For over 467 days, the Gaza Strip has been gripped by a relentless conflict, marking more than 15 months of continuous bombardments, tragic loss of life, widespread injuries, mass displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis. This devastating period began on October 7, 2023, following attacks on southern Israel led by Hamas.
Initially triggered by attacks on southern Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas, which resulted in over 1,100 fatalities and approximately 240 individuals taken captive, the Israeli response escalated into a sustained military operation. While some captives were released during a prisoner exchange in November 2023, and others tragically perished in subsequent Israeli attacks, the conflict’s impact on Gaza intensified dramatically. Israel initiated a series of intense air raids and further tightened its existing blockade on the Gaza Strip, a region already under siege since 2007.
Devastating Death Toll: Counting Lives Lost in Gaza
In the ensuing 15 months of conflict, the number of people who have died in Gaza has reached staggering proportions. At least 46,707 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to reports from early 2025. This horrific figure includes approximately 18,000 children, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the conflict on the youngest and most vulnerable population. This death toll translates to a deeply alarming statistic: one out of every 50 people in Gaza has been killed. Disturbingly, many analysts and human rights organizations believe that the actual number of fatalities is significantly higher than reported, suggesting the true scale of loss may be even more catastrophic.
Image alt text: Graphic illustrating the number 46,707 representing Palestinian deaths in Gaza after 467 days of conflict, emphasizing the severe human cost.
Despite widespread international condemnation and urgent appeals from international bodies and human rights groups, Israel’s campaign of collective punishment on the besieged Gaza Strip has continued. This region, where half of the population is under 18, has witnessed the decimation of families and the tragic loss of entire generations from the civil registry.
Widespread Injuries and Long-Term Health Crisis
Beyond the immense loss of life, the conflict has resulted in a staggering number of injuries, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 110,265 people have been injured in Gaza as a direct consequence of the ongoing war. This means that approximately one in every 20 people in Gaza has sustained injuries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly a quarter of those injured, around 22,500 individuals, have suffered life-altering injuries that require extensive rehabilitation services – services that are desperately lacking in the current environment. Severe limb injuries are particularly prevalent, necessitating specialized and long-term care.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that, on average, 10 children in Gaza lose one or both legs each day. These amputations are often conducted with minimal or no anesthesia due to the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli blockade, adding another layer of unimaginable suffering. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that by the end of 2024, at least 4,500 amputations had been performed.
Image alt text: Visual representation of 110,265 injured Palestinians in Gaza after 467 days, highlighting the extensive physical trauma inflicted during the conflict.
Adding to the confirmed casualties, countless individuals are feared to be buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings. The lack of adequate equipment to clear debris and rescue those trapped leaves volunteers and Palestinian Civil Defence workers to rely on rudimentary tools and their bare hands. The true number of people who have perished under the rubble remains unknown, a haunting testament to the conflict’s unseen victims.
Reports from the Environmental Quality Authority of Palestine estimate that approximately 85,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped on Gaza. Experts predict that clearing the over 42 million tonnes of debris resulting from the bombings, as estimated by the UN Development Programme, could take more than a decade. Furthermore, the presence of unexploded ordnance poses a continuous and deadly threat to the population even after bombardments cease.
Image alt text: A Palestinian woman navigating through extensive rubble in Gaza, illustrating the widespread destruction and dangerous environment resulting from Israeli attacks.
Starvation as a Weapon: A Looming Humanitarian Catastrophe
International law, specifically the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court, recognizes intentionally starving a population as a war crime when committed during armed conflict. Evidence suggests this is a grim reality facing the people of Gaza.
An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines revealed that Israel has systematically blocked aid and water from reaching the increasingly desperate population in Gaza. In January 2025, the United Nations humanitarian agency warned that aid efforts in Gaza were at a “breaking point,” signaling a complete collapse of humanitarian access.
Israel’s restrictions on aid deliveries and reported attacks on aid workers have exacerbated the crisis, pushing a population already heavily reliant on external assistance to the brink of starvation. Tragically, at least eight babies have reportedly died from hypothermia in Gaza, as families struggle to survive in shelters ill-equipped to provide adequate protection from winter conditions.
Image alt text: Graphic depicting food insecurity in Gaza after 467 days of conflict, symbolizing the critical shortage of food and humanitarian aid reaching the population.
Nearly 1.9 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, with approximately 80 percent living in makeshift shelters that offer insufficient clothing and protection from the cold. UN agencies estimate that almost half a million displaced individuals are located in areas prone to flooding, further compounding their vulnerability. Authorities in Gaza have reported that approximately 110,000 of the 135,000 tents being used as shelters are worn out and unsuitable for habitation, leaving hundreds of thousands in precarious and life-threatening conditions.
Image alt text: Another graphic illustrating the widespread food insecurity and displacement in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian intervention.
Source: Al Jazeera
