Jerusalem, Israel – In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, the death toll continues to rise, with over 30,000 Palestinians reported dead since October 7. The Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, announced this grim milestone, emphasizing that a majority of those killed are believed to be women and children.
The figures provided by the health ministry do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, highlighting the devastating impact of the war on Gaza’s population. The latest update revealed that 81 people had been killed in the past 24 hours alone, bringing the total death toll to 30,035.
Despite the official numbers, the true count of casualties is likely much higher, as many individuals who have not reached hospitals, including those trapped under the rubble of buildings hit by Israeli airstrikes, are not accounted for. The Gaza Ministry of Health has registered over 70,000 injured individuals, underscoring the immense humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization, rely on the data provided by the Gaza health ministry to assess the situation on the ground. The WHO has noted a concerning trend of an increasing number of civilians, particularly children and women, being killed in the conflict, compared to past conflicts in the region.
As the conflict persists, challenges in accurately reporting casualties remain, with overflowing morgues, fighting around medical facilities, and limited communication infrastructure hindering the collection of data. Efforts to establish a truce or end the hostilities are expected to lead to a more comprehensive account of the casualties, including combatants and civilians.
Critics have raised concerns over the existing figures’ attribution of all casualties to “Israeli aggression,” without distinguishing the specific circumstances of each death. The Gaza health ministry has drawn attention to cases of “indirect mortality,” such as deaths resulting from malnutrition and dehydration in hospitals lacking essential resources due to the ongoing war.
The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis, with a quarter of Gaza’s population facing the risk of famine, exacerbated by a shortage of medical supplies and inadequate healthcare services. The conflict, which began with a Hamas incursion into southern Israel, has caused widespread devastation and raised urgent calls for international intervention to address the escalating crisis.