A man walks between the bodies of people killed by Israeli bombardment in Deir Balah, central Gaza, on Monday.Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reported on Monday that more than 10,000 people have lost their lives since Israel initiated its military offensive nearly a month ago. The conflict ensued after Hamas, an Islamist militant group, launched a devastating attack on October 7, resulting in the loss of 1,400 lives in Israel and the kidnapping of over 240 individuals. In response, Israel launched a comprehensive air and ground offensive in Gaza with the objective of eliminating the militant group.
The health ministry’s spokesperson, Ashraf Al Qudra, disclosed that Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of 10,022 Palestinians in the Gaza enclave. This includes 4,104 children, 2,641 women, and 611 elderly individuals. These statistics indicate that a substantial portion of the casualties are from vulnerable populations. Additionally, the ministry reported 25,408 individuals injured during the conflict.
It remains uncertain how many combatants are included in the overall casualty count. It is essential to note that CNN cannot independently verify the figures released by the ministry in Gaza, as the enclave is subject to strict restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt.
On a particularly grim day marked by intense Israeli bombardment, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza reported over a hundred fatalities, as confirmed by the institution’s media office.
The toll of innocent lives in Gaza has been exceptionally high, with thousands falling victim to the conflict. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed concern over last week’s attacks on Gaza’s largest refugee camp, suggesting that the scale of casualties and destruction may constitute potential war crimes.
Israel has maintained that its military operations in Gaza are primarily targeting Hamas operatives. Israeli authorities assert that Hamas intentionally deploys its assets within civilian areas and employs civilians as human shields—a defense stance echoed by U.S. officials.
In a recent interview with ABC News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed his expectations that Israel would assume “overall security responsibility” in Gaza for an “indefinite period” following the conclusion of the conflict.
UN Secretary General António Guterres issued a grave warning on Monday, stating that Gaza is increasingly becoming a tragic place for children. He emphasized the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire, given the unfolding catastrophe.
According to figures from the Gazan ministry, at least one child is losing their life approximately every 10 minutes. CNN’s calculations corroborate this alarming trend.
Guterres, speaking at the United Nations in New York, characterized the situation in Gaza as more than just a humanitarian crisis; it is a crisis of humanity. He announced the launch of a $1.2 billion “humanitarian appeal” and stressed that the limited aid reaching Gaza is grossly inadequate to meet the overwhelming needs.
Since the start of the conflict nearly a month ago, over 560 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered Gaza, as reported by the Palestine Red Crescent. However, it’s important to note that fuel has not been permitted to accompany these shipments. Prior to the October 7 attack, approximately 500 aid trucks were entering the region daily. Guterres highlighted the life-threatening consequences of the fuel shortage, especially for newborns in incubators and patients relying on life support.
Save the Children, an international charity, revealed last month that the number of children killed in Gaza during Israel’s campaign had already exceeded the annual tally of children killed in armed conflicts worldwide in each of the past four years.
In response to Guterres’ remarks, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, called for Guterres’ resignation, accusing him of making an “immoral comparison” between a democratic nation and a terrorist organization responsible for war crimes.
Amid mounting criticism over the rising death toll, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released images that purportedly show Hamas using civilian facilities, including hospitals and children’s playgrounds, as shields for their attacks. This claim has been rejected by the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health in Ramallah and the Hamas-controlled government media.
On Sunday, the head of Hamas government media, Salama Marouf, called for the UN to verify Israel’s claims about the use of hospitals as shields, stating their readiness for scrutiny.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital witnessed a continuous influx of casualties throughout Monday. Communication disruptions in Gaza have hindered emergency service calls, forcing many to transport casualties in private vehicles. Ambulances followed these cars to the sites of bombings and then returned with more wounded individuals.
The United States has consistently supported Israel’s military campaign during this conflict, citing Israel’s right to defend itself. However, it recently vetoed a UN Security Council resolution seeking humanitarian pauses for aid delivery into Gaza on October 18. President Joe Biden has expressed support for a humanitarian pause to facilitate the release of hostages held in Gaza.
The global outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has prompted Washington to caution Israel that continuing its military objectives will become increasingly challenging as international pressure escalates.
Israel shows no signs of relenting, emphasizing the expansion of its operations in Gaza. As a result of this protracted conflict, nearly 1.5 million Gazans have already been displaced in the 140-square-meter strip. Many of them are seeking refuge in overcrowded schools and hospitals, facing severe shortages of essential resources, including food, water, and electricity. This situation has been reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as of Friday.
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