Palestinian Death Toll Exceeds 64,000 as Israel-Hamas Conflict Continues
Local health officials report over 64,000 Palestinian deaths in the ongoing conflict as both parties maintain their positions.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: The death toll among Palestinians has surpassed 64,000 since the onset of the nearly two-year-long conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials.
This grim milestone comes amid a continued standoff between Hamas and Israel over unresolved demands that have fueled the prolonged fighting ignited by Hamas's 2023 attack.
Recent developments saw Israeli strikes claiming the lives of 28 individuals, predominantly women and children, as hospitals reported these casualties.
The escalation is part of Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza City, which faces severe food shortages.
These latest attacks occurred as Israeli forces advanced towards occupying additional areas within the city, a move affecting approximately one million residents many of whom have already been displaced multiple times.
At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, 25 bodies were received, including nine children and six women, following strikes on tents housing displaced families.
A 10-day-old baby was among the fatalities.
In southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis recorded an additional three deaths.
Maha Afana recounted the harrowing experience of being awakened during the night by Israeli strikes while sheltering with her children in a tent in Gaza City.
Upon checking on them, she found her son and daughter among the dead, covered in blood.
Her response was to scream in despair.
Witnesses described the aftermath with Associated Press footage showing burned tents and debris amidst the ongoing sounds of Israeli bombardment.
Hayam Basous expressed anguish over the loss of a family member, questioning why children would be targeted: “What did those children do to the state of Israel?
They didn’t carry a knife or artillery.
They were just sleeping.”
The Israeli military has not commented on these specific incidents but maintains that it targets militants and seeks to minimize harm to civilians.
However, they attribute civilian casualties to Hamas’s actions, claiming the group positions itself within densely populated areas.
Gaza's Health Ministry, a part of the Hamas-run government, has documented 64,231 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began, including approximately 400 individuals previously listed as missing and now confirmed dead.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties but reports that women and children account for about half of all fatalities.
The accuracy of these figures is supported by UN agencies and various independent experts.
In contrast, Israel has contested the numbers without providing an alternative tally.
Following Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and the abduction of 251 individuals (many later released through ceasefires or other agreements), both sides remain entrenched in their positions, making a peaceful resolution elusive.
This grim milestone comes amid a continued standoff between Hamas and Israel over unresolved demands that have fueled the prolonged fighting ignited by Hamas's 2023 attack.
Recent developments saw Israeli strikes claiming the lives of 28 individuals, predominantly women and children, as hospitals reported these casualties.
The escalation is part of Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza City, which faces severe food shortages.
These latest attacks occurred as Israeli forces advanced towards occupying additional areas within the city, a move affecting approximately one million residents many of whom have already been displaced multiple times.
At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, 25 bodies were received, including nine children and six women, following strikes on tents housing displaced families.
A 10-day-old baby was among the fatalities.
In southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis recorded an additional three deaths.
Maha Afana recounted the harrowing experience of being awakened during the night by Israeli strikes while sheltering with her children in a tent in Gaza City.
Upon checking on them, she found her son and daughter among the dead, covered in blood.
Her response was to scream in despair.
Witnesses described the aftermath with Associated Press footage showing burned tents and debris amidst the ongoing sounds of Israeli bombardment.
Hayam Basous expressed anguish over the loss of a family member, questioning why children would be targeted: “What did those children do to the state of Israel?
They didn’t carry a knife or artillery.
They were just sleeping.”
The Israeli military has not commented on these specific incidents but maintains that it targets militants and seeks to minimize harm to civilians.
However, they attribute civilian casualties to Hamas’s actions, claiming the group positions itself within densely populated areas.
Gaza's Health Ministry, a part of the Hamas-run government, has documented 64,231 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began, including approximately 400 individuals previously listed as missing and now confirmed dead.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties but reports that women and children account for about half of all fatalities.
The accuracy of these figures is supported by UN agencies and various independent experts.
In contrast, Israel has contested the numbers without providing an alternative tally.
Following Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and the abduction of 251 individuals (many later released through ceasefires or other agreements), both sides remain entrenched in their positions, making a peaceful resolution elusive.
