The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday that the death toll from Israeli operations in the region has risen to 31,645 fatalities and 73,676 injuries since October 7th. The ministry stated in a release that “the Israeli occupation has committed 9 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 92 martyrs and 130 injuries being reported to hospitals in the past 24 hours.”
The ministry also noted that some victims remain under rubble and on the streets, with ambulance and civil defense teams unable to reach them. Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip continue for the 163rd consecutive day, amidst a severe shortage of food, water, medicine, and fuel, along with a decrease in the number of operational hospitals and medical centers providing services to the population.
According to the United Nations, the Israeli military has destroyed entire neighborhoods, leading to the displacement of 1.7 million out of 2.4 million residents, and causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. On October 7, 2023, fighters from the Hamas movement launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1200 Israelis, according to official Israeli statements.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel vowed to “eliminate” the movement and launched a major attack on Gaza, resulting in over 31,000 Palestinian deaths to date, the vast majority of whom are women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Meanwhile, regional and international efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between the two sides continue.
The destruction in Gaza has been extensive, with more than half of its homes either destroyed or damaged, impacting 360,000 residential units. The conflict has also taken a toll on educational facilities, with 392 schools affected, and medical infrastructure, leaving only 12 out of 35 hospitals partially operational. Additionally, 83% of groundwater wells are now non-operational, severely limiting access to clean water.
The situation has been further compounded by an Israeli blockade in place since 2007, severely restricting the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. Since the onset of hostilities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made stark threats to turn Gaza into a “deserted island,” urging residents to evacuate.
This escalation follows years of tension and conflict in the region, marking a tragic continuation of violence that has seen thousands of lives lost and communities shattered. The international community continues to seek pathways to a ceasefire and eventual peace, but the road ahead remains fraught with challenges.
