Palestine Conflict: 50,000 People Killed, 113,000 Wounded in 17 Months
Palestinian Death Toll in Israel-Hamas War Surpasses 50,000, Gaza Health Ministry Reports
The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the Palestinian death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has exceeded 50,000, with over 113,000 wounded, marking a grim milestone in the 17-month conflict.
The ministry’s latest figures include 673 fatalities recorded since Israel abruptly terminated a ceasefire last week, unleashing a barrage of unexpected airstrikes across the Gaza Strip.
The ministry’s count, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, reflects the devastating toll of a war that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a cross-border attack, killing 1,200 Israelis and abducting 250. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has since flattened vast swathes of Gaza, displacing 90% of its 2.3 million residents.
The Israeli military claims it has killed over 20,000 Hamas fighters, though it provides no detailed evidence, and blames the high civilian toll on Hamas’ use of residential areas for military operations.
The ceasefire’s collapse on March 18 followed months of fragile negotiations, shattering hopes of a sustained truce. The ministry warns the true death toll may be higher, with thousands still buried under rubble or in unreachable zones. The wounded, now exceeding 113,000, strain Gaza’s crippled healthcare system, where few facilities remain operational.
As international calls for peace intensify, the unrelenting violence continues to claim lives, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
