In the Gaza Strip, the toll from the 43 day confrontation between Israel and Hamas has risen to more than 16,000 fatalities, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry has not updated the numbers for several days due to ongoing Israeli strikes and damage to main hospitals. The grim figure reflects the severity of the conflict and the challenges of delivering care in a severely damaged healthcare system.
The previous casualty estimate, issued by the ministry last Thursday, put the death toll at over 11,500 and reported more than 29,800 injuries. Among the injured, a large share comprises women, children, and elder residents who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of displacement, trauma, and limited access to treatment. The ministry has repeatedly stressed that these figures are estimates because comprehensive verification is exceptionally difficult amid ongoing hostilities.
A spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health told reporters that the true number of victims is almost certainly higher than the official tallies, highlighting the reality that many casualties remain uncounted due to blocked roads, collapsed facilities, and the difficulty of reaching affected neighborhoods.
At least 3,500 people are believed to be trapped beneath rubble in buildings as the fighting continues. The persistence of attacks has kept rescue operations from advancing and has left many people awaiting help in dangerous conditions. The ongoing danger complicates the efforts of emergency teams and humanitarian workers trying to reach those in need.
Among the 24 hospitals with inpatient capacity in the Northern Strip, only one facility Al Ahli in Gaza City is functioning at minimal capacity to receive patients. The remaining hospitals have begun to falter under the strain as electricity, fuel, internet, clean water, food, and essential medicines have run low. This breakdown in infrastructure has severely constrained the ability to provide timely care to those who are injured or sick.
These alarming circumstances emerged shortly after the Gaza Health Ministry condemned an Israeli army decision that ordered doctors, patients, and displaced persons at the Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza to evacuate within a short window. Officials described the directive as a trigger for panic and fear, complicating already precarious hospital operations and endangering patients and staff who refused to abandon their posts.
Munir al-Bursh, the Gaza General Director of Health, criticized reports that bodies from hospital morgues and nearby cemeteries had been moved by Israeli forces, calling the act an additional blow to already fragile health services and a blow to the dignity of the deceased and their families. Israeli authorities maintain that Al-Shifa hospital hid a command center, weapons, and technological assets for Hamas, asserting that the hospital was thus a legitimate military target. The Israeli side has described recent actions as sieges and limited strikes against facilities, claiming that weapons and a tunnel used by Hamas were discovered beneath the premises.
Since the war began on October 7, a major Israeli offensive followed Hamas activity that included thousands of rockets and the infiltration of Israeli territory by nearly 3,000 fighters. The conflict resulted in a devastating loss of life and the abduction of dozens of civilians. The broader toll has rippled across the region, as air, sea, and land operations have continued unabated, contributing to a growing refugee crisis and severe disruption of daily life for millions of Gazans.
As hostilities persist, the Gaza Strip has faced a dramatic reduction in essential services and supplies. The displacement of about 1.7 million residents has heightened concerns about long-term humanitarian needs, including food security, water safety, shelter, and access to medical care. International organizations and local health authorities have urged immediate measures to protect civilians and facilitate safe aid delivery, while the situation on the ground remains fluid and dangerous for those who remain in affected areas.
Humanitarian observers emphasize that the situation could worsen if fuel and electricity interruptions continue, which would further limit water purification, hospital operations, and the ability to restore basic services. The focus remains on securing ceasefire conditions, enabling rapid deployments of aid, and ensuring that medical facilities can operate under safe conditions to treat the injured and safeguard essential health services for the population.