Palestine Israel War- Over 55,000 Dead and 127,000 Wounded in Gaza

Palestine Israel War-Over 55,000 Dead and 127,000 Wounded in Gaza After 20 Months of War, Say Officials.

Gaza Strip — Health officials in Gaza say that more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 127,000 injured since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023. That’s nearly 20 months of fighting, and there’s still no end in sight.

The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government but operated by local doctors and medical workers, says many of the dead are women and children. The exact number of fighters versus civilians isn’t clear, but hospitals and aid workers say most of those hurt or killed have been ordinary people caught in the middle.

This war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign, hitting targets across Gaza with airstrikes, tanks, and ground troops. Since then, most of Gaza’s population—about 90% of the 2.3 million people—has been forced to flee their homes.

Entire neighbourhoods have been wiped out. Cities like Rafah in the south are now mostly empty and have become part of what Israel calls a “buffer zone” for military control. Many families are now living in makeshift shelters, tents, or abandoned school buildings. Food, water, and medicine are in short supply.

The United Nations and aid groups say the humanitarian situation is getting worse. In early 2025, Israel blocked aid for several weeks, raising fears of famine. Even though a new U.S.- and Israeli-backed system was set up in May to bring in food and supplies, aid workers say it’s still not working well. There are problems with looting, poor security, and Israeli checkpoints. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid, but the U.N. says there’s no clear evidence of that.

Israel claims it has killed over 20,000 Hamas fighters, but hasn’t shared proof. Hamas still controls some areas in Gaza and is believed to be holding 55 hostages, though many are feared dead.

Hamas says it’s willing to release the remaining hostages if Israel agrees to a full ceasefire, pulls out its troops, and releases Palestinian prisoners. They’ve also said they’re open to letting an independent Palestinian group take over leadership. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused those demands. He says the war will only stop when Hamas is defeated, disarmed, and no longer in control.

Netanyahu has also said Israel will keep control of Gaza even after the fighting ends. He’s suggested helping Palestinians leave Gaza voluntarily, but critics—including many world leaders and human rights groups—say this could amount to forced expulsion, which would be illegal under international law.

Meanwhile, hospitals in Gaza are barely functioning, and doctors are struggling to treat the waves of people injured in daily airstrikes. With so many homes, clinics, and water systems destroyed, daily life for most Palestinians has become a fight to survive.