More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. This represents about 2.1% of Gaza’s pre-war population of 2.3 million people. Additionally, more than 113,000 individuals have been injured.
The exact numbers and the identities of those killed are difficult to verify independently, as international journalists are blocked from entering Gaza. Israel disputes the data provided by Gaza’s health authorities, and the figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
The United Nations and other international institutions have expressed concerns about the accuracy of the numbers, with the UN’s Human Rights Office estimating that around 70% of the verified victims over a six-month period were women and children. Studies have suggested that the death toll could be even higher than the official figures reported by Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
The ongoing conflict began after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to Israel’s massive military response, resulting in widespread destruction and a significant loss of life in Gaza.