More than six thousand people are unaccounted for following Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the information office of the Palestinian government reported by RIA. The claim notes that the number includes thousands of children and women who remain missing amid the rubble from collapsed buildings. Reuters and other agencies have cited similar figures in coverage of the ongoing crisis.
Officials say that, as of now, more than 6,000 people are unaccounted for after Israel’s raids in Gaza. Among those reportedly missing are more than 4,000 women and children, a result described by aid workers as a dire humanitarian consequence of fighting in densely populated areas. UNICEF has emphasized that roughly one million children live in Gaza, underscoring the potential impact on younger civilians. The spokespersons caution that many children are believed to be trapped beneath debris.
The Middle East crisis intensified after thousands of Hamas militants crossed into Israel from Gaza on October 7, with Hamas declaring Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israel indicated it was at war, a stance later reaffirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This sequence triggered extensive air and rocket campaigns across Gaza, announced by Israel from the outset of the operation. The Israeli National Security Council also moved to halt broader supplies of water, food, electricity, and fuel to the Gaza Strip, creating severe shortages for residents and humanitarian workers alike. Humanitarian aid shipments began moving toward Gaza through Rafah after October 20, though aid agency officials characterized the volume as insufficient.
On October 27, Israel spoke of expanding the ground operation in Gaza. While the exact start date remains unclear, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians reportedly fled their homes and sought shelter in safer areas, notably in the southern parts of the territory. Eyewitness accounts and humanitarian briefings describe life under bombardment and the struggle to access basic needs.
Russians who had previously fled Gaza describe life amid a widening conflict and the daily challenges of survival in a war zone. The international response has centered on calls for ceasefires, humanitarian corridors, and increased aid deliveries, with countries weighing protective actions and diplomatic steps.