Witness Palestine

Palestinians in Gaza have suffered more than 21.5K casualties, 53.9K injuries, and 1.93 million displaced (85% of Gaza's population) as of Dec 29 2023, Day 84 of the conflict. This does not include casualties who did not reach a hospital or remain buried under rubble, or casualties prior to Oct 7 2023. “There is no effective protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip” as “intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations continue.” ^[source]

Palestinians in the West Bank have suffered at least 293 casualties (including 76 children), 3.8K injuries, and 1.2K displaced between Oct 7 and Dec 22 2023, representing nearly 60% of all Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year. 71% of the Palestinian fatalities have occurred during search-and-arrest and other operations carried out by Israeli forces, with half reported in operations that did not involve armed clashes. ^[source]

At least 144 UN staff, 312 health workers, 40 civil defense, and 103 journalists have been killed, with numbers climbing every day. ^[source]

The last functional mill in Gaza was destroyed on Nov 15 2023. 2.2 million people are at imminent risk of famine, and the proportion of households affected by acute food insecurity is the largest ever recorded globally, according to IPC report. 2.08 million Palestinians are at a high level of acute food insecurity, 930K are at emergency levels, and 378K are at "catastrophic levels". There are already reports of civilians dying of starvation. ^[source]

There is a complete blackout with no electricity in Gaza since Oct 11. Telecommunications and internet services have been only partially restored after a blackout lasting from Dec 20-21, with regular intermittent blackouts still occurring. There is no access to clean water in northern Gaza, and the middle and south regions now have only one pipeline from Israel supplying ~1100 m³ of water per hour. As of Dec 20, children in Gaza are not able to access 90% of their normal water use.

The number of functional hospitals in Gaza has dropped from 36 to 13, nine in the south and four in the north, most operating at 3x their capacity with critical shortages of blood products, pharmaceuticals, supplies, and fuel. Hospitals continue to suffer heavy artillery strikes. ^[source]

On Dec 13, Israeli troops raided Kamal Adwan Hospital with reports of mass arrests and ill-treatment of people who they have detained. The director of the hospital and about 70 other medical staff remain detained in an unknown location outside of the hospital. Reports from those released indicate that they were interrogated, beaten and exposed to the harsh weather. Even before the raid, the hospital was operating at a minimal level due to acute shortages of fuel, water, food and medical supplies. ^[source]

On Dec 22, the Palestine Red Crescent Society announced that some of its staff members and paramedics who had been arrested on Dec 21, were released late in the evening after being subjected to beatings, while eight staff members remained in custody. ^[source]

The spread of diseases in Gaza has reportedly intensified, particularly due to the recent mass displacements across the south of Gaza. As of Dec 29, close to 180,000 people are suffering from upper respiratory infections; there are 136,400 cases of diarrhea (half of these among children under five years old); 55,400 cases of lice and scabies; 5,330 cases of chickenpox; 42,700 cases of skin rash (including 4,722 cases of impetigo); 4,683 cases of Acute Jaundice Syndrome; and 126 cases of meningitis. ^[source]

100% of Palestinian students have no access to education. Over 69% of Gaza's educational facilities have been hit. As of Dec 5, more than 3.4K students and 203 educational staff have been killed, and more than 5.4K students and 507 teachers have been injured in the Gaza Strip. ^[source]

Over 60% of all of Gaza's housing has been destroyed or damaged, as well as at least 11 bakeries, 20 sanitation facilities, 3 churches, 115 mosques, and over 100 national monuments and landmarks. ^[source]

The Rafah crossing into Egypt is partially open to humanitarian aid and some wounded and sick, and the Kerem Shalom crossing into Israel is partially open for "approved goods". Sea and air access is restricted. ^[source]

UN investigators suspect both Hamas and Israeli forces of committing war crimes, with Israeli forces accused of disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force, collective punishment of civilians, use of prohibited weapons such as white phosphorus, and illegal settlement and displacement of Palestinian civilians. ^[source]

From Oct 7 2023 to Nov 28 2023 alone there has been an "unprecedented" number of attacks on health care in Gaza and the West Bank, including the destruction of hospitals, ambulances, and medical supplies, as well as the detention of health care workers. ^[source]

Each available toilet in the Gaza strip is shared by at least 700 people, with situations often worse in makeshift shelters. ^{[source (PDF)]}

