DayofPal– After 15 months of relentless war on Gaza, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire. Yet, the human toll of the war remains an indelible scar. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, Gaza has endured an unrelenting Israeli assault of airstrikes, starvation, and displacement.
The numbers tell a harrowing story of destruction, resilience, and unimaginable loss Gaza people have been enduring dor over 447 days.
A Devastating Toll
In 467 days of war, more than 46,707 Palestinians have been killed, including 18,000 children. This staggering figure means one in every 50 persons in Gaza has lost their life. Entire families have been wiped from civil registries, as Israel’s attacks decimated generations. Rights groups warn the true death toll could be even higher, with many buried beneath the rubble.
The injuries are also equally catastrophic. At least 110,265 people—one in 20—have been injured in Gaza. Of these, 22,500 have life-altering injuries, with thousands requiring rehabilitation they cannot access due to the ongoing blockade.
Every day, an average of 10 children lose one or both legs due to untreated injuries and amputations performed without anesthesia. By the end of 2024, the Ministry of Health reported 4,500 amputations, a number that underscores the immense suffering of Gaza’s population.
Rescue efforts of civil defense are hampered by a lack of tools to remove rubble, leaving untold numbers trapped beneath the ruins of their homes. Volunteers often dig with their bare hands, uncertain how many more have perished unseen.
The Weight of Destruction
The scale of destruction is unparalleled. More than 85,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped on Gaza, leaving behind 42 million tonnes of rubble. Clearing the debris, littered with unexploded bombs, could take over a decade, according to the UN. The devastation doesn’t only hit infrastructure, it hit environment, society,, and generations.
A Starving Population
Under the Rome Statute, a treaty that established the International Criminal Court, intentionally starving a population is a war crime when committed during an armed conflict.
An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines found that Israel has systematically denied aid and water to starving people in Gaza.
In January, the United Nations humanitarian agency stated that efforts to supply aid in Gaza are at a “breaking point”.
Israel restricts aid deliveries and has carried out attacks on aid workers, creating a starving people heavily reliant on external help.
1.9 million people—nearly 80% of the population—are now internally displaced. Most live in makeshift shelters unfit for winter, leaving 500,000 at risk of flooding. Of the 135,000 tents in Gaza, 110,000 are worn out and uninhabitable, authorities say.
The lack of shelter has led to unspeakable tragedies. At least eight infants have succumbed to hypothermia, as families struggle to survive the freezing temperatures.
A People Resolute Amid Ruin
Despite the enormity of their suffering, Gaza’s people have shown remarkable resilience. They endure bombings, starvation, and displacement with a steadfast determination to remain on their land. But the numbers make clear: the human cost of this war is beyond comprehension.
As the ceasefire takes hold, the world must grapple with the legacy of these 15 months—a period marked by unprecedented destruction, systemic neglect, and profound injustice. Gaza may have survived the war, but the wounds it has inflicted amid an inspiring steadfastness will echo for generations.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=60066
