The following is a summary of Day 18 of the latest escalation, as Israeli forces continue the massive, ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and invasions of the West Bank (source: israelpalestinenews.org).
- Palestinian death toll 5,886 (5,791 in Gaza (including at least 2,055 children (800 more missing) and 1,119 women, and at least 95 in the West Bank); 17,636 injured (15,898 in Gaza – 70% of them women and children – and over 1,738 in the West Bank). It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties. About 1.4 million people have been displaced, more than 1,500 missing and presumed to be under rubble. Israeli death toll remains near 1,400 (1 killed in West Bank, 1 in Gaza), including 32 Americans, and 5,431 injured.
- On the Lebanon front, Hezbollah has reported the deaths of 24 of its fighters since October 7 in southern Israel. In addition 4 non-Hezbollah fighters and at least 4 civilians were killed. One Israeli soldier was also killed.
- Hamas released two elderly hostages Monday for “compelling humanitarian” reasons. One said said she was beaten by militants as she was taken into Gaza on Oct. 7, but was treated well during her two-week captivity. All of her needs had been taken care of, and she was visited by a doctor. The Israelis were released despite Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, and without a reciprocal release of any of the 10,000 Palestinian prisoners currently being held in Israel.
- Israeli forces invaded Gaza in the south – where Israel had instructed Gazans to go for safety – allegedly looking for hostages. Hamas says their fighters destroyed 2 Israeli bulldozers and a tank, forcing the Israelis to retreat on foot. Israel reports one of its soldiers was killed in the incident.
- On 23 October, for the 3rd consecutive day, a convoy of trucks (20) carrying food, water and medical supplies was allowed into Gaza. This is 4% of the daily average volume entering Gaza prior to the hostilities. None of the shipments have included desperately needed fuel to power hospitals and water facilities. On 21-22 October, a total of 34 trucks entered Gaza. A statement from the UN declared that the lack of fuel “will further strangle the children, women and people of Gaza.”
- On 23 October, five hospitals erected tents to cope with overcrowding. Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, with a capacity of 700 patients, is currently treating some 5,000, plus hosting about 45,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Since 7 October, 12 hospitals and 46 primary care clinics across Gaza have been forced to shut down due to damage they had sustained or lack of electricity and supplies.
- The live press conference on Tuesday with released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz became a PR nightmare for Israel, according to Times of Israel. She described good treatment from her captors, medical care, and clean conditions. “They were very friendly to us. They took care of all of our needs,” she said. The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation said that the press conference had been a “mistake,” and that international media were now reporting on Hamas’ kindness.
- Two Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli custody in the last two days. On Tuesday, a 25-year-old detainee felt ill and was transferred to the prison’s clinic for tests, “where the doctor declared his death.” Monday, a Palestinian prisoner, age 58, died “under unclear circumstances.” Israel claimed it was health-related, Palestinians believe he died of torture. Hamas called it an assassination. Daraghmeh is the 238th Palestinian to die in Israeli detention since 1967, Wafa reported.
- On Tuesday, the World Health Organization’s regional emergencies director for the Eastern Mediterranean said that they “still have not been able to reach the hospitals in the north with the medical supplies or the desperately needed fuel.” He added, “We are on our knees asking for that sustained, scaled-up, protected humanitarian operation.”
Here’s the moment a residential building in Deir Al-Balah was demolished by an Israeli strike.
At the time of impact, a child can be seen playing by the wall, neighbors sit chatting, and other victims are simply passing by on the street.pic.twitter.com/FuCYxW9lNH
— Wyatt Reed (@wyattreed13) October 23, 2023
