Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: a catastrophic humanitarian crisis
The temporary pause in fighting that began on Friday 24 November has now ended.
More than 16,000 people - including children - have been killed in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October, and over 35,000 injured.
Our teams on the ground in northern Gaza are seeing death, destruction and displacement on a staggering level. As they provide medical care, shelter and essentials, they’re feeling the walls of buildings shake from explosions – risking their safety to get vital aid to people living through this day after day.
Red Cross and Red Crescent teams have been facilitating trucks of aid with vital medical supplies, food, water, milk and nappies for children, and tents.
1.8 million people have been displaced from their homes in the Gaza Strip, leaving them with nowhere to go and seeking shelter in hospitals, tents and community centres. As the cold sets in, people who’ve lost or left their homes could face temperatures low enough to cause hypothermia.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have facilitated the release and transfer of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian detainees to the West Bank. These include women and children.
We will continue giving life-saving relief to those suffering the horrors of the ongoing violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. But we can’t do this without your help. Please donate today to support our work.
Donate to the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal
What is the Red Cross doing to help people in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel?
Staff and volunteers from Magen David Adom (MDA), Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the ICRC have been leading the response to the emergency.
They have been working around the clock to treat casualties, provide ambulances and lifesaving first aid to all those who need it.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is the leading provider of emergency medical services in Gaza and the West Bank. As hospitals run out of vital supplies and fuel, the PRCS has supported the evacuation of the sick and wounded and their families to safe places in the south of Gaza.
In Gaza:
- More than 379,000 people have received food, water and other essential items
- Over 11,000 people have been supported with emergency medical care
- 31 premature babies were evacuated from Al-Shifa hospital to the Emirati Hospital in Rafah. 28 are now receiving specialist care across hospitals in Egypt.
ICRC medical teams at the European Hospital been conducting life-saving surgery alongside local healthcare workers. The ICRC has also been providing medical supplies to health care facilities.
In the West Bank:
- Over 3,000 injured people have been given emergency medical care
- Ambulance crews have transported over 80 casualties
- 6,600 people have received psychosocial support
In Israel, the relief work of Magen David Adom includes:
- Mobilising 1,500 ambulances and 10,000 first responders
- Emergency medical teams transporting injured people
- Organising blood donations to support medical facilities
- Supporting health authorities with hospital transfers
The ICRC are providing humanitarian assistance as required on both sides, and are advocating on behalf of the hostages held in Gaza - requesting information on them, working to gain access to visit them and seeking to secure their release in addition to clarifying the fate of those unaccounted for.
How to help people in Israel and Gaza
People will need much more humanitarian support in the weeks and months to come. If you are in the UK, the best and quickest way to help support those affected by the emergency is to donate to our appeal. Donations made to the appeal will go towards helping people in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank affected by the conflict.
Donate to the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal
The importance of neutrality and impartiality
This is a complicated crisis. However, we are a humanitarian charity that stands for neutrality and impartiality in times of crisis – these principles are the beating heart of every single action we take. We are not here to take sides. We are not here to measure one life against another. We are here to relieve suffering – and we will continue to do all we can.