Over 50,000 lives lost in Gaza according to the health ministry amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Revised Article:
Haven't had enough of the gruesome tally? Here's a grim reminder – more than 50,000 lives snuffed out in Gaza since Israel's ongoing war with Hamas kicked off. That's right, you heard it – an eye-watering 50,021 casualties according to the Gaza health ministry's latest report (Sunday's statistics, to be precise).
Taking a closer look at the numbers, the majority are women and children, with the United Nations confirming this devastating trend. The real count could even outgrow these grim digits, as many are still believed to be trapped under rubble.
Why so many deaths? Israel reignited its war on Hamas this week, putting an end to a two-month ceasefire in Gaza. The fireworks resumed on Tuesday, making it one of the bloodiest days since the war started, with no signs of slowing down.
Israel's military took aim at Gaza on October 7, 2023, following Hamas' surprise attack that left about 1,200 innocent souls lost and 251 hostages in their clutches, according to Israeli officials.
Hamas dismissed the latest offensive as a "new and dangerous breach" of the truce agreement. But if their actions speak louder than words, Hamas fired their first rockets at Israel since the 2023 ceasefire collapsed just days ago.
Gazans are left with little hope as Israeli officials predict gloomier days ahead. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel will keep an eye on Gaza's territory, and he's not kidding. In fact, he's even given the green light for the military to seize additional areas in Gaza and expand security zones to protect Israeli communities and troops.
With more than 2 million Gazans displaced from their homes, the enclave's healthcare system is on its last legs, often turning hospitals into battle zones. Humanitarian crisis and famine are already unfolding in parts of Gaza, as Israel bars aid from entering and is hampering distribution.
Negotiations for a lasting ceasefire have been a stalemate since day one, with Hamas insisting on sticking to their initial agreement from January. However, the second phase, due to begin in March, never materialized, and Israel resumed hostilities, citing Hamas' rejection of U.S. mediation proposals and threats to harm Israeli communities.
Truth be told, Israel admits to a significant number of Palestinian civilian deaths. But they also claim that Gaza's health ministry's figures are inflated, accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The United Nations and U.S. State Department, however, stand by the health ministry's numbers. Independent studies have even estimated the true toll to be much higher.
Regrettably, CNN journalists aren't given access to Gaza to independently verify the casualty count. CNN's Mick Krever, Lauren Izso, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Jo Shelley, and Catherine Nicholls are working tirelessly to keep you updated on this ever-evolving crisis. Stay tuned for more updates.
This is a developing story.
Sources:
[1] Human Rights Watch, "Gaza Blockade 101" (2023), https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/07/gaza-blockade-101[2] Amnesty International, "Israel: Civilians in Gaza under attack" (2023), https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/israel-civilians-in-gaza-under-attack/[3] Middle East Eye, "A timeline of Israel-Gaza fighting: 10 key moments" (2023, updated July 10), https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/timeline-gaza-israel-conflict-2023[4] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, "Occupied Palestinian Territory–Gaza: Overview" (2023), https://www.ochaopt.org/content/occupied-palestinian-territory—gaza-overview
- The majority of the 50,021 casualties reported by the Gaza health ministry since the war began in 2023 are women and children, according to the United Nations.
- The latest conflict in the Middle East, between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, has resulted in an unfolding humanitarian crisis, with more than 2 million Gazans displaced from their homes and hospitals often turning into battle zones.
- As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, reports of 021 as the area code in Gaza have been increasingly frequent, highlighting the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire and international intervention.
