Gaza City, Palestine – Amid escalating violence in Gaza, the death toll continues to rise, with at least 20,000 Palestinians reported killed since Israel launched airstrikes following Hamas’s attacks on 7 October. The conflict has led to an average of nearly 300 casualties per day, according to data from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Experts have noted that the rate of killing in this conflict is unprecedented, with the current war being described as exceptionally deadly. The impact of the bombings has been devastating due to the high population density in Gaza, where densely populated areas have been heavily targeted.
The use of a wide variety of bombs by Israel, ranging from 100lb to 2000lb, has significantly contributed to the scale of civilian fatalities in the conflict. Military experts point out that the indiscriminate nature of these bombings has led to a high number of civilian casualties, raising concerns about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
In addition to the staggering death toll, Gaza’s young population has been particularly affected by the conflict. With nearly half of the population under 18, children have borne the brunt of the violence, leading to thousands being injured and traumatized by the ongoing hostilities.
The conflict in Gaza has drawn international attention, with comparisons being made to other recent wars. Experts acknowledge that the rate of civilian deaths in Gaza far exceeds that of previous conflicts, raising questions about the proportionality of the military actions taken by Israel in response to Hamas’s attacks.
As the violence continues to escalate, the impact on civilians, especially women and children, remains a major concern. The United Nations has labeled Gaza as the “most dangerous place in the world to be a child,” highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties.
Despite the ongoing conflict, the exact number of Hamas fighters killed by Israel remains unclear. While Israeli officials have claimed to have targeted thousands of Hamas members, the lack of transparency in reporting combatant casualties raises questions about the civilian-to-combatant ratio in the conflict.
The toll of the conflict on Gaza’s civilian population is staggering, with tens of thousands injured and thousands killed, including women, children, and essential workers. The escalating violence has sparked a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further loss of life.