Cases of preventable disease are skyrocketing, in some cases 20x worse than in 2020-2021. Patients with cancer, diabetes, kidney and cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, mental health disorders, and other serious conditions have little to no access to treatment, and many are being detained or imprisoned. ^{[source (PDF)]}

Health services are seeing increasing strain in the West Bank as settler violence, Palestinian injuries, displacements from Gaza, and restrictions on health care and aid workers continue to rise. ^{[source (PDF)]}

The UN has declared that "Israel is seeking to permanently alter the composition of Gaza’s population with ever-expanding evacuation orders and widespread and systematic attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in southern areas of the besieged enclave", while employing "blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law". ^[source]

As of Nov 22 2023, more than two thirds of the people killed in Gaza are believed to be women and children. ^[source]

Women are giving birth without water, painkillers, surgical anaesthesia, incubators or medical supplies. Many are using contaminated water for formula and not eating so their children can have food. ^[source]

The UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry has found that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful under international law. ^[source]

As early as Jul 10 2023, a Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council described Gaza as "a constantly surveyed open air prison" and that "Israel’s unlawful carceral practices were tantamount to international crimes", with threats, blackmail, assault and medical negligence being used against detainees. ^[source]

These practices amounted to flagrant violations of the Hague Convention, the Geneva Convention and humanitarian law, and constituted crimes against humanity and war crimes. ^[source]

As of Dec 9, the civilian proportion of deaths in Gaza is estimated to be at least 61%, higher than the civilian toll in all conflicts around the world during the 20th century, including WWI and WWII. ^{[the Guardian]}

A leaked Israeli government document from Oct 13 clearly states that the government wishes to permanently resettle Gaza's 2.3 million citizens in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, equivalent to an "ethnic cleansing". ^[CBC]

Since the death and disappearance of administrators at al-Shifa Hospital by Israeli forces, casualty reports are also likely to be vastly underreported. ^[Reuters]

Claims from the Israeli government that attacks on al-Shifa Hospital were justified due to it being a "command and control center" for Hamas have been proven false or lacking in evidence, and that Israel itself built some of the tunnels and rooms under al-Shifa in the 1980s. ^{[Washington Post]}

Israel has admitted to killing at least three Israeli hostages in Gaza who were shirtless and waving a white flag. ^[CBC] As of Dec 15, Israeli troops have not rescued any live hostages since the push into nothern Gaza. ^[CBC]

This, plus reports from released Israeli hostages of indiscriminate shelling ^[YNet] and even direct violence from Israeli forces on Oct 7 ^[MSN] have led some to believe that Israeli forces may be employing tactics similar to their previously established Hannibal Directive, where hostages are considered better dead than captive. ^{[Al Jazeera] [L'Orient Today] [Scheer Post] [Middle East Eye (video)]}

Israel continues to severely restrict international news access to the Gaza and West Bank regions, informing major news outlets that their employees will not be protected from IDF strikes, and only allowing brief tours with limited numbers of reporters. ^[NPR] The IDF is also confirmed to have previously killed 20 journalists (mostly Palestinian) between Jul 2001 to May 2023, with no accountability for the killings. These conditions have sparked current investigations into whether Israeli forces are deliberately killing journalists in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. ^{[New Yorker] [CPJ]}

As of Dec 7 2023 Israeli authorities have drastically increased their use of arbitrary detention, which had already been at a 20-year high prior to the events of Oct 7, on Palestinians across the West Bank. ^[source]

In the month of October alone, Israeli forces detained more than 2,200 Palestinian men and women without charge or trial, while failing to investigate incidents of torture and death in custody. The Israeli Prison Service has reported at least 6,809 Palestinians in its custody as of Nov 1 2023, and numbers are predicted to have risen sharply since then. ^[source]

Video footage and testimonies from released detainees and human rights lawyers indicate Iraeli use of torture such as severe beatings, routine humiliation, confiscation or destruction of prisoners' personal belongings, threats of rape, and more. ^[source]

Under international law, this treatment of protected persons in an occupied territory is a war crime, with prisoner transfers further violating international humanitarian law. ^[source]

It has been confirmed that Palestinian prisoners, including the terminally ill, have been denied contact with their families and lawyers since Oct 7. ^[source]

Contact your local political representatives at any level — municipal, regional, federal — and express your support of a ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian aid access to Palestinians, cessation of arms trade with Israel, and holding Israel accountable to international law. Do this as often as you feel capable of. It has been confirmed that most representatives pay attention to repeat points of contact, even from the same constituents. You can do this by phone, fax, or email. Many organizations have prepared scripts that you can use for this purpose.

