The Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Monday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 29,000 Palestinians since the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas.
According to the ministry’s latest figures, 107 bodies were transported to hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 29,092 since the conflict began.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its records, but it reports that approximately two-thirds of the deceased are women and children. Additionally, over 69,000 Palestinians have been injured in the conflict.
The war commenced with a surprise incursion into southern Israel by Hamas-led militants from Gaza on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages being taken.
During a ceasefire in November, which lasted a week, more than 100 detainees were released in exchange for 240 Palestinians held by Israel.
In response, Israel launched one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history against the besieged Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas since 2007.
This ongoing conflict has resulted in significant loss of life and has raised grave humanitarian concerns, highlighting the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the Israeli military must proceed with its operation in Rafah, a densely populated city home to approximately 1.4 million Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip, stating that failure to do so would mean “losing the war” against Hamas.
In light of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th, Netanyahu pledged to “eliminate Hamas” and emphasized during a press conference in Jerusalem that the Rafah operation would be carried out “even if an agreement for the release of hostages,” who are still in the Gaza Strip, is reached.
