DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian loss of life toll from the 20-month Israel-Hamas conflict has climbed previous 55,000, the Gaza Well being Ministry mentioned Wednesday.
The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, however has mentioned that ladies and kids make up greater than half the useless.
It’s a grim milestone within the conflict that started with Hamas’ assault into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and reveals no signal of ending. Israel says it solely targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding amongst civilians, as a result of they function in populated areas.
The ministry says 55,104 individuals have been killed for the reason that begin of the conflict and 127,394 wounded. Many extra are believed to be buried below the rubble or in areas which can be inaccessible to native medics.
Israeli forces have destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced about 90% of its population and in current weeks have remodeled greater than half of the coastal territory into a military buffer zone that features the now largely uninhabited southern metropolis of Rafah.
A 2 1/2-month blockade imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas raised fears of famine and was barely eased in Might. The launch of a brand new Israeli- and U.S.-backed support system has been marred by chaos and violence, and the U.N. says it has struggled to usher in meals due to Israeli restrictions, a breakdown of legislation and order, and widespread looting.
Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off support, however the U.N. and support teams deny there may be any systematic diversion of support to militants.
Hamas has suffered main setbacks militarily, and Israel says it has killed greater than 20,000 militants, with out offering proof. The militants nonetheless maintain 55 hostages — lower than half of them believed to be alive — and management areas outdoors of navy zones regardless of facing rare protests earlier this yr.
The conflict started when Hamas-led militants killed round 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped 251 hostages. More than half the captives have been launched in ceasefires or different offers. Israeli forces have rescued eight and recovered the stays of dozens extra.
Israel’s navy marketing campaign, one of many deadliest and most damaging since World Battle II, has remodeled massive components of cities into mounds of rubble. A whole lot of 1000’s of individuals are residing in squalid tent camps and unused colleges, and the well being system has been gutted, even because it copes with waves of wounded from Israeli strikes.
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Comply with AP’s conflict protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Wafaa Shurafa, The Related Press
