Gaza City: Israel has reportedly dropped 100,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since the conflict began 19 months ago, leading to significant casualties and destruction, according to a statement from the Gaza government media office on Thursday. This aggressive military campaign has resulted in the death or disappearance of over 62,000 Palestinians, with more than 10,000 individuals believed to be trapped under rubble, their fates unknown.
According to Anadolu Agency, the media office reported that Israel has conducted over 12,000 massacres, mainly against Palestinian households, completely erasing 2,200 families and removing 6,350 individuals from civil registries. The campaign has also targeted cemeteries, with Israeli forces allegedly removing 2,300 bodies from graves and creating seven mass graves inside hospitals, of which 529 bodies have been recovered to date.
The ongoing conflict has led to a severe health crisis in Gaza. Over 2.1 million cases of infectious diseases have been reported, attributed to forced displacement and the collapse of the health infrastructure. These include 71,338 cases of hepatitis, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.
The destruction has not spared religious and humanitarian institutions. A total of 828 mosques have been completely demolished, with another 167 partially damaged. Three churches have also been targeted, and 19 out of 60 cemeteries have been destroyed either fully or partially. Additionally, as part of what is described as a starvation policy, Israel has attacked 66 relief facilities, including food charity kitchens and aid centers, while blocking 37,400 aid and fuel trucks since the complete closure of border crossings over two months ago.
The Israeli military's offensive has resulted in the deaths of nearly 52,800 people, predominantly women and children, since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023. In response to these actions, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Moreover, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in Gaza.