It has been six months since Hamas initiated a surprise terrorist attack in southern Israel, prompting Israel to retaliate by declaring war on Hamas.
In late October, Israel initiated a ground offensive, imposing stricter limitations on the transportation of goods and individuals in and out of Gaza. Additionally, they issued an evacuation order for civilians residing in the northern region, instructing them to relocate to the south.
In the span of 182 days, Gaza has been gripped by a severe humanitarian crisis due to Israel’s relentless efforts to dismantle Hamas. This crisis has brought about dire shortages of essential supplies such as food, clean water, and medicine. Moreover, the health care system in Gaza has crumbled under the weight of these circumstances.
The Israel-Hamas war has had a devastating impact on countless lives. Let’s dive into the numbers to fully comprehend the tragic human toll of this conflict.
Killed and injured
This Article Includes
The death toll on both sides of the conflict has been steadily rising since Hamas’ surprise terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the death toll in Israel stands at over 1,700, with an additional 8,700 people injured. Among the casualties, there are more than 800 civilians, approximately 600 IDF soldiers, and 61 police officers.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, the number of casualties in Gaza is staggering, with over 33,000 people losing their lives and approximately 76,000 others sustaining injuries. Hamas reports that a significant portion of the victims are women and children.
What we know about the hostages
On October 7, Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the abduction of over 240 hostages who were then taken into the Gaza Strip.
A total of 112 hostages have been released thus far. The most significant release occurred on November 24th during a temporary ceasefire, resulting in the liberation of 105 individuals. Among those released were 81 Israelis or individuals holding dual Israeli citizenship, 23 Thai citizens, and one citizen from the Philippines. Additionally, the remains of 12 hostages who tragically lost their lives have been recovered.
According to Israeli officials, there are currently 131 hostages remaining in Gaza, including 33 bodies of those who have sadly passed away. Among these hostages, there are at least eight individuals who are dual U.S. citizens. Additionally, three of the deceased hostages are also dual citizens.
Collapse of the health care system
Before the conflict, there were a total of 36 functioning hospitals in Gaza.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) office in the occupied Palestinian territory, as of April 2, 26 hospitals have ceased operations, and the remaining 10 are only partially functional. The WHO states that there are currently no hospitals that are fully operational.
“The WHO office emphasized the dire consequences for civilians when essential healthcare is unavailable, stating, ‘Left without vital health care, ultimately it’s civilians who will pay the price.’ They reiterated their stance, emphasizing that health should not be militarized or subjected to attacks.”
Israel has accused Hamas of utilizing hospitals to facilitate and encourage terrorist activities. However, Hamas has refuted these allegations and denied any involvement in operating within hospital premises.
Struggle to get aid into Gaza
According to Israel’s Civil Department of the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Gaza has been receiving an average of 140 trucks filled with food aid every day since early March. As of April 1, it was reported that the northern part of Gaza receives around 10 food trucks on a daily basis.
Several countries, including the U.S., have been airdropping food into the strip in order to meet the needs of Gazans. Since March 5, over 166,000 meals have been airdropped.
The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has stated that Israel’s authorization for aid delivery is insufficient, and even when authorization is granted, the ongoing fighting poses challenges in delivering the aid effectively. UNRWA has been unable to distribute aid in northern Gaza since Israel accused some of its members of involvement in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in Israel.
UNRWA has taken action by terminating the employees in question following the public exposure of the allegations. Additionally, an independent investigation by the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight is currently underway.
Israeli officials have been accused of stealing aid once it enters Gaza, while also claiming that looting is a problem. Despite these accusations, Israel vehemently denies any allegations of restricting aid from entering Gaza. On the contrary, they encourage other countries to send in aid. Israeli officials argue that the United Nations (U.N.), its partners, and other aid agencies have created logistical challenges, leading to a bottleneck situation. However, the U.N. disputes these claims.
According to a recent report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative, the situation in northern Gaza is dire, and the threat of famine is looming. The report warns that famine is “imminent” and could potentially occur between mid-March and the end of May.
On April 1, an Israeli attack in central Gaza resulted in the tragic loss of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen. This incident has sparked widespread outrage from the international community, including the U.S., and has intensified the pressure on Israel to ensure the safety of aid workers and enable the smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Israel has given its approval for the reopening of the Erez crossing into Gaza in the north and the temporary use of Ashdod port in southern Israel. This decision comes after the U.S. urged Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
