Tuesday, November 19, 2024

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack Palestinian shepherds in Susiya. Israeli forces shoot and kill 5 Palestinians, injure 9 others, including 3 in a drone strike, shell 3 homes, and bulldoze infrastructure and private property during a raid in Jenin. The Red Crescent says Israeli forces used one of its teams as human shields during the more than 24-hour raid. Israeli forces also arrest 12 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tubas, Tulkarm, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man in Shu’fat refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolish a mosque in Jabel Mukaber. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Jabalia refugee camp, Nuseirat refugee camp, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 50 people. Israeli forces also fire sound bombs with shrapnel inside the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, destroying water tanks and sewage systems. An Israeli soldier is killed in northern Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Beirut, Nabatieh, Kfar Raeman, Ansariyeh, Bint Jbeil, Habbush, Al Khardali, Mayfadoun, Zoutar al-Sharqiya, Qaqaiyat al-Jisr, and Khiam, killing 11 people. Israeli forces also kill 3 Lebanese soldiers and injure 8 civilians in Sarafand. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Israel. 2 Israelis are injured south of the Blue Line. 4 Ghanian UNIFIL soldiers are wounded by a rocket in Ramia. The UN says the rocket was most likely fired by “non-state actors within Lebanon.” 8 rockets also land at an Italian UNIFIL base in Chamaa, no injuries are reported. An Israeli soldier is killed in southern Lebanon. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/19; AJ, HA 11/20; UNOCHA 11/28)

More than 43,972 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 104,008 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 791 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 168 children. More than 6,500 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, 376 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,440 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. 87% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. The Civil Defense says most of its vehicles have ceased operating due to a lack of fuel. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 11/19)

UNOCHA reports that all UN attempts to deliver aid to Beit Hanun, Beit Lahiya, and Jabalia have been denied or impeded by Israeli forces. UNOCHA also reports that a truck carrying food and medical supplies to the area was ordered to dump the food at an Israeli checkpoint and proceed with the medical supplies. (AJ 11/19)

U.S. deputy assistant to the president Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut, discussing ceasefire efforts. Mikati says a ceasefire is urgently needed to stop Israel’s “senseless destruction of Lebanese towns.” The Lebanese health ministry says that at least 3,544 people have been killed and 15,036 wounded since 10/8/2023. (AJ, HA, HA, NYT 11/19) 

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces a $5 million reward for anybody who returns an Israeli captive from Gaza to Israel. Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, military chief of staff Herzl Halevi, and Shin Bet director Ronan Bar tour Gaza on the Netzarim Corridor. (AJ, HA, NYT 11/19; AJ 11/20)

The Qatari foreign ministry says that Hamas’s negotiating team is not in Doha, but that Qatar has not closed its office permanently as suggested in media reports. The U.S. imposes sanctions on 6 Hamas officials, including Bassem Naim and Ghazi Hamad. (AJ, HA, REU, REU 11/19)

Argentina withdraws its 3 UNIFIL officers. (AJ, REU 11/19)

U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) holds a press conference condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and decrying U.S. complicity. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) says that when the new Senate is in session next year it will make clear that it is “squarely in Israel’s corner,” saying “[r]einforcements are on the way.”  (AJ, HA 11/19)