Of note this week
In the Gaza Strip:
- During the week, IDF soldiers conducted three incursions into the Gaza Strip and at the end of the reporting period IDF soldiers remain present around the Gaza International airport, east of Rafah. During one of the operations in Khuza’a, eastern Khan Younis over three days, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed, and more than eight Palestinians injured. 200 dunums of olive groves and agricultural land were bulldozed and several houses were partially damaged.
- At least seven (7) homemade rockets were fired by Palestinian militants from inside the Gaza Strip towards targets inside Israel, mainly into Sederot and Western Negev. Two anti-tank missiles were also fired at the IDF from inside the Gaza Strip.
- 88 artillery shells were fired, mainly into northern Gaza. The IAF conducted four (4) air strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. The IDF also opened fire at Palestinian fishing boat, injuring a Palestinian fisherman. IDF soldiers destroyed a 10 metre deep tunnel in Abu El Ajeen, east of Deir Al Balah.
- Gaza Strip essential services - hospitals, water and sewage pumps – have continued to operate but at a reduced capacity for over two months following the bombing of the power plant. Electricity continues to enter the Gaza Strip from Israel and has been rationed and redistributed to the rest of the Strip. On 11 September, the southern Gaza town of Rafah was connected with a 5 megawatt (MW) electricity line from Egypt. Electricity load share schedule of Rafah has increased from 7 hours up to 12 hours.
In the West Bank:
- All employees of PA ministries including teachers and health workers continued the general strike (since 2 September) against the non-payment of their monthly salaries for the past six months. The strikes caused the closure of up to 95% of PA schools in some governorates. The strike for teachers in the Gaza Strip was suspended for one month following an agreement reached with the Teachers’ Union.
- Increased casualties were reported in the West Bank (six deaths and 36 injuries) including a 12 year-old boy who was killed in Bethlehem when IDF soldiers fired at Palestinian stone throwers.
- A group of Israeli settlers, accompanied by IDF soldiers, entered Al Nabi Younis Mosque in Halhul (Hebron) and performed prayers for half an hour.