The war between Israel and Hamas has led to over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, according to Gaza’s health ministry. On Sunday, the ministry reported 41 more deaths, bringing the total to 50,021. Most of the victims are women and children, though the exact number of civilians and fighters is unclear. Thousands more are believed to be buried under rubble.
The Israeli military (IDF) has questioned these numbers, saying they include deaths not related to the war. The IDF also states that it follows international laws and tries to avoid harming civilians. However, the death toll continues to rise as Israel resumes attacks on Gaza.
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War Resumes After Ceasefire Ends
The war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel began its military campaign in Gaza. A ceasefire had been in place for two months but ended recently. Since then, over 400 Palestinians were killed in one day, and Israel has restarted its ground operations.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire agreement. The group says it still supports the truce but has fired rockets at Israel after the fighting restarted.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The war has forced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people to leave their homes. Hospitals have been heavily damaged, and a food crisis is growing because Israel has blocked aid deliveries.
Peace talks have not progressed. Hamas wants Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza in exchange for releasing all hostages. Israel, however, says Hamas rejected U.S.-backed proposals and continues to threaten Israeli soldiers and communities.
Read More: UK, France, Germany Push for Gaza Ceasefire: Demand Israel Restore Humanitarian Access
Israel’s defense minister has warned that the war will intensify. The military plans to take more land in Gaza and create security zones to protect Israeli citizens. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also stated that this is “just the beginning.”
The United Nations and the U.S. government believe Gaza’s health ministry reports are accurate, and experts suggest the true death toll may be even higher. However, Israel argues that Hamas hides among civilians, making it difficult to avoid casualties.
