Gaza City, Palestine – The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reported on Monday that more than 5,000 people have lost their lives in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since Israel initiated a sustained bombing campaign over two weeks ago.
The alarming death toll has raised concerns about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which stems from the ongoing conflict that was triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7. Israeli officials contend that this attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 individuals who were allegedly gunned down, stabbed, or burned by Islamist militants.
Hamas has also claimed the capture of more than 200 hostages.
Amid Israel’s announcement of more than 300 new strikes within a 24-hour period, Gaza’s health ministry reported that the death toll has now exceeded 5,000, with approximately 40 percent of the casualties being children.
The conflict has led to the destruction of thousands of buildings and the displacement of over one million people in Gaza. The region has been under siege and has faced severe shortages of water, food, and other basic supplies.
Efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza have gained some momentum, with about a dozen trucks carrying essential supplies arriving from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, the only access point not controlled by Israel. These aid convoys, brokered by the United States, aim to address the urgent needs in Gaza, although United Nations aid agencies have stressed the necessity for even more extensive aid distribution.
The conflict continues to rage, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating Israel’s commitment to “erase Hamas,” and there are concerns of a potential full-scale ground invasion.
Throughout the night, fighting persisted, resulting in more casualties. Gaza’s Hamas-controlled government media office reported that “more than 60 were martyred in the raids” during the night, including 17 people in a single strike in northern Gaza, with at least 10 others killed in new strikes on Monday.
The Israeli military has stated that it targeted “over 320 military targets in the Gaza Strip” in the past 24 hours, including tunnels housing Hamas militants, operational command centers, military compounds, and observation posts used by Islamic Jihad, another militant group.
The situation remains dire for those living in Gaza, where thousands have been wounded. The health ministry in Gaza has called upon citizens to donate blood to address the pressing medical needs of the injured.
The conflict has exacerbated the already challenging circumstances for the 2.4 million civilians trapped in the densely populated coastal strip, which was under blockade and experiencing economic hardship before the war.
Despite the passage of aid convoys brokered by U.S. President Joe Biden in collaboration with Egyptian and Israeli leaders, the United Nations estimates that Gaza requires approximately 100 trucks of relief goods daily.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths emphasized the urgent need for additional humanitarian assistance, noting that while the recent delivery of food, water, and medical supplies offers some hope, “they need more, much more.”
Israel has been cautious about permitting the entry of fuel into Gaza due to concerns that Hamas could use it for weapons and explosives.