Death toll in Gaza passes 43,000 as women, children largely affected

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that the number of Palestinians killed in the yearlong war in Gaza has surpassed 43,000, with more than half of the victims being women and children.

The devastating toll includes 96 individuals who arrived at hospitals in Gaza over the past two days, and is part of a larger conflict that has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.

Israeli troops continue to operate in northern Gaza including a raid on a hospital over the weekend. The military claims to have detained 100 suspected Hamas militants in a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, but the World Health Organization has accused Israel of detaining 44 male hospital staff.

Palestinian medical officials report that the hospital was heavily damaged in the raid and that Israel has pounded several hospitals in Gaza throughout the yearlong war, alleging that Hamas and other militants use them for military purposes.

However, Palestinian medical officials deny these allegations and accuse the military of recklessly endangering civilians. An Israeli military official has stated that there was heavy fighting around Kamal Adwan Hospital, but not inside it, adding that weapons were found inside the facility.

The Israeli military has called on Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza, where it has been waging a large offensive for more than three weeks. The operation in the northern Gaza city of Jabaliya is expected to last several more weeks, and the UN has reported that at least 400,000 people are still in northern Gaza, with hunger rampant and humanitarian aid plummeting over the past month.