Human Costs and Destruction of the Gaza War According to Statistics

A year has passed since the devastating war between Israel and the extremist group Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union; a war that has left unprecedented human, social, and infrastructural impacts. This conflict began with Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians and more than 1,000 Israelis to date. This war is also considered the deadliest conflict for journalists, has created a widespread humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and has brought the Middle East to the brink of a broader war. On the anniversary of this conflict, we look at some statistics that reflect the dimensions of this war, including the number of casualties and destruction. According to statistics published by officials from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is administered by Hamas, approximately 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza. This figure does not differentiate between civilians and members of extremist groups such as Hamas. Reports indicate that a significant number of the dead are children (under 18 years old). Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated last April that 'a child is killed or injured every ten minutes' and added that children 'pay the ultimate price of this war more than others.' According to UN reports, it is estimated that over 10,000 people are still buried under the rubble in Gaza. Israel claims that the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas left 1,139 dead, including 685 Israeli civilians and 71 foreigners. According to official Israeli statistics, 346 soldiers have been killed in the ground operations in Gaza that began in late October last year. Israel also estimates that over 17,000 Hamas members have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Israeli ground and air attacks on Gaza have injured over 95,500 people. According to statistics published by the World Health Organization, at least one-fourth of the injured Palestinians face severe injuries, and many require amputations and extensive rehabilitation. The Committee to Protect Journalists states that 116 journalists and media workers are among the 42,000 dead in Gaza. This committee has also confirmed that at least five journalists were directly targeted and killed by Israeli forces, classifying these killings as homicides. According to UN reports, over 250 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip, or 96% of the population, is struggling with severe food shortages, and over 495,000 people are at risk of starvation due to severe food shortages. According to UN statistics, by the end of 2023, over 85% of Gaza's residents, or more than 1.9 million people, will be recognized as internally displaced persons. According to UN estimates, over 50% of all buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, and 360,000 housing units have been damaged. The UN has also reported using satellite images that at least 53 schools have been completely destroyed since the conflict began. Israel has stated that it targeted 'terrorist' infrastructure and buildings in Gaza. The Associated Press has reported that Israel's military campaign in Gaza is one of the deadliest and most destructive wars in human history.