Over 41,000 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks, with thousands more buried under the rubble and threatened by illness.
The most recent casualty statistics in Gaza, as of 3:15 PM local time (12:15 GMT) on September 10, are as follows:
Killed: Over 41,118 people, including nearly 16,500 children.
Injured: over 95,125 people.
Missing: over 10,000.
Killed: Over 703 people, including over 159 children.
Injured: Over 5,700 people.
- In historic Palestine (Israel):
Killed: 1,139 people.
Injured: around 8,730.
As of September 8, the latest data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, and the Palestinian government shows that Israeli attacks have inflicted damage on:
- More than half of Gaza's homes have suffered damage or destruction.
- Eighty percent of business establishments.
- Eighty-five percent of educational facilities.
- Seventeen out of thirty-six hospitals are partially operational.
- Sixty-five percent of roadway networks.
- Sixty-five percent of cropland.
On December 1, the Israeli army released an internet map of the Gaza Strip, dividing the enclave into over 600 numbered blocks. It instructed Gaza's population to locate the designated block relating to their residence and evacuate upon command. Nevertheless, evacuation leaflets have been inconsistent with online alerts, leading to confusion among locals.
Moreover, numerous residents of Gaza lack a dependable means to access the map due to limited electricity and internet availability, since the siege of the 365 sq km (141 sq mile) Strip has led to the collapse of telecommunications infrastructure. Every hour in Gaza:
- 15 people are killed. Six are children.
- 35 people are injured.
- 42 bombs are dropped*.
- 12 buildings are destroyed.
*According to the Israeli army, based on the first six days of the war. As of July 31, more than 125 journalists, mostly Palestinians, were killed since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7. There have been at least 120 killings of Palestinian, three Lebanese, and two Israeli journalists, according to the International Federation of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The Gaza Strip is home to around 2.3 million Palestinians, making it one of the most densely inhabited areas in the world. It is situated between historic Palestine (Israel) and Egypt along the Mediterranean coastline.
Since 2007, Israel has exerted strict control over Gaza's airspace and territorial waterways, imposing limitations on the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. Following Hamas's retaliatory attack on southern Israeli colonies on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to transform Gaza into a “deserted island” and warned its inhabitants to “leave now.”
At approximately 6:30 AM (03:30 GMT) on October 7, Hamas launched a substantial barrage of rockets targeting southern Israeli colonies. Sirens were heard as far away as Yaffa and Beer Sabe.
The group reported that it launched 5,000 rockets. The Israeli military reported that 2,500 rockets were fired.
Approximately one hour later, fighters infiltrated historic Palestine (Israel) in an unprecedented multifaceted operation via land, air, and sea. The majority of fighters infiltrated via breaches in the security barriers separating Gaza and historic Palestine (Israel). There were reports of blasts in Gaza at 9:45 AM (06:45 GMT), and the Israeli military spokesperson announced that the air force was conducting strikes in Gaza at 10 AM (07:00 GMT).
Armed confrontations persisted between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in several locations within southern Israeli colonies.
Israeli airstrikes persisted late into the night, as did rocket firing into historic Palestine (Israel).
The Gaza Strip consists of five governorates: North Gaza, Gaza City, Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah.
North Gaza spans 10 kilometers (6 miles) and has a crossing into historic Palestine (Israel) via Beit Hanoon, commonly referred to as the Erez crossing.
North Gaza houses the Jabalia refugee camp, the largest in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza City is the largest and most populated urban center, housing about 750,000 inhabitants. Remal, Shujayea, and Tal al-Hawa are among its most prominent neighborhoods.
Central to the Remal neighborhood lies al-Shifa Hospital, the most extensive medical institution in the Gaza Strip.
Deir al-Balah is among the top agricultural producers in Gaza. It also has four refugee camps: Nuseirat, Bureij, Maghazi, and Deir al-Balah.
The only operational power plant in Gaza is located close to the district's border with Gaza City.
Khan Younis has a population of approximately 430,000 individuals. In its center sits the Khan Younis refugee camp, home to approximately 90,000 residents.
Rafah is the southernmost district of Gaza, housing around 275,000 inhabitants. The crossing with Egypt is also named Rafah.
Israel and Egypt have predominantly maintained closed borders, exacerbating the already catastrophic economic and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.