The battered landscape of Gaza, already marred by years of conflict, has descended into an unprecedented humanitarian nightmare since October 2023. Despite diplomatic fanfare around ceasefire announcements, the reality on the ground is a relentless grind of violence, deprivation, and loss. The numbers are staggering, and the stories behind them paint a portrait of a society on the brink, where the promise of peace has been little more than a mirage.
According to data collected by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med Monitor), the scale of devastation since October 7, 2023, is almost unfathomable. Over 270,000 Palestinians—about 12% of Gaza's population—have been killed, injured, or detained in just over two years. Of those, approximately 75,190 have lost their lives, with civilians accounting for 90% of casualties. Among the dead are 21,310 children and 13,987 women, stark evidence that no one has been spared the violence (Euro-Med Monitor).
Displacement and destruction are now daily realities. Up to 99% of Gaza’s population has been forced from their homes at least once, as Israeli military operations have razed entire neighborhoods to the ground. About 80% of all buildings in Gaza—some 555,000 housing units—have been damaged or destroyed, along with 3,300 industrial facilities, 191 media offices, and 621 schools. The damage extends to the very fabric of society: 95% of schools and universities and all hospitals have been rendered inoperable, while 890 mosques, 3 churches, and 205 historical monuments have been destroyed or damaged (Euro-Med Monitor).
And yet, even in the midst of such devastation, the violence continues. On October 10, 2025, a ceasefire was declared across the Gaza Strip, but, as reported by BADIL, violations by the Israeli regime began almost immediately. Waves of airstrikes struck Rafah, Khan Younis, Jabalia, and central Gaza, killing at least 97 Palestinians and injuring more than 230. Since the ceasefire's announcement, Israel has violated it at least 47 times, resulting in 73 more deaths in separate attacks, including airstrikes, artillery bombardments, and sniper fire (BADIL; Euro-Med Monitor).
The so-called ceasefire, according to BADIL, has been little more than rhetorical cover for continued violence and domination. The Israeli regime, backed by the United States, has alternated between violating and re-entering the deal at will, using alleged violations by the Palestinian resistance as justification for renewed attacks. The US State Department, for its part, claimed there were "credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza"—even as evidence mounted of Israeli bombardments during the supposed truce (BADIL).
Beyond the bombs, starvation and deprivation have become deliberate tools of war. Under the terms of the ceasefire, 600 aid trucks were meant to enter Gaza daily. Instead, only 986 trucks have entered since October 10—less than one-sixth of the agreed amount. The Rafah crossing with Egypt remains closed, and the Israeli regime continues to block humanitarian aid, deepening the humanitarian collapse (BADIL).
As a direct result of what human rights groups have called a starvation campaign, at least 482 Palestinians have died from malnutrition, including 160 children. Gaza’s daily per capita water supply has been slashed by 98%, a result of both infrastructure destruction and the prevention of water entry into the Strip. The blockade has also kept out essential medical supplies and heavy machinery needed for debris removal and the search for missing persons (Euro-Med Monitor).
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has historically provided vital services in Gaza, is now banned from operating in the territory. This has left Palestinians without access to the most capable distributor of aid, further weaponizing starvation and aid as instruments of domination. BADIL argues that "food, shelter, and healthcare are urgently needed in Gaza and must never be used as leverage or be conditional on the delivery of bodies or any other political demand."
The human toll extends far beyond the immediate casualties. About 173,200 Palestinians have been injured, tens of thousands of whom now live with permanent disabilities such as amputations, severe burns, and spinal injuries. Of these, 40,000 people—including 21,000 children—are living with permanent or long-term disabilities. The psychological impact is equally harrowing: most Gaza residents exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including panic attacks, sleep disorders, and flashbacks. The trauma is compounded by the loss of loved ones and the near-total collapse of the social fabric (Euro-Med Monitor).
Children are among the most affected. Around 45,600 have been orphaned, and there has been a 300% increase in miscarriages among pregnant women, attributed to direct injuries, gas inhalation, and extreme trauma. The death toll among healthcare workers, journalists, teachers, and civil defense staff is also sobering: 1,701 healthcare workers (including 194 doctors and 376 nurses) have been killed, along with 255 journalists, 140 civil defense workers, 800 teachers, and 200 university faculty members (Euro-Med Monitor).
The blockade is not just a matter of goods and aid—it is also about information and accountability. Israeli authorities have blocked or denied entry to about 80% of international humanitarian missions to northern Gaza and Gaza City. Furthermore, about 12,000 Palestinians have been arrested, including 2,700 who remain detained or are victims of enforced disappearance. Interviews with released detainees, as reported by Euro-Med Monitor, document 42 types of torture and inhumane treatment, including rape, electric shocks, and threats to kill family members.
International response has so far fallen short. Western powers, including the European Union, have paused efforts to suspend Israel’s preferential trade status, even as violations continue. BADIL contends that "having the threat of sanctions remains on the table is not enough and has proven ineffective," calling for immediate and collective action under the Genocide Convention. This includes the reinstatement and full funding of UNRWA, as well as the imposition of political, economic, and military sanctions.
For Gaza’s residents, the future remains uncertain. The destruction of hospitals, schools, and homes has left the population with nowhere to turn for safety or recovery. As the Euro-Med Monitor notes, "the entire population of Gaza is suffering from varying degrees of psychological distress," and the scars—both physical and mental—will endure long after the bombs have stopped falling.
In the face of such overwhelming loss, calls for global solidarity and accountability grow louder. Advocacy groups urge governments and institutions to meet their legal and moral obligations, not just with words but with decisive action. Anything less, they warn, will only perpetuate the suffering and sustain the cycle of violence that has brought Gaza to the edge.