Some specific actions you can support are:

    • An immediate ceasefire by all parties in the occupied Gaza Strip and Israel.

    • An immediate end to unlawful attacks, including indiscriminate attacks, direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and disproportionate attacks by all parties.

    • Israel to immediately allow unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into the occupied Gaza Strip’s civilians, lift its illegal blockade on Gaza, and grant immediate access to the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

    • The immediate restoration of internet, electrical, and telecommunications infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

    • Hamas and all other armed groups to unconditionally and immediately release all civilian hostages, and Israel to release all arbitrarily detained Palestinians, while treating all those being held captive humanely, including by providing medical treatment, pending their release.

    • A comprehensive arms embargo on all parties to the conflict in light of the serious violations amounting to crimes under international law currently being committed.

Follow local organizations that you know are in favour of a ceasefire and Palestinian rights, including unions and human rights organizations. They are the most likely to pass along early information on petitions, planned marches, shutdowns, and other public demonstrations of protest.

Learn how to help when you're a witness to Islamophobia and/or attacks on Arabs and other minorities. Support any local Palestinian-owned businesses.

Speak up against the abuse of power when students, employees, and other individuals are removed from their positions simply for voicing support of Palestinians or a ceasefire.

Even if you don't participate, consider attending protests as an observer and witness in case of events of violence against protestors.

Do not think it's over even when a ceasefire is achieved. Israel's use of artillery against Palestinians is not the only reason this is called a genocide or why Israel stands accused of breaking international law. Ceasefire negotiations do not currently address Israel's war crimes, ongoing siege of Gaza, use of arbitrary detention, illegal settlement of Palestinian lands, and many other crimes against Palestinian people. Palestinians will also need support to rebuild.

This situation didn't just start on October 7. Use the sources above to learn more about the history of Irael's occupation of Palestine and the conditions that Palestinians have been living under for hundreds of years, including but not limited to the Nakba.

Listen to Palestinian voices on the ground. While many are reporting in Arabic, translation services such as Google Translate are simple to use, and most photos and videos speak for themselves. Many people will also leave translations in the comments of Arabic language posts.

Share what you have learned with friends, family, and coworkers. Spread word of the need for remote professionals if you know anyone who might be qualified to help. Use your areas of expertise to learn more about Palistinians and personalize yrour support. Make your stance known, even if people don't agree with you. The more visible support and education there is, the more other people will learn and perhaps question biased beliefs.

Spread flyers or other sources of education and awareness in your neighbourhood (and be environmentally responsible while doing so).

Do not engage in antisemitic behaviour. Many Jews both within and outside of Israel condemn the Israeli government's behaviour and Israel's settlement of Palestinian lands. Conversely, there are non-Jewish Israelis and non-Jewish non-Israeli individuals engaging in hatred and violence against Palestinians and their supporters.

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Palestine Red Crescent Society - The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is an officially recognized independent Palestinian National Society. It enjoys legal personality and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Society is guided by the Geneva Conventions and the Movement’s Fundamental Principles.

Anera - Anera has no political or religious affiliation and works on the ground with partners in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan, mobilizing resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development.

Connecting Humanity - Fundraises to provide Palestinians with internet access via eSIM cards. Currently in urgent need of eSIM donations!!

Gaza Children's Fund - Gaza Children’s Fund is a not for profit organisation founded in 2010, by a group of volunteers and social activists, to help address the issues concerning disadvantaged Palestinians. Their head office is in Australia and the executive office is in Gaza. All funds raised and received are sent directly to Gaza.

MSF - In Palestine, Médecins Sans Frontières provides medical and psychological assistance to people affected by the long-term conflict.

PCRF - Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), founded in 1991 by concerned humanitarians in the USA, provides free medical care to thousands of injured and ill children yearly who lack local access to care within the local health care system.

Pious Projects - Pious Projects is a registered 501(c)3 humanitarian aid organization raising funds to distribute hygiene kits to vulnerable women in Gaza. Distributions will take place in various areas accessible to on-ground teams such as camps in Rafah and UN schools.

Save The Children - Save the Children is an international non-government operated organization founded in the UK in 1919, with the goal of helping improve the lives of children worldwide.

UN Crisis Relief - Donations go to the Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, one of the quickest and most effective ways to support urgent relief on the ground, managed by the United Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UNICEF - UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children, operating across 190 countries and territories.

UNRWA - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict.