Health authorities in the Gaza Strip announced on Thursday that the casualty figures from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas have exceeded 44,000 over the past 13 months. The Gaza Health Ministry does not separate the number of deaths into civilians and militants, but they indicated that women and children account for more than half of the fatalities. The Israeli military claims to have eliminated over 17,000 militants, although they have not provided supporting evidence for this figure.
Additionally, a rocket launched from Lebanon has resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to two others in northern Israel, as reported by the primary ambulance service in the nation. The Magen David Adom rescue service located the body of the deceased man, believed to be in his 30s, near a playground in Nahariya, which is close to the Lebanon border, following the rocket assault on Thursday.
The conflict escalated when Hamas militants breached southern Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to approximately 1,200 fatalities—predominantly among civilians—and the abduction of about 250 individuals. Currently, around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third estimated to be deceased. Most of the remaining hostages were released during a temporary cease-fire last year.
The military operations conducted by Israel have resulted in extensive destruction throughout vast regions of the coastal enclave, displacing around 90% of Gaza’s population, which numbers approximately 2.3 million.
In response to Hezbollah’s rocket and missile attacks that commenced the day after Hamas’ assault in October, Israel has also conducted airstrikes on targets in Lebanon. A significant escalation of hostilities took place in September after nearly a year of continuous low-intensity clashes.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that over 3,500 individuals have died due to the conflict, with more than 1 million displaced. The specific breakdown of fatalities between Hezbollah fighters and civilians remains unclear.
From the Israeli perspective, Hezbollah’s aerial strikes have claimed the lives of more than 70 individuals and forced around 60,000 residents to flee their homes.
In summary, local health officials report that the casualty count in Gaza has now reached 44,056, with 104,268 injuries recorded since the conflict began. They stress that the actual toll could be even higher, as many bodies may remain trapped under debris or in areas inaccessible to medical teams.
The war’s catastrophic toll began with the Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed 1,200 lives. Currently, around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants are displaced, with countless individuals living in dire conditions in tent camps devoid of food, water, and essential services.
While Israel asserts that it strives to minimize civilian casualties, it places blame for these deaths on Hamas for operating within densely populated residential areas, where they maintain military assets such as tunnels and rocket launchers.
As for the latest developments, a rocket from Lebanon claimed one life and injured two others in northern Israel, as per the Magen David Adom rescue service. In retaliation, Israel struck several locations in southern Lebanon along with various structures near Beirut, issuing evacuation warnings to the affected populations.