DaysofPal — The ongoing Israeli genocidal war in the Gaza Strip has entered its 1,000th day, leaving behind the catastrophic Israeli destruction affecting more than 90 percent of the territory’s infrastructure and resources, amid an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis.
Speaking at a press conference held atop the ruins of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Ismail Al-Thawabta, director general of the Government Media Office in Gaza, said the prolonged Israeli war has resulted in “1,000 days of killing, forced displacement, and systematic destruction,” accusing multiple international actors of complicity and condemning the global inaction.
According to Al-Thawabta, more than 223,000 tons of explosives have been dropped on civilian areas since the start of the war, contributing to a reported death toll exceeding 73,000 people who have reached hospitals, with an additional 9,500 individuals still missing under rubble or in inaccessible areas.
He added that women and children constitute a significant proportion of the casualties, including over 21,500 children and 12,500 women.
Entire families have been wiped out, with approximately 2,700 families erased from civil records, he said.
The health sector has been particularly hard hit, with 38 hospitals reportedly destroyed or rendered inoperable, and around 1,700 medical personnel killed.
More than 173,000 wounded individuals are said to be struggling without adequate medical care, while approximately 22,000 patients and injured persons have been prevented from traveling abroad for treatment.
Al-Thawabta also highlighted a severe public health emergency, citing over 2.1 million recorded cases of infectious diseases.
Nearly two million residents have been forcibly displaced, many now living in roughly 132,000 deteriorating tents that are no longer fit for shelter.
He noted that Israeli occupation of blocking the entry of mobile housing units and reconstruction materials, exacerbating living conditions.
Food insecurity remains critical, with crossings reportedly closed for more than 670 days, preventing the entry of large quantities of humanitarian aid.
As a result, an estimated 650,000 children face life-threatening malnutrition, according to the official.
The Israeli war has also had a devastating impact on children and education. Around 58,800 children have reportedly been orphaned, while all schools in Gaza have sustained damage either partially or completely, depriving more than 620,000 students of access to education.
Over 20,000 students have been killed, Al-Thawabta said, describing the situation as a systematic destruction of the education system.
Widespread infrastructure damage has compounded the crisis. Officials report that approximately 410,000 housing units have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, alongside the destruction of more than 5,000 kilometers of electricity networks.
Religious and cultural sites have not been spared, with over 1,000 mosques reportedly destroyed and cemeteries desecrated.
Agricultural losses are also severe, with about 87 percent of farmland damaged, contributing to an estimated $80 billion in direct losses, according to preliminary figures cited at the briefing.
Al-Thawabta called on the international community, United Nations bodies, and governments worldwide to take decisive action beyond statements of condemnation, urging immediate measures to halt the Israeli genocide, reopen border crossings, and allow the entry of humanitarian aid and medical supplies.
He also appealed to Arab and Islamic countries to convene urgently to coordinate relief efforts and launch a comprehensive reconstruction plan.
Despite the scale of destruction, Al-Thawabta stated that the Israeli genocidal war would not break the will of the Palestinian people, expressing confidence in eventual recovery and self-determination.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza has resulted in more than 240,000 casualties, including both deaths and injuries, the Gaza Health Ministry reports, with widespread devastation across the territory’s infrastructure.
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