More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing 21-month war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported Tuesday.
The ministry, run by the Hamas-led administration, stated the death toll has reached 60,034, with over 145,870 people injured since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. Although the ministry did not specify how many victims were civilians or militants, it confirmed that about half of the casualties were women and children.
Reliable Source Amid Crisis
The Ministry of Health is staffed by medical professionals and is considered by the United Nations and independent experts as the most reliable source for casualty numbers in Gaza.
The Israeli offensive has devastated large parts of Gaza, displacing around 90% of the population and creating a severe humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian and Food Security Crisis
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that the man-made hunger crisis in Gaza may soon be classified as a massive famine, hoping this will increase pressure on Israel to allow more food aid shipments into Gaza.
“Rising evidence shows widespread hunger, malnutrition, and disease are causing an increase in food-related deaths,” the IPC report stated.
The IPC is preparing a formal analysis that could officially declare Gaza to be experiencing “massive famine.”
Background and Current Situation
Militants led by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in their initial attack on Israel, which sparked the Gaza war. They also abducted 251 people, of whom around 50 remain hostages—about 20 believed still alive after some were released in ceasefires or deals.
The conflict escalated in early March when Israel imposed a full blockade for over two and a half months, cutting off food, medicine, fuel, and other goods. Weeks later, Israel broke the ceasefire with surprise bombings and launched an invasion of large parts of Gaza, aiming to pressure Hamas to release more hostages.
Since then, at least 8,867 Palestinians have been killed.
