Over 72,000 killed in Gaza since war began, Palestinian officials say

The Palestinian health authorities in Gaza said on Saturday that the death toll from the war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 72,938, while 172,919 people have been wounded since the conflict began in October 2023. According to the latest update cited by Al Jazeera, hospitals across Gaza received seven bodies over the past 24 hours, including six people killed in recent Israeli attacks and one person who later died from wounds sustained earlier. Health officials also reported that 25 injured people were admitted to medical facilities during the same period. The health authorities said that since the implementation of a ceasefire agreement on October 11, Israeli military operations have killed 929 Palestinians and wounded 2,811 others. Officials also reported the recovery of 781 bodies from previously inaccessible areas as rescue teams continued search operations in locations heavily affected by fighting and destruction. The war began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, prompting a major Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Since then, the conflict has caused widespread devastation across the enclave and displaced much of its population. International aid agencies have repeatedly warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing shortages of food, medicine, fuel and clean water. Humanitarian organizations have also raised concerns about the condition of hospitals and critical civilian infrastructure damaged during the conflict. The United Nations and several international governments have continued to call for increased humanitarian access, protection of civilians and efforts to maintain ceasefire arrangements. Diplomatic initiatives led by regional mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, have sought to prevent a return to full-scale fighting. The Gaza health authorities’ figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel has maintained that its military operations target Hamas fighters and infrastructure, while Palestinian officials and humanitarian organizations have reported significant civilian casualties throughout the conflict. The conflict remains one of the deadliest episodes in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, with regional and international actors continuing efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire and address the humanitarian consequences of the war. The post Over 72,000 killed in Gaza since war began, Palestinian officials say appeared first on Khaama Press.