DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — According to local health authorities, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, now spanning 13 months, has resulted in over 44,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip.
The Health Ministry in Gaza combines the numbers of civilians and militants, yet it indicates that more than 50% of the deceased are women and children. The Israeli defense forces report having eliminated more than 17,000 militants but have yet to supply any substantiating evidence to back their claims.
As per the Gaza Health Ministry’s reports, the total number of individuals killed stands at 44,056, with an additional 104,268 injured since the conflict commenced. Officials suggest that the actual death toll could be significantly higher, as many bodies remain trapped under debris or situated in regions inaccessible to medical personnel.
The conflict erupted when militants associated with Hamas launched an incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, as well as the abduction of around 250 individuals. Currently, there are still about 100 hostages believed to be in Gaza, with assumptions that at least one-third of them may have succumbed to their captivity. Most of the remaining hostages were freed during a temporary cease-fire last year.
