The Health Ministry in Gaza has announced that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 29,000 since the outbreak of the hostilities between Israel and Hamas. This marked the deadliest milestone in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In the announcement on Monday, Feb. 19, the ministry stated that approximately two-thirds of those killed were women and children, with over 69,000 Palestinians wounded.
Concerns arise as there are indications that Israeli troops may advance into Rafah, situated on the Gaza-Egypt border, where a significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have sought refuge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue with the offensive until “total victory” over Hamas is achieved.
The conflict began when Hamas-led militants launched attacks into southern Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, and the taking of approximately 250 hostages.
Despite a brief ceasefire in November 2023, where some hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, tensions have continued.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of remaining hostages have faced challenges, with Israel rejecting what it deemed as unreasonable demands from Hamas.
About The Author
