Israel-Hamas struggle: Greater than 55,000 Palestinians killed up to now, says Gaza well being ministry
It is a grim milestone within the struggle that started with Hamas’ assault into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and reveals no signal of ending. Israel says it solely targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding amongst civilians, as a result of they function in populated areas.
The loss of life toll in Gaza from the relentless 20-month-long Israel-Hamas struggle has now crossed a staggering 55,000, in accordance with a press release launched on Wednesday by the Gaza Well being Ministry. This sombre determine marks a grim milestone in a battle that erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a shock assault on southern Israel. Notably, the struggle reveals little signal of ending, as devastation continues to mount. The Well being Ministry, a part of Gaza’s Hamas-run administration however staffed by impartial medical professionals, reported that 55,104 folks have been killed and a minimum of 127,394 wounded for the reason that preventing started. Officers concern that many extra victims stay buried beneath particles or in areas which can be too harmful or inaccessible for medics to achieve.
Whereas the ministry stated it doesn’t differentiate between combatants and civilians in its tally, it has said that girls and youngsters account for greater than half of the reported deaths. These figures, though recurrently questioned by Israeli authorities, have in previous conflicts usually aligned with these verified by impartial screens and humanitarian businesses.
Israel maintains that its navy operations are aimed strictly at Hamas militants and locations the blame for civilian casualties on the militant group itself. Israeli officers accuse Hamas of utilizing densely populated city areas as operational bases, thus placing civilians instantly in hurt’s approach.
Gaza devastated, assist efforts battle
Israeli forces have destroyed huge areas of Gaza, displaced about 90% of its inhabitants and in latest weeks have reworked greater than half of the coastal territory right into a navy buffer zone that features the now principally uninhabited southern metropolis of Rafah. A 2.5-month blockade imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas raised fears of famine and was barely eased in Might. The launch of a brand new Israeli- and U.S.-backed assist system has been marred by chaos and violence, and the UN says it has struggled to herald meals due to Israeli restrictions, a breakdown of legislation and order, and widespread looting.
Israel-Hamas tensions proceed
Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off assist, however the UN and assist teams deny there’s any systematic diversion of assist to militants. Hamas has suffered main setbacks militarily, and Israel says it has killed greater than 20,000 militants, with out offering proof. The militants nonetheless maintain 55 hostages — lower than half of them believed to be alive — and management areas exterior of navy zones regardless of dealing with uncommon protests earlier this yr. The struggle started when Hamas-led militants killed round 1,200 folks, principally civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped 251 hostages. Greater than half the captives have been launched in ceasefires or different offers. Israeli forces have rescued eight and recovered the stays of dozens extra.
(With AP inputs)
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