As of October 2023, the tally of Palestinians killed since Israel initiated its conflict against Gaza has surged past 50,000, as per reports by health officials. The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Sunday that the death toll stands at at least 50,021 and over 113,274 have been injured following Israeli airstrikes that commenced after Hamas launched an attack on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of around 1,139 individuals and the capture of approximately 250 more in southern Israel.
The ministry also confirmed that during the previous 24 hours, at least 41 people lost their lives amid intensified Israeli assaults on Gaza, which were stepped up after the rejection of entering the second phase of a truce negotiated with Hamas in January. The second phase, which would have entailed an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—a commitment made in the agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—saw continued Israeli attacks during the initial phase, which entailed a prisoner exchange and resulted in the deaths of over 150 Palestinians.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, described the milestone of 50,000 as “grim and horrifying.” He noted that this figure is a conservative estimate, considering it only accounts for bodies registered at health facilities and overlooks those buried without registration or trapped under debris. Among the victims are 17,000 children, effectively wiping out a demographic that could have significantly influenced their society’s future.
The actual death toll may exceed 186,000, as suggested by a study published in the Lancet, taking into account missing persons presumed dead. Despite Israel’s claims of targeting Hamas members with precision, the high number of civilian casualties suggests otherwise, with evidence pointing towards deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure.
The Israeli military has urged residents of Rafah’s Tal as-Sultan neighborhood to evacuate, as operations commenced in the area, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Israel is also conducting strikes in Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice to pursue military action against Hamas and secure the release of captives. Hamas, however, insists it is ready to release all captives if Israel enters the second phase of the truce.
In addition to the deaths, the siege of Gaza, which started in early March, has led to severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemn Israel’s decision to cut off electricity to a desalination plant as cruel and unlawful. Various countries and organizations have demanded that Israel permit humanitarian aid into Gaza to alleviate its dire conditions.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/23/israeli-offensive-in-gaza-has-killed-50000-palestinians-since-october-2023?traffic_source=rss
