Thursday, August 29, 2024

In the West Bank, the major Israeli assault on the Tulkarm, Tubas, and Jenin governorates continue for the second consecutive day. In the Tulkarm governorate, Israeli forces assassinate Islamic Jihad commander in Tulkarm Mohammed Jaber and kill 4 others in an attack on a mosque. Israeli forces withdraw from Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp by the end of the day, leaving behind widespread destruction of property and infrastructure. In Jenin, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man in the eastern part of the city. Israeli forces also shoot and injure 2 Palestinians with live ammunition in Jenin and shoot, injure, and arrest a man in nearby Bruqin. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue the siege of the Ibn Sina and Jenin Governmental hospitals. Telecommunications in the city are out. In the Tubas governorate, Israeli forces cordon off al-Far’a refugee camp, blocking ambulances and destroying infrastructure, including sewage networks. Israeli forces leave the camp at the end of the day. Separately from the attacks on the Tubas, Tulkarm, and Jenin governorates, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man in Qalqilya. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinians with tear gas during a raid in Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Israeli forces also demolish a Palestinian home in Umm al-Kheir, displacing 17 people. Israeli forces also arrest 12 Palestinians during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp, stealing more than $10,000. Israeli settlers fence off Palestinian-owned land in Khirbet al-Farisiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Dayr al-Balah, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp, and Shati’ refugee camp, killing at least 68 people, including 5 people who were part of an aid convoy organized by Anera. 2 rockets launched from Gaza land in open areas near Kissufim. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Kfar Kila and Yarine. Hezbollah forces launch rockets at the Zarit barracks, Kfar Yofal, the Dovev barracks, and Talat al-Taihat. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/29; AJ, AP 8/30)

More than 40,602 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,456 children and 11,088 women, and around 93,855 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 658 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 144 children. More than 5,420 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 340 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,254 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 79,000 housing units have been destroyed and 370,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023. (AJ, HA, WAFA 8/29)

WHO says Israel has agreed to a 3-day area-specific humanitarian pause to allow UN health officials to administer polio vaccines. The localized pauses are scheduled to start on 9/1. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 8/29)

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Al-Haq, and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights call on the international community to intervene to stop Israel from implementing its war tactics from Gaza in the West Bank, referring to the ongoing raids that started on 8/28. (AJ, AJ 8/29)

Hamas says PA forces have arrested Palestinian militants in the Nablus governorate, condemning the PA and calling on it to release members of the resistance. (AJ 8/29)

The Israeli Security Cabinet approves keeping Israeli soldiers along the Philadelphi Corridor. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant is the only vote against the decision. Separately, Gallant calls on Israel to expand its war goal to include “the safe return of Israel’s northern residents to their homes.” (AJ, HA, REU 8/29; AJ, HA 8/30)

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz calls for a security fence to be placed along the Israel-Jordan border, saying Iran is smuggling weapons through Jordan. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi strongly condemns Katz for lying and incitement against Palestinians. (AJ 8/29)

EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell says he has initiated procedures to sanction “some Israeli ministers” because of their hate speech against Palestinians and proposals that go against international law. Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin and Belgian deputy prime minister Petra de Sutter say they support Borrell’s call for sanctions against the Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Martin says Israel is waging “a war against Palestinians, not just Hamas.” (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 8/29)

The UK and Switzerland convene the UN Security Council for a meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. China “strongly condemns” Israel’s assault on the West Bank and says it is shocked that Israeli officials are speaking of using the same approach in the West Bank as in Gaza, saying “Gaza has been turned into hell on earth” and that China will not allow this to happen in the West Bank. U.S. deputy ambassador to the UN Robert Wood criticizes Israel for targeting a UN vehicle on 8/27 in Gaza. (AJ, AP, UNOCHA, WAFA 8/29)

U.S. vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris says in an interview with CNN that too many civilians have been killed in Gaza but that she will not break with President Joe Biden’s policies toward Israel if elected, including on the delivery of weapons. Harris repeats unsubstantiated claims of sexual violence occurring on 10/7/2023 when speaking of her commitment to Israeli security. (CNN, HA 8/29; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU 8/30)

Palestine Action condemns the UK as a police state after counter-terrorism police arrest pro-Palestine activist Sarah Wilkinson for online posts, raid the home of another activist who is in prison, and charge a third activist with supporting a proscribed organization for 2 speeches he has given. (AJ 8/29)