Authorities in Gaza have reported alarming new figures, stating more than 45,000 people have been killed within the enclave over the past 14 months, as the humanitarian crisis escalates amid continued deadly airstrikes. The update follows reports from several sources, including the Palestinian health ministry, which confirmed the horrifying statistics on Monday.
The situation has grown increasingly dire, especially after the recent attacks which have included the bombing of a United Nations school-turned-shelter. Images from the Nasser Hospital showed grim reminders of the violence, with serious injuries sustained by children caught in the crossfire. Louise Wateridge, the Senior Emergency Officer at the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), expressed the devastating reality of life for many families. “It’s been another very deadly night here in the Gaza Strip; we are waking up every single day to a new horror,” she shared with UN News, emphasizing the regularity of death and destruction now commonplace for Gazans.
The latest figures indicate at least 106,962 residents have also been injured as the last 24 hours saw 52 individuals brought to hospitals, continuing the relentless pace of casualties. The UN and various humanitarian organizations have condemned the violence and raised alarms over the looming famine, particularly affecting children, with UNICEF noting over 14,500 children among those killed.
“Virtually all 1.1 million children in Gaza are in urgent need of protection and mental health support,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, underlining the severe impact on the younger population during this conflict. The situation has been exacerbated by the reported displacement of families—many having moved seven or eight times to escape the incessant bombardments. Wateridge spoke of two siblings, aged 2 and 5, who sustained severe injuries after being struck by shrapnel; they had been forcibly displaced multiple times.
The clash stems from the intense conflict ignited on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in significant loss of life—about 1,200, mostly civilians—and subsequent heavy Israeli military responses. The current conflict has become the deadliest phase between Israel and Hamas, with the death toll now amounting to roughly 2% of Gaza’s prewar population of approximately 2.3 million. Rights groups assert the military has failed to take adequate measures to protect civilians from becoming casualties of war.
Osama Lubbad, who had been displaced from Beit Lahiya, voiced the heartbreaking reality for many: “I mean 45,000 martyrs, in addition to the people who are still under the rubble... What does he want? We tell the world this is enough. Enough with this genocide and enough with this war.”
Children like 17-year-old Mona, whose mother was killed, find themselves caught between horror and helplessness. Wateridge met her at Nasser Hospital, describing her severe injuries as tragic and part of the broader, terrible narrative sweeping across the Strip. “Their mother’s bones were crushed under the rubble. There was nothing they could do to save her,” Wateridge recounted.
The international response to the situation is spinning, with various entities including Egypt and the US attempting to broker ceasefire negotiations after persistent failures. Israeli officials have indicated there may be newfound flexibility from Hamas as peace talks resume. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz suggested this week might offer the best chance for progress yet.
Still, the urgency is palpable. “The devastation is absolutely staggering,” said Jonathan Dumont, Head of Emergency Communications at the World Food Programme. “There’s no electricity or running water or sewage treatment. Almost everyone has lost their home.” He emphasized the dire need for consistent food supplies to prevent famine, which looms dangerously over the populace.
Frontline accounts reveal the struggles faced by families and how abruptly their lives have been torn apart. Alaa Hamouda, another Gazan resident, articulated the deadly nightmare they live. “There is a lot of killing, a lot of death, and a lot of victims. We are not at fault. We did not do any wrong for this to happen to us,” he lamented, underscoring the civilian suffering amid the military turmoil.
Grief is palpable across the enclave, with stories of journalists also caught up in the violence. On Sunday, mourners honored the memory of Ahmad Baker Al-Louh, who lost his life covering rescue operations for Al Jazeera. The strike targeting Gaza's civil defense agency not only claimed his life but those of his colleagues, illustrating the extensive toll this war is taking on everyone.
“Gaza has died. It has died without a shroud,” said Mohammad Sulaiman, summing up the cultural and human devastation felt deeply across the region. The looming questions remain: How long must this continue, and what does the future hold for those who survive?
