Gaza City, Gaza Strip — After a brief period of tranquility, Gaza has been plunged back into chaos as Israel intensifies its attacks, resuming airstrikes and deploying ground forces in a renewed campaign against Hamas. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports the death toll has surpassed 50,000 since the conflict escalated again following the deadly attacks by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, where close to 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, a volunteer from Perth, describes the dire situation in Gaza City, with hospitals overwhelmed by victims suffering from severe injuries. “We are seeing children and adults with amputations, gunshot wounds, and crush injuries from collapsed buildings,” Mustafa stated.
Amidst these reports, Israeli officials argue that the casualty figures provided by Gaza’s health ministry are exaggerated, suggesting the influence of Hamas governance over the ministry’s operations. However, international agencies and experts have validated the method used by the ministry to count the casualties.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has expressed deep concern over the high civilian casualties, urging all parties involved to protect non-combatants. “The scale of loss is horrifying. As the conflict drags on, it spares no one,” Kallas remarked.
Initially, the casualty counts were based purely on bodies brought to facilities, but as the conflict worsened, leaving many institutions non-functional, Gaza’s health ministry revised its procedures to include unidentified victims as well. Recent figures indicate that children, women, and the elderly constitute around 55% of the identified casualties.
In a terrifying account of the renewed violence, journalist Mustafa Gaber and resident Amal Nassar spoke of the harrowing conditions under the constant threat of bombardment. “The situation is unbearable. Elderly are left in the streets, and panicked parents are telling their children to abandon them to save themselves,” Nassar shared.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that the operation could intensify if the hostages are not released and Hamas remains a threat. “We face a choice of decisive actions now, or prolonged agony,” he declared on March 19.
According to the United Nations, approximately one-third of those killed in the current phase of the conflict are children. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that around 25,000 children have also been injured in the ongoing violence.
Ahmad Alhendawi, a regional director for Save the Children, highlighted the particularly devastating impact on young ones. “The renewed airstrikes mean a return to a life of fear and instability for children in Gaza. Their vulnerability is exacerbated by the nature of the explosive weapons being used, which are indescribably devastating,” explained Alhendawi.
The relentless conflict has not only claimed lives but also wiped out entire families. Based on a review of health ministry data, it is estimated that over 1,200 Palestinian families have been completely annihilated since the onset of the recent hostilities. The ongoing violence continues to target the very fabric of community life in Gaza, sparing no one regardless of their socio-economic status.
Amidst mounting casualties and a deteriorating humanitarian situation, the international community watches warily, calling for immediate de-escalation and protection for the innocent caught in the crossfire. As the death toll rises, so does global condemnation and the urgent plea for peace.