Two Years of War Leave Over 76,000 Dead or Missing and Widespread Destruction Across Gaza

Two Years of War Leave Over 76,000 Dead or Missing and Widespread Destruction Across Gaza
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More than two years into the Israeli offensive on Gaza, new figures released by the Government Media Office in the enclave reveal staggering human and material losses, describing the situation as one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern times. According to the report, over 76,000 Palestinians have been killed or remain missing since the start of the conflict.

Of these, more than 67,000 deaths have been officially recorded at hospitals, while about 9,500 people are still unaccounted for, believed to be trapped under rubble or missing. Children and women constitute the majority of the victims — over 20,000 children, including 1,000 infants, and 12,500 women, among them 9,000 mothers. More than 2,700 families have been completely wiped out, while 6,020 families have lost all but one member.

The conflict has also taken a heavy toll on key sectors. At least 1,670 medical workers, 254 journalists, 830 teachers, and 540 humanitarian workers have been killed. Repeated attacks on relief operations have targeted 47 community kitchens and 61 aid distribution centers, while convoys were hit 128 times. The report notes that 2,605 people were killed while waiting for aid deliveries, described as “death traps.”

The ongoing blockade, in place for over 220 days, has prevented an estimated 120,000 trucks of humanitarian aid and fuel from entering Gaza. This restriction has led to severe shortages of food and medicine, resulting in 460 starvation-related deaths, including 154 children. Around 650,000 people are now facing acute hunger, and 40,000 infants are in urgent need of formula milk.

Gaza’s healthcare system has been devastated, with 38 hospitals and 96 clinics rendered non-operational and 197 ambulances destroyed. The report documents 169,583 injuries, including 4,800 amputations and 1,200 cases of paralysis or blindness. More than 22,000 patients, including 5,000 children and 12,500 cancer patients, have been denied travel for medical treatment.

The destruction of homes and infrastructure is equally extensive. More than 301,000 housing units have been damaged, 148,000 of them completely destroyed, leaving nearly two million people displaced. Ninety percent of Gaza’s schools have been damaged, depriving 785,000 students of education.

The report concludes that 90% of Gaza’s area has been affected by the conflict, turning the territory into a disaster zone. Officials warn that continued bombardment and blockade risk the total collapse of life in Gaza, where the United Nations says living conditions have become “catastrophic and uninhabitable.”