Gaza death toll surpasses 50,000 amid escalating violence
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has confirmed that the death toll in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 50,000. CNN reported on March 25th that the death toll has been increasing rapidly, with 41 additional casualties reported in just the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 50,021.
According to the United Nations and health sources in Gaza, the majority of those killed in the conflict are women and children. The actual death toll is likely to be even higher, as many people remain trapped under rubble. The Gaza Ministry of Health released a list of 15,613 children under the age of 18 who have been killed due to Israeli airstrikes.
The report highlighted the horrific impact on young children, with 890 of the victims being under one year old, and 274 dying shortly after birth. Nearly a quarter of the children killed, about 26%, were under five years old. This tragic loss of life has drawn international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In response to the alarming death toll, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dismissed the Gaza Ministry of Health’s numbers as “full of contradictions and false reports.” Israel emphasized that it differentiates between civilians and fighters during its military operations and follows international law to minimize harm to civilians.
Following the end of a two-month ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes have escalated, marking one of the deadliest days of the war on Tuesday. Over 400 Palestinians were killed in these airstrikes, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. On Wednesday, Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza, signaling that the conflict was far from over.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israeli forces would continue to seize more territory and evacuate populations to create safer zones for Israeli troops. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operations would continue indefinitely.
With over 2 million displaced, Gaza faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with collapsing healthcare and shortages of food and water. Israeli airstrikes on hospitals worsen the situation, halting aid efforts.
The UN has reduced its presence in Gaza after a deadly airstrike on a UN facility. Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have stalled, leaving civilians to suffer amid continued violence and aid blockages.
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