According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the ongoing offensive by Israel has resulted in over 60,000 fatalities in Gaza

More than 60,000 lives have been lost due to Israel's military operations in Gaza since October 2023, according to the health ministry controlled by Hamas.

 

Courtesy : Reuters

As of Monday, the reported death toll stands at at least 60,034, with tragic figures including 18,592 children and 9,782 women. The ministry detailed that at least 112 individuals died in the 24 hours leading up to late Tuesday morning, including 22 people who lost their lives while trying to secure aid. Witnesses and hospital sources informed the Media that among the deceased were women and children affected by overnight and morning airstrikes targeting residential areas. Israel's military action was initiated in response to a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed around 1,200 lives and resulted in 251 individuals being taken hostage.

In the central Nuseirat region, al-Awda Hospital reported that 30 people, including 14 women and 12 children, were killed during raids on homes overnight and into Tuesday morning. Many victims were reportedly from the same families, with 19 identified as members of the Abu Ataya, Siyam, and Nabhan families. Furthermore, four members of the al-Agha family lost their lives due to an Israeli strike on a tent that was providing shelter for displaced persons in the coastal area of Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, as reported by Nasser Hospital. Local hospital sources and witnesses confirmed that nine more individuals were killed in Khan Younis.

In Gaza City, an Israeli missile strike hit an apartment belonging to the al-Batsh family, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. A subsequent strike led to the deaths of five members from another family. Rescue teams have faced significant challenges in reaching victims from yet another airstrike. At least 14 individuals have reportedly lost their lives and over 100 have sustained injuries due to actions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) near an aid distribution point in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital. In response, the IDF has stated, "Contrary to the reports, following a review conducted, the IDF is not aware of casualties as a result of IDF fire adjacent to the distribution site in the central Gaza Strip." They added that operations in Nuseirat involved strikes on "several terror targets," and that they are taking measures to reduce the risk to civilians.

In a statement via Telegram, the IDF reported that they had "eliminated several terrorists who posed a threat" and targeted "terrorist infrastructure and multiple weapons storage facilities" in Khan Younis over the past day. Furthermore, they claimed to have dismantled "terrorist infrastructure both above and below ground" in northern Gaza and struck numerous terror targets throughout the Strip. The United Nations reports that since May 27, over 1,000 Palestinians have died due to the Israeli military while seeking food, with many casualties occurring near distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by Israeli and US support since late May, as well as near UN and other aid convoys. The incident that took place on Tuesday was linked to aid convoys and not specifically to a GHF site. Israel contends that its troops have only fired warning shots and emphasize that they do not deliberately target civilians. Meanwhile, the GHF has accused the UN of disseminating "false" statistics from Gaza's health ministry, which is governed by Hamas.

A senior Hamas official revealed to media on Tuesday that the group’s negotiators have communicated to mediators from Qatar and Egypt their decision to suspend indirect discussions with Israel until the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is addressed. This development follows Israel and the United States’ departure from talks last week. The US criticized Hamas for not negotiating in "good faith," while Prime Minister Netanyahu mentioned he was exploring other options to secure the release of hostages currently held in Gaza. There remain substantial disagreements between Israel and Hamas regarding key issues, such as the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the distribution of aid, and the establishment of a lasting ceasefire. On Tuesday, concerns about the escalating hunger crisis in Gaza continued to grow, with UN-backed global food security experts warning that the worst-case scenario of famine is "currently playing out" in the region.

Israel argues it is not accountable for the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza and claims to not impose restrictions on aid entering the territory; however, these assertions are not shared by its close allies in Europe, the United Nations, or other agencies operating in Gaza. On Sunday, Israel initiated what it described as daily 10-hour "tactical pauses" aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid, along with the establishment of "designated secure routes" for aid convoys. These pauses are scheduled from 10:00 (07:00 GMT) to 20:00 in three designated areas, while air strikes continue during the night and in other parts of the Strip.

Despite warnings from humanitarian organizations about the risks and ineffectiveness of the method, Israel has resumed allowing aid drops from foreign countries. Israel has disputed the health ministry's casualty figures, which do not clarify the number of deceased who were members of Palestinian armed groups. Earlier this year, Israel's military claimed that around 20,000 members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad had been killed during the conflict. More recently, the military's chief of staff stated that they had targeted over 1,300 "terrorists" in recent weeks. International journalists face restrictions from Israel preventing independent entry into Gaza, hindering their ability to verify statistics presented by either side. Previously, the health ministry's figures have been widely recognized in conflict situations and regarded as credible by the UN and other international organizations.