US reportedly working to prevent conference on Geneva Convention violations; Israeli prison guards beat Palestinian prisoner to death; ongoing devastation, starvation in Gaza
Number of Gazans killed since the Biden administration vetoed UNSC ceasefire resolution: at least 2,626 (approximately 1,103 children)
Gaza conflict ‘stain on our collective conscience’: UN relief chief: Martin Griffiths says that “such a brutal conflict has been allowed to continue and for this long – despite the widespread condemnation, the physical and mental toll and the massive destruction – is an indelible stain on our collective conscience.”
Unprecedented hunger in Gaza, says UN agency: The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, says that people in Gaza “are desperate, hungry & terrified”, with “alarming levels of hunger never before witnessed” in the enclave. In a social media post, UNRWA added that its partners were distributing what they can, “but water, food & medicine are being used as weapons of war [and] Constant bombardment prevents aid reaching those in need.”
Israel continues to restrict the entry of aid into Gaza as it carries out bombing raids across the territory.
‘Indiscriminate bombardment renders Gaza unlivable with generational costs’: Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has warned Israel and the US that “the indiscriminate bombardment renders Gaza unlivable with generational costs, bottomless suffering for Palestinians and insecurity for the whole region, including Israel.” He continues,
“As humanitarians we will do all we can…But we cannot clear the shattered remains of whole cities, raise infrastructure from rubble, or construct multi-story buildings. When the dust finally settles, Israel & U.S./Western nations providing the arms must meet the responsibility for the chaos and destruction caused by the disproportionate bombardment.”
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: Gaza’s hungry, thirsty and traumatized residents ‘in survival mode’
Opening of new neonatal clinic in Rafah delayed due to attacks: The Project HOPE group says the clinic, providing much-needed care to pregnant and newborn Palestinians, was meant to begin seeing patients this week. It was damaged Wednesday during an Israeli attack nearby. The UN has estimated there are about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with about 180 births a day.
New evacuation orders in southern Gaza: On 20 December, the Israeli military called for another large evacuation in central and south Khan Younis. Residents are instructed to move immediately to shelters further south – all of which are already overcrowded.
Red Crescent ambulance center under siege, no hospitals operating in northern Gaza: Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reports that their ambulance centre in Gaza’s Jabaliya has been under siege for two days. Paramedics, their families, their teams, and injured people are trapped inside. No hospitals are operating in the northern part of Gaza. About 100 medical teams were reportedly arrested by the Israeli forces.
RECOMMENDED READING: Led by ‘plumes of smoke’: How Gaza’s first responders navigate a blackout
Israeli bombing destroyed dozens of factories in Gaza industrial hub: The Investment Promotion and Industrial Estates Agency (IPIEA) said today that the Israeli bombings on the Gaza Strip completely or partially destroyed dozens of factories in the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE).
The district was established in 1997 with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It provides more than 6,400 daily jobs, directly or indirectly, and is the backbone of Gaza City.
RECOMMENDED READING: War on Gaza: How Israel uses humiliation as a psychological weapon against Palestinians
West Bank: Israel admits 19 prison guards severely beat Palestinian prisoner Abu Assab that led to his death: The Israeli occupation authorities admitted the involvement of 19 prison guards in the severe beating of Palestinian prisoner Thayer Abu Assab, 38, last month, which led to his death. All 19 jailers involved in the assault had been released under “restrictive conditions” until the investigation ends.
Since October 7, six Palestinian detainees have died in the Israeli occupation prisons as a result of beatings.
RECOMMENDED READING: Are social media giants censoring pro-Palestine voices amid Israel’s war?
West Bank: Israel releases Palestinian prisoner amid serious health concerns: Farouk Al-Khatib from Ramallah was released Wednesday after being held under administrative detention for 3 months without charge or trial by the Israeli occupation.
He was suffering from a range of health problems in Israeli prison, and dropped to 27kg (60lbs).
RELATED READING: Israeli NGO refers Israel to Int’l Criminal Court for torture of Palestinians
Aid trucks: On 20 December, 71 trucks carrying supplies entered Gaza through Rafah crossing and 120 trucks entered through Kerem Shalom crossing, including 46 trucks carrying more than 750 metric tons of life saving food organized by World Food Programme (WFP) and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO).
This remains well below the daily average of 500 truckloads (including fuel and private sector goods) that entered every working day prior to 7 October.
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – DECEMBER 20:
Palestinian death toll since October 7: at least 19,832* (~19,529 in Gaza* (8,663 children), and at least 303 in the West Bank). This does not include an estimated 8,000 more still buried under rubble. Euro-Med Monitor reports 27,137 Palestinian deaths.
*IAK does not yet include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile is being disputed; although much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, experts are still looking into the incident. Israel is blocking an international investigation.
Palestinian injuries since October 7: at least 58,659** (including at least 55,000 in Gaza** and 3,665 in the West Bank). **NOTE: it is impossible to provide an accurate number of injuries in Gaza due to the ongoing bombardment and communication disruption.
It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties. in Gaza**. About 1.9 million people have been displaced (about 85-90% of the population).
Reported Israeli death toll since October 7: ~1,139 (7 killed in West Bank, 134 in Gaza), including 32 Americans, and 5,431 injured, approximately 36 children).
NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries in Israel may have been caused by Israeli soldiers; additionally, since Israel has a policy of universal conscription, it is unknown how many of those attending the outdoor rave a few miles from Gaza on stolen Palestinian land were Israeli soldiers.
Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here. For more news, go here and here. Live broadcast news from the region is here.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
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