Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
As millions celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, human rights advocates pointed out that nearly 6,000 miles away in Gaza the Biden administration continues to provide political and military support for Israel’s onslaught despite the U.S. public’s disapproval.
Palestinians in Gaza are now facing their second winter amid Israel’s bombardment and near-total blockade on humanitarian aid, which began in October 2023.
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said in a statement that Israel’s blocking of deliveries including blankets, shoes, and clothing has left Gaza’s 2.3 million — nearly half of whom are children—vulnerable to the elements, especially since at least 70% of homes in the enclave have been destroyed in the last 13 months.
“Euro-Med Monitor notes that Israel restricts the entry of such items as part of its efforts to impose harsh living conditions on the Palestinian people that will ultimately lead to their actual destruction, as part of the comprehensive crime of genocide it is committing in the Gaza Strip,” said the group.
“There is no military necessity or justification under international law that permits the prevention of basic necessities from reaching a civilian population.”
At least 1.9 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, and as Euro-Med Monitor said, “the vast majority of displaced people in the Gaza Strip continue to live in tents that do not provide adequate protection from the cold and rain.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned Wednesday that severe food shortages are also set to worsen without immediate international intervention and a cease-fire.
The groups’ warnings come two weeks after a U.S.-imposed deadline for Israel to significantly ramp up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza passed. The Biden administration in October ordered Israel to allow at least 350 aid trucks into Gaza per day, or else it would invoke U.S. laws that prohibit the government from providing military aid to countries that block U.S. humanitarian relief.
But even as experts said Israel was continuing its blockade and failing to meet the Biden administration’s terms, the U.S. took no action to end its support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces [and President Joe Biden has reportedly approved a new $680 million weapons sale to Israel].
Biden administration provisionally approves $680M in weapon sales to Israel
The Biden administration has provisionally approved a $680 million weapons sale to Israel, including precision munitions like JDAM kits and small-diameter bombs, according to a report Wednesday.
US officials recently briefed Congress on the proposal, a customary step before a public announcement, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
While Congress has the authority to object, the disclosing of the planned sale came as Israel and Hezbollah began implementing a fragile cease-fire, it added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that replenishing Israeli weapons stocks was one of three main reasons for agreeing to the cease-fire with Lebanon.
RECOMMENDED READING: US Identified 500 Cases Where Its Weapons Harmed Gazan Civilians, But Hasn’t Taken Action
MORE NEWS:
The Intercept: There’s a Ceasefire in Lebanon, but Israel Keeps Gaslighting Palestinians About Ending the Assault on Gaza
The Cradle: Commission of Inquiry says Netanyahu to blame for 7 Oct failures
Middle East Monitor: France says Netanyahu has immunity from arrest
The Cradle: Israeli army violated ceasefire several times in first hours after it took effect
The Guardian: What are the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire and will it succeed?
To make civilians feel unsafe across the entire #Gaza Strip, particularly in northern Gaza where Israel aims to depopulate the area, the Israeli army systematically targets shelter centers, repeatedly massacring civilians and leaving hundreds killed or injured. pic.twitter.com/NKXTbuQOgU
— Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) November 25, 2024
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – NOVEMBER 27, 2024:
Palestinian death toll from October 7, 2023 – November 27, 2024: at least 45,125* ( 44,330 in Gaza* – 69% are women and children, according to Gaza’s Media Office). [The Ministry’s figures have been contested by the Israeli authorities, although they have been accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO. These data are supported by independent analyses, comparing changes in the number of deaths of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff with those reported by the Ministry, which found claims of data fabrication implausible.]
This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified. This does not include an estimated 10,000 more in Gaza still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children).
In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers and/or settlers have killed at least 795 Palestinians (~167 of them children).
In July 2024, the Lancet said: “Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.
Ralph Nader earlier estimated 300,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.
- At least 60 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons.
- At least 43 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition (at least 37 of them children)**.
- About 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are currently displaced.
- About 345,000 Gazans are currently experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Palestinian injuries from October 7 – November 27, 2024: at least 111,443 (including at least 104,933 in Gaza and 6,450 in the West Bank, including 830 children). [It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.]
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – November 27, 2024: ~1,583 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 405*** military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza (updated: Nov 21); 39 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel) and~10,000 injured.
The death toll in Lebanon since October 8, 2023 is at least 3,961, with 16,520 injuries.
NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.
*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.
**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.
***The figure does not include the reportedly 56 Israeli soldiers – nearly 16% of the total Israeli military deaths – killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents.
† For most of the conflict, women and children accounted for about 70% of deaths in Gaza, with children making up a little over 40% of those killed, according to official statistics.
Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
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