In a press release issued on Wednesday, the health ministry in Gaza disclosed that Israeli strikes on the region since October 7 have resulted in the death of at least 18,608 people, with 50,594 individuals sustaining injuries.
The military campaign was initiated by Israel with the aim of dismantling the Hamas militant group, which controls Gaza. This decision followed an incident on October 7, during which Hamas fighters breached the border fence, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 240 hostages.
Since the commencement of the campaign, Israeli forces have imposed a siege on the enclave, causing widespread destruction. The situation escalated further after a week-long truce collapsed at the beginning of December, leading Israeli forces to expand their ground operations from the northern Gaza Strip to the southern region, specifically targeting the main city of Khan Younis.
Amid the debris of the northern areas, previously declared by Israel as having achieved significant military objectives, the conflict has only intensified. The ongoing violence continues to take a toll on the region, raising concerns about the humanitarian crisis and the long-term impact on the affected population.
