For more than a year, Gaza has endured relentless destruction during Israel’s military campaign, which began after Hamas launched a deadly attack on October 7, 2023. The war has devastated vast areas of the region, obliterating critical healthcare facilities and placing immense pressure on the few hospitals still operating.
Even as mediators announced a ceasefire and hostage deal set to start on Sunday, the overnight death toll in Gaza continued to rise. On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike on a residential area in northern Gaza killed at least 12 people and injured 20 others, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense.
The overall toll has been staggering. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, over 46,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza during the war, including nearly 18,000 children. However, experts believe the true number is significantly higher.
A recent study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, published in The Lancet, estimated that between October 7, 2023, and June 30, 2024, approximately 64,260 people in Gaza died from traumatic injuries. At that time, the health ministry in Gaza reported 37,877 deaths. By October 2024, the study suggested the actual death toll likely exceeded 70,000 due to underreporting.
These figures don’t capture the full scope of the devastation. Beyond direct violence, the war has caused widespread suffering from a lack of healthcare, food shortages, contaminated water, poor sanitation, and the spread of disease—all contributing to an even higher death toll.
As Gaza mourns its countless victims, the region faces an uphill battle to rebuild shattered lives and recover from unimaginable loss.
