A humanitarian and protection crisis unfolding
(pdf via Spiegel online)

Since the Israeli military operation “Cast lead” began on 27 December until 8 January (4:00PM), 758 Palestinians have been killed—approximately 42% of whom were women (60) and children (257) according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The number of children fatalities has increased by 250% since the beginning of ground operation on 3 January (see chart below). 56% of Gaza’s population are children.

On 2 January, Israel began intensive shelling of all the border areas of the Gaza Strip. On 3 January, ground troops entered. As the ground operation progressed, fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants intensified, with many Palestinian civilians killed and injured. Israeli tanks fired shells at buildings suspected of concealing Palestinian fighters, and mortars were fired in response. On
5 January, Israeli shelling directly hit two UNRWA schools where hundreds of displaced people had sought for shelter, killing at least 33 Palestinian civilians.

There is no safe space in the Gaza Strip—no safe haven, no bomb shelters, and the borders are closed and civilians have no place to flee. UNRWA facilities being used as shelters are not constructed to withstand bombardments as they are mostly schools and office buildings.