were reported east of Gaza City and in the Bureij refugee camp on Monday morning.

Humanitarian Situation and Crossings

The Rafah border crossing, on Gaza’s southern border, remains closed after being shut by Israel. It had previously reopened last month to allow a limited number of Palestinians, including patients requiring urgent medical care, to leave. Many individuals requiring treatment reportedly remain unable to travel. The Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing is partially open, facilitating humanitarian aid entry under specified restrictions.

The majority of Gaza’s population, exceeding two million people, was displaced during the conflict and the region relies heavily on humanitarian assistance.

A February report by Human Rights Watch stated that Israeli restrictions contributed to shortages of medicine, reconstruction materials, food, and water in the Gaza Strip. The World Health Organization has warned of medicine, medical supply, and fuel shortages in hospitals, raising concerns about a potential resurgence of famine conditions.

US officials reportedly informed NPR that a formal proposal had been given to Hamas mediators to disarm, intended to ensure large-scale reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The US-led Board of Peace, established to facilitate the October Gaza ceasefire, has largely paused operations.

West Bank Incidents

The West Bank has experienced intensified military operations, settler actions, and movement restrictions.

On Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported treating a Palestinian injured by live fire near the Karmei Tzur settlement north of Hebron. Additionally, three Palestinians were injured on Saturday following physical assault by Israeli settlers in the Ras al-Ahmar area, south of Tubas, Wafa reported. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed treating three individuals for injuries. Settlers were also reported to have raided al-Fandaqumiya and Silat al-Dhaher on Saturday night, setting fires. Israeli forces reportedly did not intervene in these incidents.

On Saturday night, the Palestinian Health Ministry and a local mayor reported that Israeli settlers shot a Palestinian man dead and wounded his brother in the village of Wadi al-Rakhim, southern West Bank. Mohammad Rabai, head of the at-Tawani village council, stated that settlers entered homes and attacked the family of Amir Mohammad Shnaran, 27, who subsequently died. The Israeli military confirmed that soldiers and police were sent to the scene following reports of a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians, adding that an investigation is underway. Wafa also reported that Amir Muhammad Shanaran was killed by settlers in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on Saturday night.

On Sunday, Israeli settlers reportedly shot dead two Palestinians during an overnight attack in the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victims as Fare Jawdat Hamayel, 57, and Thaer Farouq Hamayel, 24, stating both were shot in the head. A third resident, Muhammad Hassan Murrah, 55, later died from the effects of a tear gas canister, reportedly fired by Israeli soldiers who accompanied settlers and aimed to disperse residents confronting the attackers, Wafa reported. Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the events on X, reporting three fatalities and seven injuries. The Israeli military stated that forces were dispatched to the Khirbet Abu Falah area after reports of Palestinians being attacked by Israeli civilians. The military later confirmed two Palestinians were killed by gunfire and another died from suffocation, adding that they are investigating the incidents.

Following the death of settler Yehuda Sherman, violence escalated on Sunday morning. Approximately 100 masked settlers reportedly attacked the villages of Jalud and Qaryut, south of Nablus. They were said to have torched at least five vehicles, set fire to over 10 homes, burned the Jalud village council building, attacked a fire truck injuring its driver, and attempted to burn a mosque. These attacks reportedly occurred despite an Israeli army and police presence. Further violence on Sunday included settlers setting vehicles on fire in Deir Sharaf, torching homes and injuring residents in Deir al-Hatab, and attempting to burn a medical clinic in Burqa.

The attacks were reportedly in retaliation for Sherman’s death, which settlers attributed to a Palestinian ramming incident. Local Palestinian community members suggested Sherman stole a farmer’s pickup truck and crashed it. An attendee at Sherman’s funeral described him as actively seeking to remove Palestinians from the West Bank. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attended Sherman’s funeral, stating the Israeli government was working to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and reduce Palestinian autonomy.

Israeli forces conducted raids in the towns of Qaffin and Kafr al-Labad, north of Tulkarem, on Saturday, Wafa reported. A Palestinian man was injured after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers near Azmut village, east of Nablus. Palestinians were frequently arrested by Israeli forces. On March 17, settlers reportedly raided a home in Jiljiliya, then called the Israeli army to arrest the homeowner and his two sons, aged 12 and 14. Similar incidents were reported in Salfit governorate and the South Hebron Hills.

A campaign to seize Palestinian land continued with Israeli land seizures and agricultural destruction. Israeli bulldozers were filmed uprooting olive trees in Nilin and Huwara (over 100 dunams, 1,500 trees). In Masafer Yatta, settlers reportedly destroyed over 130 olive trees by releasing livestock onto cultivated land. On March 16, Israeli authorities issued military orders to seize 268 dunams in Tubas and Tammun for military purposes, followed by excavation work for a new road. This occurred days after four members of a Palestinian family were killed by Israeli forces in Tammun. In the Jordan Valley’s Fasayel al-Wusta, Israeli forces demolished the last remaining home in the community, despite a High Court agreement permitting the family to stay. Another demolition was photographed in Khirbet al-Marajim.

Since March 17, settlers reportedly gathered nightly at over 10 road junctions, attacking Palestinian vehicles. On Sunday, Route 60 was entirely closed for a settler’s funeral procession, restricting Palestinian movement. Settlers also reportedly closed entrances to many other Palestinian communities.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound was reportedly cleared of Muslim worshippers during Eid, a measure attributed to the conflict with Iran, stated as the first occurrence since Israel captured the site in 1967. Israeli police utilized sound grenades and physical force to disperse Palestinians attempting to pray outside Jerusalem’s Old City gates.

On March 18, Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir publicly condemned settler violence, calling attacks on Palestinian civilians “morally and ethically unacceptable.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett echoed this condemnation. However, local activist networks reported settlers rebuilding a demolished outpost under Israeli military protection.

Casualty Figures

Gaza Strip:

• Since the October 11 ceasefire in Gaza, the Health Ministry reported 640 Palestinian fatalities and at least 1,700 injuries. Other Palestinian health officials reported 680 Palestinians killed since the October ceasefire.
• Since October 2023, a total of at least 72,123 Palestinians have been reported killed and 171,805 injured.

West Bank:

• Since October 2023, United Nations figures indicate at least 1,094 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that over 1,000 Palestinians, including both resistance group members and civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the occupied West Bank during the same period.
• Official Israeli figures indicate that at least 45 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations since October 2023.
• According to Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, since February 28, at least 14 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including two minors (8 by the military, 6 by armed settlers).