DaysofPal: As the war on Gaza approaches its one-year mark, it stands as one of the most brutal and prolonged conflicts the region has witnessed in decades.
This relentless onslaught has left behind a staggering toll: countless lives lost, thousands injured, entire families displaced, and widespread destruction that has ravaged essential infrastructure.
The devastation has not only impacted every sector but has also led to a dire humanitarian crisis, with famine and disease spreading across the region.
Despite numerous UN resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the bloodshed has continued unabated for nearly a year.
The relentless Israeli bombardment has devastated lives and obliterated the essentials for survival, leaving the Gaza Strip on the brink of becoming uninhabitable.
Casualties and Displacement Figures
Since October 7, Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of 41,638 Palestinians and left 96,460 others injured. The number of missing persons has reached 10,000, according to the latest update from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, released on Tuesday, October 1.
Statistics released yesterday by the Government Media Office reveal that since the war began, the occupation forces have carried out 3,628 massacres. Of the victims, 69% have been women (11,458) and children (16,891).
Newborns have not been spared from the brutality of the war. According to the Government Media Office, 171 infants have been killed, while 710 children under the age of one have also lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.
The war has displaced 2 million people across the Gaza Strip, with some forced to flee their homes more than 10 times. These displaced families now endure overcrowded conditions in sprawling camps or schools that have been converted into makeshift refugee centers.
Damage to Public Facilities and Buildings
According to a report from the Government Media Office, the occupation forces dropped 85,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip during the war. This bombardment resulted in the destruction of 200 government buildings, the complete demolition of 611 mosques, and partial damage to 214 others, as well as the destruction and targeting of three churches.
The data also revealed that 150,000 housing units were completely destroyed in the Gaza Strip, while 80,000 more were rendered uninhabitable due to targeted strikes. An additional 200,000 housing units were partially damaged, bringing the overall destruction in the Strip to an estimated 86%.
Destruction of Infrastructure
The occupation forces have destroyed 78% of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure, including roads, electricity, transportation, and sewage systems. This extensive damage has severely disrupted essential services for the population.
In numerical terms, the occupation has destroyed 3,130 kilometers of electricity networks, 655,000 meters of sewage systems, and 2,835,000 meters of roads and streets in the Gaza Strip during the war. Additionally, 330 meters of water networks have been destroyed, and 700 water wells have been rendered inoperable.
Damage to the Health Sector
From the very first days of the war, the health system became one of the primary targets of the occupation. Hospitals and health centers, along with their staff, have faced direct attacks, resulting in 34 out of the 38 operational hospitals in the Gaza Strip being rendered inoperable.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Khalil Al-Daqran, informed Sond News Agency that the occupation has destroyed 80 health centers, rendering them out of service out of a total of 90 medical clinics. Additionally, 162 health institutions and 131 ambulances have been targeted, including 105 vehicles that were completely destroyed.
In addition to the destruction and targeting, the occupation imposed a stifling siege on the entry of medical supplies and fuel needed to operate hospitals in the Strip, which led to a rapid deterioration of the general health situation to the point of collapse, according to Al-Daqran.
Regarding human losses in the health system, Al-Daqran reported that 986 medical staff members—including doctors, nurses, and paramedics—have been martyred, while 310 individuals are currently detained in Israeli occupation prisons.
Diseases, Epidemics, and the Wounded in Need of Treatment
A multitude of diseases have spread throughout the Gaza Strip due to overcrowding in displacement sites, exacerbated by inadequate public hygiene and the collapse of the health system. Among the most concerning illnesses are hepatitis and polio. Meanwhile, thousands of patients and wounded individuals are waiting for the opportunity to travel abroad for essential medical treatment, a right that remains elusive for many.
Digitally, Musa Abu Abed, the Director General of the Care Unit at the Ministry of Health, reports that over 71,000 citizens have been infected with the hepatitis virus. Additionally, nearly 1.8 million people have contracted various infectious diseases due to repeated displacements and their lack of access to essential public hygiene resources.
Impact on the Education Sector
In the education sector, 125 schools and universities have been completely destroyed, while 336 others have suffered partial damage. The occupation has resulted in the deaths of 11,500 male and female students, as well as 750 education workers. Additionally, 115 scientists, university professors, and researchers were executed during the course of the war.
Gaza’s Economy in Ruins
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has described the economy of the Gaza Strip as being in a “state of ruin.” The report confirms that 82% of businesses in the region have been destroyed or have collapsed, while between 80% and 96% of agricultural assets—including irrigation systems, livestock farms, orchards, machinery, and storage facilities—have suffered damage.
The sector’s GDP has plummeted by 81%, and economic activity has contracted by 22%. Currently, 80% of the population relies on aid, and the loss of two-thirds of jobs has pushed nearly all Palestinians into poverty, according to the UNCTAD report.
How Long Will It Take to Remove the Rubble?
A UN report has concluded that it could take 15 years to clear the 40 million tons of rubble left by Israeli bombing, much of which is believed to be contaminated with asbestos and likely contains human remains. The cost of removing this debris is estimated to range between $500 and $600 million.
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