Key Points
- More than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed and 142,135 injured in Gaza since October 2023.
- Women and children make up over half of the casualties, underscoring a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
- Historic Beit Hanoun has been virtually erased, with aerial images showing total urban destruction.
- Israel is intensifying strikes, claiming the killing of top Hamas weapons commander Bashar Thabet.
- International calls for a ceasefire intensify as food, water, and medical access collapse for Gaza’s residents.
- Crisis began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 abductions.
Gaza: Gaza has become the epicenter of relentless warfare between Israel and Hamas, suffering one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history. Nearly every district shows nothing but shattered buildings and piles of rubble. Twenty-one months of bombardment, siege, and fierce ground combat have left the enclave devastated. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 59,029 people have been killed and 142,135 wounded since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023. Civil society and international agencies warn that the real toll is likely significantly higher, especially given uninterrupted airstrikes and difficult access to many affected zones.
A Catastrophic Civilian Toll
Independent studies and humanitarian organizations confirm that women and children represent the majority of the casualties an indicator of how intensely civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict. Thousands more remain unaccounted for, believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings and destroyed infrastructure.
Key hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies are depleted, and more than 90% of residential structures have been damaged or destroyed across Gaza. The UN has described the humanitarian conditions as “horrific,” with over 1.9 million people forcibly displaced that’s nearly the entire local population.
Israeli Strikes Escalate: Killing of Hamas Commander Bashar Thabet
As Israel has stepped up operations, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently claimed the targeted killing of Bashar Thabet, a prominent Hamas commander involved in weapons development and research. The IDF asserts that Thabet’s death, along with the destruction of key Hamas tunnels and command centers, is part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the organization’s military capabilities.
Israel continues to contend that its operations are aimed solely at militants, blaming Hamas for using civilian areas to launch attacks and hide fighters. However, the sheer scale of civilian suffering has prompted renewed scrutiny and condemnation from the global community.
Historic Beit Hanoun: Reduced to Rubble
One of Gaza’s oldest towns, Beit Hanoun, has suffered near-total destruction. Once known for its historic architecture and bustling community, the city has now been “leveled to the ground” by Israeli airstrikes and artillery, as confirmed by recent aerial photographs shared by the Israeli defense ministry. Before the war, Beit Hanoun was home to around 60,000 people; today, virtually every building, including centuries-old landmarks, has been obliterated. Local authorities have declared the city a “disaster area,” with no intact buildings or functioning infrastructure remaining.
The War’s Origins and Continuing Tragedy
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters launched a surprise incursion into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign quickly escalated, with no end in sight even after nearly two years.
Despite mounting international demands for a ceasefire, the fighting continues to inflict immeasurable suffering on Gaza’s civilians, with food, water, and medicine in critically short supply. Meanwhile, nearly 900 Palestinians have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid at distribution points since Israel eased its blockade in May 2025.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis by the Numbers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total killed (Palestinians) | 59,029 |
| Total wounded (Palestinians) | 142,135 |
| % of casualties: women/children | Over 50% |
| Buildings destroyed | 90%+ in Gaza |
| Estimated population displaced | 1.9 million |
| Total killed (Israelis) | ~1,200 |
| Abductions (Oct 2023) | 251 |
| Notable incidents | Beit Hanoun completely razed |
The Gaza Strip today stands as a testament to the devastation wrought by war: a region where ancient cities have been erased, civilian lives shattered, and basic survival has become a daily struggle. As humanitarian agencies and world leaders intensify their calls for an immediate ceasefire, Gaza’s civil population continues to endure the staggering consequences of protracted, high-intensity warfare.
