Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Over 15 months have passed since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, triggered by a series of attacks by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict has resulted in relentless bombings and severe humanitarian distress, reshaping everyday life into a grim tableau of casualty and chaos.
Israeli retaliatory measures have intensified of an existing blockade dated back to 2007. Strike after strike has left significant casualties—official counts put the death toll in Gaza at around 46,707, including approximately 18,000 minors, suggesting that about one in every 50 residents of Gaza has fallen.
Beyond the deaths, the Israeli offensive has inflicted widespread physical injury. According to the latest figures, around 110,265 people have been wounded, with the World Health Organization reporting that nearly 22,500 individuals have sustained severe, life-altering injuries, yet medical services are strained past their limits due to the blockade. Surgical procedures, tragically routine, are often performed under less-than-adequate conditions, leaving many in perpetual trauma.
The blockade not only limits medical supplies but also critical food and aid. Reports from various sources suggest that essential supplies are systematically blocked, exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis. An investigation highlighted that these conditions breach provisions of the Rome Statute, potentially constituting a war crime during armed conflict.
Israel’s actions have not only been condemned internationally but have stirred criticism about the collective punishment of Gaza’s civilians. Horror stories of families razed and generations lost resonate as international pleas for reconsideration grow louder.
The structural impact of the conflict is no less devastating, with environmental experts and Palestinian authorities estimating around 85,000 tonnes of explosives have been used, leaving over 42 million tonnes of debris. This rubble not only physically marks the landscape but poses ongoing threats of unexploded ordnance, complicating clean-up efforts expected to span decades.
But perhaps the most haunting aftermath is the displacement inflicted upon Gaza’s 1.9 million residents. Nearly 80 percent are now internally displaced, forced to survive in makeshift shelters, as stated by UN agencies. These shelters, often insufficient against harsh winter weather, contribute to health crises, including the deaths of infants from hypothermia, as the community wrestles with the cold without adequate protection.
The disruptions extend into education, with countless children losing access to schools, further dimming their prospects. UNRWA notes the profound psychological impact on Gaza’s youth, many of whom have lost members of their families and their homes.
Despite the global outcry and numerous calls from human rights groups and international organizations, the region remains mired in both violence and sorrow. The international community watches and waits, hoping for a resolution that brings peace and begins the process of rebuilding lives shattered by a relentless and tragic conflict.