Why it matters:
The scale of reported casualties highlights the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and underscores growing international concerns about Israel's war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The big picture:
Since the start of the war, accusations of deliberate targeting of civilians and critical infrastructure in Gaza have intensified calls for international investigations. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate sharply in the besieged territory.
What it's saying:
More than 61,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 118,000 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza after 18 months. Also, thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead.
In an official statement, the Gaza Government Media Office detailed the alleged crimes:
Over 18,000 children and more than 12,400 women have been killed.
More than 2,180 families were entirely wiped out, father, mother, and all children killed.
Another 5,070 families were reduced to a single surviving member.
Over 1,400 doctors and health workers and 113 civil defense personnel were killed.
212 journalists were killed, an act the office described as "cold-blooded" attempts to silence the truth.
Key points:
- Mass civilian casualties, particularly among women and children, are at unprecedented levels.
- Entire family units have been erased, a rare and shocking scale of loss.
- Targeted killings of healthcare providers and journalists suggest deliberate attacks on vital services and the free press.
- International legal experts warn such actions could amount to crimes against humanity under international law.
Go deeper:
Rights groups are increasingly calling for independent investigations into violations of humanitarian law by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Hossein Vaez
