Monday, September 9, 2024

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack Palestinian students in Arab al-Milehat, preventing them from reaching their school. Israeli settlers also raid Khirbet Zanuta, stealing sheep. Israeli forces raid al-Khader, firing live ammunition at homes; no injuries are reported. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinian protesters in Idhna, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish a home in Hizma, displacing 6 people. Israeli forces also raid Husan, turning the roof of a house into a military outpost. Meanwhile, Israeli forces deliver land seizure notices to residents in ‘Asira al-Qibliya, Burin, and Madama, saying Israel will seize 18 dunams (4.5 acres) of land for military purposes. Israeli forces also uproot palm trees and demolish an agricultural structure in Marj Na’jeh. Separately, Israeli forces raze a tract of agricultural land in Umm Safa. Israeli forces also arrest 12 Palestinians during raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Jerusalem. The Karami Crossing (Allenby Bridge) to Jordan is closed for the second day in a row. Jordan says the crossing will reopen on 9/10. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp, Beit Hanun, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 16 people. Israeli forces also stop a UN polio vaccination convoy at gunpoint at a checkpoint in Wadi Gaza, threatening and detaining UN staff and damaging its armored vehicles with bulldozers. Meanwhile, Israeli forces order the evacuation of parts of Beit Lahiya. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Kfar Kila, Taybeh, Hanine, and Yarine. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Shlomi, injuring 2 Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah forces also launch a drone at Nahariya, damaging a building. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/9; AP, UNOCHA, WAFA 9/10)

More than 40,988 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,456 children and 11,088 women, and around 94,825 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 682 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 149 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 2,271 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. The Red Crescent says the Gaza and North Gaza governorates are facing severe fuel shortages that may lead to a shutdown of ambulance services and emergency medical clinics. The directors of the Indonesian and Kamal Adwan hospitals warn that the hospitals may be forced to halt operations within 48 hours due to a lack of fuel and medical supplies. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says today would have marked the first day of the school year, but UNRWA is not able to run any of its 200 schools and that 600,000 children in Gaza will not be able to access formal education for the second year due to Israel’s war. (AJ, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/9)

At the UN Human Rights Council, UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk says “[s]tates must not – cannot – accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the Security Council and order of the International Court of Justice, neither in this [Gaza] nor any other situation.” (AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 9/9)

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan asks the court’s judges to make a swift decision on his request for arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, citing “the worsening situation in Palestine.” Khan also says he has withdrawn his request for a warrant against former Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh due to him being killed by Israel in Tehran on 7/31. Khan further says he is seeking to establish whether Israel has killed Deif, which Israel claims it has. (NYT 9/10)

The Israeli Finance Ministry says the budget deficit has risen to 8.3% of the GDP and that Israel has spent around $26 billion on its military campaigns since 10/7/2023. (REU 9/9)

U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel says the U.S. is not investigating Israel’s killing of American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi on 9/6, reiterating that the U.S. is awaiting an Israeli investigation. Patel also says the killing of American Israeli captive Hersh Goldberg-Polin earlier this month is not comparable to that of Eygi and refuses to condemn the killing of Eygi. Eygi is given an official funeral procession by the PA in Nablus. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU 9/9)

The AP reports that the PA is circulating a UN General Assembly resolution demanding that Israel leave Gaza and the West Bank within 6 months, including evacuating the settlements and dismantling the separation wall. The resolution also calls for all Palestinians to be allowed to return to their original place of residency and for Israel to make reparations. The Arab League, OIC, and the Non-Aligned Movement write a letter to UN General Assembly president Dennis Francis, urging the assembly to swiftly resume its 10th emergency special session to consider the ICJ advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. (AJ, AP 9/9)

EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Josep Borrell meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo, discussing the situation in Gaza. (AJ 9/9)

Axios reports that Israel is lobbying members of the U.S. Congress to press South Africa to drop its genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. In a cable seen by Axios, the Israeli Foreign Ministry tells its embassy and consulate in the U.S. to have members of Congress relay to South Africa that actions against Israel could lead to the U.S. suspending trade relations. (AX 9/9)