KEY POINTS
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A total of 704 Palestinians, including 305 children, have been killed over the past 24 hours (as of 18:00 on 24 October), according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza. This is the highest fatality toll reported in a single day in Gaza during this round of hostilities. The cumulative number of Palestinians killed in Gaza has reached 5,791, of whom 68 per cent are children and women, according to MoH. About 1,550 people, including 870 children, have been reported missing and may still be under the rubble. This follows the most intense Israeli bombardment and airstrikes in Gaza since the escalations began.
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UNRWA, by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza, warned that unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, the agency will be forced to halt all operations as of tomorrow, 25 October, at night. Since 11 October, Gaza has been under a full electricity blackout, rendering hospitals and water facilities dependent on backup generators run by fuel.
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Over one-third of hospitals in Gaza (12 of 35) and nearly two-thirds of primary health care clinics (46 of 72) have shut down due to damage from hostilities or lack of fuel.
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On 24 October, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered 51 pallets of lifesaving medicines, surgical equipment and other supplies to Shifa Hospital, the largest medical centre in Gaza, located in Gaza city. This is one out of seven hospitals that benefitted from the medical supplies allowed into Gaza via the Rafah crossing between 21 and 23 October.
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44,000 units of bottled water entered on 22 October, addressing the drinking needs of 22,000 people for one day. Three of the trucks that entered Gaza on 23 October via the Rafah Crossing carried 4,000 jerrycans of drinking water (10 litres each), 2,400 hygiene kits, and 2,000 water purification devices. The water will cover the drinking needs of about 13,000 people for one day. Eleven out of the 20 trucks that entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing on 23 October carried food items, including food parcels, canned tuna, and wheat flour. Overall, food supplies, water and non-food items that entered on 21-23 October have been distributed mainly in UNRWA DES shelters in southern Gaza.
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An estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza are internally displaced (IDPs), with nearly 590,000 sheltering in 150 UNRWA-designated emergency shelters (DES). Overcrowding is a growing concern, as the average number of IDPs per shelter has reached 2.6 times their designated capacity, with the most overcrowded one reaching 11 times its intended capacity.
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Palestinian armed groups’ indiscriminate rocket firing towards Israeli population centres continued, reportedly reaching as far as the northern West Bank. Overall, about 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed since 7 October, according to the Israeli authorities, the vast majority on the first day.
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According to the Israeli authorities, at least 220 people are held captive in Gaza, including Israelis and foreign nationals. The UN Secretary-General has called upon Hamas to release hostages immediately and unconditionally. Two hostages with United States citizenship were released on 20 October, and two Israelis were released on 23 October.
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No Palestinian fatalities were recorded in the West Bank since the afternoon of 23 October (as of 21:00 on 24 October). In total, 95 Palestinian have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since 7 October, including 28 children.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.